Euro-American Settlement of Kentucky

Abstract

The settlement of Kentucky was a long and hazardous journey that began with the discovery of the Bluegrass region by white explorers and culminated with statehood in 1792. The creation of the Wilderness Road by Daniel Boone and others allowed settlement to advance past the Proclamation Line of 1763 and gave long hunters a chance to explore never seen regions of Kentucky while helping to establish the first settlements. Men like William Calk documented their exploration along Wilderness Road in journals that provide a glimpse into the hardships and triumphs these men faced on their perilous journey.