Melinda Sartwell

Walton-Verona Melinda Sartwell

Nestled among the rolling hills of southern Boone County, Walton and Verona have existed side by side since the early 19th century. Walton's first post office, known as Gaines Crossroads, was established in 1815 and named after the Abner Gaines family that owned most of the land. Colonel Gaines owned the first stagecoach line on the road between Cincinnati and Lexington, using his sprawling Federal-style mansion as a tavern and inn for travelers. Both communities grew after the Louisville and Nashville Railroad came through in 1869, and with the addition of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad in 1877, Walton became the largest town in Boone County. Bypassed in growth by its neighbor Florence, Walton spent many years as a small town while Verona remained a farming community--until the two were joined together by the consolidation of their school districts. As Boone County has become one of the fastest growing counties in Kentucky, both Walton and Verona are growing from their pasts toward a successful future.