Discover the Only President Born in Kentucky

The men who have become President of the United States have all been different. They were born in many states across the nation and come from unique backgrounds. Richard Nixon was the only one born in California, but Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of five born in New York. When it comes to Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln is the one president born in the Bluegrass State. Let’s explore the only president born in Kentucky and where he was raised. We’ll also include some facts about President Lincoln and the places in Kentucky where he lived.

The Only President Born in Kentucky

There are an eye-opening seven presidents born in Ohio, but only two were born in Texas. And when it comes to Kentucky, just one president was born in the Bluegrass State. Abraham Lincoln was born in Sinking Spring Farm, KY, on February 12, 1809. Lincoln served as the 16th President from 1861 to 1865. He lived in Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, KY for two years, then moved to the north side of the farm until he was seven when his family moved to Hurricane Township in Perry County in the State of Indiana.

About Sinking Spring Farm, KY

Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Sinking Spring Farm. The farm is located quite close to Hodgenville, KY. Hodgenville is a small town that has about 3,000 people and it is part of the Elizabethtown Metropolitan area. The site where Lincoln was born is now the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.

Other Places Where Lincoln Lived

Abraham Lincoln lived in several places around the country. Let’s take a look at each of those places.

• Perry County, IN: He lived after his family moved from Hodgenville.
• Macon County, IL: The family moved here for fear that there would be another milk sickness epidemic.
• New Salem, IL: Lincoln moved here by himself in 1831 where he lived here for six years.
• Springfield, IL: He moved here, which is where he practiced law and met Mary Todd whom he married in 1842.
• Washington DC: Lincoln lived here part-time as a Congressman in the late 1840s and as President of the United States.

About Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln lived in Hodgenville, KY for seven years until he moved to Indiana and later Illinois. He started a law practice in Springfield, which is where he met Mary Todd and later married. He never went to school and self-taught himself. Lincoln was in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834 to 1842 and later in Congress from 1847 to 1849. He lost a Senate race in 1859 but gained a national platform that got him to win the presidency in 1860 as a Republican. Serving during the Civil War, he ran for reelection in 1864 and won handily.

Lincoln Presidency’s Major Achievements

Throughout his presidency, Abraham Lincoln enacted legislation that impacted many people throughout the country. Let’s take a look at President Lincoln’s highlighting legislation during his presidency.

• Southern states secede from the union upon Lincoln’s election to the presidency. The cause of the start of the Civil War was slavery.
• Guided the country through the Civil War, ensuring the Union Army had sufficient supplies to win the war.
• Declares the Emancipation Proclamation, which frees all slaves in Confederate-controlled Southern states.
• Signs the National Banking Act, creating a national bank and a controller of said bank.
• The thirteenth Amendment passed Congress and eventually, enough states ratified the amendment in December 1865, effectively ensuring freedom for all slaves and no compensation for owners.
• The Battle of Appomattox ended the Civil War in April 1865.

Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

With the Civil War ending and the Union Army declaring victory, Lincoln was now tasked to create a more perfect union with Reconstruction. At the request of his wife, they went to see a play, Our American Cousin, at Ford’s Theater. At 10:15 p.m., Confederate spy John Wilkes Booth came into the theater box and shot Lincoln in the head. Abraham Lincoln died on the morning of April 15, 1865, aged 56. Andrew Johnson, his Vice President, became President later that day.

Lincoln was placed in the East Room of the White House followed by the Capitol Rotunda. Lincoln’s body was then transported to Springfield where he was buried. Years later, a monument and tomb were built in Springfield, where he now lies.

Conclusion

And there you have it, the only president ever born in Kentucky was Abraham Lincoln. He is considered the best president in history, as he served during the most consequential eras of American history. He steered the country during the Civil War and ensured it got out of it as a whole nation once more. His legacy is vast and today there are streets, schools, cities, and more named after him.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com