Bullitt's Lick
Encyclopedia
Bullitt's Lick is a historic salt lick
three miles south of Shepherdsville
in Bullitt County, Kentucky
. It was the first commercial supplier of salt
in Kentucky, and the first industry in Kentucky as well, supplying jobs for many residents, including slaves.
Its high salinity levels in regards to other sources of water made it a popular spot for buffalo and others animals, causing natural roads for humans to use. Squire Boone
noted killing a few buffalo by the lick in early 1779. Most such salt deposits in what is now Kentucky would have only been enough for a few settlers to use, in order to preserve their food. However, Bullitt's Lick was part of a concentration of salt, ranging from Bardstown Junction, Kentucky in the south, to across the Salt River
to just north of present-day Fairdale, Kentucky
, along the eastern side of the "Knobs" of the region.
Captain Thomas Bullitt
discovered the salt lick in 1773, while surveying land for Colonel William Christian
, who had been granted land due to his actions in the French and Indian War
. Christian's family owned the salt lick, but had others obtain the salt, and pay the Christians rent in salt for using the land, with Henry Crist being the most prominent of these sharecroppers
. Christian would not actually arrive at the salt lick until 1785, and would die from Indians
the next year. His widow soon died, leaving it to his son John Henry Christian, who also died young, giving it to all of his five sisters. During John's brief ownership, his guardian and uncle Patrick Henry
controlled it until John had reached legal age. Due to the sisters' marriages, control of the salt lick went to Alexander Scott Bullitt and William Pope Jr.
The first actual saltworks on the property were in 1779. Salt was difficult to obtain in the area, as there were few transportation facilities. (Louisville
, the first white settlement in the area, had only been established in 1778). Salt was extracted by boiling the water in 25 iron kettle
s above a 1000-gallon-sized trench of fire. These kettles originally weighed 100 pounds, but the later kettles would weigh up to 200 pounds. There would be three cycles of salt making in a 24-hour period. These furnaces were initially located by the salt lick itself, but once the nearby wood was used, the furnaces were moved to the newer supplies of wood, as that was a cheaper alternative than bringing the wood to the furnaces. Until 1780, it was the only saltworks west of Pennsylvania
's Allegheny Mountains
. This in turn made the Wilderness Road
the "inland intermodal distribution system" in the territories of the United States.
This salt would soon be used not only in Kentucky, but the Illinois Territory
, Tennessee Territory, and far away New Orleans
as well. It was taken to New Orleans and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
by way of flatboat
s. The salt business would last until cheaper supplies of salt were available by steamboat
by 1830, putting an end to Bullitt's Lick salt production.
Joseph Field
briefly worked for the salt works at Bullitt's Lick, and later was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
.
One side effect of Bullitt County's early salt making was the deforestation of much of its land. This was the impetus for the creation of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Salt lick
A mineral lick is a natural mineral deposit where animals in nutrient-poor ecosystems can obtain essential mineral nutrients...
three miles south of Shepherdsville
Shepherdsville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,334 people, 3,177 households, and 2,363 families residing in the city. The population density was 791.3 people per square mile . There were 3,402 housing units at an average density of 323.0 per square mile...
in Bullitt County, Kentucky
Bullitt County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,236 people, 22,171 households, and 17,736 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 23,160 housing units at an average density of...
. It was the first commercial supplier of salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
in Kentucky, and the first industry in Kentucky as well, supplying jobs for many residents, including slaves.
Its high salinity levels in regards to other sources of water made it a popular spot for buffalo and others animals, causing natural roads for humans to use. Squire Boone
Squire Boone
Squire Boone Jr. was an American pioneer and brother of Daniel Boone. In 1780, he founded the first settlement in Shelby County, Kentucky. The tenth of eleven children, Squire Boone was born to Nathan "Squire" Boone Sr. and his wife Sarah Boone in Berks County, Pennsylvania at the Daniel Boone...
noted killing a few buffalo by the lick in early 1779. Most such salt deposits in what is now Kentucky would have only been enough for a few settlers to use, in order to preserve their food. However, Bullitt's Lick was part of a concentration of salt, ranging from Bardstown Junction, Kentucky in the south, to across the Salt River
Salt River (Kentucky)
The Salt River is a river in Kentucky that drains . It begins near Danville, Kentucky, rising from the north slope of Persimmon Knob south of KY 300 between Alum Springs and Wilsonville, and ends at the Ohio River near West Point...
to just north of present-day Fairdale, Kentucky
Fairdale, Kentucky
Fairdale is a former census-designated place in southern Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2000 census. In 2003, the area was annexed to the city of Louisville due to a merger between the city and Jefferson County's unincorporated community...
, along the eastern side of the "Knobs" of the region.
Captain Thomas Bullitt
Thomas Bullitt
Thomas Bullitt was an United States soldier and pioneer from Prince William County, Virginia.Thomas was born to Benjamin and Sarah Bullitt abut 1734 in Prince William County of Virginia. He became active in the militia when young, and became interested in western exploration and development...
discovered the salt lick in 1773, while surveying land for Colonel William Christian
William Christian (Virginia)
William Christian was an "Indian fighter", Continental soldier, militiaman and politician from Virginia who served in the era of the American Revolution. He was a signatory to the Fincastle Resolutions and founder of Fort William...
, who had been granted land due to his actions in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. Christian's family owned the salt lick, but had others obtain the salt, and pay the Christians rent in salt for using the land, with Henry Crist being the most prominent of these sharecroppers
Sharecropping
Sharecropping is a system of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land . This should not be confused with a crop fixed rent contract, in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a fixed amount of...
. Christian would not actually arrive at the salt lick until 1785, and would die from Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
the next year. His widow soon died, leaving it to his son John Henry Christian, who also died young, giving it to all of his five sisters. During John's brief ownership, his guardian and uncle Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
controlled it until John had reached legal age. Due to the sisters' marriages, control of the salt lick went to Alexander Scott Bullitt and William Pope Jr.
The first actual saltworks on the property were in 1779. Salt was difficult to obtain in the area, as there were few transportation facilities. (Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, the first white settlement in the area, had only been established in 1778). Salt was extracted by boiling the water in 25 iron kettle
Kettle
A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water. Kettles can be heated either by placing on a stove, or by their own electric heating element.- Stovetop kettles :...
s above a 1000-gallon-sized trench of fire. These kettles originally weighed 100 pounds, but the later kettles would weigh up to 200 pounds. There would be three cycles of salt making in a 24-hour period. These furnaces were initially located by the salt lick itself, but once the nearby wood was used, the furnaces were moved to the newer supplies of wood, as that was a cheaper alternative than bringing the wood to the furnaces. Until 1780, it was the only saltworks west of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. This in turn made the Wilderness Road
Wilderness Road
The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers for more than fifty years to reach Kentucky from the East. In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a trail for the Transylvania Company from Fort Chiswell in Virginia through the Cumberland Gap into central Kentucky. It was later lengthened,...
the "inland intermodal distribution system" in the territories of the United States.
This salt would soon be used not only in Kentucky, but the Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
, Tennessee Territory, and far away New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
as well. It was taken to New Orleans and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
by way of flatboat
Flatboat
Fil1800flatboat.jpgA flatboat is a rectangular flat-bottomed boat with Fil1800flatboat.jpgA flatboat is a rectangular flat-bottomed boat with Fil1800flatboat.jpgA flatboat is a rectangular flat-bottomed boat with (mostlyNOTE: "(parenthesized)" wordings in the quote below are notes added to...
s. The salt business would last until cheaper supplies of salt were available by steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
by 1830, putting an end to Bullitt's Lick salt production.
Joseph Field
Joseph Field
Joseph Field was born in 1774 in Culpepper County, Virginia. His older brother Reuben was born in 1772. They were raised in Kentucky and considered to be part of the "nine young men from Kentucky" in the Lewis and Clark Expedition which they joined on August 1, 1803. Both men were known as fine...
briefly worked for the salt works at Bullitt's Lick, and later was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
.
One side effect of Bullitt County's early salt making was the deforestation of much of its land. This was the impetus for the creation of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is a 14,000 acre arboretum, forest, and nature preserve located in Clermont, Kentucky ....