Lexington, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Lexington is an unincorporated community
in Lexington Township
, Scott County
, Indiana
, United States
, located about 10 miles west of the Ohio River
and 28 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky
. The town itself was founded before Indiana became the 19th state in 1816 and was located in Jefferson County
at the time it was platted. It was the original county seat from 1820 to 1874 before local leaders decided on a more central location at nearby Scottsburg
which created animosity between the residents of the two towns for several decades afterwards.
, won the honor. It was originally in Jefferson County
until 1820 when Scott County was created from parts of surrounding counties: Jennings
, Jefferson
, Clark
, Washington
, and Jackson
. Since there were no other towns in the county, Lexington was selected as the county seat. Due to its location in the southeastern portion of the county, there were several unsuccessful attempts at relocating the county seat to a more central location, which did not actually occur until 1874 when it was relocated to Scottsburg, the name of which at the time was spelled "Scottsburgh". Records were removed from the courthouse at night to avoid a civil war between residents. The removal of the county seat to Scottsburg created animosity between the two towns for several decades.
Morgan's Raiders came through Lexington during the American Civil War
on July 10-11, 1863, meeting little resistance upon entering the town.
The infamous Reno Gang
who committed the first and second train robberies in the United States
were held at the Scott County Jail in Lexington in 1868 for the robbery which occurred on May 22 at Marshfield, now a defunct community north of Scottsburg, Indiana
. They were moved to the Floyd County Jail in New Albany, Indiana
, and ultimately hung in the stairwell of the jail when a mob broke in on December 11, 1868.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Lexington Township
Lexington Township, Scott County, Indiana
Lexington Township is one of five townships in Scott County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 3,268.-External links:* *...
, Scott County
Scott County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,960 people, 8,832 households, and 6,491 families residing in the county. The population density was 121 people per square mile . There were 9,737 housing units at an average density of 51 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located about 10 miles west of 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...
and 28 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky
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 town itself was founded before Indiana became the 19th state in 1816 and was located in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
at the time it was platted. It was the original county seat from 1820 to 1874 before local leaders decided on a more central location at nearby Scottsburg
Scottsburg, Indiana
Scottsburg is a city in Vienna Township, Scott County, Indiana, United States, about north of Louisville, Kentucky. The population was 6,747 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Scott County. As of 2010, William H...
which created animosity between the residents of the two towns for several decades afterwards.
Geography
Lexington is located at 38°39′9.09"N 85°37′34.50"W (38.652525,-85.62625).History
Lexington was originally settled in 1804 and platted in 1810. It was one of eight towns that were considered for the first state capital of Indiana in which Corydon, IndianaCorydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
, won the honor. It was originally in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
until 1820 when Scott County was created from parts of surrounding counties: Jennings
Jennings County, Indiana
Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,525. The county seat is Vernon.-History:...
, Jefferson
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
, Clark
Clark County, Indiana
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2010 Census, the population was 110,232. The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clarksville is also a major city in the county...
, Washington
Washington County, Indiana
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,262. The county seat is Salem.Washington County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Early settlers:...
, and Jackson
Jackson County, Indiana
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 42,376. The county seat is Brownstown.-History:...
. Since there were no other towns in the county, Lexington was selected as the county seat. Due to its location in the southeastern portion of the county, there were several unsuccessful attempts at relocating the county seat to a more central location, which did not actually occur until 1874 when it was relocated to Scottsburg, the name of which at the time was spelled "Scottsburgh". Records were removed from the courthouse at night to avoid a civil war between residents. The removal of the county seat to Scottsburg created animosity between the two towns for several decades.
Morgan's Raiders came through Lexington during the American 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...
on July 10-11, 1863, meeting little resistance upon entering the town.
The infamous Reno Gang
Reno Gang
The Reno Brothers Gang, also known as the Reno Gang and The Jackson Thieves, were a group of criminals that operated in the Midwestern United States during and just after the American Civil War. Though short-lived, they carried out the first three peacetime train robberies in U.S. history...
who committed the first and second train robberies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were held at the Scott County Jail in Lexington in 1868 for the robbery which occurred on May 22 at Marshfield, now a defunct community north of Scottsburg, Indiana
Scottsburg, Indiana
Scottsburg is a city in Vienna Township, Scott County, Indiana, United States, about north of Louisville, Kentucky. The population was 6,747 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Scott County. As of 2010, William H...
. They were moved to the Floyd County Jail in New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, and ultimately hung in the stairwell of the jail when a mob broke in on December 11, 1868.
Notable natives
- William Hayden EnglishWilliam Hayden EnglishWilliam Hayden English was an American politician from Indiana.William English was most famous for his role in the passage of the infamous, pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution of Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1858...
, Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate in 1880United States presidential election, 1880The United States presidential election of 1880 was largely seen as a referendum on the end of Reconstruction in Southern states carried out by the Republicans. There were no pressing issues of the day save tariffs, with the Republicans supporting higher tariffs and the Democrats supporting lower... - Joseph H. Shea, U.S. Ambassador to ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
from 1916 to 1921