Located in the eastern part of Kentucky, West Liberty is a small city with a big past. If you’re interested in learning more about the area and some of the people who lived here, read on to discover a few interesting historical facts about West Liberty.
1. The First Log Cabin Was Built by Daniel Williams
When settlers first arrived in the area, they found land that offered rich soil and an abundance of wildlife. It’s believed that Baptist preacher Daniel Williams constructed the first log cabin in West Liberty. Williams came to Kentucky with Daniel Boone in 1775. He later established one of the first churches in the area near Mount Sterling. Today, around 60 percent of the people in Morgan County can trace their roots back to the Williams family.
2. It Was Originally Called Wells Mill
When the town was first settled in 1816, it was called Wells Mill because Edmund Wells had a water mill on the Licking River. When Morgan County was first founded in 1823, Wells Mill was incorporated so it could become the county seat. At the same time, Pike County, which is situated to the east of Morgan County, was also creating its county seat. It was believed this city would be called “Liberty.”
To honor their neighbor to the east, officials in Morgan County renamed Wells Mill to “West Liberty.” However, Pike County opted to keep the name “Pikeville” as its county seat. This left the city of West Liberty with no namesake to the east. In fact, the only Liberty in Kentucky is actually located over 100 miles west of West Liberty.
3. Three Civil War Battles Were Fought Nearby
During the Civil War, three battles were fought near West Liberty. One of the earliest and most important battles that occurred in the eastern part of Kentucky happened in 1861 in West Liberty. At that time, Union forces surprised and captured secessionists while also releasing jailed Unionists. So much fighting occurred in West Liberty during the Civil War that much of the town was burned, including the courthouse.
4. It’s Home to the Morgan County Sorghum Festival
West Liberty is home to the annual Morgan County Sorghum Festival, which it has been celebrating on the last full weekend of September for almost 50 years. This popular festival brings in around 50,000 visitors every year. The entire downtown area is cordoned off and a large pavilion tent is put up to house the craft booths. These craft booths offer a variety of handmade Appalachian crafts and folk art. Numerous roadside vendors also set up outside the tent to sell antiques, furniture, homemade quilts, pies, cakes, jellies, jams, and more.
Other top events at the festival include live music and entertainment, two Civil War re-enactments, the annual Morgan County Sorghum Bowl football game, the crowning of the Sorghum Queen, and a parade that features floats, horses, motorcycles, and classic cars.
The next time you’re driving through West Liberty, take some time to admire its beauty and appreciate what a unique and varied history it has.
Image via Flickr by w.marsh
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