If I asked you to name the first three things that come to mind when you hear the word Transylvania, you would probably respond Dracula, vampires, and Europe—in no specific sequence. Most likely, you wouldn’t mention Kentucky, Tennessee, or anything related to the US. After reading this, maybe that will change.
Have You Ever Heard of Richard Henderson?
Fun Fact #1: Richard Henderson, a politician, land investor, and jurist from Kentucky, founded Henderson County in the late 1770s. Fun Fact #2: Richard had an entirely different idea for the name of that area, so if he got his way, it would not be named after him.
The Forgotten Colony of Transylvania
Following the establishment of the Transylvania Company in 1775, Richard Henderson bought a sizable tract of property from the Cherokee Indians, much of which is today in Kentucky and Tennessee. This was referred to as the Sycamore Shoals Treaty. He intended to use the area to construct the colony of Transylvania with the help of his companions, including the renowned frontiersman Daniel Boone. Their plan was successful, if short-lived.
Therefore, keep in mind that Transylvania is a lost period of American history as well as a place of Gothic mythology, bats, and bloodlust the next time you think about it. It’s a part of a tale about bold pioneers, contentious land transactions, and the eventual creation of two powerful states.
