Fort Knox

As one of the largest US military bases in Kentucky with over 100000 acres, Fort Knox spreads over three different counties in the northern part of the state. It is operated by both the Marine Corps and the US Army. Some parts of it compose a census designated area that covered more than 12000 inhabitants in 2000. As wide as it is, the base covers multiple buildings and facilities of major interest for the army, such as the armor school, the Army Cadet Command or the Human Resources Command. The base is also famous for the school preparing and training crewmen for the M1 Abrams tanks.

A very popular building inside the base is the Patton Museum. It holds historical artifacts and papers since World War I and World War II. It is named after George S. Patton, one of the most important personalities in the American history. It also includes the largest collection of items related to the general hero in the world.

History

The first fortifications in this area were built in 1861, around the American Civil War. As the war ended, it was given to the community. More smaller communities used it as a home, while reserve troops were still training. The construction for a permanent installation began in 1918, when over 10000 acres were leased by the US Army for it. The new base was named in the memory of Henry Knox, one of the Revolutionary War heroes. After the Revolutionary War, Henry Knox was elected as the secretary of war. World War I ended before the full construction was over, therefore the authorities decided to give up some of the buildings in the plan. The fort was also put in a stand by position and mostly used for basic training sessions.

World War II brought in a new expansion that didn’t last too much. As it ended, the fort lost more than a third within a few decades. By 2010, it lost another third. The Armor Center was also relocated to a different base in Georgia – Fort Benning. This means Fort Knox, Kentucky lost another 5000 workers. On the other hand, the Human Resources Command was improved, bringing in over 4000 individuals. The full reorganization and reconstruction of the fort was completed in the autumn of 2011.

Other than that, the fort is one of the three military bases on the US territory that sustain a high school. It was built in 1958 and didn’t experience too many upgrades.

Units

Fort Knox hosts around 15 units and tenant units. Most of them have more subdivisions. The most important ones are the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 16th Cavalry Regiment, the 194th Armored Brigade and the 95th Training Division.

Housing

The Fort Knox Army Lodging office is the official representative for the newcomers looking for a home. Whether you get an on site or off site opportunity, the community is friendly and helpful. The system is run by the US Army and aims to make everyone happy, from civilians and families to soldiers and superiors.