So, as you know, all this week, we have come to you from Somerset Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week as we looked at business, education, the arts and more in southeastern Kentucky.

Tonight, our Toby Gibbs looks at the history of and some interesting facts about the region that as we go again on the road.

Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne counties have a combined population of 108,000.

According to the U.S. census of 2020.

Pulaski County, founded in 1798, is named in honor of Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman and soldier named a brigadier general by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Settlers first arrived in Wayne County in 1775, when Benjamin Price founded Price's Station along the Cumberland River.

The county is also named for a war figure, General Mad Anthony Wayne.

It's believe Cumberland County, founded in 1798, is named after the Cumberland River, which was named after the Duke of Cumberland, and Russell County is named for Colonel William Russell, who served in both the Revolution and the War of 1812.

Union and Confederate forces clashed twice in Pulaski County during the Civil War.

The Union won the Battle of Mill Creek in January of 1862.

The community is now called Nancy.

The Boys in Blue also won the Battle of Dutton's Hill in 1863.

The first railroad came through the area in 1875, bringing industry and an increase in population.

The building of the Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River led to the creation of Lake Cumberland.

The dam was built to control flooding and create hydroelectric power, but it also turned tourism into a $150 million a year business.

Cumberland County was home to the first commercial oil well in the U.S., though drillers were actually looking for salt brine when they drilled in 1829.

The county was the birthplace of Joel Ousley Cheek, founder of Maxwell House coffee and the home of Pearl Carter Pace, aka Pistol Packin Pearl, the first woman elected sheriff of any county in America in 1938.

Senator John Sherman coopers from Somerset.

The Republican served in the U.S. Senate three separate times, totaling about 20 years.

He was mentor to US Senator Mitch McConnell.

Miss America 1944 Venus Ramey is from Pulaski County.

Along with Rose, Will Monroe, one of four, went on to inspire the iconic World War II two figure Rosie the Riveter.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Toby Gibbs.