Greenup in Greenup County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Raccoon Furnace
⎯⎯⎯
Iron Made in Kentucky
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 30, 2018
1. Raccoon Furnace side of marker
Racoon Furnace. Built in 1833 by D. Trimble and J.T. Withrow, six miles south. Originally 35 ft. high with a maximum inner diameter of 10½ ft. In 1873 this furnace produced 1467 tons of iron. It owned about 10,000 acres of land, mining its own ore and limestone, and making its own charcoal. Not operated after 1884.
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 1967 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways, and Armco Steel Corp. (Marker Number 1009.)
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 1833.
Location. 38° 34.51′ N, 82° 50.413′ W. Marker is in Greenup, Kentucky, in Greenup County. It is at
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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: County Named, 1803 (approx. Ό mile away); A Masterful Retreat (approx. Ό mile away); Greenup Town Fathers (approx. Ό mile away); Jesse Stuart (approx. Ό mile away); McKee House (approx. 0.6 miles away); E. K. Railway (approx. Ύ mile away); Jesse Stuart (1906-1984) (approx. 2.6 miles away); John M. McConnell House (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenup.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 30, 2018
2. Iron Made in Kentucky side of marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 30, 2018
3. Raccoon Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,030 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
