National Register of Historic Places

Russellville Historic District

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky
Listed
July 13, 1976
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76000919

About this property

The Russellville Historic District in Russellville, Kentucky, is in south central Kentucky. Among Kentuckian municipalities in its size range it has the largest historic district, comprising fifty separate city blocks. Another distinction is that the district is centered on the commercial corridor, instead of the county courthouse, unlike most county seats in Kentucky. Russellville was known as a "rogue's harbor", as many of its early settlers moved there due to being wanted by the law in other areas, or simply needed a fresh start. The first house in the district was built in 1790, but it no longer stands. Much of the district is formed of buildings from the late 18th to 19th centuries, with the more prominent ones built between 1800 and 1830, including the homes of four Kentucky governors. Most of the modern structures in the district were designed so as to blend in with older buildings. The wealthier citizens of the district historically lived in the southwestern corner. Northwest of the district's cemetery is where Irish immigrants who worked on the local railroads lived. The district also features several excellent structures of Victorian architecture, whose atypical-for-Kentucky partial mansard roofs indicate a construction date after the Civil War. There is significant history in the district. It was here in the William Forst House that the Confederate government of Kentucky was formed, commemorated by the Confederate Monument in Russellville. It is also the site of the first documented bank robbery by Jesse James, which occurred in 1868, of the Nimrod Long Banking Company, totalling $9,000. Future United States President Andrew Jackson fought a duel in the district.

Location

Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky
36.84579, -86.88440

Categories

COMMERCELAWPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Russellville Historic District

This page lists Russellville Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Black Bottom Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Confederate Monument in Russellville
Civil War
0.2 mi
Russellville Armory
Industrial
0.2 mi
Forst, William, House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Rhea Stadium
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Russellville Skirmish (1864)
1864Civil War
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Russellville Historic District listed on the National Register?

Russellville Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Russellville Historic District?

Russellville Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Russellville Historic District?

The period of significance for Russellville Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Russellville Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Russellville Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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