| Radcliff, Kentucky and the Fort Knox communities share a
close and unique relationship. This unity dates back to the
communities' establishment in 1919. After the Federal Government
established Camp Knox, 35 miles south of Louisville, a young auctioneer by
the name of Horace McCullum began to develop a new town just south of the
camp. McCullum decided to hold an extravaganza and auction off lots in the
new town. The day featured dancing, prizes (including 100 pounds of
flour, coffee and sugar, all hard to come by in those days) and, as
McCullum put it, "A chance to get on the ground floor of a booming
new community, and find happiness forever." The town, Radcliff,
named after McCullum's long time friend Major William Radcliffe, quickly
grew and prospered.
Through the years, the community has kept its close ties with Fort
Knox. During the war years the city of Radcliff expanded to hold
hundreds of families, as mothers, fathers, wives and children traveled to
be with their men and women training and serving in the military. Today,
Radcliff, still in a working partnership with Fort Knox, is the largest
city in Hardin County and the fastest growing city in the state of
Kentucky. The city has a population of more than 23,000 residents
made up of approximately 1/3 active duty military families, 1/3 military
retirees, who found the enchantments of Kentucky and the opportunities in
Radcliff too much to leave behind, and 1/3 original founding families.
|
