FRANKFORT

the capital (since 1792) of Kentucky, U.S., and seat of Franklin county. It was founded in 1786 on the Kentucky River by General James Wilkinson. Frankfort is a corruption of the name Frank's Ford, which was derived from an incident in which Stephen Frank, a frontiersman, was killed (1780) in an Indian skirmish at a local fording place on the river. Twice during Frankfort's early history the capitol was burned, and at both times the larger cities of Louisville, 50 miles (80 km) west, and Lexington, 26 miles (42 km) southeast, attempted to usurp the seat of state government; Frankfort was retained, however, because of its central location. During the American Civil War it was occupied briefly (1862) by Confederate general Braxton Bragg. The city was flooded in 1937 and suffered widespread damage. Frankfort is a trading centre for the Bluegrass region, producing tobacco, corn (maize), and Thoroughbred horses. Its manufactures include bourbon whiskey, candy, furniture, electronic parts, machinery, and textiles. Kentucky State University (1886) was originally founded for blacks. The State Capitol (1910) is crowned by a dome 212 feet (65 m) high. The city's historic buildings include the Old Capitol (182730) now housing the Kentucky Historical Society, Liberty Hall (c. 1796), and the Orlando Brown House (1835). The graves of pioneer Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca are in the Frankfort Cemetery. Inc. city, 1839. Pop. (1990) 26,535; (1994 est.) 28,708.