Jessamine County,
Kentucky
stretches across 173 square miles of gently rolling
Bluegrass
Country. The borders of the exciting city of
Lexington
form Jessamine County's northeastern boundary. The twists and turns of
the snaking
Kentucky
River form the southern border.
Founded in 1799, Jessamine County, KY began as a predominantly
agricultural region. As recently as 1987, farmland comprised 92% of
Jessamine. The rich soil produced corn, tobacco, vegetables and fruits.
Originally settled in the late 1770's, hemp became an important
Jessamine County crop by 1800. It became a leading Kentucky
producer of hemp by 1840, and by 1870, almost 2 million pounds came from
here annually. Whiskey distilling was also a major early industry.
With the increasing growth of neighboring Lexington,
Jessamine County transformed into a pleasant bedroom community. It
provides a more rural setting for those who seek to work in the city but
live a quieter lifestyle. Manufacturing firms discovered Jessamine
County in the late 20th century, and an industrial base is developing
here. The Faulkner-Fair Company moved to Jessamine County in 1957,
producing wood fixtures. The year 1966 saw the arrival of the Hayden
Company, a builder of barns and horse stalls. The 70's brought more
industries. Gulf
States Paper established a plant. Divisions of the Donaldson
Company, Sargent
and Greenleaf and NL
Industries call Jessamine County home. Businesses use the Southern
Railway to transport goods, and US Highway 27 quickly connects
Jessamine County to the major interstates in Lexington.
Jessamine County, KY holds a population of 39,041, according to the Census
2000. The KY 2004 estimate was more than 42,000, showing an 8%
increase. Through the final three decades of the 1900's, Jessamine
County grew 124%. The city of Nicholasville
is the county seat, with a population of almost 20,000.
Jessamine County's other city is Wilmore,
home to Asbury College
and Asbury
Theological Seminary. Wilmore, Kentucky is an enchanting community,
with carefully preserved architecture from the 1800's, and a Main Street
district listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The other towns of Jessamine County
include Keene,
Jessamine
and High
Bridge, home to the historic railroad trestle bridge
that spans the Kentucky River. Built in 1877, it was the engineering
marvel of its time, the highest bridge in America.
This remains a popular tourist destination.
Jessamine County, KY has much to offer tourists. A number of fine bed
and breakfasts found in elegant historic homes provide true Southern
hospitality and Kentucky charm. Visitors can cross the Kentucky River on
the Valley
View Ferry, Kentucky's oldest continuous business. The
Camp Nelson Heritage Park attracts Civil
War enthusiasts to tour the site of the old commissary depot.
Through the ages, the river has cut deeply through the terrain of
Jessamine County, KY, leaving behind magnificent gorges, cliffs and
outcroppings known as the Kentucky
Palisades Region. Within the Palisades is the Jim
Beam Nature Preserve, where the oldest rocks in Kentucky lie
exposed. Spectacular cliff tops look down on the Kentucky River. Rare
plants and some endangered species take refuge here.
Jessamine County, KY claims some of the most stunning scenery in the Bluegrass
Region. Known as the "Garden Area" of Central Kentucky,
Jessamine County provides the finest in rural living.
