Elizabethtown in Hardin County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Industry

1960's

— Clifford Diecks —

Industry Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 27, 2025

1. Industry Marker

Inscription. Diecks was one of the local businessmen who started the Industrial Foundation.
Artist: Wes Kendall

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 37° 41.644′ N, 85° 51.604′ W. Marker is in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in Hardin County. It is on West Dixie Avenue (U.S. 31W) north of Mulberry Street (U.S. 62). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W Dixie Ave, Elizabethtown KY 42701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 walking distance of this marker: Medicine (here, next to this marker); Education (here, next to this marker); Post Civil War (here, next to this marker); Civil Rights (a few steps from this marker); The Military Presence (a few steps from this marker); Civil War (a few steps from this marker); Lincoln (a few steps from this marker); Early Settlers (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elizabethtown.

More about this marker. The marker is a part of a series of banners depicting historical events related to Elizabethtown and Hardin County

Also see . . . Industrial Foundation Celebrates 60 Years of Economic Development. A history of the Industrial Foundation

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1956, Elizabethtown retailers were concentrated near Public Square. The Kentucky Turnpike, now Interstate-65, was new. Hardin Memorial Hospital was two years old, and it would be another eight years before Elizabethtown Community College opened.

At this time, a group of Elizabethtown businessmen had been considering the community’s economic assets. After the Korean conflict, with concern about military spending cuts, these community leaders convened to diversify and grow Elizabethtown’s economy with new industries.

Their interest led to the incorporation of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation on Jan. 6, 1956...

With Clifford Diecks serving as the first president and chairman of the board, the Foundation’s work helped welcome industries such as Crucible Materials, Dow Corning and Gates Corporation to Elizabethtown.

(Submitted on April 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Industry Marker near the Elizabethtown City Hall entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 27, 2025

2. Industry Marker near the Elizabethtown City Hall entrance

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.