Cynthiana

History

The settlement developed on both sides of the South Fork of the Licking River. It was named after Cynthia and Anna Harrison, daughters of Robert Harrison, who had donated land to establish the town center. Harrison County, on the other hand, was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an early settler in the area who had served as sheriff of Bourbon County. Two Civil War battles were fought in Cynthiana. The first on July 17, 1862, was part of a cavalry raid into Kentucky (which stayed in the Union) by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan; the second, on June 11 and 12, 1864, resulted in Union defeat of Confederate forces during Morgan's last raid into the state. On January 23, 1877, an LL chondrite meteorite fell in Cynthiana. On March 2, 1997, the South Fork of the Licking River flooded, causing extensive damage in Cynthiana and neighboring communities. In early March 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Cynthiana was reported to have the first case of the disease diagnosed in Kentucky. Four more cases soon followed, and by March 12, most businesses, schools and churches closed in an effort to prevent further spread.

Geography

Cynthiana is located in southern Harrison County. U.S. Routes 27 and 62 pass through the city, passing west of the downtown area. US 27 leads north to Cincinnati and south to Paris, while US 62 leads northeast to Maysville and southwest to Georgetown. Lexington is to the southwest via US 27 or via Kentucky Route 353. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.09%, are water. The South Fork of the Licking River, a tributary of the Ohio River, flows south to north through the city, passing west of the downtown area. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cynthiana has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  447
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  335
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  326
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  304
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  304
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  284
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  259
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  252