About the Cave Country Area
Cave Country is a region in south central Kentucky that contains Mammoth Cave National Park. The Mammoth Cave System includes more than 350 miles of passages, making it the largest known system in the world. The Park also features trails for hiking and horseback riding, and canoe rentals are available at nearby streams. So although the caves have no wind or precipitation and a constant temperature of 54F, there are plenty of outdoor opportunities to enjoy the fine weather featured on this website.
The Park is surrounded by scenic farmland and small towns such as Cave City (population 1,880), Horse Cave (2,252), and Park City (517). This weather station is located in Barren County, about five miles east of Cave City, and just north of the windmill at the intersection of Routes 70 and 31W. Despite its name, our county is far from "barren". It is the leading producer of milk, hay, and burley tobacco in the state; and it has more cows than any other county east of the Mississippi River. You might even see some on our weather cam!
Cave Country was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years, and remnants of their civilizations have been found in the caves. The first permanent European settlement was in nearby Harrodsburg in 1775, and Kentucky became a state just 17 years later. Barren County was formed in 1798 from parts of neighboring Warren and Green counties. Despite ranking only 37th in total land area, Kentucky has more counties than any other state except Texas and Georgia.
A major development in the history of Cave Country was the construction of the L&N railroad in 1858, linking the region with Louisville and Nashville. The railroad became a focus of military activity in the area during the Civil War. It was an important conduit for oil shipments in the 1880s, when Barren County was the fourth largest petroleum producer in the country. A branch of the rail line provided passenger service to the caves from 1886 until 1929. From this weather station we can still hear the whistle of freight trains as they pass through Cave City.
Another major transportation corridor is Interstate 65, which was completed in the late 1960s. These connections have helped to bring farm products to market, and have boosted growth in the region by creating jobs in tourism and manufacturing. For example, Kentucky is the third largest manufacturer of cars and light trucks in America. Just as trains and cars have helped to shape the past two centuries, the 21st century may be shaped by the internet. The data from this weather station is transmitted through high speed fiber optics, the public library provides residents with free access to its many personal computers, and the local college offers degrees in business technology.
While keeping pace with technological advancements, Cave Country has maintained its rustic charm, with an emphasis on wholesome living. The area has more than 100 churches, and is noted for its friendly and hospitable people. In 2007, Barren County was named the best place to live in rural America by The Progressive Farmer Magazine. This recognition was largely based upon objective statistics such as its strong economy, affordable housing, good schools, and quality health care. Equally appealing are its scenic beauty, its wonderful people, and of course the great weather!
About This Station and Website
The station is powered by a La Crosse WS-2310 weather station. The data is updated live every 10 seconds using Weather Display Software. The station comprises of an anemometer, rain gauge and a thermo-hydro sensor situated in optimal positions for highest accuracy possible. This personal weather station was installed and started collecting data in January of 2008. Click on a picture for a larger view.
This site is a template design by CarterLake.org. Special thanks go to Kevin Reed at TNET Weather. AJAX conditions display from Saratoga-Weather.org. Template is originally based on Designs by Haran. This template is XHTML 1.0 compliant.
