West Point, Kentucky
| West Point, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location of West Point, Kentucky |
|
| Coordinates: 37°59′30″N 85°57′16″W / 37.99167°N 85.95444°WCoordinates: 37°59′30″N 85°57′16″W / 37.99167°N 85.95444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Hardin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km2) |
| • Land | 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,100 |
| • Density | 408.5/sq mi (157.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 40177 |
| Area code(s) | 502 |
| FIPS code | 21-81930 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0506467 |
West Point is a city in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States, near the edge of Fort Knox military reservation on Dixie Highway. It is located in a former meander bend of the Ohio River. The population was 1,100 at the 2000 census.
West Point is part of the Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.
West Point was founded by pioneer James Young, who built a cabin at the site in 1789 and, in 1797, built a brick house and inn that is still standing today. In 1803, Lewis and Clark passed nearby and recruited West Point citizen John Shields to join their Corps of Discovery.
West Point sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt Rivers, a strategic position that led Union forces to construct a fort here during the Civil War to protect their supply routes. Fort Duffield is the State's largest and best-preserved earthen fortification from the period.
West Point also retains many of its other historic resources, and a large portion of the community is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
One of the newest preservation projects in West Point is the rehabilitation of the West Point Independent Colored School (1926), one of the "Rosenwald Schools" built by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to educate African-Americans in rural areas. Plans call for using the one-room school as a visitor, educational, and research facility.
West Point commemorated the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's visit with a heritage festival that both celebrated local history and drew heritage tourists. Year-round, Fort Duffield is an important tourist destination, and the city recently secured a grant to fund walking trails at the site.
West Point was a childhood residence of the late Louisiana Governor James A. Noe, Sr., a wealthy oilman and landowner.
West Point is located at 37°59′30″N 85°57′16″W / 37.99167°N 85.95444°W (37.991543, -85.954540), at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt Rivers.
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Wikipedia