Cynthiana dates to 1793, and 22% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 83% of U.S. towns · #26 of 142 in Kentucky. What drives it
13 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 4 buildings. Below: 9 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1800.
Cynthiana dates its founding to 1793 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1800.
First census: 78 in 18002020 census: 6,333233 years
How did Cynthiana get its name?
Cynthiana was named after Cynthia and Anna Harrison, daughters of Robert Harrison, who had donated land to establish the town center.
More on the name
Harrison County, on the other hand, was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an early settler in the area who had served as sheriff of Bourbon County.
How historic is Cynthiana?
A−
More historic than 83% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Cynthiana is more historic than 83% of U.S. towns, #26 of 142 in Kentucky. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Cynthiana’s overall grade.
Kentucky towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Kentucky town has 29.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Cynthiana’s 26.3 sits near the middle of its state (47% of Kentucky towns have fewer) while its 17 historic buildings outnumber those of 79% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1793.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.3 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Cynthiana’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
The settlement developed on both sides of the South Fork of the Licking River. It was named after Cynthia and Anna Harrison, daughters of Robert Harrison, who had donated land to establish the town center. Harrison County, on the other hand, was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an early settler in the area who had served as sheriff of Bourbon County.
Two Civil War battles were fought in Cynthiana. The first on July 17, 1862, was part of a cavalry raid into Kentucky (which stayed in the Union) by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan; the second, on June 11 and 12, 1864, resulted in Union defeat of Confederate forces during Morgan's last raid into the state.
On January 23, 1877, an LL chondrite meteorite fell in Cynthiana.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1793, according to Wikidata. Cynthiana’s post office opened in 1801, and the census of 1800 counted 78 people here.
How does Cynthiana rank for history?
Cynthiana is more historic than 83% of U.S. towns, #26 of 142 in Kentucky. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Cynthiana?
13 listings: 10 buildings, among them the Harrison County Courthouse (listed 1974, the first), 1 historic district, the Coleman-Desha Plantation, with 4 contributing buildings, 1 site, and 1 object. 17 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Cynthiana?
22% of Cynthiana’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.3 points), against a typical 5.9% for a Kentucky town; the median home was built in 1970.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), the Library of Congress (3), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (13), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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