Montgomery County, Kentucky | |
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Montgomery County courthouse in Mount Sterling
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Location in the U.S. state of Kentucky |
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Kentucky's location in the U.S. |
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Founded | 1796 |
Named for | Richard Montgomery |
Seat | Mount Sterling |
Largest city | Mount Sterling |
Area | |
• Total | 199 sq mi (515 km2) |
• Land | 197 sq mi (510 km2) |
• Water | 1.5 sq mi (4 km2), 0.7% |
Population | |
• (2010) | 26,499 |
• Density | 134/sq mi (52/km²) |
Congressional district | 6th |
Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
Website | montgomerycounty |
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,499. Its county seat is Mount Sterling. With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is classified as a moist county—a county in which alcohol sales are prohibited (a dry county), but containing a "wet" city where package alcohol sales are allowed, in this case Mount Sterling.
Montgomery County is part of the Mount Sterling, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lexington-Fayette-Richmond-Frankfort, KY Combined Statistical Area.
In 1793 Shoe Boots (Tarsekayahke) led Cherokee and Shawnee warriors in a raid on Morgan's Station, in what was known as the last Indian raid in Kentucky. Some settlers were killed and two adolescent girls, including Clarinda Allington, were taken captive and the party returned to Cherokee territory. Believing he had saved Clarinda's life, Shoe Boots later married her, and they had three children together. He was a wealthy, successful leader. Several years later, Clarinda gained a visit back to her family in Kentucky with her children and decided to stay. They could not support her, but the state voted a 3-year pension for her.
Montgomery County was established in 1796 from land given by Clark County. Montgomery was the 22nd Kentucky county in order of formation.
Montgomery County was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War Brigadier General killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. An alternative story holds that the County was named for Thomas Montgomery from Virginia, who served in the Revolutionary War. In 1793 Thomas Montgomery settled in Mt. Sterling. In 1805, Thomas Montgomery moved on to Gibson County, Indiana.