Stephensport, Kentucky

Stephensport is an unincorporated community in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, United States.

Stephensport, Kentucky
Unincorporated community
Stephensport is located in Kentucky
Stephensport
Stephensport
Stephensport is located in the United States
Stephensport
Stephensport
Coordinates: 37°54′45″N 86°31′38″W
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyBreckinridge
Elevation
430 ft (130 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
40170
Area code270
GNIS feature ID515690[1]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Stephensport has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[2]

Geography

Stephensport is located on the Ohio River along Kentucky Route 144, 9.8 miles (15.8 km) north-northwest of Hardinsburg.[3]

History

Richard Stephens served as a private in the Continental Army for 3 years during the American Revolution. For his service to George Washington, Richard Stephens, in February 1784, then 29 years old, accepted a 100,000 land grant on the Ohio River in Kentucky. Over time, Richard Stephens added more land to his estate. By 1799, with over 100,000 acres (about 150 square miles), including a large plantation 8 miles south of Hawesville and the land Stephensport was sitting on, and at least a dozen slaves, Richard Stephens was the wealthiest landowner in Breckinridge County.[4][5]

Stephensport, which was plotted in 1803, and named in his honor.[5][4] It was incorporated in 1825.[6]

In 1830, Richard Stephens' son, Daniel J. Stephens, had a Methodist church built. In the 1850s a Baptist congregation was formed.[7]

During the nineteenth century the town was relatively prosperous. It had several general stores, a drug store, warehouses, a school, flour mills, a bank, hotels, and saloons. In 1887, the town had oil street lamps installed. The economic activity was brought in by riverboats and then by the completion of the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis railroad in 1888. In 1896 the town purchased a city hall.[7]

A fire swept through the northeast corner of town in 1912 destroying several stores and the bank. The town Board of Trustees no longer met after 1915. Another fire in 1927 burned down two warehouses and two stores. Most non-agricultural economic activity that was left was destroyed by the Ohio River flood of 1937.[7]

In 1950, a new bridge was placed over Sinking Creek and in 1952 Main Street was paved.

Post office

Stephensport has a post office with ZIP code 40170, which opened on December 12, 1825.[8][9]

References
  1. "Stephensport". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. Climate Summary for Stephensport, Kentucky
  3. State Primary Road System: Breckinridge County (PDF) (Map). Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  4. Johnson, E. Polk (1912). A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians: The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities. Lewis Publishing Company.
  5. Leonard, Elizabeth D. (October 10, 2011). Lincoln's Forgotten Ally: Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt of Kentucky. Univ of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-6938-3.
  6. Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 96.
  7. "Stephensport". USGenWeb Archives Project. April 11, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  9. "Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
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