[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BICENTENNIAL OF WHITLEY COUNTY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to help Whitley County, 
KY, mark an impressive milestone. Founded in 1818, the county is 
commemorating its 200 years of heritage and success with a year full of 
events and celebrations. I would like to take a brief moment to join 
them in remembering the unique history of Whitley County.
  Although the first meeting of the Whitley County Court was held on 
April 20, 1818, in the home of one of its earliest residents, Samuel 
Cox, the area's history extends back to its first exploration as early 
as 1750. The county was named for Colonel William Whitley, famous for 
fighting many battles within the area, safeguarding the Wilderness 
Road, and for his service in the War of 1812. The county seat, 
Williamsburg, was also named in his honor.
  At its founding, the county was home to only 500 residents. Whitley 
County saw only tepid population growth during its first decades, but 
after the Civil War, the number of residents quickly increased. With 
the arrival of the L&N Railroad in 1883, the area flourished with the 
influx of lumber and coal jobs. Now, Whitley County is home to more 
than 35,000 Kentuckians.
  Among the most remarkable aspects of the area is its picturesque 
geography. In the Cumberland Mountains, much of the county is included 
in the Daniel Boone National Forest. A portion of Whitley County's 
western border also follows the path of the Cumberland River and 
includes Cumberland Falls, known as the Niagara of the South. As the 
only place in the Western Hemisphere with regularly visible moonbows, 
the falls are a major source of tourism.
  To celebrate its bicentennial, the county is hosting a wide range of 
events, focused around the official founding in April, which included a 
birthday party and the decorating of the downtown Williamsburg in red, 
white, and blue. The county will also dedicate a historical marker at 
the site of Samuel Cox's residence. Later in the year, Whitley County 
will collect items for a time capsule and host a barbeque cook-off.
  I would like to join everyone in Whitley County, including Judge/
Executive Pat White, Jr., in marking this occasion, and I would like to 
ask my Senate colleagues to help me commemorate the bicentennial 
anniversary.

                          ____________________