Morehead, Kentucky
| Morehead, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Rowan County Arts Center in Morehead. (Formerly Rowan County Courthouse)
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 Location of Morehead, Kentucky |
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| Coordinates: 38°11′1″N 83°26′28″W / 38.18361°N 83.44111°WCoordinates: 38°11′1″N 83°26′28″W / 38.18361°N 83.44111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Rowan |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Named for | Gov. James Morehead |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.3 sq mi (24.0 km2) |
| • Land | 9.2 sq mi (23.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 6,845 |
| • Density | 640.8/sq mi (247.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 40351 |
| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-53418 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0514051 |
| Website | morehead-ky.gov |
Morehead is a home rule-class city located along US 60 (the historic Midland Trail) and Interstate 64 in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 6,845 at the time of the 2010 U.S. census.
It was the focal point of the Rowan County War and is the home of Morehead State University.
The first settlers came to Rowan County from Virginia following the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783. In 1854, Morehead became the third community to be settled in the county. Colonel John Hargis founded the city after purchasing land in the area. The city was named after James T Morehead, a politician who served as governor of Kentucky from 1834 to 1836. Rowan County came into existence in May 1856, seceding from parts of Morgan County and Fleming County. It was divided into four districts with Morehead being declared the county seat. The formation of Rowan County was a political ploy to prevent Flemingsburg from moving its seat to Poplar Plains, and Morehead was selected as Rowan's seat because of its centrality. Although it was smaller and less developed than the neighboring town of Farmers, it remained a significant city in the county due its status as county seat. It was officially incorporated in 1869.
In the 1880s, Morehead became the central stage for a notorious conflict known as the Rowan County War or the Martin–Tolliver–Logan Feud. During a number of skirmishes for the next few years, at least 20 people were killed and possibly 100 were wounded. Beginning with an election-day barroom brawl, several gunfights took place in Morehead and the surrounding countryside. Eventually, a group led by Craig Tolliver seized political control of the town and installed allies in the county sheriff's and county attorney's offices as well as at the office of the town marshal. Several members of the opposing faction were arrested on trumped-up charges, and some were killed when the faction in power falsely claimed they had resisted arrest. The conflict gained national attention and on two occasions the governor sent troops to maintain order with little effect. Eventually a posse of as many as 100 individuals were organized and armed by Daniel Boone Logan with the tacit consent of Gov. J. Proctor Knott and Governor-elect Simon Buckner. In a dramatic two-hour gun battle through the center of Morehead, several Tollivers (including Craig) were killed and the Tollivers' control of the county was broken. Two men were later acquitted for the murder of Craig Tolliver.Morehead State University was established as an indirect result of the feud. After the state militia came to settle the feud, the Disciples of Christ established a church and school which served as the forerunner to the university.
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