Rumsey, Kentucky

Rumsey
Unincorporated community
Rumsey

Location within the state of Kentucky

Coordinates: 37°31′55″N 87°15′29″W / 37.53194°N 87.25806°W / 37.53194; -87.25806Coordinates: 37°31′55″N 87°15′29″W / 37.53194°N 87.25806°W / 37.53194; -87.25806
Country United States
State Kentucky
County McLean
Elevation 381 ft (116 m)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
  Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 42371
GNIS feature ID 502467[1]

Rumsey is an unincorporated community in McLean County, Kentucky, United States.

Rumsey had its start in the 1830s when a lock and dam was built at that point on the Green River.[2] Rumsey was incorporated in 1839.[3] It is named either for Kentucky Congressman Edward Rumsey or his uncle, James Rumsey, who invented the steamboat. Historian Otto Rothert records that the most commonly accepted explanation is that the community's citizens wanted to name it in honor of Edward Rumsey, but Rumsey declined their offer out of modesty, whereupon they compromised by retaining the name "Rumsey" and declaring it to be in honor of his uncle, James.[4]

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rumsey, Kentucky
  2. Rennick, Robert M. Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 258. ISBN 0-8131-2631-2.
  3. Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 597.
  4. Rothert, Otto Arthur (1913). A History of Muhlenberg County. J.P. Morton. p. 81.


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