Walton Armory

The National Guard in Walton is the only organized unit stationed in Northern Kentucky besides Carrollton. The National Guard was first organized with around 15 to 20 men in the Northern Kentucky town of Burlington, located in Boone County, in November of 1975. The Guard met there for a short while before moving to the town of Hebron, where they leased space in a three-story former school building there. When the National Guard first started, it was the 118th Maintenance Company (light equipment, general support). The Guard stored their vehicles behind the school building until the armory was completed in Walton in 1978.

In 1976, the unit was redesignated as the 130th Maintenance Company (light equipment), which it remained until 1994. At that time, the unit was reorganized again for six months as the 307th Maintenance Company. Later that same year, the unit was again reorganized as the 207th Maintenance Company, a designation it retained until 1995, when it was reorganized as Detachment 1 of the 207th Maintenance Company. In 1996, a detachment of Carrollton's Battery A, 2/138th Field Artillery was established in Walton. These two companies are still located in Walton. Although the unit has never been involved in an overseas conflict, a few members of the Guard served in Desert Storm with the 207th Maintenance Company.

The National Guard in Walton has participated in many state active duty missions, with the first one occurring during the blizzard of 1978-79, when the entire unit was activated. Other more recent missions include: the blizzard of 1994-95, when the interstates in Kentucky were shut down for two days. The armory's location, right off the interstate, allowed it to function as a Command Post during the blizzard. Around ninety people stayed at the armory for eight days, and a Red Cross Center was set up there.

In March of 1997, both companies at the armory were activated to help with flood relief in Falmouth. In addition to state missions, the Guard also participates in the Bluegrass Games every year, and participates in many community activities.
Every year, the Guard holds an open house in September for the entire community to attend. Door prizes are given away, and a Pig Roast is held. In December, the Guard helps with the Christmas Wish List program, which distributes toys to needy children. The armory has served as a Boy Scouts Explorer Post since March 1997. The Boy Scouts (aged 15-21) currently hold their meetings at the armory. Three Boone County middle and high schools use the drill hall as their home basketball court, and roughly two other rentals take place there every month. Wedding receptions and parties (New Years and Christmas) are the most frequent rentals.

In 1980, the United Bricklayers Association out of Cincinnati, Ohio donated an all-brick enameled "flag" painted like the Stars and Stripes to the armory. This "flag" sits right out in front of the building and is visible from the interstate.

Due to its fairly recent construction date (20 years old), this armory is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

The armory is located on a hillside on the west side of Interstate 75 on a 4.6 acre tract of land. The current armory is the only one ever built in Walton. Previously, a three-story school building in Hebron (Hebron Elementary) served as an armory for the National Guard.