Low Dutch Station (Louisville, Kentucky)
Louisville · Kentucky · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Low Dutch Station was established in 1780 on the middle fork of Beargrass Creek in what is now Louisville, Kentucky, settled by Dutch pioneers from Pennsylvania. Hendrick Banta led a large group of Dutch settlers down the Ohio River from Pennsylvania to the Falls of the Ohio, where they rented land from John Floyd and built Low Dutch (New Holland) Station, one of a cluster of seven forts on Beargrass Creek.
The settlers formed the Low Dutch Company with their own bylaws, formal charter, and accounting procedures, dedicated to preserving Dutch language, culture, and religion. Fleeing from Indian attacks, the group later purchased land from Squire Boone in Henry and Shelby counties.
The station was part of a defensive network during the Indian Wars and frontier period of the late 18th century. In 1810, the property was acquired by James Brown of Maryland, a leading agriculturalist. A bronze plaque historical marker was placed on the south side of Kresge Way, near Browns Park in present-day St. Matthews.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Historical marker commemorating 1780 Dutch frontier settlement
- Beargrass Creek setting in modern Louisville
- Part of Low Dutch Company's seven-fort network
- Indian Wars era defensive station
- Site near Brown Park
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Dutch_Station
- https://history.ky.gov/markers/low-dutch-station
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171218
- https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Kentucky_Resource_Page:_Early_Stations_and_Forts
- https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/ky.html
- https://dutchcousins.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-Finest-Pioneers-the-Low-Dutch-in-Kentucky.pdf
- https://www.sweethomespun.com/historytrust.htm