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Map of Kentucky's counties

This is a list of the one hundred and twenty counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Despite ranking 37^th in size by area, Kentucky has 120 counties, third in the U.S. behind Texas' 254 and Georgia's 159.^[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 and back in a single day, as well as being able to travel from one county seat to the next in the same fashion.^[2] Later, however, politics began to play a part, with citizens who disagreed with the present county government simply petitioning the state to create a new county. 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 (1,000 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 (1,000 km²);
• must not by its creation reduce the population of an existing county to less than 12,000 people;
• must not create a county boundary line that passes within 10 miles (16 km) 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 created.^[3]

Because today's largest county by area, Pike County, is 788 square miles (2,041 km²), it is now impossible to create a new county from a single existing county under the current constitution. Any county created in this manner will by necessity either be smaller than 400 square miles (1,000 km²) or reduce the land area of the old county to less than 400 square miles (1,000 km²). It is still theoretically possible to form a new county from portions of more than one existing county (McCreary County was formed in this manner), but the area and boundary restrictions would make this extremely difficult.

The two largest cities in Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington, are "urban-county governments," Kentucky's legal term for a consolidated city-county arrangement. Lexington and Fayette County are completely consolidated. 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.

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.

County	FIPS Code [4]	County Seat [5]	Founded [5]	Formed from	Named for	Map
Adair County	001	Columbia	1802	Green County	John Adair, Governor of Kentucky (1820–1824)
Allen County	003	Scottsville	1815	Barren County and Warren County	John Allen (1771–1813), soldier in the War of 1812
Anderson County	005	Lawrenceburg	1827	Franklin County, Washington County and Mercer County	Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., Kentucky and United States legislator (1817–1821)
Ballard County	007	Wickliffe	1842	Hickman County and McCracken County	Bland Ballard (1761–1853), soldier in the Battle of Fallen Timbers and Battle of River Raisin
Barren County	009	Glasgow	1798	Green County and Warren County	The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky
Bath County	011	Owingsville	1811	Montgomery County	Medicinal springs located within the county
Bell County	013	Pineville	1867	Harlan County and Knox County	Joshua Fry Bell, Kentucky legislator (1862–1867)
Boone County	015	Burlington	1798	Campbell County	Daniel Boone (1734–1820), frontiersman
Bourbon County	017	Paris	1785	Fayette County	House of Bourbon, European royal house
Boyd County	019	Catlettsburg	1860	Greenup County, Carter County and Lawrence County	Linn Boyd, United States Congressman (1835–1837; 1839–1855) and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1859)
Boyle County	021	Danville	1842	Lincoln County and Mercer County	John Boyle, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (1810–1826)
Bracken County	023	Brooksville	1796	Mason County and Campbell County	William Bracken, trapper and frontiersman
Breathitt County	025	Jackson	1839	Clay County, Perry County and Estill County	John Breathitt, Governor of Kentucky (1832–1834)
Breckinridge County	027	Hardinsburg	1799	Hardin County	John Breckinridge (1760–1806), Kentucky statesman
Bullitt County	029	Shepherdsville	1796	Jefferson County and Nelson County	Alexander Scott Bullitt, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1800–1804)
Butler County	031	Morgantown	1810	Logan County and Ohio County	Richard Butler (1743–1791), Revolutionary War general
Caldwell County	033	Princeton	1809	Livingston County	John Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1804)
Calloway County	035	Murray	1822	Hickman County	Richard Callaway (1724–1780), pioneer
Campbell County	037	Alexandria and Newport	1794	Harrison County, Mason County and Scott County	John Campbell (1735–1799), Revolutionary War soldier
Carlisle County	039	Bardwell	1886	Hickman County	John G. Carlisle, United States legislator (1877–1889)
Carroll County	041	Carrollton	1838	Gallatin County, Trimble County, and Henry county	Charles Carroll (1737–1832), last living signer of the Declaration of Independence
Carter County	043	Grayson	1838	Greenup County and Lawrence County	William Grayson Carter, Kentucky state senator (1834–1838)
Casey County	045	Liberty	1806	Lincoln County	William Casey (1754–1816), Revolutionary War soldier
Christian County	047	Hopkinsville	1796	Logan County	William Christian (1743–1786), Revolutionary War soldier
Clark County	049	Winchester	1792	Bourbon County and Fayette County	George Rogers Clark (1752–1818), Revolutionary War soldier
Clay County	051	Manchester	1807	Madison County, Floyd County, and Knox County	Green Clay (1757–1828), military general and surveyor
Clinton County	053	Albany	1835	Cumberland County and Wayne County	DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York (1817–1823)
Crittenden County	055	Marion	1842	Livingston County[6]	John Jordan Crittenden, Governor of Kentucky (1848–1850)
Cumberland County	057	Burkesville	1798	Green County	The Cumberland River, which flows through the county
Daviess County	059	Owensboro	1815	Ohio County	Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), lawyer killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe
Edmonson County	061	Brownsville	1825	Hart County, Grayson County, and Warren County	John Edmonson (1764–1813), military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Elliott County	063	Sandy Hook	1869	Morgan County, Lawrence County, and Carter County	John Lisle Elliott or John Milton Elliott (1820–1885), legislators
Estill County	065	Irvine	1808	Clark County and Madison County	James Estill (1750–1782), military captain killed at the Battle of Little Mountain
Fayette County	067	Lexington	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	General Lafayette (1757–1834), Revolutionary War general
Fleming County	069	Flemingsburg	1798	Mason County	John Fleming (1735–1791), early settler of Kentucky
Floyd County	071	Prestonsburg	1800	Fleming County, Montgomery County, and Mason County	John Floyd (1783–1837), surveyor and pioneer
Franklin County	073	Frankfort	1794	Mercer County, Shelby County, and Woodford County	Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), signer of the Declaration of Independence
Fulton County	075	Hickman	1845	Hickman County	Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat
Gallatin County	077	Warsaw	1798	Franklin County and Shelby County	Albert Gallatin, United States Secretary of the Treasury (1801–1814)
Garrard County	079	Lancaster	1796	Madison County, Lincoln County, and Mercer County[7]	James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804)
Grant County	081	Williamstown	1820	Pendleton County	Samuel Grant (1762–1789 or 1794), John Grant (1754–1826), and / or Squire Grant (1764–1833), early settlers of Kentucky
Graves County	083	Mayfield	1824	Hickman County	Benjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), soldier killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Grayson County	085	Leitchfield	1810	Hardin County and Ohio County	William Grayson (1740–1790), aide to George Washington
Green County	087	Greensburg	1792	Lincoln County and Nelson County	Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), Revolutionary War general
Greenup County	089	Greenup	1803	Mason County	Christopher Greenup, Governor of Kentucky (1804–1808)
Hancock County	091	Hawesville	1829	Ohio County, Breckinridge County, and Daviess County	John Hancock (1737–1793), signer of the Declaration of Independence
Hardin County	093	Elizabethtown	1792	Nelson County	John Hardin (1753–1792), pioneer
Harlan County	095	Harlan	1819	Knox County	Silas Harlan (1753–1782), soldier in the Battle of Blue Licks
Harrison County	097	Cynthiana	1793	Bourbon County and Scott County	Benjamin Harrison (1726–1791), co-author of the Kentucky Constitution
Hart County	099	Munfordville	1819	Hardin County and Barren County	Nathaniel G. T. Hart (1784–1813), lawyer captured at the Battle of River Raisin
Henderson County	101	Henderson	1798	Christian County	Richard Henderson (1734–1785), founder of the Transylvania Company
Henry County	103	New Castle	1798	Shelby County	Patrick Henry (1736–1799), Revolutionary War patriot
Hickman County	105	Clinton	1821	Christian County	Paschal Hickman, military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Hopkins County	107	Madisonville	1806	Henderson County	Samuel Hopkins (1753–1819), Revolutionary War general
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 (1829–1837)
Jefferson County	111	Louisville	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–1809)
Jessamine County	113	Nicholasville	1798	Fayette County	Jessamine Creek
Johnson County	115	Paintsville	1843	Floyd County, Lawrence County, and Morgan County	Richard Mentor Johnson, Vice President of the United States (1837–1841)
Kenton County	117	Covington and Independence	1840	Campbell County	Simon Kenton (1755–1836), pioneer
Knott County	119	Hindman	1884	Perry County, Letcher County, Floyd County, and Breathitt County	James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887)
Knox County	121	Barbourville	1799	Lincoln County	Henry Knox, United States Secretary of War (1785–1794)
Larue County	123	Hodgenville	1843	Hardin County	John Larue (1746–1792), early settler of Kentucky
Laurel County	125	London	1825	Rockcastle County, Clay County, Knox County and Whitley County	Mountain laurel trees that are prominent in the area
Lawrence County	127	Louisa	1821	Greenup County and Floyd County	James Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812
Lee County	129	Beattyville	1870	Breathitt County, Estill County, Owsley County, and Wolfe County	Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), Confederate general or Lee County, Virginia
Leslie County	131	Hyden	1878	Clay County, Harlan County and Perry County	Preston Leslie, Governor of Kentucky (1871–1875)
Letcher County	133	Whitesburg	1842	Perry County and Harlan County	Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky (1840–1844)
Lewis County	135	Vanceburg	1806	Mason County	Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer
Lincoln County	137	Stanford	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), Revolutionary War general
Livingston County	139	Smithland	1799	Christian County	Robert Livingston (1746–1813), one of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence
Logan County	141	Russellville	1792	Lincoln County	Benjamin Logan (1742–1802), military general from Virginia
Lyon County	143	Eddyville	1854	Caldwell County	Chittenden Lyon, United States Representative (1827–1835)
Madison County	151	Richmond	1785	Lincoln County	James Madison, President of the United States (1809–1817)
Magoffin County	153	Salyersville	1860	Floyd County, Johnson County and Morgan County	Beriah Magoffin, Governor of Kentucky (1859–1862)
Marion County	155	Lebanon	1834	Washington County	Francis Marion (1732–1795), Revolutionary War general
Marshall County	157	Benton	1842	Calloway County	John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–1835)
Martin County	159	Inez	1870	Floyd County, Johnson County, Pike County, and Lawrence County	John P. Martin, United States Congressman (1845–1847)
Mason County	161	Maysville	1788	Bourbon County[8]	George Mason (1725–1792), statesman
McCracken County	145	Paducah	1825	Hickman County	Virgil McCracken, military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin
McCreary County	147	Whitley City	1912	Pulaski County, Wayne County and Whitley County	James McCreary, Governor of Kentucky (1912–1916)
McLean County	149	Calhoun	1854	Daviess County, Muhlenberg County and Ohio County	Alney McLean (1815–1817; 1819–1821), United States Representative
Meade County	163	Brandenburg	1823	Breckinridge County and Hardin County	James Meade, killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Menifee County	165	Frenchburg	1869	Bath County, Montgomery County, Morgan County, Powell County and Wolfe County	Richard H. Menefee, United States Congressman (1837–1839)
Mercer County	167	Harrodsburg	1785	Lincoln County	Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), killed at the Battle of Princeton
Metcalfe County	169	Edmonton	1860	Barren County, Hart County, Green County, Adair County, Cumberland County and Monroe County	Thomas Metcalfe, Governor of Kentucky (1828–1832)
Monroe County	171	Tompkinsville	1820	Barren County and Cumberland County	James Monroe, President of the United States (1817–1825)
Montgomery County	173	Mount Sterling	1796	Clark County[9]	Richard Montgomery (1736–1775), military general killed at the Battle of Quebec
Morgan County	175	West Liberty	1822	Bath County and Floyd County	Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general
Muhlenberg County	177	Greenville	1798 [10]	Christian County and Logan County	John Peter Muhlenberg (1746–1807), Revolutionary War general
Nelson County	179	Bardstown	1784	Jefferson County	Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738–1789), signer of the Declaration of Independence
Nicholas County	181	Carlisle	1799	Mason County and Bourbon County	George Nicholas (1743–1799), Revolutionary War colonel
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
Oldham County	185	La Grange	1823	Henry County, Jefferson County and Shelby County	William Oldham (1753–1791), Revolutionary War colonel
Owen County	187	Owenton	1819	Franklin County, Gallatin County and Scott County	Abraham Owen (1769–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe
Owsley County	189	Booneville	1843	Breathitt County, Clay County, and Estill County	William Owsley, Governor of Kentucky (1844–1848)
Pendleton County	191	Falmouth	1798	Campbell County and Bracken County	Edmund Pendleton (1721–1803), member of the Continental Congress
Perry County	193	Hazard	1820	Floyd County and Clay County	Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), Admiral in the War of 1812
Pike County	195	Pikeville	1821	Floyd County	Zebulon Pike (1779–1813), discoverer of Pike's Peak
Powell County	197	Stanton	1852	Clark County, Estill County, and Montgomery County	Lazarus Whitehead Powell, Governor of Kentucky (1851–1855)
Pulaski County	199	Somerset	1798	Green County and Lincoln County	Casimir Pulaski (1746–1779), Revolutionary War soldier killed at the Battle of Savannah
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 (1828–1843)
Rockcastle County	203	Mount Vernon	1810	Lincoln County, Madison County, Knox County and Pulaski County	Rockcastle River, the boundary between Rockcastle and Laurel County
Rowan County	205	Morehead	1856	Fleming County and Morgan County	John Rowan, Congressman from Kentucky (1809–1811; 1825–1831))
Russell County	207	Jamestown	1825	Adair County, Wayne County and Cumberland County	William Russell (1758–1825), Revolutionary War colonel
Scott County	209	Georgetown	1792	Woodford County	Charles Scott, Governor of Kentucky (1808–1812)
Shelby County	211	Shelbyville	1792	Jefferson County	Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky (1792–1796; 1812–1816)
Simpson County	213	Franklin	1819	Allen County, Logan County and Warren County	John Simpson, military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Spencer County	215	Taylorsville	1824	Nelson County, Shelby County, and Bullitt County	Spears Spencer, military captain killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe
Taylor County	217	Campbellsville	1848	Green County	Zachary Taylor, President of the United States (1849–1850)
Todd County	219	Elkton	1819	Logan County and Christian County	John Todd (1750–1782), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks
Trigg County	221	Cadiz	1820	Christian County and Caldwell County	Stephen Trigg (1744–1782), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks
Trimble County	223	Bedford	1837	Gallatin County, Henry County and Oldham County	Robert Trimble, Associate Supreme Court Justice (1826–1828)
Union County	225	Morganfield	1811	Henderson County	Unanimous decision of the residents to create a new county
Warren County	227	Bowling Green	1796	Logan County	Joseph Warren (1741–1775), Revolutionary War general
Washington County	229	Springfield	1792	Jefferson County	George Washington, President of the United States (1789–1797)
Wayne County	231	Monticello	1800	Pulaski County and Cumberland County	Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), Revolutionary War general
Webster County	233	Dixon	1860	Henderson County, Hopkins County, and Union County	Daniel Webster, United States Secretary of State (1841–1843; 1850–1852)
Whitley County	235	Williamsburg	1818	Knox County	William Whitley (1749–1813), Kentucky pioneer
Wolfe County	237	Campton	1860	Breathitt County, Owsley County, and Powell County	Nathaniel Wolfe (1808–1865), member of the Kentucky General Assembly
Woodford County	239	Versailles	1788	Fayette County	William Woodford (1734–1780), Revolutionary War general

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 below on this page.

• Kleber, John E. (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.  (Main reference for data in the list, unless otherwise noted).

1. ^ How Many Counties are in Your State?. Click and Learn. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
2. ^ (1992) "Counties", in Kleber, John E.: The Kentucky Encyclopedia, Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720. 
3. ^ (1996) "Fiscal Court", County Government in Kentucky: Informational Bulletin No. 115. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 
4. ^ EPA County FIPS Code Listing. EPA. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
5. ^ ^{a b} National Association of Counties. NACo - Find a county. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
6. ^ History of Crittenden County, Kentucky and The Crittenden Press, published since 1879. The Crittenden Press. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
7. ^ About Garrard County. Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
8. ^ Welcome to Mason County, Kentucky. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
9. ^ Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy. Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.
10. ^ Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Kentucky Comprehensive Genealogy Database. Retrieved on 2007-01-26.

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