Sterling,[5] is a home rule-class city[6] in Montgomery County, Kentucky, United States.

Mount Sterling is named for an ancient burial mound called "Little Mountain", and for the town of Stirling in Scotland.

[7] The area was originally part of the thick wilderness of central Kentucky.

The site of the mound is now the intersection of Queen and Locust streets in Mt.

The first permanent settlement was established around 1790, when Forbes began to sell lots and laid out a road, now Locust Street.

A large brick market house where farm produce was bought and sold confirmed the town as the commercial center of the surrounding area.

During the Civil War the town was occupied alternately by Union and Confederate troops on multiple occasions.

The Battle of Mount Sterling in June 1864, which ended in a Confederate defeat, was the last of the fighting in Montgomery County.

[2] Hinkston Creek runs through the city center, flowing north and then west to the South Fork of the Licking River in northern Bourbon County.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

It remains a big event today, held on the third Monday in October and the weekend prior.

Approximately 130,000 people from all parts of the country gather for the four-day event that specializes in many different arts and crafts, food and music.