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The first permanent European-American settlements in what is now Boone County probably started in the 1790s, although many explorers and Indian hunting groups had visited before that. In 1742, John Peter Salling explored the area and discovered coal deposits, which led to the naming of Coal River. These coal deposits have helped support Boone County families for many generations.
Before the Civil War, Boone County was mostly rural and had a small population. In 1850, the population was just 3,149 people.
