Kentonvale

Why tiny Kentonvale became a 'city': It is sandwiched between Covington, Latonia, and Fort Wright. Though thousands of people pass through the small village every day, it is a good bet that most are not aware.

The town was an unincorporated part of the county until 1949, when residents there chose to incorporate in order to stop the planned annexation by the city of Covington. Kenton Vale consists of a small business district, located on the western side of Madison Pike, and approximately 30 homes, most of which sit off Kuhrs Lane. Much of the minuscule village is nestled on a hillside, overlooking beautiful Mother of God Cemetery, which lies on the opposite side of Madison Pike. Certainly the most familiar landmark in the city is its oldest business, Jackson Florists, located at 3124 Madison Pike.

In the mid 1800s, there was a rock quarry located on Kuhrs Lane. Rock from there was used to help build Covington’s Mother of God Church. Now a deadend road, Kurhs Lane once continued to the top
of the hill, eventually connecting with Kyle’s Lane, The city has tried twice in recent years to merge with the neighboring city of Fort Wright. In 1981, talks ceased after a conflict over the exact boundary lines of the tiny city.

It seems that many residents who thought they lived in Covington actually lived in Kenton Vale. In 1983, the boundary dispute was finally settled and the planned merger was placed on the ballot in both cities. Kenton Vale residents passed the new annexation plan by a vote of 48 to 10. In Fort Wright, however, voters turned down the merger 1,008 to 953.

For now, at least, Kenton Vale will remain one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state.

From a Facebook post by the Kenton County Historical Society