On May 31, 2024 the Erlanger Land Syndicate recorded in Kenton County Deed Book 47/64 their intention to create the Erlanger Proper Subdivision and divide the property into 220 lots. Thus began the City of Erlanger, Kentucky. The area designated by the Deed Book included: Graves Ave. being 2112 ft. long and 60 ft. wide extending from Lexington Turnpike northward To George Bender's land;  Commonwealth Ave. from the Lexington Turnpike northward to George Benders land; Erlanger Road northward to the Longmoore/Graves land. Elm, Queen and Lake Streets were to flow in an Eastwardly direction and be short connectors for the major streets initially proposed. Hulbert Avenue, Home Street and Cowie Avenue were established three years later in deed book 66/642.

Timberlake (later to be, Erlanger)  like most of the State was barely touched by the Civil War. With the end of the War, the Northern Communities were looking for a way to enter the Southern Markets. When the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce began discussions of a Railroad into the area they were reviving an earlier plan from the 1830's. Louisville was strongly opposed to the route through the central portion of the state as this would pull southern commerce away from their city.

The developers of the Southern Railroad, set Chattanooga as the southern terminus.  Many cities set proposals as to the location of the rails. Early on the cities of Timberlake and Florence began to set a strategy as to how they could attract the rails into their communities.

Covington, and Ludlow both offered generous support to gain the rail route through their city.  The heirs of the Ludlow family offered 15 acres for the location of the station in their area. Covington offered $150,000 for the construction of a bridge and depot in the city.

On Feb. 12, 1874 the announcement was made that the route would be set through Ludlow and follow the Lexington Pike to Florence.  The route was the cheapest to build and required no tunnels, this along with ample depot space from the Ludlow family was stated as the deciding cause for the route.

By 1874 crews of the Cincinnati - Southern Railroad were laying out stakes for the route.In June of 1876, the Nations Centennial, the laying of tracks began. On Oct. 20th 1877 the first test run was made from Ludlow to Lexington and across the Kentucky River bridge. The trip required two hours and 45 min. to arrive in Lexington, with cheering crowds all along the route.  The bridge was tested and the train returned to Ludlow arriving at 9 p.m.

Commuter service was established between Richwood and Cincinnati 1887, with three trips daily at a cost of $3.00/month or .25/ day.  Now people could enjoy the pastoral setting in rural Erlanger and work in the Cincinnati area.

The Erlanger Land Syndicate began to develop the Erlanger area. In order to promote the area Sunday excursions to the Erlanger area were offered by the Railroad, with free fares and lunches offered. As many as 20 car loads of people would come to the area for a Sunday in the country. Financing was available to buyers at six percent interest rate. You could purchase a home for 1/3 down and the balance in one to two years. Or you could pay $1.00 a week till the home was paid for.

As can be seen the Railroad played a major role in the development of the area.