[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BICENTENNIAL OF ALLEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2015

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
bicentennial of Allen County, Kentucky, located in the First 
Congressional District. This momentous occasion not only celebrates the 
rich history of Allen County, but the many thousands of residents who 
over the years have made it a vibrant and thriving community.
  Allen County was formed in 1815, the fifty-seventh county in the 
Commonwealth, and named in honor of Colonel John Allen, a hero of the 
War of 1812. Soldiers made their way into the hilly terrain of Allen 
County during the Civil War, and Dumont Hill, which currently serves as 
a park, remains a link to this past.
  The area's largest source of tourism came about in 1964 when the Port 
Oliver Dam on the Barren River was completed, creating the 2,187-acre 
Barren River Lake State Resort Park. Aside from Barren River Lake, 
Allen County offers tourists a wide range of activities throughout the 
year. From summer concert series to one of the area's largest Christmas 
parades, Allen County boasts many active people and organizations and 
is always eager to showcase its recently revitalized downtown. 
Jacksonian Days, held in the fall, is a weeklong street festival 
revolving around the old hotel, long rumored to have been a stop on 
President Andrew Jackson's commute to and from his home in Nashville to 
Washington, D.C.
  This progressive community offers small-town hospitality with access 
to metropolitan amenities. It also has a thriving industrial base, 
including Halton Company and Sumitomo. Dollar General was founded in 
the area over 75 years ago and remains a leading employer today, along 
with the J.M. Smucker Company, whose plant produces in excess of one 
million sandwiches per day, making Allen County the largest peanut 
butter and jelly sandwich producer in the nation.
  To commemorate the county's bicentennial, community leaders and 
residents of Allen County have planned several events to educate 
Kentuckians about the history of Allen County and celebrate its 
residents and culture. One such event was a one-act play entitled, 
``Allen County: A Work in Progress.'' The play featured familiar 
characters remembering the people, places, and events of Allen County's 
past. A free live concert was also held in July featuring Scottsville's 
own Sweetwater and starring country superstars Diamond Rio on the 
public square.
  It is my privilege to represent Allen County in the U.S. House of 
Representatives and I hope my colleagues in Congress will join me in 
celebrating this community and its residents.

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