While rummaging around in my collection of everything you can imagine about Crittenden County, I came across a wonderful and colorful large brochure that was created by the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce, in 1977. It was produced by the Regional Services Office of Murray State University. What a wonderful way to share and preserve the history of our county and town. It's a shame one of these couldn't have been printed every year, or at least every five years. I hope you enjoy recalling some of the information I have abstracted from the brochure.
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The County
Kentucky's ninety-first count, Crittenden, was formed from Livingston County in 1842.
Located in the Pennyrile Region of western Kentucky, Crittenden County is names in honor of John J. Crittenden, a former Kentucky governor, U. S. senator, and U. S. attorney general.
The county covers a land area of 365 square miles and has a population of approximately 9,0000. The tradewater River flows along the northeastern border, while the northwestern boundary is formed by the Ohio River.
Crittenden County's transportation link across the Ohio is completed by a ferry which connects Kentucky 91 and Illinois 1 at Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, a historical town which once harbored outlaws and river pirates. The cove hideout now is marked by a state park.
The twenty-four hour, year-round ferry across the Ohio is operated by the tugs Candy H and Becky D, both out of the Port of Louisville. The 3,000-foot trip across the Ohio takes seven minutes to complete.
Ohio River traffic is served by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dam 50 operation, which is located twelve miles from Marion, the county seat. Opened in 1927, the one-lock day handles eighteen to twenty tows daily. Three to four million tons of cargo pass through the locks each month.
In addition to the lock, the dam complex includes seven houses, a powerhouse, water system, and a park area with picnic tables. Dam 50 will be closed in 1980 with the completion of a two-lock operation downstream at Smithland. Under a present proposal, the Dam 50 complex will be transferred to Crittenden County for development as a recreational facility.
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Marion
The major community, within Crittenden County, Marion, has a population of approximately 3,000. The city was named an All-Kentucky City in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Marion, a city which reflects traditional southern hospitality, is one of the thirteen original members of the hall of fame of the Kentucky Chambers of Commerce.
The city government of Marion is composed of a mayor (four-year-term) and six councilmen (two-year-terms). City service departments include the Marion Police, the Marion Volunteer Fire Department, and the Marion Water and Sewer Department.
Utility companies which serve the city and parts of the county are the West Kentucky Gas Company and Kentucky Utilities Company. Crittenden County also is serve by the Henderson-Union Rural Electric Cooperative.
U. S. 60 and U. S. 641, Kentucky 91, and Kentucky 120 are the highways through Marion. Communication service operations within the county include South Central Bell Telephone, the U. S. Postal Service, the weekly Crittenden Press, and WMJL-AM.
The Marion Airport board is in the process of developing a 2,800-foot turf runway on a site located 1 12/ miles west of Marion with city, county and state funds. Future plans call for the construction of a 5,00-foot pvaed runway.
Lodging facilities for travelers to the county include: the Tudor Inn of Marion, the Gilmore Inn and Motel in downtown Marion, and the Tourtotel Motel, U. S. 60 Marion. In addition, Maple Sink, a small fishing resort within the county, has sites available for camping.
Restaurants within Marion are the Marion Cafe, the Coffee Shop, the Ranch House, the Marion Country Club, the 88 Dip, Damron's Pit Barbecue, Marion Pit Barbecue and Cruce's Coachman.
Points of Interest include: Crittenden County Museum, opened in 1967 by the Historical Society, James Terry's cut glass shop, featuring a beautiful cut glass collection in his shop on the court square, Wheeler's antiques, also located in Marion, Ben E. Clement's Fluorspar collection location in his home, just outside of Marion, and the Crittenden County Public Library.
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The Schools
The Crittenden County School District operates seven schools. Total school enrollment in 1977 equaled 1,721 students; five elementary school with a total enrollment of 833; the middle school, 301; and the high school, 587. Two of the elementary schools are located within Marion; Fohs Hall for grades one through three and Marion Elementary School for grades four through six. The other three schools in the county, for grades one through six, are Tolu, Frances and Mattoon.
Construction of the new Crittenden Count High School in Marion was completed in 1975. The old high school was converted to the middle school for grades seven and eight.
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Industry
Eleven manufacturing firms operate plants within Marion and Crittenden County. The companies ad their products are:
* Circle-O Farm Center, liquid fertilizer;
* Conyer Hardwood Lumber Company, lumber;
* Crittenden Press, newspaper, letterpress and offset printing;
* Frontier Spar, a subsidiary of Marathon Oil, miner and miller of fluorspar;
* Kentucky Stone Company, agricultural lime;
* Marion Machine Works, machine shop;
* Moore Business Forms, Incorporated, a major county firm, this Canadian-based company employs approximately 250 and produces specialized business forms.
* Ohio River Concrete Corporation, ready-mix-concrete;
* Potter and Brumfield, a division of American Machine Foundries of White Plains, New York, this major county firm employs approximately 600 workers and produces electromagnetic relays;
* Turner and Conyer Lumber Company, Incorporated, lumber, clay pipe spacers, pallets, and boxes;
* Kentucky Stump Company, home furniture made from tree trunks.
Rail shipping service to Marion is offered by Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, headquartered in Chicago.
A northbound and a southbound train pass through the county each day. The railroad maintains switching facilities, team track for eight cars, and siding space for fifteen cars.
Agricultural production plays an important role in the economy of Crittenden County. The major crops of the county are corn, soybeans and wheat. Livestock includes cattle and hogs.
The residents of Crittenden County entrust their financial matters to the Farmers Bank and Trust Company, the People Bank Bank and the Hopkins County First Federal Savings and Loan Association, all in Marion.
Business and civic organizations within the county include the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the Lions Club. Additional organizations include: Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Woodmen of the World, Oddfellows, Eagles, Federation of Women's Club, Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Little League baseball, Peewee League, Pony League, Little League football, Town and Country Riding Club, Gun Club and the Crittenden County Historical Society.
Recreation
Recreational facilities within Marion include two parks, two playgrounds, two tennis courts, two baseball diamonds, two football fields, and a horse riding ring.
Facilities of the Marion Country club are a nine-hole golf course, swimming pool and a clubhouse with dining room. The country club, which opened in 1961, is located on approximately eighty acres of land.
Present plans call for the development of 100 acres of land at the Ohio River Dam 50 site with the opening of a new dam downstream at Smithland in 1980. A new five-mile access road to the proposed county recreational facility already has been completed.
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This is an informative overview of our life in the county in 1977. A lot of changes, not all good, have taken place in the past 47 years. It's hard to digest all the business that we have lost through the years. (Posted Dec. 2024)
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