The history of the now thriving city of Florence, Kentucky may be divided into three stages, two of which are covered in this article. The first stage encompasses the growth of the small crossroads into the most important town on the turnpike between Georgetown and Covington. The second stage was a period of stagnation and decay caused by the bypassing of the railroad, while motor vehicle traffic revived the town in the third stage of its history.
This article does not purport to be a comprehensive history, but does include assorted information assembled about the past of the author's childhood home.
Florence owed much of its importance to the Covington and Lexington Turnpike Road. A February 3, 1835, legislative act provided that the road should pass by Florence and certain other towns. Gaines' History of Scott County says that the stage line between Georgetown and Covington began in 1835 with a $3 fare. Winston Coleman in Stage Coach Days in the Blue Grass states that there was a mail contract in 1838-42 between Lexington and Cincinnati -- 84 miles and back daily in 4-horse post coaches. Florence was one of eleven designated stops en route.
The manufacturing center of Cincinnati was only ten miles away. Its 1870 population of 216,239 (79,612 of whom were foreign born, predominantly German and Irish) ranked in the top ten cities in the country. The Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River had opened in 1867. This expedited travel and commerce, being much faster than crossing by ferry. It was now much easier for new residents to move down the turnpike to Florence.
However, this growth was about to cease.
The city of Cincinnati had lost much of its Southern market during the Civil War. They were also in competition with Louisville through the Louisville and Nashville Railway for Southern business. Cincinnati wanted a direct road South and started planning for the longest municipally-owned railroad in the country, to end at Chattanooga.
In 1872 the Cincinnati Southern Railway (owned by the city) was authorized to survey a route through numerous counties in Kentucky, including Boone. Town lore has it that the citizens of Florence asked the railroad not to come through the town -- they did not want the noise, dirt and hoboes. In any case, the railroad crossed the turnpike through a wooded area about two miles Northeast of Florence and proceeded South to the East of town. Florence was to be the largest town on the Covington to Lexington Turnpike that was not served by the railroad.
The railroad began operating between Cincinnati and Somerset in 1877 and on to Chattanooga in 1880. Three trains a day ran between Cincinnati and Lexington. The trip could be made in less than a third of the time required by stage. Lexington residents could catch the morning train to Cincinnati, transact their business and return the same day. Shipment of goods and merchandise was also expedited.
