Near Hopewell in Greenup County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Hopewell Furnace
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Iron Made in Kentucky
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
1. Hopewell Furnace side of marker
Hopewell Furnace. In 1824 William Ward built here a bloomery forge, converting it, 1832-33, to a blast furnace, also known as Camp Branch Furnace. Air blast was water-powered. In 1838 this stone stack made 600 tons of ore, and burning 165,000 bushels of charcoal fuel. Operations ceased in 1844.
Iron Made in Kentucky. A major producer since 1791, Kentucky ranked 3rd is U.S. in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, and Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads.
Erected 1968 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways, and Armco Steel Corp. (Marker Number 1143.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location. 38° 24.878′ N, 82° 53.994′ W. Marker is near Hopewell, Kentucky, in Greenup County. It is on Kentucky Route 1 north
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Kyova Tri-State Region. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs (within shouting distance of this marker); Oldtown Covered Bridge (approx. 1.2 miles away); Laurel Furnace / Iron Made In Kentucky (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Grave of Lucy Virgin Downs (approx. 1.8 miles away); E. K. Railway Hunnewell (approx. 2.9 miles away); Pactolus Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 4 miles away); Greenup County's Crowning Jewel (approx. 4½ miles away); Buffalo Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 4½ miles away).
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
2. Iron Made in Kentucky side of marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2018
3. Hopewell Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky Marker
via 30 Days of Kentucky Archaeology, unknown
4. Iron Furnaces of Kentucky
30 Days of Kentucky Archaeology website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,765 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 14, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on March 11, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
