Our History

The Beginning

In 1814, John Gano, Richard Gano, and Thomas Carneal purchased 150 acres on the west side of the Licking River at its confluence with the Ohio River, referred to as "the Point", from Thomas Kennedy for $50,000. The men named their new riverfront enterprise the "Covington Company", in honor of their friend, General Leonard Covington, an American officer who once trained troops in the area and was killed in the War of 1812.

The investors prepared a plat for the new city that was approximately five blocks wide by five blocks deep. The platted streets lined up with the streets of Cincinnati across the Ohio River, symbolically tying the future of the fledgling city to its larger neighbor to the north. The first five streets were named for Kentucky's first five governor's: Shelby, Garrard, Greenup, Scott, and Madison.

In February 1815, the Kentucky General Assembly incorporated the land as the town of Covington. At the time of its incorporation, Covington and all of today's Kenton County was a part of Campbell County. Shortly after its incorporation, the investors began selling lots for the new city for $385 per lot. However, for the next 15 years, lot sales were slow and disappointing. By 1830, the young city had a population of only 715 and lot prices were selling for half their original value in 1815.

To continue Covington's history, click on the links below.

Housing and Population Growth

The Economic Growth
          The Heyday
          The Decline
          A Rebirth

The 21st Century

Neighborhood Movement

The City's Current Demographic Profile