The town of Frankfort likely received its name from an event that took place in 1780s. Native Americans attacked a group of early British-American pioneers from Bryan’s Station, who were making salt at a ford in the Kentucky River. After the pioneer Stephen Frank was killed, the settlers called the crossing "Frank’s Ford." This name was later shortened to Frankfort.
In 1786 James Wilkinson purchased the 1.1 km2 tract of land on the north side of the Kentucky River, which developed as downtown Frankfort.
