West Point

History

West Point was founded by pioneer James Young, who built a cabin at the site in 1789 and, in 1797, built a brick house and inn that is still standing today. In 1803, Lewis and Clark passed nearby and recruited West Point citizen John Shields to join their Corps of Discovery. West Point sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt rivers, a strategic position that led Union forces to construct a fort here during the Civil War to protect their supply routes. Fort Duffield is the state's largest and best-preserved earthen fortification from the period. West Point also retains many of its other historic resources, and a large portion of the community is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. One of the newest preservation projects in West Point is the rehabilitation of the West Point Independent Colored School (1926), one of the "Rosenwald Schools" built by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to educate African-Americans in rural areas. Plans call for using the one-room school as a visitor, educational, and research facility. West Point commemorated the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's visit with a heritage festival that celebrated local history and drew heritage tourists. Year-round, Fort Duffield is an important tourist destination, and the city recently secured a grant to fund walking trails at the site. West Point was a childhood residence of the late Louisiana Governor James A. Noe Sr., a wealthy oilman and landowner.

Geography

West Point is located at the northern end of Hardin County at (37.991543, -85.954540), at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt rivers. The Dixie Highway (U.S. Routes 31W and 60) passes through the city just east of the downtown, leading northeast to Louisville and south to Elizabethtown, the Hardin County seat. Fort Duffield Park is located in the southern part of the city, with the remains of the fort sitting on top of a hill that rises above the downtown. The city is bordered to the south by the northern end of Fort Knox. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of West Point has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity