Redbud Capital of the World

Redbud Capital of the World. Bluegrass Music, Natural Beauty, Heritage. Mountainous, rugged, isolated, beautiful - all of these words have been used to describe Leslie County. Named for Preston H. Leslie, Governor of Kentucky (1871-75), it was formed in 1878. Its county seat, Hyden, founded in 1882, was named for state Sen. John Hyden, one of those responsible for establishing the county. , , For years, its rugged terrain isolated Leslie County. Travel by land was so difficult that supplies were brought up the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River by canoe and small boats. Not until the 1880s did a passable road connect Leslie County with the rest of Kentucky. , , Leslie County is located in the Eastern Coal Field region. Contained by Daniel Boone National Forest, it is rich in hardwoods. These abundant natural resources form the basis for Leslie County industry, including lumber mills and coal and lignite mines. Buckhorn Lake and the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River are the major water sources but streams are numerous. The two principal creeks, Cut-Shin and Hell-Fer-Sartin, supposedly received their colorful names from a disillusioned pioneer who tried to cross the swollen creeks after heavy rains. Among the towns, and villages in the county are Confluence, Cutshin, Sizerock, Smilax, Stinnett, Thousandsticks, Wooten, and Wendover. , , Leslie County is known worldwide as the home of the Frontier Nursing Service, founded by Mary Breckinridge in 1925. Her home, Wendover, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is now a popular bed and breakfast. Leslie County is also rich in Bluegrass and traditional music. Grand Ole Opry stars Bobby and Sonny Osborne, of the Osborne Brothers, were born in Hyden.