McHenry, Kentucky

McHenry is an Ohio county city about six miles south of Hartford. It was named for Henry D. McHenry who established the McHenry Coal Company circa 1873. The town was originally known as Hamelton, for a local family. Underground coal mining was the main industry until the 1930s. Later much of the surrounding area was strip mined.

Hamelton was established by 1850, incorporated in 1874, and incorporated as McHenry in 1880.

A Render Coal Mine post office opened in 1872 and was renamed McHenry in 1874.

The population in 2020 was 369.

---

---

© 2025 David C. Elbon