Ohio History Journal

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THE KENTUCKY REVIVAL AND ITS INFLUENCE ON

THE KENTUCKY REVIVAL AND ITS INFLUENCE ON

THE MIAMI VALLEY.

 

BY J. P. MAC LEAN.

The Miami Valley properly embraces all the country north

of the Ohio that is drained by the Great and Little Miami rivers

and their tributaries. In this paper it is used to designate the

southwestern quarter of the State of Ohio, or that territory lying

west of a line drawn due south from Columbus to the Ohio river

and south of another line drawn due west from Columbus to the

State of Indiana. This district was greatly excited and stirred

up by the "Great Kentucky Revival," and its camp-meetings

lasted for a period of over fifty years.

Owing to the rapidity of the increase in population and the

advent of foreigners with their variant sectaries, it is difficult to

measure the depth of the influence of the enthusiasm resultant

from the religious upheaval of 1801. However diverse may have

been the elements to be operated upon, there was sufficient time

and opportunity to carry out the work of the reformers.

The year 1800 showed Ohio with a population of about 45,-

000 and Cincinnati with about 500. In 1810 the city had in-

creased to 2,540 and the entire state to 230,760. The population

was principally made up of emigrants from the older states.

Kentucky, with a population of 73,677 in 1790, had increased to

220,959 in 1800 and 406,511 in 1810. These figures show both

states to have been sparsely settled, when considered with the

present population. The settlements were almost wholly com-

munities of farmers. Books and newspapers were but sparingly

supplied to them, and religion was their chief intellectual food.

Without the advantages enjoyed by their descendants, scattered,

though naturally gregarious, a religious revival would hold out

its allurements to all alike.

 

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