Kentucky River Packets
Kentucky River Packets by Charles H. Bogart, published by Lulu.com on August 27, 2018, is a detailed exploration of the historical significance of the Kentucky River. Spanning 238 pages, this book examines the river’s role as a vital economic artery in eastern Kentucky, particularly during the rise of steamboat trade in the 1820s. It highlights how the river facilitated trade with the lower south and discusses the impact of the Civil War and the subsequent shift to railroads and towboats.
Readers will find a comprehensive account of the Kentucky River’s development and its influence on local communities. The narrative covers the construction of locks and dams between 1836 and 1842, which enabled year-round navigation and supported the economy of isolated river towns. The book provides insights into the evolution of river traffic, from steam packetboats to gasboats, and their eventual decline during the Great Depression. Through its focus on history, Kentucky River Packets offers a thorough understanding of the river’s importance in shaping the region’s economic landscape.
Official synopsis Publisher
The Kentucky River is formed in eastern Kentucky at Beattyville, where the North, Middle and South Forks join together. The river then flows 260 miles to the Ohio River at Carrolton. The river drains much of the central region of the state. With the appearance of the early steamboats on the Kentucky River in the 1820s, the river became the primary artery for economic growth with trade with the lower south. This dominance lasted until the Civil War when the railroads surpassed the packetboats with freight traffic. After the war, river traffic shifted to towboats pushing barges of bulk commodities. However, steam packetboats, and later gasboats, continued to service the isolated river communities along the lower river until the Great Depression. In 1836-1842, the Commonwealth of Kentucky constructed five locks and dams, from Carrollton to Tyrone. These dams created pools of water which allowed year round “slackwater” navigation. The state operated these locks until after the Civil War.
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