County
|
FIPS code
|
County seat[9]
|
Est.[9]
|
Formed from[10]
|
Etymology[2] |
Population (2023)[11] |
Area[9] |
Map |
Adair County |
001 |
Columbia | 1802 | Green County | John Adair, eighth Governor of Kentucky (1820–24) |
19,264 |
407 sq mi (1,054 km2) | |
Allen County |
003 |
Scottsville | 1815 | Barren County and Warren County | John Allen (1771–1813), hero of the Battle of Frenchtown in the War of 1812 |
21,788 |
346 sq mi (896 km2) | |
Anderson County |
005 |
Lawrenceburg | 1827 | Franklin County, Washington County and Mercer County | Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., Kentucky and United States legislator (1817–21) |
24,613 |
203 sq mi (526 km2) | |
Ballard County |
007 |
Wickliffe | 1842 | Hickman County and McCracken County | Bland Ballard (1761–1853), hero of the Battle of Fallen Timbers and Battle of River Raisin |
7,582 |
251 sq mi (650 km2) | |
Barren County |
009 |
Glasgow | 1798 | Green County and Warren County | The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky |
45,008 |
491 sq mi (1,272 km2) | |
Bath County |
011 |
Owingsville | 1811 | Montgomery County | Medicinal springs located within the county |
12,975 |
279 sq mi (723 km2) | |
Bell County |
013 |
Pineville | 1867 | Harlan County and Knox County | Joshua Fry Bell, Kentucky legislator (1862–67) |
23,317 |
361 sq mi (935 km2) | |
Boone County |
015 |
Burlington | 1798 | Campbell County | Daniel Boone (1734–1820), frontiersman |
140,496 |
246 sq mi (637 km2) | |
Bourbon County |
017 |
Paris | 1785 | Fayette County | House of Bourbon, European royal house |
20,134 |
291 sq mi (754 km2) | |
Boyd County |
019 |
Catlettsburg | 1860 | Greenup County, Carter County and Lawrence County | Linn Boyd, United States Congressman (1835–37; 1839–55) and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1859) |
47,826 |
160 sq mi (414 km2) | |
Boyle County |
021 |
Danville | 1842 | Lincoln County and Mercer County | John Boyle, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (1810–26) |
30,988 |
182 sq mi (471 km2) | |
Bracken County |
023 |
Brooksville | 1796 | Mason County and Campbell County | William Bracken, trapper and frontiersman |
8,426 |
203 sq mi (526 km2) | |
Breathitt County |
025 |
Jackson | 1839 | Clay County, Perry County and Estill County | John Breathitt, eleventh Governor of Kentucky (1832–34) |
12,953 |
495 sq mi (1,282 km2) | |
Breckinridge County |
027 |
Hardinsburg | 1799 | Hardin County | John Breckinridge (1760–1806), Kentucky statesman and U.S. Senator |
21,124 |
572 sq mi (1,481 km2) | |
Bullitt County |
029 |
Shepherdsville | 1796 | Jefferson County and Nelson County | Alexander Scott Bullitt, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1800–04) |
84,863 |
299 sq mi (774 km2) | |
Butler County |
031 |
Morgantown | 1810 | Logan County and Ohio County | Richard Butler (1743–91), Revolutionary War general |
12,375 |
428 sq mi (1,109 km2) | |
Caldwell County |
033 |
Princeton | 1809 | Livingston County | John Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1804) |
12,551 |
347 sq mi (899 km2) | |
Calloway County |
035 |
Murray | 1822 | Hickman County | Richard Callaway (1724–80), pioneer |
38,280 |
386 sq mi (1,000 km2) | |
Campbell County |
037 |
Alexandria and Newport | 1794 | Harrison County, Mason County and Scott County | John Campbell (1735–99), Revolutionary War colonel |
93,702 |
152 sq mi (394 km2) | |
Carlisle County |
039 |
Bardwell | 1886 | Hickman County | John G. Carlisle, United States legislator (1877–89) and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives |
4,704 |
192 sq mi (497 km2) | |
Carroll County |
041 |
Carrollton | 1838 | Gallatin County, Trimble County, and Henry county | Charles Carroll (1737–1832), last living signer of the Declaration of Independence |
10,987 |
130 sq mi (337 km2) | |
Carter County |
043 |
Grayson | 1838 | Greenup County and Lawrence County | William Grayson Carter, Kentucky state senator (1834–38) |
26,366 |
411 sq mi (1,064 km2) | |
Casey County |
045 |
Liberty | 1806 | Lincoln County | William Casey (1754–1816), Revolutionary War colonel |
15,918 |
446 sq mi (1,155 km2) | |
Christian County |
047 |
Hopkinsville | 1796 | Logan County | William Christian (1743–86), Revolutionary War soldier and founder of Louisville, Kentucky |
72,032 |
721 sq mi (1,867 km2) | |
Clark County |
049 |
Winchester | 1792 | Bourbon County and Fayette County | George Rogers Clark (1752–1818), Revolutionary War general |
37,304 |
254 sq mi (658 km2) | |
Clay County |
051 |
Manchester | 1807 | Madison County, Floyd County, and Knox County | Green Clay (1757–1828), Revolutionary War general and western surveyor |
19,648 |
471 sq mi (1,220 km2) | |
Clinton County |
053 |
Albany | 1835 | Cumberland County and Wayne County | DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York (1817–23) |
9,148 |
198 sq mi (513 km2) | |
Crittenden County |
055 |
Marion | 1842 | Livingston County | John Jordan Crittenden, seventeenth Governor of Kentucky (1848–50) |
8,974 |
362 sq mi (938 km2) | |
Cumberland County |
057 |
Burkesville | 1798 | Green County | The Cumberland River, which flows through the county |
6,000 |
306 sq mi (793 km2) | |
Daviess County |
059 |
Owensboro | 1815 | Ohio County | Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), lawyer killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe |
103,458 |
462 sq mi (1,197 km2) | |
Edmonson County |
061 |
Brownsville | 1825 | Hart County, Grayson County, and Warren County | John Edmonson (1764–1813), military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown |
12,448 |
303 sq mi (785 km2) | |
Elliott County |
063 |
Sandy Hook | 1869 | Morgan County, Lawrence County, and Carter County | John Milton Elliott (1820–85), U.S. Representative from Kentucky |
7,245 |
234 sq mi (606 km2) | |
Estill County |
065 |
Irvine | 1808 | Clark County and Madison County | James Estill (1750–82), military captain killed at the Battle of Little Mountain |
13,936 |
254 sq mi (658 km2) | |
Fayette County |
067 |
Lexington | 1780 | Kentucky County | Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French-born Revolutionary War general |
320,154 |
284 sq mi (736 km2) | |
Fleming County |
069 |
Flemingsburg | 1798 | Mason County | John Fleming (1735–91), frontiersman and one of the county's original settlers |
15,442 |
351 sq mi (909 km2) | |
Floyd County |
071 |
Prestonsburg | 1800 | Fleming County, Montgomery County, and Mason County | John Floyd (1750–83), surveyor and pioneer |
34,423 |
394 sq mi (1,020 km2) | |
Franklin County |
073 |
Frankfort | 1794 | Mercer County, Shelby County, and Woodford County | Benjamin Franklin (1706–90), signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Founding Father |
51,644 |
210 sq mi (544 km2) | |
Fulton County |
075 |
Hickman | 1845 | Hickman County | Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat |
6,338 |
209 sq mi (541 km2) | |
Gallatin County |
077 |
Warsaw | 1798 | Franklin County and Shelby County | Albert Gallatin, United States Secretary of the Treasury (1801–14) |
8,792 |
105 sq mi (272 km2) | |
Garrard County |
079 |
Lancaster | 1796 | Madison County, Lincoln County, and Mercer County | James Garrard, second Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804) |
17,829 |
231 sq mi (598 km2) | |
Grant County |
081 |
Williamstown | 1820 | Pendleton County | Samuel Grant (1762–89 or 94), John Grant (1754–1826), and Squire Grant (1764–1833), three of the county's earliest settlers |
25,619 |
260 sq mi (673 km2) | |
Graves County |
083 |
Mayfield | 1824 | Hickman County | Benjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), army major killed at the Battle of Frenchtown |
36,461 |
556 sq mi (1,440 km2) | |
Grayson County |
085 |
Leitchfield | 1810 | Hardin County and Ohio County | William Grayson (1740–90), aide to George Washington in the Revolutionary War and U.S. Senator from Virginia |
26,825 |
504 sq mi (1,305 km2) | |
Green County |
087 |
Greensburg | 1792 | Lincoln County and Nelson County | Nathanael Greene (1742–86), Revolutionary War general |
11,468 |
289 sq mi (749 km2) | |
Greenup County |
089 |
Greenup | 1803 | Mason County | Christopher Greenup, third Governor of Kentucky (1804–08) |
35,221 |
346 sq mi (896 km2) | |
Hancock County |
091 |
Hawesville | 1829 | Ohio County, Breckinridge County, and Daviess County | John Hancock (1737–93), signer of the Declaration of Independence |
8,920 |
189 sq mi (490 km2) | |
Hardin County |
093 |
Elizabethtown | 1792 | Nelson County | John Hardin (1753–92), pioneer |
112,273 |
628 sq mi (1,627 km2) | |
Harlan County |
095 |
Harlan | 1819 | Knox County | Silas Harlan (1753–82), army major in the Battle of Blue Licks |
25,324 |
467 sq mi (1,210 km2) | |
Harrison County |
097 |
Cynthiana | 1793 | Bourbon County and Scott County | Benjamin Harrison (1726–91), co-author of the Kentucky Constitution |
19,415 |
310 sq mi (803 km2) | |
Hart County |
099 |
Munfordville | 1819 | Hardin County and Barren County | Nathaniel G. S. Hart (1784–1813), army major and lawyer captured at the Battle of Frenchtown |
19,724 |
416 sq mi (1,077 km2) | |
Henderson County |
101 |
Henderson | 1798 | Christian County | Richard Henderson (1734–85), founder of the Transylvania Company |
44,119 |
440 sq mi (1,140 km2) | |
Henry County |
103 |
New Castle | 1798 | Shelby County | Patrick Henry (1736–99), Revolutionary War-era legislator and U.S. founding father |
15,973 |
289 sq mi (749 km2) | |
Hickman County |
105 |
Clinton | 1821 | Christian County | Paschal Hickman, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown |
4,447 |
244 sq mi (632 km2) | |
Hopkins County |
107 |
Madisonville | 1806 | Henderson County | Samuel Hopkins (1753–1819), Revolutionary War general |
44,929 |
551 sq mi (1,427 km2) | |
Jackson County |
109 |
McKee | 1858 | Madison County, Estill County, Owsley County, Clay County, Laurel County, and Rockcastle County | Andrew Jackson, President of the United States (1829–37) |
13,104 |
346 sq mi (896 km2) | |
Jefferson County |
111 |
Louisville | 1780 | Kentucky County | Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–09) |
772,144 |
385 sq mi (997 km2) | |
Jessamine County |
113 |
Nicholasville | 1798 | Fayette County | Jessamine Creek, which contains a set of rapids that are the county's most well known natural feature |
55,017 |
173 sq mi (448 km2) | |
Johnson County |
115 |
Paintsville | 1843 | Floyd County, Lawrence County, and Morgan County | Richard Mentor Johnson, Vice President of the United States (1837–41) |
22,116 |
262 sq mi (679 km2) | |
Kenton County |
117 |
Covington and Independence | 1840 | Campbell County | Simon Kenton (1755–1836), pioneer |
171,321 |
163 sq mi (422 km2) | |
Knott County |
119 |
Hindman | 1884 | Perry County, Letcher County, Floyd County, and Breathitt County | James Proctor Knott, twenty-ninth Governor of Kentucky (1883–87) |
13,659 |
352 sq mi (912 km2) | |
Knox County |
121 |
Barbourville | 1799 | Lincoln County | Henry Knox, United States Secretary of War (1785–94) |
29,794 |
388 sq mi (1,005 km2) | |
LaRue County |
123 |
Hodgenville | 1843 | Hardin County | John LaRue (1746–92), one of the county's original settlers and the grandfather of Governor John L. Helm |
15,303 |
263 sq mi (681 km2) | |
Laurel County |
125 |
London | 1825 | Rockcastle County, Clay County, Knox County and Whitley County | Mountain laurel trees that are prominent in the area |
63,296 |
436 sq mi (1,129 km2) | |
Lawrence County |
127 |
Louisa | 1821 | Greenup County and Floyd County | James Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812 |
16,000 |
419 sq mi (1,085 km2) | |
Lee County |
129 |
Beattyville | 1870 | Breathitt County, Estill County, Owsley County, and Wolfe County | Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), a confederate general during the Civil War |
7,293 |
210 sq mi (544 km2) | |
Leslie County |
131 |
Hyden | 1878 | Clay County, Harlan County and Perry County | Preston Leslie, twenty-sixth Governor of Kentucky (1871–75) |
9,864 |
404 sq mi (1,046 km2) | |
Letcher County |
133 |
Whitesburg | 1842 | Perry County and Harlan County | Robert P. Letcher, fifteenth Governor of Kentucky (1840–44) |
20,423 |
339 sq mi (878 km2) | |
Lewis County |
135 |
Vanceburg | 1806 | Mason County | Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer |
12,973 |
484 sq mi (1,254 km2) | |
Lincoln County |
137 |
Stanford | 1780 | Kentucky County | Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), Revolutionary War general |
24,776 |
337 sq mi (873 km2) | |
Livingston County |
139 |
Smithland | 1799 | Christian County | Robert Livingston (1746–1813), one of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence |
8,892 |
316 sq mi (818 km2) | |
Logan County |
141 |
Russellville | 1792 | Lincoln County | Benjamin Logan (1742–1802), Revolutionary War general |
28,283 |
556 sq mi (1,440 km2) | |
Lyon County |
143 |
Eddyville | 1854 | Caldwell County | Chittenden Lyon, United States Representative from Kentucky (1827–35) |
9,187 |
216 sq mi (559 km2) | |
McCracken County |
145 |
Paducah | 1825 | Hickman County | Virgil McCracken, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown |
67,428 |
251 sq mi (650 km2) | |
McCreary County |
147 |
Whitley City | 1912 | Pulaski County, Wayne County, Whitley County | James McCreary, thirty-seventh Governor of Kentucky (1912–16) |
17,050 |
428 sq mi (1,109 km2) | |
McLean County |
149 |
Calhoun | 1854 | Daviess County, Muhlenberg County and Ohio County | Alney McLean (1815–17; 1819–21), United States Representative from Kentucky |
9,054 |
254 sq mi (658 km2) | |
Madison County |
151 |
Richmond | 1785 | Lincoln County | James Madison, President of the United States (1809–17) |
96,735 |
441 sq mi (1,142 km2) | |
Magoffin County |
153 |
Salyersville | 1860 | Floyd County, Johnson County and Morgan County | Beriah Magoffin, twenty-first Governor of Kentucky (1859–62) |
11,228 |
310 sq mi (803 km2) | |
Marion County |
155 |
Lebanon | 1834 | Washington County | Francis Marion (1732–95), Revolutionary War general |
19,834 |
347 sq mi (899 km2) | |
Marshall County |
157 |
Benton | 1842 | Calloway County | John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–35) |
31,744 |
305 sq mi (790 km2) | |
Martin County |
159 |
Inez | 1870 | Floyd County, Johnson County, Pike County, and Lawrence County | John P. Martin, United States Congressman from Kentucky (1845–47) |
10,928 |
231 sq mi (598 km2) | |
Mason County |
161 |
Maysville | 1788 | Bourbon County | George Mason (1725–92), statesman known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights" |
16,841 |
241 sq mi (624 km2) | |
Meade County |
163 |
Brandenburg | 1823 | Breckinridge County and Hardin County | James Meade, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown |
30,131 |
308 sq mi (798 km2) | |
Menifee County |
165 |
Frenchburg | 1869 | Bath County, Montgomery County, Morgan County, Powell County and Wolfe County | Richard H. Menefee, United States Congressman from Kentucky (1837–39) |
6,286 |
204 sq mi (528 km2) | |
Mercer County |
167 |
Harrodsburg | 1785 | Lincoln County | Hugh Mercer (1726–77), Revolutionary War hero who was killed at the Battle of Princeton |
23,097 |
251 sq mi (650 km2) | |
Metcalfe County |
169 |
Edmonton | 1860 | Barren County, Hart County, Green County, Adair County, Cumberland County and Monroe County | Thomas Metcalfe, tenth Governor of Kentucky (1828–32) |
10,482 |
291 sq mi (754 km2) | |
Monroe County |
171 |
Tompkinsville | 1820 | Barren County and Cumberland County | James Monroe, President of the United States (1817–25) |
11,306 |
331 sq mi (857 km2) | |
Montgomery County |
173 |
Mount Sterling | 1796 | Clark County | Richard Montgomery (1736–75), military general killed at the Battle of Quebec |
28,527 |
199 sq mi (515 km2) | |
Morgan County |
175 |
West Liberty | 1822 | Bath County and Floyd County | Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general |
14,283 |
381 sq mi (987 km2) | |
Muhlenberg County |
177 |
Greenville | 1798 | Christian County and Logan County | Peter Muhlenberg (1746–1807), Revolutionary War general |
30,568 |
475 sq mi (1,230 km2) | |
Nelson County |
179 |
Bardstown | 1784 | Jefferson County | Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738–89), signer of the Declaration of Independence |
47,730 |
423 sq mi (1,096 km2) | |
Nicholas County |
181 |
Carlisle | 1799 | Mason County and Bourbon County | George Nicholas (1743–99), Revolutionary War colonel |
7,686 |
197 sq mi (510 km2) | |
Ohio County |
183 |
Hartford | 1798 | Hardin County | The Ohio River, which formed the county's northern border until the creation of Daviess and Hancock counties |
23,626 |
594 sq mi (1,538 km2) | |
Oldham County |
185 |
La Grange | 1823 | Henry County, Jefferson County and Shelby County | William Oldham (1753–91), Revolutionary War colonel |
70,183 |
189 sq mi (490 km2) | |
Owen County |
187 |
Owenton | 1819 | Franklin County, Gallatin County and Scott County | Abraham Owen (1769–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe |
11,313 |
352 sq mi (912 km2) | |
Owsley County |
189 |
Booneville | 1843 | Breathitt County, Clay County, and Estill County | William Owsley, Kentucky Secretary of State and later Governor of Kentucky (1844–48) |
4,001 |
198 sq mi (513 km2) | |
Pendleton County |
191 |
Falmouth | 1798 | Campbell County and Bracken County | Edmund Pendleton (1721–1803), member of the Continental Congress |
14,810 |
280 sq mi (725 km2) | |
Perry County |
193 |
Hazard | 1820 | Floyd County and Clay County | Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), Admiral in the War of 1812 |
27,133 |
342 sq mi (886 km2) | |
Pike County |
195 |
Pikeville | 1821 | Floyd County | Zebulon Pike (1779–1813), western explorer and discoverer of Pike's Peak |
55,973 |
788 sq mi (2,041 km2) | |
Powell County |
197 |
Stanton | 1852 | Clark County, Estill County, and Montgomery County | Lazarus Whitehead Powell, nineteenth Governor of Kentucky (1851–55) |
12,972 |
180 sq mi (466 km2) | |
Pulaski County |
199 |
Somerset | 1798 | Green County and Lincoln County | Casimir Pulaski (1746–79), Polish-born Revolutionary War soldier killed at the Battle of Savannah |
66,191 |
662 sq mi (1,715 km2) | |
Robertson County |
201 |
Mount Olivet | 1867 | Bracken County, Harrison County, Mason County, and Nicholas County | George Robertson, chief justice of the Kentucky court of appeals (1828–43) |
2,313 |
100 sq mi (259 km2) | |
Rockcastle County |
203 |
Mount Vernon | 1810 | Lincoln County, Madison County, Knox County and Pulaski County | Rockcastle River, the boundary between Rockcastle and Laurel County |
16,190 |
318 sq mi (824 km2) | |
Rowan County |
205 |
Morehead | 1856 | Fleming County and Morgan County | John Rowan, Congressman from Kentucky (1809–11; 1825–31)) |
24,409 |
281 sq mi (728 km2) | |
Russell County |
207 |
Jamestown | 1825 | Adair County, Wayne County and Cumberland County | William Russell (1758–1825), pioneer and state legislator |
18,279 |
254 sq mi (658 km2) | |
Scott County |
209 |
Georgetown | 1792 | Woodford County | Charles Scott (Governor of Kentucky), Revolutionary war general and later Governor of Kentucky (1808–12) |
60,168 |
285 sq mi (738 km2) | |
Shelby County |
211 |
Shelbyville | 1792 | Jefferson County | Isaac Shelby, first Governor of Kentucky (1792–96; 1812–16) |
49,515 |
384 sq mi (995 km2) | |
Simpson County |
213 |
Franklin | 1819 | Allen County, Logan County and Warren County | John Simpson, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown |
20,195 |
236 sq mi (611 km2) | |
Spencer County |
215 |
Taylorsville | 1824 | Nelson County, Shelby County, and Bullitt County | Spier Spencer, military captain killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe |
20,531 |
186 sq mi (482 km2) | |
Taylor County |
217 |
Campbellsville | 1848 | Green County | Zachary Taylor, President of the United States (1849–50) |
26,443 |
270 sq mi (699 km2) | |
Todd County |
219 |
Elkton | 1819 | Logan County and Christian County | John Todd (1750–82), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks |
12,494 |
376 sq mi (974 km2) | |
Trigg County |
221 |
Cadiz | 1820 | Christian County and Caldwell County | Stephen Trigg (1744–82), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks |
14,369 |
443 sq mi (1,147 km2) | |
Trimble County |
223 |
Bedford | 1837 | Gallatin County, Henry County and Oldham County | Robert Trimble, Associate Supreme Court Justice (1826–28) |
8,607 |
149 sq mi (386 km2) | |
Union County |
225 |
Morganfield | 1811 | Henderson County | Unanimous decision of the residents to unite together and create a new county |
13,106 |
345 sq mi (894 km2) | |
Warren County |
227 |
Bowling Green | 1796 | Logan County | Joseph Warren (1741–75), Revolutionary War general |
142,229 |
545 sq mi (1,412 km2) | |
Washington County |
229 |
Springfield | 1792 | Jefferson County | George Washington, President of the United States (1789–97) |
12,267 |
301 sq mi (780 km2) | |
Wayne County |
231 |
Monticello | 1800 | Pulaski County and Cumberland County | Anthony Wayne (1745–96), Revolutionary War general |
19,580 |
459 sq mi (1,189 km2) | |
Webster County |
233 |
Dixon | 1860 | Henderson County, Hopkins County, and Union County | Daniel Webster, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and United States Secretary of State (1841–43; 1850–52) |
12,726 |
335 sq mi (868 km2) | |
Whitley County |
235 |
Williamsburg | 1818 | Knox County | William Whitley (1749–1813), Kentucky pioneer |
36,825 |
440 sq mi (1,140 km2) | |
Wolfe County |
237 |
Campton | 1860 | Breathitt County, Owsley County, and Powell County | Nathaniel Wolfe (1808–65), member of the Kentucky General Assembly |
6,282 |
223 sq mi (578 km2) | |
Woodford County |
239 |
Versailles | 1788 | Fayette County | William Woodford (1734–80), Revolutionary War general |
27,268 |
191 sq mi (495 km2) | |