In Rowan County’s early history, Farmers was the first settlement and quickly became a booming town because of its industry. Located ten miles west of Morehead, it was first named Cross Roads because it stood where the road running parallel to the Licking River crossed the road running east and west. As early as 1792, settlers came there after receiving land grants from the United States Government as payment for their services and patronage in the American Revolution. One of the first settlers was Major Jim Brain, who established a hotel. The population grew rapidly because of the town’s river location, fertile farming land, and abundant virgin timber alongside the Licking River. With the coming of the Elizabethtown, Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad in 1882, Cross Roads changed its name to Farmers. At that time, Cross Roads and Morehead were the only incorporated towns in the county, and Farmers remained the largest town and, as a river town, the county’s industrial center. Several sawmills operated there, including Keystone Lumber Company. A German-owned company produced barrel staves that were floated downriver to Farmers, collected behind booms, and shipped to Germany. A quarry also operated at Bluestone, two miles northeast. The boom lasted until the timber along the Licking River was exhausted, after which the mills moved out and many townspeople had to seek work elsewhere.