Cloverport in Breckinridge County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Cloverport History 1873-1929

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 29, 2025

1. Cloverport History 1873 - 1929 Marker

Inscription.
Cloverport continued to prosper and grow for the rest of the century. The old wooden bridge was replaced by an iron bridge in 1873 and by 1876 the Breckinridge News had begun. Cloverport was the site for the first natural gas well, drilled in Western Kentucky in 1884. The Cloverport Gas Company was the first of several companies to form. On July 10, 1889, Judge John A. Murray turned on the gas at the bridge, making Cloverport the first city in Kentucky to be lit by gas.

The railroad came to Cloverport in 1888 with the completion of rails from Owensboro to Stephensport. 1892, Cloverport won the bid for the railroad shops. The shops employed close to 200 men and remained until their closing on May 31, 1929.

Clay soil found around Cloverport proved to be excellent for firing brick and tile. In 1890, three brickyards were in operation on the east end of town. This industry remained active until the closing of the American Olean Tile Plant in Cloverport.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is May 31, 1929.

Location. 37° 50.274′ N,

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86° 37.873′ W. Marker is in Cloverport, Kentucky, in Breckinridge County. It is on Elm Street north of West Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Elm St, Cloverport KY 40111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Western Coal Field.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

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: Cloverport History 1901-1922 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cloverport History - Late 1900's to Present (within shouting distance of this marker); Cloverport History 1830-1860 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cloverport History 1816-1828 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cloverport History 1803-1813 (about 400

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 29, 2025

2. Cloverport History 1873 - 1929 Marker

Marker is on a walking path at a riverfront park (near the shelter)

feet away); Cloverport History 1729-1802 (about 400 feet away); First Coal Oil (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lincoln Family Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cloverport.

Also see . . . Cloverport, Kentucky on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 18, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 18, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.