Rush, The Community Name

The origin of the name of the community called Rush in west central Boyd County, near the Carter County line, remains a mystery.  Local lore often indicates the name was derived from the RUSHED and significant expansion of humans and activity in the area due to the establishment of industrial coal mining operations there, like a boom town.  Or, “RUSH” being marked on so many rail shipments of this and that to the area precipitated by this rapid expansion.

My own Mother, Frances Marie Tiller Coleman (1921-1999), very interested in the history of her home area of Rush, was aware of this local lore and thought they might be the origin of the name Rush.

But,  these local lore explanations are just incorrect.

Boyd County was formed from parts of Greenup, Carter, and Lawrence Counties and came into existence on 1st May 1860.  Boyd County was established by an act called “Chapter 288” of the 1859-1860 Kentucky Legislature on 16 February 1860.

In this legislative act the boundaries of Boyd County are established.  This is part of that boundary declaration:

“…… thence with the dividing ridge between said waters until it strikes the Carter county line; thence with said line to Williams creek; thence up Williams creek to the mouth of the Rush Fork; thence from the mouth of the Rush Fork a straight line to the head of the Bolt’s Fork, where the Carter and Lawrence county lines join; ……”^{Acts Kentucky General Assembly, 1859-1860, page 32}

So by 1860 there was already a Rush Fork (or Rush Creek) in the area now most associated with the current community called Rush.  The rapid expansion of population and coal mining in the area did not occur at nearby Coalton until about 1865 and not at Rush until 1871.  The railroad did not make it to Rush until 1872.

So at least the creek was already being called “Rush” before the RUSHED expansion and before any rail packages shipped to the area marked “RUSH”.

It seems reasonable to assume the community of Rush is derived from the name of “Rush Fork” or “Rush Creek” but it remains a mystery as to how that creek was named Rush.

Rush is definitely NOT named for rail packages sent to the area and marked “RUSH”. It is also not named for being a community that rapidly expanded in a “RUSHED” manner.

Enjoy! Lon

Previous Article – Corporate History – The Lexington & Big Sandy Railroad – Eastern Division

Next Article – Fred Clark And His Dad, Stephen Large Clark