Clark County Hemp
Posted by: 
geoprof123
N 38° 01.693 W 084° 16.729
16S E 738842 N 4212441
Ever wander where all that hemp rope came from.
Waymark Code: WMERFP
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 07/01/2012
Views: 5
Marker Number 1319
County Clark
Location 5 mi. W. of Winchester, US 60
Description
One of the ten Bluegrass counties which produced over 90 percent of the entire country's yield in late 1800s. Production increased from 155 tons in 1869 to over 1,000 tons in 1889, valued at about $125 per ton. In 1942, Winchester selected as site of one of 42 cordage plants built throughout country to offset fiber shortage during war. See over.
(Reverse) Hemp in Kentucky - First crop grown, 1775. From 1840 to 1860, Ky.'s production largest in U.S. Peak in 1850 was 40,000 tons, with value of $5,000,000. Scores of factories made twine, rope, oakum to caulk sailing ships and cotton bagging. State's largest cash crop until 1915. Market lost to imported jute, freed of tariff. As war measure, hemp grown again during World War II. See over.
Subjects
Hemp , World War II
Marker Name: Clark County Hemp
Marker Location: Roadside
Type of Marker: Other
Marker Number (for official markers): 1319
Group(s) Responsible for placing Marker:
Kentucky Historical Society
Kentucky Department of Highways
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Visit Instructions:
A picture of the site or anything specific to the text on marker.