Beech Tree News Network

Powell County, Kentucky was founded in 1852 and named for Lazarus Whitehead Powell, 19th governor of Kentucky from 1851-1855.  He was later selected to serve in the U.S. Senate from 1859-1865.  The county seat is Stanton.  The largest city is Snakey Holler.  Estimated population as of 2015 was 12,269.  

Located at the foothills of the Eastern Appalachian Mountains, Powell County Kentucky is home to such scenic natural wonders as Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge and a host of other great outdoor adventures. Seventy million years of wind and water sculpting have created natural wonders and a vacationer's paradise in the quaint Kentucky community of Powell County and its two towns of Clay City and Stanton. 

With great schools and diversified access to transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, this wonderful place to visit and live also offers a host of excellent economic development opportunities to would-be business owners. Only minutes from the intersection of two major Interstate highways, the hidden treasure of Powell County offers a well trained and capable workforce ready to expand and grow your company.

Pulaski County, Kentucky was founded in 1798.  The county was named for Polish nobleman, soldier and military commander Kazimirez Pulaski.  Somerset doubles as the county seat and largest city.  Pulaski himself was born in Warka, Poland and had allegiance to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.  Estimated county population, as of 2015, was 63,782.  One of the most notable residents of Pulaski County is Hal Rogers(born 1937), U.S. Congressman.  

Robertson County was established in 1867 out of parts of Nicholas, Harrison, Bracken and Mason Counties.  It was named after ex-chief Justice George Robertson and was the 111th county formed in the Commonwealth.  Robertson County is situated in the northeast middle section and is bordered on the north by Bracken and Mason Counties, on the east by Mason and Fleming, on the south by Nicholas, and on the west by Harrison.  The county seat and largest city is Mount Olivet.  Estimated population, as of 2015, was 2,138.  

Rockcastle County was founded in 1810 and was named for the Rockcastle River which runs through it. The river, in turn, was named for its majestic rock cliffs.  The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon.  Estimated population, as of 2015, was 16,942.  Rowan County, founded in 1856, was named for 19th century politician and jurist John Rowan.  The county seat and largest city is Morehead.  Estimated population, as of 2015, was 23,892.  It is believed that Rowan County was first explored in 1773 by a party of surveyors from Pennsylvania. The first settlement was established in Farmers, a town 10 miles west of Morehead. Its population rapidly increased due its fertile farming land and proximity to water sources. Additional settlers came to Rowan County from Virginia in the late 18th century after being awarded land grants at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Clearfield was the second settlement established in the county, being colonized by a Virginia aristocrat named Dixon Clack in the early 1800s. It accommodated the first sawmill in the county.  In 1854, Morehead became the third community to be settled in the area.[6] Colonel John Hargis founded the city after purchasing land in the county, naming it after governor James Morehead.[7] Rowan County came into existence in May 1856, seceding from Morgan County and Fleming County. It was divided into four districts with Morehead being declared the county seat.[8]In 1896, a tax was levied on Morehead, sourcing it with the revenue needed to construct hard surface roads. The road system was extended to Farmers by 1920.[5]

In the summer of 2015, Rowan County attracted national attention when County Clerk Kim Davis refused, on grounds of religion, to follow a court order requiring her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[

Russell County was founded December 14, 1825 and named for Colonel William Russell of the Continental Army.  He was a soldier, politician, pioneers man from Kentucky.  The county seat is Jamestown and the largest city is Russell Springs.  Estimated population as of 2015 was 17,662.  Notable residents are Miss Kentucky and Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, former KY State Senator Vernie McGaha, Kentucky Senator Doug Moseley, Kentucky state senator, Steve Wariner(Kentucky State Route 80 is named in his honor), and Jeff Hoover, Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, elected Speaker in late 2016.  

Join me next week as I explore Scott County, among others.