Caroll C. Cropper Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Caroll C. Cropper Bridge is a continuous truss bridge
over the Ohio River
between Indiana
and Kentucky
. Built in 1977, the four-lane tied-arch cantilever span provides the western Ohio River crossing for the Interstate 275 beltway around the Cincinnati
area. The section of Interstate 275 on the Cropper bridge is the only Interstate highway in the Cincinnati, Ohio area that goes between Indiana and Kentucky. The bridge is the only highway bridge crossing for 20 miles west of the Cincinnati downtown area. The Markland Locks and Dam, which carries Indiana Highway 101 and Kentucky State Highway 1039, is 40 miles south and west of the Cropper Bridge.
During his terms in office, Cropper witnessed Big Bone Lick becoming a State Park, development of the airport now known as Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and the construction of Interstates 71 and 75. It was during Judge Cropper's terms that Boone County began its tremendous population growth. In a Kentucky Post interview in 1974, Cropper said “I'm not against progress, but I actually hate to see farms turn into subdivisions. It spoils the nature of the County. A lot of people are going to want to come here.” How prolific his prediction seems to be! During his twenty years in office, Judge Cropper saw the County increase in population 250% from approximately 10,000 to 25,000.
A Democrat, Cropper served as Boone County Campaign Manager for Franklin Roosevelt's first campaign for the presidency in 1932. He also served as chair of the Boone County Democratic Party. Upon his retirement in 1962, Judge Cropper became President of the People's Deposit Bank and five years later Chairman of the Board. Between 1901 and 1982, Cropper was one of only four long-standing Judges in Kentucky.
Judge Cropper died in the year of America's bicentennial, 1976, and is buried along with his wife Kathryn in Bullittsburg Baptist Cemetery.
Continuous truss bridge
A continuous truss bridge is a truss bridge which extends without hinges or joints across three or more supports. A continuous truss bridge may use less material than a series of simple trusses because a continuous truss distributes live loads across all the spans; in a series of simple trusses,...
over the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
between Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Built in 1977, the four-lane tied-arch cantilever span provides the western Ohio River crossing for the Interstate 275 beltway around the Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
area. The section of Interstate 275 on the Cropper bridge is the only Interstate highway in the Cincinnati, Ohio area that goes between Indiana and Kentucky. The bridge is the only highway bridge crossing for 20 miles west of the Cincinnati downtown area. The Markland Locks and Dam, which carries Indiana Highway 101 and Kentucky State Highway 1039, is 40 miles south and west of the Cropper Bridge.
History
The bridge is named for Judge Carroll Lee Cropper. Cropper became Boone County Judge in 1942 and served for the next twenty years. Cropper was born in a farm house near Bullittsburg Baptist Church in 1897 and graduated from Burlington High School in 1916. He served in World War I and after returning settled on his family farm, eventually becoming a cashier at the Boone County Deposit Bank. He served as a State Representative for twelve years beginning in 1934. Upon the death of Judge Nathaniel E. Riddell in 1942, Cropper was appointed to finish the unexpired term. The next year he was elected to his first full term. The position Cropper held is the equivalent of today's County Judge/Executive. Prior to the reorganization of county government in the early 1980s, County Judges in Kentucky also had judicial powers.During his terms in office, Cropper witnessed Big Bone Lick becoming a State Park, development of the airport now known as Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and the construction of Interstates 71 and 75. It was during Judge Cropper's terms that Boone County began its tremendous population growth. In a Kentucky Post interview in 1974, Cropper said “I'm not against progress, but I actually hate to see farms turn into subdivisions. It spoils the nature of the County. A lot of people are going to want to come here.” How prolific his prediction seems to be! During his twenty years in office, Judge Cropper saw the County increase in population 250% from approximately 10,000 to 25,000.
A Democrat, Cropper served as Boone County Campaign Manager for Franklin Roosevelt's first campaign for the presidency in 1932. He also served as chair of the Boone County Democratic Party. Upon his retirement in 1962, Judge Cropper became President of the People's Deposit Bank and five years later Chairman of the Board. Between 1901 and 1982, Cropper was one of only four long-standing Judges in Kentucky.
Judge Cropper died in the year of America's bicentennial, 1976, and is buried along with his wife Kathryn in Bullittsburg Baptist Cemetery.
Further reading
- Caroll C. Cropper Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels