Idlewild (Ky.)

Item

Title
Idlewild (Ky.)
Alternate name
Gainesville (Ky.)
Description
Located in Petersburg Precinct in hilly northwestern Boone County, Idlewild (formerly called Gainsville) lies in the valley of Ashby Fork Creek between Bullittsburg and Petersburg. The small village grew up at the junction of the Burlington-Petersburg Turnpike (present KY Route 20), one of the oldest roads in the county, and Idlewild Road (KY 338), which ran parallel to the creek. A tollhouse stood about one-quarter mile to the east.
As the name “Gainesville” suggests, much of the land around Idlewild was owned by the large and influential Gaines family, who built a series of imposing Greek Revival brick residences in the 1840s. Other prominent area residents include the Piatt, Kirtley, Terrill, Grant and Walton families, who farmed large estates along the Petersburg Turnpike.
Lake's 1883 atlas depicts three blacksmith shops and a general store clustered in the heart of Idlewild. During the early 20th century a school for African-American children was located there. One of several schools for black children in the county, it served ten pupils and provided bus service to students. The school presumably closed after school consolidation redrew district boundaries. Its location is now unknown.
The construction of Interstate 275 routed traffic away from the winding roads leading to Idlewild, leaving the heart of town all but abandoned. Today only scattered residences remain, along the turnpikes, ridges and creekbeds.
Before date
1840
Identifier
USGS GNIS Feature ID: 508308

Linked resources

Items with "Related resource: Idlewild (Ky.)"
Title Class
Bullittsburg (Ky.) Location
Items with "Political division: Idlewild (Ky.)"
Title Class
Barnard Cemetery (Idlewild, Ky.) Location
Botts Cemetery (Idlewild, Ky.) Location
Idlewild Garage Building (Idlewild, Ky.) Location
Idlewild General Store Building (Idlewild, Ky.) Location
Sam Delph Farm (Idlewild, Ky.) Location
Sam Delph House (Idlewild, Ky.) Location
Items with "Resided in: Idlewild (Ky.)"
Title Class
Gaines family Organization
Grant family Organization
Kirtley family Organization
Piatt family Organization
Terrill family Organization
Walton family Organization
Items with "Resided in: Idlewild (Ky.)"
Title Class
Strader, William Person
Items with "Place of birth: Idlewild (Ky.)"
Title Class
Botts, Benjamin Clinton Person
Botts, Clara Ruth Graham Person
Botts, Elizabeth Amanda Person
Botts, Eusebia Elba Person
Botts, Frances Louise Person
Botts, James Kirtley Person
Botts, Joseph Gaines, Jr. Person
Botts, Lucy Catharine Person
Botts, Margaret Ann Person
Botts, Mary Grant Person
Botts, Nettie Eden Person