|
|
Christian County History and Information |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Christian County, the twenty-first in order
of formation, is located in southwestern Kentucky, a part
of the Pennyroyal region.
Covering 722 square miles, Christian County is the second
largest in the state (forty-five miles long and twenty-five
miles wide). The county seat is HOPKINSVILLE.
The County is bordered by Hopkins County (north), Muhlenberg County (northeast), Todd County (east), Montgomery County, TN (southeast), Stewart County, TN (southwest), Trigg County (west), Caldwell County (northwest). Cities, Towns and Communities include Crofton, Fort Campbell North, Hopkinsville, LaFayette, Oak Grove, Pembroke
Christian County was formed from a portion
of Logan County by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1796
and organized on March l, 1797. The new county was named
in memory of Col. William Christian, a native of Augusta
County, Virginia, and a veteran of the American Revolution.
He settled on Beargrass Creek near Louisville in 1785 and
was killed by Indians in southern Indiana the following
year. Originally, the county included all land north of
the Tennessee line, west of Logan County and the Green
River, south of the Ohio River and east of the Tennessee
River. All of the counties now in this area were formed
out of Christian County between 1798 and 1860.
James Davis and John Montgomery made the first
permanent settlement in the county around 1784. They brought
their families by flatboat down the Ohio River and then
up the Cumberland River to settle on Montgomery Creek,
southeast of present-day Pembroke. There the settlers built
a log blockhouse on land, where they hunted and farmed.
In the next two decades, settlement concentrated
in northern Christian County, which had abundant fresh
water, wild game, and timber for building and for firewood.
Poor road conditions, the struggle for existence, and the
land's topography isolated the valley settlements.
The flat, fertile land in southern Christian
County was settled in the first quarter of the nineteenth
century. Rich clay soil with a foundation of limestone
was well-suited for crops, especially dark tobacco. Most
of the land was barren of trees and covered in prairie
grass, with a few springs along Little River and West Ford
of the Red River. Large farms supported by slave labor
were patterned after those in the Tidewater and the Deep
South. Both sections of the county were fully settled by
1830, when the population reached 12,684.
During the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation
from Georgia to the Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma,
more than 13,000 Cherokee passed through western Kentucky
on the so-called Trail of Tears between October 1838 and
February 1839. Hundreds became ill and died en route, including
two aged chiefs, Fly Smith and White Path, who died while
camped in Hopkinsville.
In the four decades after settlement, the county
population doubled and many farm communities were established.
Rich farmland worked by slave labor produced livestock,
corn, and wheat, but the heart of local agricultural success
was the production of dark tobacco. Farmers specialized
in darkfired tobacco, popular in Europe for snuff, chewing,
and cigars. The nearby Cumberland and Tennessee rivers
carried the crops for large-scale marketing at New Orleans.
Toll road construction began in 1837. Western State Hospital
for the mentally ill was organized in 1848 near Hopkinsville.
The Civil War divided the county. Slave-owning
farmers in the southern part were Confederates and those
in Hopkinsville and the northern part who had no slaves
were Unionists. Christian County (now Todd County) was
the home of Union Gen. James S. Jackson, and birthplace
of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The rapid recovery
after the Civil War is reflected in the stable labor market,
the innovative methods used by farmers, and the investments
in turnpikes, railroads, schools, houses, warehouses, and
flour mills.
The first local tobacco market sale took place
in 1870. During the 1870s county farmers joined the Grange
movement, which all through the South promoted fraternal
cooperation to better the farmer's lot, and the annual
county fair drew large numbers of country and town people.
The county was the scene of tobacco farmers' revolt against
pricing in the early twentieth century. In 1913 Christian
County had one of the first county agents in Kentucky.
Geoffery Morgan, an Englishman, initiated a progressive
agricultural program, which introduced burley tobacco and
established the agricultural extension service. The Kentucky
Farm Bureau was formed in 1920, 4-H clubs in 1921, and
the first homemaker's club in 1924. Pennyrile Rural Electric
Cooperative came to the county in 1938. Turnpike construction
progressed rapidly during the 1870s, and by 1901 county
roads were free of all tolls. Rural free delivery of mail
began the same year. The first federal highway, constructed
of loose gravel between 1923 and 1927, was U.S. 41N and
418, known as the Dixie Bee Line. In 1932 this highway,
along with U.S. 68W, was the first paved road in the county.
A black school system was organized in 1872.
In 1885 the first black served on a grand jury, and by
1898 blacks had occupied the political offices of coroner,
jailer, constable, and pensioner. County political influence
shifted after the Civil War. Christian County was a Republican
stronghold in both national and local elections from 1865
through the 1928 election. Since that time the Democratic
party has carried all but four presidential elections and
has maintained control of county offices.
After 1940 mechanization transformed farming
operation, and soybean production replaced tobacco as the
principal cash crop. The county has a new public library
and a historical museum. a community concert association,
the expanded Western Kentucky State Fair, four radio stations,
and a television station. County improvements include the
Bassett Urban Renewal Project, the Riverfront Improvement
Project, and the Pennyrile Parkway and 1-24. Bethel College
closed, Hopkinsville Community College and University Heights
Academy opened, and the city and county school systems
merged. The county health department and a mental health
center were created when Jennie Stuart Medical Center was
enlarged.
The population was 56,224 in 1970; 66,878 in
1980; and 68,941 in 1990.. The Official County Website is located at http://www.christiancounty.org/ .
The courthouse burned in December 1864 and destroyed some records.
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
See Also Kentucky Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records
 |
PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The courthouse burned in December 1864 and destroyed some records. |
Christian County Clerk has Marriage
Records from 1797 and Land Records from 1797 and is located at 511
S Main Str, Suite
15, Hopkinsville, KY
42240-2300; (270)
887-4105, FAX: (270)
887-4186, [EMAIL] .
The duties of the county clerk are numerous and varied, falling into the general categories of clerical duties of the fiscal court, issuing and registering, recording and keeping records of various legal instruments, election duties, tax duties, transfers, and titling, and issuance of marriage licenses and much more. One of the most important responsibilities of the County Clerk's office is the recording of land records. The most common documents recorded are deeds, mortgages, and assignments and mortgage releases. The other is Marriage Liscenses
Christian County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Probate Records from 1797 and Court Records from 1797 and is located at Justice
Center,
100 Justice Way,
Hopkinsville, KY 42240;
270-889-6539,
Fax: 270-889-6029 .
The Circuit Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining the records of the circuit court. Divorces, civil litigation, criminal crimes, probate, wills , estates and various other functions.
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Christian County Court Records by clicking the link below:
Back to top |
|
|
See Also Vital Records in Kentucky
Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!
Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics is located at State
Dept of Human Resources, 275 E. Main St. 1EA, Frankfort, KY 40621; (502) 564-4212. They have the following records:
- Birth & Death Certificates:
The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910 and became effective Jan. 1, 1911.
The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for those born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence.Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
- Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Christian County clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
Cost of certificates: Birth: $10 per certificate;
Death, Marriage and Divorce are $6 per certificate
In Person: You can stop in the office at 275 E. Main St. in Frankfort and obtain a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate by completing an application form between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday. There is approximately a one-hour wait to receive the certificate.
Directions to Vital Statistics Office
By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" along with the necessary information to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St. 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Please include return address on envelope and application form.
Processing Time: Please allow up to approximately 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail.
Birth Records: Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September. You should request certified copies of your birth certificate early enough to avoid delays if you are planning retirement, sporting events for the children, travel/passports, children entering school for the first time, etc.
Death Records: There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax, on-line or purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek. There is an additional $10.50 fee for all credit card purchases. Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If faster delivery is required, you may wish to have the certified copy sent by Federal Express. Please state this when placing the order for the copy. There is an additional fee for this service.
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Christian County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
See Also Research In Census Records
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Christian County, Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Christian County, Kentucky are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890 but only returns for sixty-five Kentucky counties remain of the 1890 Union veterans and widows schedule of the federal census of Kentucky.
Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Extracts and indexes for many of Kentucky's censuses have been compiled and published. Original or microfilm copies of the federal census returns are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Several Kentucky indexes to censuses predate those published by AISI.
State School Census for Kentucky infrequently enumerated public school students beginning in 1888. Scattered records are at the office of the respective county Board of Health or Board of Education. Some are maintained by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Kentucky Historical Society.
See Also Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Christian County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Back to top |
|
|
Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Kentucky and other states.
You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Kentucky Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect...
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Maps. Email us with websites containing Christian County Maps by clicking the link below:
Back to top |
|
|
See Also Military Records in Kentucky
The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Christian County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
- Southern Claims Commission from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the CSA (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
- Kentucky Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 323 High Str, Paris, Ky, 40361;(859) 987- 1788
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
- Kentucky Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Christian County, Kentucky Military Books at Amazon.com
Back to top |
|
|
See Also Research In Tax Records
One of the most valuable sources for early Kentucky until 1892 is its tax records. Most counties have yearly tax records from the date of organization. Some early tax schedules list watercourse, value and acreage of real estate, men over twenty-one, young men between sixteen and twenty-one, slaves, and horses. Extant county tax schedules from the date of organization of the county through 1892 have been microfilmed for most counties and are available from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the FHL.
Numerous original tax records from 1892 are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The Kentucky Historical Society has tax records to 1875.
Kentucky tax lists are arranged by county and date. Within the counties, residents within its districts are grouped together and names usually arranged under the beginning letter of the surname, although these are not in strict alphabetical order. Some early tax records have been published and are available in research libraries.
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Christian County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
Back to top |
|
|
See Also Other Kentucky Genealogical Addresses
The Repositories
in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical
and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical
Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly,
quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies
should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are
usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived
materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be
more generalized and over look the smaller details that local
societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to
look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy
section and may have some resources that are not located at
archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums
in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years
gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All
these places are vitally important to the family genealogist
and must not be passed over.
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Christian County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Christian
County Genealogical Society, 1101 Bethel Street,
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
The Christian County Genealogical Society
meet every second Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the Community Room of the Hopkinsville-Christian
County Library.
- Local Kentucky Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
- The Kentucky Historical Society, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601; 877-444-7867,[EMAIL]
- The Kentucky Genealogical Society, PO Box 153, Frankfort, KY 40602-0153 [EMAIL]
- Kentucky Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
- Kentucky Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
Back to top |
|
|
See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kentucky
 |
Click Here to Search Kentucky Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. |
There are many churches and cemeteries in Christian County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Christian County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Church membership of early Kentuckians include Baptist, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Some church records were published, others were microfilmed, some are housed in church repositories, but many remain in the local church. Church records and histories may be found in periodicals pertaining to Kentucky. Repositories include the DAR Library, the FHL, Kentucky Historical Society, University of Kentucky Library, and Filson Club Library.
Many
collections of cemetery records are available for Kentucky.
In 1977 the Kentucky Historical Society began computerizing
extant cemetery records for the state. Cemetery tombstone transcriptions
are included in the Ardery collection.
Kentucky regional libraries and some other large genealogical
libraries outside the state have collections of Kentucky cemetery
transcriptions. In addition, publications pertaining to Kentucky
and Kentuckians frequently contain cemetery records for the
state.
Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Christian County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Back to top |
|
When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Christian County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Christian County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
- Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
- Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Christian County ] [ Kentucky ] [ Main Page ]
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
- Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
- Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
- Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
- Kentucky Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
- Christian County, Kentucky Family Books at Amazon.com
Back to top |
|
|
?
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
