Downtown Greensburg Historic District (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
The Downtown Greensburg Historic District in Greensburg, Kentucky
, the county seat of Green County
, is a historic district
on the National Register of Historic Places
. It consists of 47 contributing properties.
Greensburg was founded in 1794. The town site was originally called Glover's Station, named after its founder John Glover in 1779. The name change was due to the founding of Green County, and renaming the town to reflect the county's name. The county name was to honor American Revolutionary War
General Nathaniel Greene
.
Due to their proximity to the Cumberland Trace
, the town and the county grew rapidly. Green County's population jumped from 1,000 in 1790 to 6,096 in 1800, 6,735 in 1810, and 11,943 in 1820, with its highest population being 14,212 in 1840, when the county included what is now Taylor County
.
Most of the buildings in the district are of Federal
or Greek Revival architectural style. Due to the heyday of the town and county being between 1794 and 1840, almost all the outstanding architecture is pre-1840, as after that year the population decreased in favor of other areas in Kentucky, as the Cumberland Trace gave way to railroads and steamboats for transportation. Although it escaped any conflict during the Civil War
, it still was impacted by the economic downturn felt by the rest of Kentucky after the War. It also means that the basic structure of Kentucky seats built around 1800 is largely intact.
The center of the historic district features the old courthouse, which was separately listed on the National Register 31 years before the district itself. It was the second courthouse the county had. It was built by five men between 1802–1804, and was used for 130 years, ceasing to be an active courthouse in 1931. The Jane Todd Crawford Library was on the second floor. It is the oldest courthouse west of the Allegheny Mountains
. The limestone
used in its construction was quarried locally.
Greensburg, Kentucky
Greensburg is a city in Green County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,396 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Green County...
, the county seat of Green County
Green County, Kentucky
Green County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. As of 2000, the population was 11,518. Its county seat is Greensburg. The county is named for Nathanael Greene...
, is a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It consists of 47 contributing properties.
Greensburg was founded in 1794. The town site was originally called Glover's Station, named after its founder John Glover in 1779. The name change was due to the founding of Green County, and renaming the town to reflect the county's name. The county name was to honor American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
General Nathaniel Greene
Nathaniel Greene
Nathaniel Greene may refer to:*Nathanael Greene , American Revolutionary War general*Nathaniel Greene , American journalist...
.
Due to their proximity to the Cumberland Trace
Cumberland Gap
Cumberland Gap is a pass through the Cumberland Mountains region of the Appalachian Mountains, also known as the Cumberland Water Gap, at the juncture of the U.S. states of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia...
, the town and the county grew rapidly. Green County's population jumped from 1,000 in 1790 to 6,096 in 1800, 6,735 in 1810, and 11,943 in 1820, with its highest population being 14,212 in 1840, when the county included what is now Taylor County
Taylor County, Kentucky
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 22,927. Its county seat is Campbellsville. The county is named for President Zachary Taylor, who served from 1849 to 1850. Taylor is a moist county...
.
Most of the buildings in the district are of Federal
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
or Greek Revival architectural style. Due to the heyday of the town and county being between 1794 and 1840, almost all the outstanding architecture is pre-1840, as after that year the population decreased in favor of other areas in Kentucky, as the Cumberland Trace gave way to railroads and steamboats for transportation. Although it escaped any conflict during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, it still was impacted by the economic downturn felt by the rest of Kentucky after the War. It also means that the basic structure of Kentucky seats built around 1800 is largely intact.
The center of the historic district features the old courthouse, which was separately listed on the National Register 31 years before the district itself. It was the second courthouse the county had. It was built by five men between 1802–1804, and was used for 130 years, ceasing to be an active courthouse in 1931. The Jane Todd Crawford Library was on the second floor. It is the oldest courthouse west of the 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...
. The limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
used in its construction was quarried locally.