Rowena, Kentucky

Rowena is a Russell county community near Lake Cumberland about nine miles south of Jamestown. It was established in 1845. The name probably comes from a member of one of the pioneer families. There are several contradictory stories. It was located originally on the north bank of the Cumberland River and was relocated when the Wolf Creek Dam created the lake in 1952. The community may also have been known as Wild Goose, named for nearby shoals in the river. The Rowena post office opened in 1847, moved several times, and closed in 1967.

On the opposite bank of the Cumberland River from Rowena a town called Lairsville, named for the land owner, was established in 1847. The Rowena Ferry operated between the two towns. Lairsville was destroyed by a flood in the late nineteenth century and its site is now under Lake Cumberland.

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© 2024 David C. Elbon