Cynthiana, Kentucky
Cynthiana is a city of 6,458 people in Harrison County, Kentucky, founded in 1793.
Why visit Cynthiana
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 10 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Rohs Opera House, Coleman-Desha Plantation and Confederate Monument in Cynthiana.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Cynthiana
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Cynthiana
Cynthiana is a home rule-class city in Harrison County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, Cynthiana had a population of 6,333. It is the seat of its county.
From the Wikipedia article Cynthiana, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks11
Coleman-Desha Plantation
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Cynthiana, Kentucky, NRHP-listed in Harrison County
Confederate Monument in Cynthiana
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Monument in Cynthiana, Kentucky
Harrison County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Courthouse in Cynthiana, Kentucky
Haviland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
House in Harrison County, Kentucky, United States
Joel Fraizer House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
John Hinkson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
House in Harrison County, Kentucky, United States
John Lair House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
House in Harrison County, Kentucky, United States
Spur Gasoline Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Gas station in Cynthiana, Kentucky
Stone House of Indian Creek
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
Restaurants and cafes10
Where to stay1
History
The settlement developed on both sides of the South Fork of the Licking River. It was named after Cynthia and Anna Harrison, daughters of Robert Harrison, who had donated land to establish the town center. Harrison County, on the other hand, was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, an early settler in the area who had served as sheriff of Bourbon County.
Two Civil War battles were fought in Cynthiana. The first on July 17, 1862, was part of a cavalry raid into Kentucky (which stayed in the Union) by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan; the second, on June 11 and 12, 1864, resulted in Union defeat of Confederate forces during Morgan's last raid into the state.
On January 23, 1877, an LL chondrite meteorite fell in Cynthiana.
On March 2, 1997, the South Fork of the Licking River flooded, causing extensive damage in Cynthiana and neighboring communities.
In early March 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Cynthiana was reported to have the first case of the disease diagnosed in Kentucky. Four more cases soon followed, and by March 12, most businesses, schools and churches closed in an effort to prevent further spread.
From the History section of Cynthiana, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship2
Church of the Advent, Episcopal
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Cynthiana-Harrison County Public Library
Library · 0.6 mi
104 North Main Street, Cynthiana
Harrison County High School;Harrison County Middle School;Southside Elementary School;Harrison County Area Technology Center
School · 0.7 mi
Healthcare2
Map of Cynthiana
47 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 23°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 3.5 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 32°F | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 41°F | 4.6 in |
| May | 76°F | 52°F | 5.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 61°F | 4.5 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 65°F | 4.8 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 63°F | 3.1 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.5 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 43°F | 3.5 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 33°F | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 27°F | 4.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cynthiana (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Harrison County has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
- 2024-11-26: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-04-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Blue Grass Airport (LEX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 miles away.
- Paris 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Georgetown 15 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Carlisle 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Falmouth 20 mi north, about 32 min by car
- Williamstown 23 mi northwest, about 37 min by car
- Lexington-Fayette 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Dry Ridge 26 mi northwest, about 42 min by car
- Midway 26 mi southwest, about 43 min by car
- Winchester 27 mi south, about 43 min by car
- Mount Sterling 29 mi southeast, about 47 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Cynthiana KY USA, Ed! (talk) (Hall of Fame), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Confederate Monument in Cynthiana, The original uploader was Bedford at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
- Coleman-Desha Plantation, BMac72143, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Harrison county kentucky courthouse, W.marsh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cynthiana Church of the Advent, Nyttend, Public domain
- Spur Gasoline Station, Nyttend, Public domain
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