Counties of Kentucky
LocationCommonwealth of Kentucky
Number120
Populations2,229 (Robertson) – 773,399 (Jefferson)
Areas100 square miles (260 km2) (Robertson) – 788 square miles (2,040 km2) (Pike)
Government

There are 120 counties in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Despite ranking 37th in size by area, Kentucky has 120 counties, fourth among states (including Virginia's independent cities).[1] The original motivation for having so many counties was to ensure that residents in the days of poor roads and horseback travel could make a round trip from their home to the county seat in a single day, as well as being able to travel from one county seat to the next in the same fashion. Later, however, politics began to play a part, with citizens who disagreed with their county government petitioning the state to create a new county.[2] Today, 21 of the 120 counties have fewer than 10,000 residents, and half have fewer than 20,000. The 20 largest counties by population all have populations of 48,000 or higher, and just 7 of the 120 have a population of 100,000 or higher. The average county population, based on the estimated 2022 state population of 4.512 million, was 37,603.

Following concerns of too many counties,[2] the 1891 Kentucky Constitution placed stricter limits on county creation, stipulating that a new county:

  • must have a land area of at least 400 square miles (1,036 km2);
  • must have a population of at least 12,000 people;
  • must not by its creation reduce the land area of an existing county to less than 400 square miles;
  • must not by its creation reduce the population of an existing county to fewer than 12,000 people;
  • must not create a county boundary line that passes within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of an existing county seat.

These regulations have reined in the proliferation of counties in Kentucky. Since the 1891 Constitution, only McCreary County has been legally created, in 1912. The General Assembly's creation of Beckham County in 1904 was ruled unconstitutional.[3] Because today's largest county by area, Pike County, is 788 square miles (2,041 km2), it is only still possible to form a new county from portions of more than one existing county; McCreary County was formed in this manner, from parts of Wayne, Pulaski and Whitley counties.

Kentucky was originally a single county in Virginia, created in 1776. In 1780, Kentucky County was divided into Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties. Kentucky was admitted as a state in 1792, when it had nine counties.[4]

Each county has a legislative council called the fiscal court;[5] despite the name, it no longer has any responsibility for judicial proceedings.[6] The county judge/executive, the head of government of the county, is an ex officio member of the fiscal court and its presiding officer. Constitutionally, the fiscal court may either be composed of the magistrates for the county or of three commissioners elected from the county at large.[5][7]

The largest city in Kentucky, Louisville, is a consolidated local government under KRS 67C. When the Louisville Metro government was formed, all incorporated cities in Jefferson County, apart from Louisville, retained their status as cities; however, the Louisville Metro Council is the main government for the entire county, and is elected by residents in all of Jefferson County. [7] The second largest, Lexington, is an urban-county government under KRS 67A. Lexington and Fayette County are completely merged and there are no separate incorporated cities within the county.[7] In both of these counties, while Lexington and Louisville city governments govern their respective counties, a county judge/executive is still elected, as required by Kentucky's Constitution, but does not have substantive powers.[7][8]

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry; for Kentucky, the codes start with 21 and are completed with the three digit county code. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.

Counties

County
FIPS code County seat[9] Est.[9] Formed from[10] Etymology[2] Population
(2022)[11]
Area[9] Map
Adair County 001 Columbia1802Green CountyJohn Adair, eighth Governor of Kentucky (1820–24) 19,067 407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)
State map highlighting Adair County
Allen County 003 Scottsville1815Barren County and Warren CountyJohn Allen (1771–1813), hero of the Battle of Frenchtown in the War of 1812 21,275 346 sq mi
(896 km2)
State map highlighting Allen County
Anderson County 005 Lawrenceburg1827Franklin County, Washington County and Mercer CountyRichard Clough Anderson, Jr., Kentucky and United States legislator (1817–21) 24,224 203 sq mi
(526 km2)
State map highlighting Anderson County
Ballard County 007 Wickliffe1842Hickman County and McCracken CountyBland Ballard (1761–1853), hero of the Battle of Fallen Timbers and Battle of River Raisin 7,650 251 sq mi
(650 km2)
State map highlighting Ballard County
Barren County 009 Glasgow1798Green County and Warren CountyThe Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky 44,854 491 sq mi
(1,272 km2)
State map highlighting Barren County
Bath County 011 Owingsville1811Montgomery CountyMedicinal springs located within the county 12,829 279 sq mi
(723 km2)
State map highlighting Bath County
Bell County 013 Pineville1867Harlan County and Knox CountyJoshua Fry Bell, Kentucky legislator (1862–67) 23,568 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
State map highlighting Bell County
Boone County 015 Burlington1798Campbell CountyDaniel Boone (1734–1820), frontiersman 139,093 246 sq mi
(637 km2)
State map highlighting Boone County
Bourbon County 017 Paris1785Fayette CountyHouse of Bourbon, European royal house 20,093 291 sq mi
(754 km2)
State map highlighting Bourbon County
Boyd County 019 Catlettsburg1860Greenup County, Carter County and Lawrence CountyLinn Boyd, United States Congressman (1835–37; 1839–55) and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1859) 48,110 160 sq mi
(414 km2)
State map highlighting Boyd County
Boyle County 021 Danville1842Lincoln County and Mercer CountyJohn Boyle, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (1810–26) 30,904 182 sq mi
(471 km2)
State map highlighting Boyle County
Bracken County 023 Brooksville1796Mason County and Campbell CountyWilliam Bracken, trapper and frontiersman 8,452 203 sq mi
(526 km2)
State map highlighting Bracken County
Breathitt County 025 Jackson1839Clay County, Perry County and Estill CountyJohn Breathitt, eleventh Governor of Kentucky (1832–34) 13,351 495 sq mi
(1,282 km2)
State map highlighting Breathitt County
Breckinridge County 027 Hardinsburg1799Hardin CountyJohn Breckinridge (1760–1806), Kentucky statesman and U.S. Senator 20,943 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)
State map highlighting Breckinridge County
Bullitt County 029 Shepherdsville1796Jefferson County and Nelson CountyAlexander Scott Bullitt, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1800–04) 83,836 299 sq mi
(774 km2)
State map highlighting Bullitt County
Butler County 031 Morgantown1810Logan County and Ohio CountyRichard Butler (1743–91), Revolutionary War general 12,295 428 sq mi
(1,109 km2)
State map highlighting Butler County
Caldwell County 033 Princeton1809Livingston CountyJohn Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1804) 12,570 347 sq mi
(899 km2)
State map highlighting Caldwell County
Calloway County 035 Murray1822Hickman CountyRichard Callaway (1724–80), pioneer 37,685 386 sq mi
(1,000 km2)
State map highlighting Calloway County
Campbell County 037 Alexandria
and Newport
1794Harrison County, Mason County and Scott CountyJohn Campbell (1735–99), Revolutionary War colonel 93,300 152 sq mi
(394 km2)
State map highlighting Campbell County
Carlisle County 039 Bardwell1886Hickman CountyJohn G. Carlisle, United States legislator (1877–89) and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives 4,720 192 sq mi
(497 km2)
State map highlighting Carlisle County
Carroll County 041 Carrollton1838Gallatin County, Trimble County, and Henry countyCharles Carroll (1737–1832), last living signer of the Declaration of Independence 10,938 130 sq mi
(337 km2)
State map highlighting Carroll County
Carter County 043 Grayson1838Greenup County and Lawrence CountyWilliam Grayson Carter, Kentucky state senator (1834–38) 26,395 411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
State map highlighting Carter County
Casey County 045 Liberty1806Lincoln CountyWilliam Casey (1754–1816), Revolutionary War colonel 15,920 446 sq mi
(1,155 km2)
State map highlighting Casey County
Christian County 047 Hopkinsville1796Logan CountyWilliam Christian (1743–86), Revolutionary War soldier and founder of Louisville, Kentucky 73,037 721 sq mi
(1,867 km2)
State map highlighting Christian County
Clark County 049 Winchester1792Bourbon County and Fayette CountyGeorge Rogers Clark (1752–1818), Revolutionary War general 37,061 254 sq mi
(658 km2)
State map highlighting Clark County
Clay County 051 Manchester1807Madison County, Floyd County, and Knox CountyGreen Clay (1757–1828), Revolutionary War general and western surveyor 19,913 471 sq mi
(1,220 km2)
State map highlighting Clay County
Clinton County 053 Albany1835Cumberland County and Wayne CountyDeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York (1817–23) 9,123 198 sq mi
(513 km2)
State map highlighting Clinton County
Crittenden County 055 Marion1842Livingston CountyJohn Jordan Crittenden, seventeenth Governor of Kentucky (1848–50) 8,981 362 sq mi
(938 km2)
State map highlighting Crittenden County
Cumberland County 057 Burkesville1798Green CountyThe Cumberland River, which flows through the county 5,946 306 sq mi
(793 km2)
State map highlighting Cumberland County
Daviess County 059 Owensboro1815Ohio CountyJoseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), lawyer killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe 103,222 462 sq mi
(1,197 km2)
State map highlighting Daviess County
Edmonson County 061 Brownsville1825Hart County, Grayson County, and Warren CountyJohn Edmonson (1764–1813), military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown 12,269 303 sq mi
(785 km2)
State map highlighting Edmonson County
Elliott County 063 Sandy Hook1869Morgan County, Lawrence County, and Carter CountyJohn Milton Elliott (1820–85), U.S. Representative from Kentucky 7,293 234 sq mi
(606 km2)
State map highlighting Elliott County
Estill County 065 Irvine1808Clark County and Madison CountyJames Estill (1750–82), military captain killed at the Battle of Little Mountain 14,044 254 sq mi
(658 km2)
State map highlighting Estill County
Fayette County 067 Lexington1780Kentucky CountyGilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French-born Revolutionary War general 320,347 284 sq mi
(736 km2)
State map highlighting Fayette County
Fleming County 069 Flemingsburg1798Mason CountyJohn Fleming (1735–91), frontiersman and one of the county's original settlers 15,288 351 sq mi
(909 km2)
State map highlighting Fleming County
Floyd County 071 Prestonsburg1800Fleming County, Montgomery County, and Mason CountyJohn Floyd (1750–83), surveyor and pioneer 34,978 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
State map highlighting Floyd County
Franklin County 073 Frankfort1794Mercer County, Shelby County, and Woodford CountyBenjamin Franklin (1706–90), signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Founding Father 51,607 210 sq mi
(544 km2)
State map highlighting Franklin County
Fulton County 075 Hickman1845Hickman CountyRobert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat 6,382 209 sq mi
(541 km2)
State map highlighting Fulton County
Gallatin County 077 Warsaw1798Franklin County and Shelby CountyAlbert Gallatin, United States Secretary of the Treasury (1801–14) 8,763 105 sq mi
(272 km2)
State map highlighting Gallatin County
Garrard County 079 Lancaster1796Madison County, Lincoln County, and Mercer CountyJames Garrard, second Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804) 17,589 231 sq mi
(598 km2)
State map highlighting Garrard County
Grant County 081 Williamstown1820Pendleton CountySamuel Grant (1762–89 or 94), John Grant (1754–1826), and Squire Grant (1764–1833), three of the county's earliest settlers 25,502 260 sq mi
(673 km2)
State map highlighting Grant County
Graves County 083 Mayfield1824Hickman CountyBenjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), army major killed at the Battle of Frenchtown 36,412 556 sq mi
(1,440 km2)
State map highlighting Graves County
Grayson County 085 Leitchfield1810Hardin County and Ohio CountyWilliam Grayson (1740–90), aide to George Washington in the Revolutionary War and U.S. Senator from Virginia 26,631 504 sq mi
(1,305 km2)
State map highlighting Grayson County
Green County 087 Greensburg1792Lincoln County and Nelson CountyNathanael Greene (1742–86), Revolutionary War general 11,365 289 sq mi
(749 km2)
State map highlighting Green County
Greenup County 089 Greenup1803Mason CountyChristopher Greenup, third Governor of Kentucky (1804–08) 35,403 346 sq mi
(896 km2)
State map highlighting Greenup County
Hancock County 091 Hawesville1829Ohio County, Breckinridge County, and Daviess CountyJohn Hancock (1737–93), signer of the Declaration of Independence 9,021 189 sq mi
(490 km2)
State map highlighting Hancock County
Hardin County 093 Elizabethtown1792Nelson CountyJohn Hardin (1753–92), pioneer 111,862 628 sq mi
(1,627 km2)
State map highlighting Hardin County
Harlan County 095 Harlan1819Knox CountySilas Harlan (1753–82), army major in the Battle of Blue Licks 25,662 467 sq mi
(1,210 km2)
State map highlighting Harlan County
Harrison County 097 Cynthiana1793Bourbon County and Scott CountyBenjamin Harrison (1726–91), co-author of the Kentucky Constitution 19,103 310 sq mi
(803 km2)
State map highlighting Harrison County
Hart County 099 Munfordville1819Hardin County and Barren CountyNathaniel G. S. Hart (1784–1813), army major and lawyer captured at the Battle of Frenchtown 19,600 416 sq mi
(1,077 km2)
State map highlighting Hart County
Henderson County 101 Henderson1798Christian CountyRichard Henderson (1734–85), founder of the Transylvania Company 44,046 440 sq mi
(1,140 km2)
State map highlighting Henderson County
Henry County 103 New Castle1798Shelby CountyPatrick Henry (1736–99), Revolutionary War-era legislator and U.S. founding father 15,771 289 sq mi
(749 km2)
State map highlighting Henry County
Hickman County 105 Clinton1821Christian CountyPaschal Hickman, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown 4,422 244 sq mi
(632 km2)
State map highlighting Hickman County
Hopkins County 107 Madisonville1806Henderson CountySamuel Hopkins (1753–1819), Revolutionary War general 44,812 551 sq mi
(1,427 km2)
State map highlighting Hopkins County
Jackson County 109 McKee1858Madison County, Estill County, Owsley County, Clay County, Laurel County, and Rockcastle CountyAndrew Jackson, President of the United States (1829–37) 12,973 346 sq mi
(896 km2)
State map highlighting Jackson County
Jefferson County 111 Louisville1780Kentucky CountyThomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–09) 773,399 385 sq mi
(997 km2)
State map highlighting Jefferson County
Jessamine County 113 Nicholasville1798Fayette CountyJessamine Creek, which contains a set of rapids that are the county's most well known natural feature 54,254 173 sq mi
(448 km2)
State map highlighting Jessamine County
Johnson County 115 Paintsville1843Floyd County, Lawrence County, and Morgan CountyRichard Mentor Johnson, Vice President of the United States (1837–41) 22,244 262 sq mi
(679 km2)
State map highlighting Johnson County
Kenton County 117 Covington and Independence1840Campbell CountySimon Kenton (1755–1836), pioneer 170,313 163 sq mi
(422 km2)
State map highlighting Kenton County
Knott County 119 Hindman1884Perry County, Letcher County, Floyd County, and Breathitt CountyJames Proctor Knott, twenty-ninth Governor of Kentucky (1883–87) 13,874 352 sq mi
(912 km2)
State map highlighting Knott County
Knox County 121 Barbourville1799Lincoln CountyHenry Knox, United States Secretary of War (1785–94) 29,791 388 sq mi
(1,005 km2)
State map highlighting Knox County
LaRue County 123 Hodgenville1843Hardin CountyJohn LaRue (1746–92), one of the county's original settlers and the grandfather of Governor John L. Helm 15,163 263 sq mi
(681 km2)
State map highlighting LaRue County
Laurel County 125 London1825Rockcastle County, Clay County, Knox County and Whitley CountyMountain laurel trees that are prominent in the area 62,885 436 sq mi
(1,129 km2)
State map highlighting Laurel County
Lawrence County 127 Louisa1821Greenup County and Floyd CountyJames Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812 16,109 419 sq mi
(1,085 km2)
State map highlighting Lawrence County
Lee County 129 Beattyville1870Breathitt County, Estill County, Owsley County, and Wolfe CountyRobert E. Lee (1807–1870), a confederate general during the Civil War 7,261 210 sq mi
(544 km2)
State map highlighting Lee County
Leslie County 131 Hyden1878Clay County, Harlan County and Perry CountyPreston Leslie, twenty-sixth Governor of Kentucky (1871–75) 10,093 404 sq mi
(1,046 km2)
State map highlighting Leslie County
Letcher County 133 Whitesburg1842Perry County and Harlan CountyRobert P. Letcher, fifteenth Governor of Kentucky (1840–44) 20,893 339 sq mi
(878 km2)
State map highlighting Letcher County
Lewis County 135 Vanceburg1806Mason CountyMeriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer 12,954 484 sq mi
(1,254 km2)
State map highlighting Lewis County
Lincoln County 137 Stanford1780Kentucky CountyBenjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), Revolutionary War general 24,360 337 sq mi
(873 km2)
State map highlighting Lincoln County
Livingston County 139 Smithland1799Christian CountyRobert Livingston (1746–1813), one of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence 8,963 316 sq mi
(818 km2)
State map highlighting Livingston County
Logan County 141 Russellville1792Lincoln CountyBenjamin Logan (1742–1802), Revolutionary War general 27,877 556 sq mi
(1,440 km2)
State map highlighting Logan County
Lyon County 143 Eddyville1854Caldwell CountyChittenden Lyon, United States Representative from Kentucky (1827–35) 9,101 216 sq mi
(559 km2)
State map highlighting Lyon County
McCracken County 145 Paducah1825Hickman CountyVirgil McCracken, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown 67,490 251 sq mi
(650 km2)
State map highlighting McCracken County
McCreary County 147 Whitley City1912Pulaski County, Wayne County, Whitley CountyJames McCreary, thirty-seventh Governor of Kentucky (1912–16) 16,701 428 sq mi
(1,109 km2)
State map highlighting McCreary County
McLean County 149 Calhoun1854Daviess County, Muhlenberg County and Ohio CountyAlney McLean (1815–17; 1819–21), United States Representative from Kentucky 9,105 254 sq mi
(658 km2)
State map highlighting McLean County
Madison County 151 Richmond1785Lincoln CountyJames Madison, President of the United States (1809–17) 95,187 441 sq mi
(1,142 km2)
State map highlighting Madison County
Magoffin County 153 Salyersville1860Floyd County, Johnson County and Morgan CountyBeriah Magoffin, twenty-first Governor of Kentucky (1859–62) 11,357 310 sq mi
(803 km2)
State map highlighting Magoffin County
Marion County 155 Lebanon1834Washington CountyFrancis Marion (1732–95), Revolutionary War general 19,775 347 sq mi
(899 km2)
State map highlighting Marion County
Marshall County 157 Benton1842Calloway CountyJohn Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–35) 31,777 305 sq mi
(790 km2)
State map highlighting Marshall County
Martin County 159 Inez1870Floyd County, Johnson County, Pike County, and Lawrence CountyJohn P. Martin, United States Congressman from Kentucky (1845–47) 11,095 231 sq mi
(598 km2)
State map highlighting Martin County
Mason County 161 Maysville1788Bourbon CountyGeorge Mason (1725–92), statesman known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights" 16,930 241 sq mi
(624 km2)
State map highlighting Mason County
Meade County 163 Brandenburg1823Breckinridge County and Hardin CountyJames Meade, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown 30,001 308 sq mi
(798 km2)
State map highlighting Meade County
Menifee County 165 Frenchburg1869Bath County, Montgomery County, Morgan County, Powell County and Wolfe CountyRichard H. Menefee, United States Congressman from Kentucky (1837–39) 6,250 204 sq mi
(528 km2)
State map highlighting Menifee County
Mercer County 167 Harrodsburg1785Lincoln CountyHugh Mercer (1726–77), Revolutionary War hero who was killed at the Battle of Princeton 22,902 251 sq mi
(650 km2)
State map highlighting Mercer County
Metcalfe County 169 Edmonton1860Barren County, Hart County, Green County, Adair County, Cumberland County and Monroe CountyThomas Metcalfe, tenth Governor of Kentucky (1828–32) 10,370 291 sq mi
(754 km2)
State map highlighting Metcalfe County
Monroe County 171 Tompkinsville1820Barren County and Cumberland CountyJames Monroe, President of the United States (1817–25) 11,355 331 sq mi
(857 km2)
State map highlighting Monroe County
Montgomery County 173 Mount Sterling1796Clark CountyRichard Montgomery (1736–75), military general killed at the Battle of Quebec 28,367 199 sq mi
(515 km2)
State map highlighting Montgomery County
Morgan County 175 West Liberty1822Bath County and Floyd CountyDaniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general 14,120 381 sq mi
(987 km2)
State map highlighting Morgan County
Muhlenberg County 177 Greenville1798Christian County and Logan CountyPeter Muhlenberg (1746–1807), Revolutionary War general 30,455 475 sq mi
(1,230 km2)
State map highlighting Muhlenberg County
Nelson County 179 Bardstown1784Jefferson CountyThomas Nelson, Jr. (1738–89), signer of the Declaration of Independence 47,392 423 sq mi
(1,096 km2)
State map highlighting Nelson County
Nicholas County 181 Carlisle1799Mason County and Bourbon CountyGeorge Nicholas (1743–99), Revolutionary War colonel 7,805 197 sq mi
(510 km2)
State map highlighting Nicholas County
Ohio County 183 Hartford1798Hardin CountyThe Ohio River, which formed the county's northern border until the creation of Daviess and Hancock counties 23,527 594 sq mi
(1,538 km2)
State map highlighting Ohio County
Oldham County 185 La Grange1823Henry County, Jefferson County and Shelby CountyWilliam Oldham (1753–91), Revolutionary War colonel 69,431 189 sq mi
(490 km2)
State map highlighting Oldham County
Owen County 187 Owenton1819Franklin County, Gallatin County and Scott CountyAbraham Owen (1769–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe 11,290 352 sq mi
(912 km2)
State map highlighting Owen County
Owsley County 189 Booneville1843Breathitt County, Clay County, and Estill CountyWilliam Owsley, Kentucky Secretary of State and later Governor of Kentucky (1844–48) 3,929 198 sq mi
(513 km2)
State map highlighting Owsley County
Pendleton County 191 Falmouth1798Campbell County and Bracken CountyEdmund Pendleton (1721–1803), member of the Continental Congress 14,676 280 sq mi
(725 km2)
State map highlighting Pendleton County
Perry County 193 Hazard1820Floyd County and Clay CountyOliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), Admiral in the War of 1812 27,361 342 sq mi
(886 km2)
State map highlighting Perry County
Pike County 195 Pikeville1821Floyd CountyZebulon Pike (1779–1813), western explorer and discoverer of Pike's Peak 56,286 788 sq mi
(2,041 km2)
State map highlighting Pike County
Powell County 197 Stanton1852Clark County, Estill County, and Montgomery CountyLazarus Whitehead Powell, nineteenth Governor of Kentucky (1851–55) 13,083 180 sq mi
(466 km2)
State map highlighting Powell County
Pulaski County 199 Somerset1798Green County and Lincoln CountyCasimir Pulaski (1746–79), Polish-born Revolutionary War soldier killed at the Battle of Savannah 65,795 662 sq mi
(1,715 km2)
State map highlighting Pulaski County
Robertson County 201 Mount Olivet1867Bracken County, Harrison County, Mason County, and Nicholas CountyGeorge Robertson, chief justice of the Kentucky court of appeals (1828–43) 2,229 100 sq mi
(259 km2)
State map highlighting Robertson County
Rockcastle County 203 Mount Vernon1810Lincoln County, Madison County, Knox County and Pulaski CountyRockcastle River, the boundary between Rockcastle and Laurel County 16,242 318 sq mi
(824 km2)
State map highlighting Rockcastle County
Rowan County 205 Morehead1856Fleming County and Morgan CountyJohn Rowan, Congressman from Kentucky (1809–11; 1825–31)) 24,388 281 sq mi
(728 km2)
State map highlighting Rowan County
Russell County 207 Jamestown1825Adair County, Wayne County and Cumberland CountyWilliam Russell (1758–1825), pioneer and state legislator 18,178 254 sq mi
(658 km2)
State map highlighting Russell County
Scott County 209 Georgetown1792Woodford CountyCharles Scott (Governor of Kentucky), Revolutionary war general and later Governor of Kentucky (1808–12) 59,099 285 sq mi
(738 km2)
State map highlighting Scott County
Shelby County 211 Shelbyville1792Jefferson CountyIsaac Shelby, first Governor of Kentucky (1792–96; 1812–16) 48,886 384 sq mi
(995 km2)
State map highlighting Shelby County
Simpson County 213 Franklin1819Allen County, Logan County and Warren CountyJohn Simpson, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown 19,949 236 sq mi
(611 km2)
State map highlighting Simpson County
Spencer County 215 Taylorsville1824Nelson County, Shelby County, and Bullitt CountySpier Spencer, military captain killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe 20,204 186 sq mi
(482 km2)
State map highlighting Spencer County
Taylor County 217 Campbellsville1848Green CountyZachary Taylor, President of the United States (1849–50) 26,407 270 sq mi
(699 km2)
State map highlighting Taylor County
Todd County 219 Elkton1819Logan County and Christian CountyJohn Todd (1750–82), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks 12,404 376 sq mi
(974 km2)
State map highlighting Todd County
Trigg County 221 Cadiz1820Christian County and Caldwell CountyStephen Trigg (1744–82), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks 14,332 443 sq mi
(1,147 km2)
State map highlighting Trigg County
Trimble County 223 Bedford1837Gallatin County, Henry County and Oldham CountyRobert Trimble, Associate Supreme Court Justice (1826–28) 8,539 149 sq mi
(386 km2)
State map highlighting Trimble County
Union County 225 Morganfield1811Henderson CountyUnanimous decision of the residents to unite together and create a new county 12,961 345 sq mi
(894 km2)
State map highlighting Union County
Warren County 227 Bowling Green1796Logan CountyJoseph Warren (1741–75), Revolutionary War general 139,843 545 sq mi
(1,412 km2)
State map highlighting Warren County
Washington County 229 Springfield1792Jefferson CountyGeorge Washington, President of the United States (1789–97) 12,061 301 sq mi
(780 km2)
State map highlighting Washington County
Wayne County 231 Monticello1800Pulaski County and Cumberland CountyAnthony Wayne (1745–96), Revolutionary War general 19,681 459 sq mi
(1,189 km2)
State map highlighting Wayne County
Webster County 233 Dixon1860Henderson County, Hopkins County, and Union CountyDaniel Webster, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and United States Secretary of State (1841–43; 1850–52) 12,726 335 sq mi
(868 km2)
State map highlighting Webster County
Whitley County 235 Williamsburg1818Knox CountyWilliam Whitley (1749–1813), Kentucky pioneer 36,873 440 sq mi
(1,140 km2)
State map highlighting Whitley County
Wolfe County 237 Campton1860Breathitt County, Owsley County, and Powell CountyNathaniel Wolfe (1808–65), member of the Kentucky General Assembly 6,400 223 sq mi
(578 km2)
State map highlighting Wolfe County
Woodford County 239 Versailles1788Fayette CountyWilliam Woodford (1734–80), Revolutionary War general 27,062 191 sq mi
(495 km2)
State map highlighting Woodford County

Clickable map

The map shown below is clickable; click on any county to be redirected to the page for that county, or use the text links shown above on this page.

Map of Kentucky's counties
Map of Kentucky's counties

See also

Notes

  1. "States, Counties, and Statistically Equivalent Entities" (PDF). Census Bureau.
  2. 1 2 3 Ireland, Robert M. (1992). "Counties". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 229–231. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
  3. "Fiscal Court". County Government in Kentucky: Informational Bulletin No. 115. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 1996.
  4. "Kentucky: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Section 144, Kentucky Constitution of 1891
  6. "Boone County, Kentucky Fiscal Court". Archived from the original on July 25, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "County Government In Kentucky" (PDF). Legislative Research Commission. 2016.
  8. "Candidate wants to abolish Fayette County's judge-executive office". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 2, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find A County". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  10. "Kentucky: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  11. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kentucky". Retrieved April 7, 2023.

Further reading

  • Kleber, John E. Ed. The Kentucky encyclopedia (1992) online
  • WPA, Kentucky: A Guide to the Bluegrass State (1939); classic guide from the Federal Writers Project; covers main themes and describes every town and feature, with capsule histories online


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