The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Kentucky (river)

KENTUCKY, a river of the state of the same name, rising in the Cumberland mountains on the S. E. frontier. Its principal feeders are the North, Middle, and South forks, which unite in Lee co., near the village of Proctor. The stream then takes a N. W. direction to the S. boundary of Fayette co., where it turns S. W. After keeping on this course for 15 or 20 m. it resumes its former direction, and preserves it until it enters the Ohio in Carroll co. Its length from the junction of its head streams to its mouth is 260 m., but the distance in a straight line between these two points is only 108 m. The scenery on the banks is famous for its romantic beauty. For a great part of its course the river flows between perpendicular limestone rocks, through which it appears to have gradually worn its way. The Kentucky has no large tributaries. It is navigable by means of locks and dams by steamboats 40 m. above Frankfort (62 m. from its mouth), and by flatboats 100 m. higher. Cannel and other kinds of bituminous coal, iron ore, and an excellent variety of marble are found along the banks of the river.