The Timeline. It’s incomplete and will never be finished. But it is a start, attempting to present key events in the Four Rivers Region. Additions are always happening here. Enjoy!
Fort Jefferson, Kentucky
Construction begins on Fort Jefferson with the civilian town of Clarksville, Kentucky. Soldiers and townsfolk abandoned the area the following year due to hostilities and lack of provisions.
Port Royal, Tennessee
The town of Port Royal officially incorporates, although European explorers and traders were here as early as the 1600s.
Boyd’s Landing, Kentucky
The first post office was established in Boyd’s Landing, Kentucky (now Canton), with settlements here dating back to 1799.
Canton, Kentucky
Canton, Kentucky’s first post office established after the town incorporated the year before. Previously known as Boyd’s Landing.
Wadesboro, Kentucky
The first post office opens in Calloway County at Wadesboro, the county seat. The first settlers arrived there around 1818.
McCracken County, Kentucky
The first McCracken County Court was held in Wilmington.
Wilmington, Kentucky
The town of Wilmington, Kentucky is officially established, the first seat of McCracken County.
Feliciana, Kentucky
The first post office is established in Feliciana, which has a wild tale of how the town got its name.
Bear Spring Furnace Opens
The first Bear Spring Furnace opens for business in 1830, although the exact date is unknown.
New Concord, Kentucky
After establishing a post office two years prior, New Concord incorporates as a town.
Callowaytown, Kentucky
The town of Callaway is officially incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly, later to be known as Callowaytown.
Blandville, Kentucky
The community of Blandville was picked as the Ballard County seat in 1842 with incorporation officially happening on this date.
Golden Pond, Kentucky
The first post office was established in Golden Pond. The town was eradicated with the creation of Land Between The Lakes in the 1960s.
Shiloh, Kentucky
The first post office is established at Shiloh with the town incorporating in 1876.
Olive, Kentucky
After residing shortly at nearby Bishop’s Mills, the post office moved two miles northwest and was renamed Olive.
Linton, Kentucky
After being known as Olive’s Landing and Shipsport, the town of Linton incorporates in Trigg County.
Camp Beauregard Established
Nearly 3,000 men arrived at this Confederate training camp, which for six months, was riddled with disease and atrocities.
Henrietta County, Kentucky
Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill creating Henrietta County, Kentucky, but voters in Trigg County killed the measure.
Kuttawa, Kentucky
Kuttawa, Kentucky is incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly. Parts of the original town are now under Lake Barkley.
Star Lime Works, Kentucky
A post office opens up at Star Lime Works, site of a large quarry and is now partially submerged by Kentucky Lake.
Backusburg, Kentucky
The first post office known as “Backusburgh” is established, named after Asa Backus, who opened grist mill here in 1869.
Graves County Atlas Published
A detailed atlas is published of Graves County in 1880 (exact date unknown), showing landowners, roads, towns and much more.
First Train Arrives in Murray
Although this exact date conflicts with another resource, the first train arrived in Murray in 1890.
Dexter, Kentucky
A post office was established at Dexter, Kentucky, after the completion of the new railroad, marking the beginning of the community.
Bear Spring, Tennessee
Although seeing significant economic activity since 1830, the first post office opens in Bear Spring, Tennessee.
Tennessee & Cumberland Railroad Opens
The first train heads down the new Tennessee & Cumberland River Railroad, but closed 23 years later.
Wooldridge Monuments
Colonel Henry G. Wooldridge is buried at his Wooldridge Monuments, called “The Strange Procession Which Never Moves”.
The Cadiz Railroad
The Cadiz Railroad incorporates and is completed the following year.
The Abandoned Cross Creeks Bridge Opens
The now-abandoned Cross Creeks Bridge opens for traffic.
Blood to Newburg, Kentucky
After being known as Newburg, Williams Ferry, Warburg, and Blood, the post office at this location adopted Newburg as its name on this date.
Jefferson Davis Monument Opens
The 351-foot Jefferson Davis Monument in Fairview, Kentucky opens to the public.
Cerulean Springs Hotel Burns
The famous Cerulean Springs Hotel burned, which was a popular spot for travelers for decades before automobiles.
First Eggners Ferry Bridge Opens
The first Eggners Ferry Bridge opens to traffic, spanning the Tennessee River at Aurora, Kentucky.
B-29 Bomber Crashes in Marshall County
Nine of ten crew members aboard a B-29 bomber perished when it crashed in southwestern Marshall County.
Pasty Cline Plane Crash Near Camden
Pasty Cline’s airplane crashed near Camden, Tennessee, causing the famous 30-year old singer to lose her life along with three others.
Barkley Dam is Dedicated
Barkley Dam is officially dedicated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The project began in 1957 with the lock operational in 1964.
Golden Pond, Kentucky Disappears
The post office closed on this date as part of the elimination of Golden Pond, Kentucky, by TVA for the creation of Land Between The Lakes.
Discovery Park of America Opens
The 50-acre Discovery Park of America opens to the public in Union City, Tenn.
Second Eggners Ferry Bridge Opens
Traffic moves to the new Eggners Ferry Bridge, replacing the original 84-year-old bridge across Kentucky Lake.