(the reconstructed fort is shown on the right) was the first permanent settlement in Kentucky. It was located within 1.5 miles of the Salt River and next to Big Spring Spring (shown to the lower left), a constant source for fresh water. Other settlements also developed around permanently-flowing springs. For example, Georgetown was near Royal Springs which is still used as its water supply. The location at Fort Harrod would have provided continuous water, transportation, and flat, arable land. The fort was situated within the Inner Bluegrass region, known for its limestone bedrock with a high phosphate content (in the form of calcium phosphate). This natural occurrence of phosphate is one of the reasons that this area is desirable for farmland; phosphate is one of the important soil nutrients for crops as well as livestock. As for salt, presumably salt brine was available at various places along the Salt River near Fort Harrod.
See the Old Fort Harrod State Park (Kentucky Parks website) for more historical information about the fort.