List of counties in Kentucky

{{Infobox subdivision type | name = Counties of Kentucky | alt_name = | map = | category = | territory = Commonwealth of Kentucky | start_date = | current_number = 120 | number_date = | population_range = 2,282 (Robertson) – 741,096 (Jefferson) | area_range = 99 square miles (260 km²) (Gallatin) – 788 square miles (2,040 km²) (Pike) | government = County government | subdivision = }}

This is a list of the one hundred and twenty counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Despite ranking 37th in size by area, Kentucky has 120 counties; depending on definitions, this is either third or fourth among U.S. states. Texas has 254 counties and Georgia 159; Virginia has only 95 counties, but also has 38 independent cities that are not part of any county and deal directly with the state government, giving that state 133 county-level administrative units.^[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 (1036 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 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 to be created in this manner will necessarily reduce the land area of the old county to less than 400 square miles (1,000 km²). It is still possible to form a new county from portions of more than one existing county; McCreary County was formed in this manner.

The largest city in Kentucky, Louisville, is a "consolidated local government" under KRS 67C. 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. 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. In both of these counties, while Lexington and Louisville city governments govern their respective counties, a county Fiscal Court (Kentucky's governing body for counties) is still elected, as demanded by Kentucky's Constitution.

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.

Adair, Allen, Ballard, Barren, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Russell, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster counties are all in the Central Time Zone.

Anderson, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Bullitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Greenup, Hardin, Harlan, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Washington, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe and Woodford counties are all in the Eastern Time Zone.

Alphabetical list

County	INCITS [4]	County seat [5]	Established [5]	Origin [2]	Etymology [2]	Population [6]	Area [5]	Map
Adair County	001	Columbia	1802	Green County	John Adair, eighth Governor of Kentucky (1820–24)	7004192040000000000♠19,204	7002407000000000000♠407 sq mi (7003105400000000000♠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	7004203840000000000♠20,384	7002346000000000000♠346 sq mi (7002896000000000000♠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)	7004218880000000000♠21,888	7002203000000000000♠203 sq mi (7002526000000000000♠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	7003824000000000000♠8,240	7002251000000000000♠251 sq mi (7002650000000000000♠650 km2)
Barren County	009	Glasgow	1798	Green County and Warren County	The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky	7004431480000000000♠43,148	7002491000000000000♠491 sq mi (7003127200000000000♠1,272 km2)
Bath County	011	Owingsville	1811	Montgomery County	Medicinal springs located within the county	7004122060000000000♠12,206	7002279000000000000♠279 sq mi (7002723000000000000♠723 km2)
Bell County	013	Pineville	1867	Harlan County and Knox County	Joshua Fry Bell, Kentucky legislator (1862–67)	7004277780000000000♠27,778	7002361000000000000♠361 sq mi (7002935000000000000♠935 km2)
Boone County	015	Burlington	1798	Campbell County	Daniel Boone (1734–1820), frontiersman	7005126413000000000♠126,413	7002246000000000000♠246 sq mi (7002637000000000000♠637 km2)
Bourbon County	017	Paris	1785	Fayette County	House of Bourbon, European royal house	7004199720000000000♠19,972	7002291000000000000♠291 sq mi (7002754000000000000♠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)	7004488320000000000♠48,832	7002160000000000000♠160 sq mi (7002414000000000000♠414 km2)
Boyle County	021	Danville	1842	Lincoln County and Mercer County	John Boyle, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (1810–26)	7004297060000000000♠29,706	7002182000000000000♠182 sq mi (7002471000000000000♠471 km2)
Bracken County	023	Brooksville	1796	Mason County and Campbell County	William Bracken, trapper and frontiersman	7003840600000000000♠8,406	7002203000000000000♠203 sq mi (7002526000000000000♠526 km2)
Breathitt County	025	Jackson	1839	Clay County, Perry County and Estill County	John Breathitt, eleventh Governor of Kentucky (1832–34)	7004134090000000000♠13,409	7002495000000000000♠495 sq mi (7003128200000000000♠1,282 km2)
Breckinridge County	027	Hardinsburg	1799	Hardin County	John Breckinridge (1760–1806), Kentucky statesman and U.S. Senator	7004198880000000000♠19,888	7002572000000000000♠572 sq mi (7003148100000000000♠1,481 km2)
Bullitt County	029	Shepherdsville	1796	Jefferson County and Nelson County	Alexander Scott Bullitt, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1800–04)	7004779550000000000♠77,955	7002299000000000000♠299 sq mi (7002774000000000000♠774 km2)
Butler County	031	Morgantown	1810	Logan County and Ohio County	Richard Butler (1743–91), Revolutionary War general	7004128750000000000♠12,875	7002428000000000000♠428 sq mi (7003110900000000000♠1,109 km2)
Caldwell County	033	Princeton	1809	Livingston County	John Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1804)	7004127250000000000♠12,725	7002347000000000000♠347 sq mi (7002899000000000000♠899 km2)
Calloway County	035	Murray	1822	Hickman County	Richard Callaway (1724–80), pioneer	7004382820000000000♠38,282	7002386000000000000♠386 sq mi (7003100000000000000♠1,000 km2)
Campbell County	037	Alexandria and Newport	1794	Harrison County, Mason County and Scott County	John Campbell (1735–99), Revolutionary War colonel	7004918330000000000♠91,833	7002152000000000000♠152 sq mi (7002394000000000000♠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	7003497800000000000♠4,978	7002192000000000000♠192 sq mi (7002497000000000000♠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	7004108150000000000♠10,815	7002130000000000000♠130 sq mi (7002337000000000000♠337 km2)
Carter County	043	Grayson	1838	Greenup County and Lawrence County	William Grayson Carter, Kentucky state senator (1834–38)	7004272230000000000♠27,223	7002411000000000000♠411 sq mi (7003106400000000000♠1,064 km2)
Casey County	045	Liberty	1806	Lincoln County	William Casey (1754–1816), Revolutionary War colonel	7004158910000000000♠15,891	7002446000000000000♠446 sq mi (7003115500000000000♠1,155 km2)
Christian County	047	Hopkinsville	1796	Logan County	William Christian (1743–86), Revolutionary War soldier and founder of Louisville, Kentucky	7004742500000000000♠74,250	7002721000000000000♠721 sq mi (7003186700000000000♠1,867 km2)
Clark County	049	Winchester	1792	Bourbon County and Fayette County	George Rogers Clark (1752–1818), Revolutionary War general	7004357580000000000♠35,758	7002254000000000000♠254 sq mi (7002658000000000000♠658 km2)
Clay County	051	Manchester	1807	Madison County, Floyd County, and Knox County	Green Clay (1757–1828), Revolutionary War general and western surveyor	7004211470000000000♠21,147	7002471000000000000♠471 sq mi (7003122000000000000♠1,220 km2)
Clinton County	053	Albany	1835	Cumberland County and Wayne County	DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York (1817–23)	7004101650000000000♠10,165	7002198000000000000♠198 sq mi (7002513000000000000♠513 km2)
Crittenden County	055	Marion	1842	Livingston County[7]	John Jordan Crittenden, seventeenth Governor of Kentucky (1848–50)	7003922400000000000♠9,224	7002362000000000000♠362 sq mi (7002938000000000000♠938 km2)
Cumberland County	057	Burkesville	1798	Green County	The Cumberland River, which flows through the county	7003674500000000000♠6,745	7002306000000000000♠306 sq mi (7002793000000000000♠793 km2)
Daviess County	059	Owensboro	1815	Ohio County	Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), lawyer killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	7004982750000000000♠98,275	7002462000000000000♠462 sq mi (7003119700000000000♠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	7004120130000000000♠12,013	7002303000000000000♠303 sq mi (7002785000000000000♠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	7003767200000000000♠7,672	7002234000000000000♠234 sq mi (7002606000000000000♠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	7004144470000000000♠14,447	7002254000000000000♠254 sq mi (7002658000000000000♠658 km2)
Fayette County	067	Lexington	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French-born Revolutionary War general	7005310797000000000♠310,797	7002284000000000000♠284 sq mi (7002736000000000000♠736 km2)
Fleming County	069	Flemingsburg	1798	Mason County	John Fleming (1735–91), frontiersman and one of the county's original settlers	7004145450000000000♠14,545	7002351000000000000♠351 sq mi (7002909000000000000♠909 km2)
Floyd County	071	Prestonsburg	1800	Fleming County, Montgomery County, and Mason County	John Floyd (1750–83), surveyor and pioneer	7004381080000000000♠38,108	7002394000000000000♠394 sq mi (7003102000000000000♠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	7004498800000000000♠49,880	7002210000000000000♠210 sq mi (7002544000000000000♠544 km2)
Fulton County	075	Hickman	1845	Hickman County	Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat	7003626500000000000♠6,265	7002209000000000000♠209 sq mi (7002541000000000000♠541 km2)
Gallatin County	077	Warsaw	1798	Franklin County and Shelby County	Albert Gallatin, United States Secretary of the Treasury (1801–14)	7003858900000000000♠8,589	7001990000000000000♠99 sq mi (7002256000000000000♠256 km2)
Garrard County	079	Lancaster	1796	Madison County, Lincoln County, and Mercer County[8]	James Garrard, second Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804)	7004168580000000000♠16,858	7002231000000000000♠231 sq mi (7002598000000000000♠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	7004248750000000000♠24,875	7002260000000000000♠260 sq mi (7002673000000000000♠673 km2)
Graves County	083	Mayfield	1824	Hickman County	Benjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), army major killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	7004376180000000000♠37,618	7002556000000000000♠556 sq mi (7003144000000000000♠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	7004261940000000000♠26,194	7002504000000000000♠504 sq mi (7003130500000000000♠1,305 km2)
Green County	087	Greensburg	1792	Lincoln County and Nelson County	Nathanael Greene (1742–86), Revolutionary War general	7004110430000000000♠11,043	7002289000000000000♠289 sq mi (7002749000000000000♠749 km2)
Greenup County	089	Greenup	1803	Mason County	Christopher Greenup, third Governor of Kentucky (1804–08)	7004363080000000000♠36,308	7002346000000000000♠346 sq mi (7002896000000000000♠896 km2)
Hancock County	091	Hawesville	1829	Ohio County, Breckinridge County, and Daviess County	John Hancock (1737–93), signer of the Declaration of Independence	7003875300000000000♠8,753	7002189000000000000♠189 sq mi (7002490000000000000♠490 km2)
Hardin County	093	Elizabethtown	1792	Nelson County	John Hardin (1753–92), pioneer	7005108266000000000♠108,266	7002628000000000000♠628 sq mi (7003162700000000000♠1,627 km2)
Harlan County	095	Harlan	1819	Knox County	Silas Harlan (1753–82), army major in the Battle of Blue Licks	7004281630000000000♠28,163	7002467000000000000♠467 sq mi (7003121000000000000♠1,210 km2)
Harrison County	097	Cynthiana	1793	Bourbon County and Scott County	Benjamin Harrison (1726–91), co-author of the Kentucky Constitution	7004185920000000000♠18,592	7002310000000000000♠310 sq mi (7002803000000000000♠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	7004185970000000000♠18,597	7002416000000000000♠416 sq mi (7003107700000000000♠1,077 km2)
Henderson County	101	Henderson	1798	Christian County	Richard Henderson (1734–85), founder of the Transylvania Company	7004464670000000000♠46,467	7002440000000000000♠440 sq mi (7003114000000000000♠1,140 km2)
Henry County	103	New Castle	1798	Shelby County	Patrick Henry (1736–99), Revolutionary War-era legislator and U.S. founding father	7004155720000000000♠15,572	7002289000000000000♠289 sq mi (7002749000000000000♠749 km2)
Hickman County	105	Clinton	1821	Christian County	Paschal Hickman, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	7003473400000000000♠4,734	7002244000000000000♠244 sq mi (7002632000000000000♠632 km2)
Hopkins County	107	Madisonville	1806	Henderson County	Samuel Hopkins (1753–1819), Revolutionary War general	7004463760000000000♠46,376	7002551000000000000♠551 sq mi (7003142700000000000♠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)	7004132890000000000♠13,289	7002346000000000000♠346 sq mi (7002896000000000000♠896 km2)
Jefferson County	111	Louisville	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–09)	7005760026000000000♠760,026	7002385000000000000♠385 sq mi (7002997000000000000♠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	7004508150000000000♠50,815	7002173000000000000♠173 sq mi (7002448000000000000♠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)	7004232620000000000♠23,262	7002262000000000000♠262 sq mi (7002679000000000000♠679 km2)
Kenton County	117	Covington and Independence	1840	Campbell County	Simon Kenton (1755–1836), pioneer	7005163929000000000♠163,929	7002163000000000000♠163 sq mi (7002422000000000000♠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)	7004158920000000000♠15,892	7002352000000000000♠352 sq mi (7002912000000000000♠912 km2)
Knox County	121	Barbourville	1799	Lincoln County	Henry Knox, United States Secretary of War (1785–94)	7004317980000000000♠31,798	7002388000000000000♠388 sq mi (7003100500000000000♠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	7004141800000000000♠14,180	7002263000000000000♠263 sq mi (7002681000000000000♠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	7004600150000000000♠60,015	7002436000000000000♠436 sq mi (7003112900000000000♠1,129 km2)
Lawrence County	127	Louisa	1821	Greenup County and Floyd County	James Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812	7004158040000000000♠15,804	7002419000000000000♠419 sq mi (7003108500000000000♠1,085 km2)
Lee County	129	Beattyville	1870	Breathitt County, Estill County, Owsley County, and Wolfe County	Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, Revolutionary War hero and Governor of Virginia	7003759400000000000♠7,594	7002210000000000000♠210 sq mi (7002544000000000000♠544 km2)
Leslie County	131	Hyden	1878	Clay County, Harlan County and Perry County	Preston Leslie, twenty-sixth Governor of Kentucky (1871–75)	7004109180000000000♠10,918	7002404000000000000♠404 sq mi (7003104600000000000♠1,046 km2)
Letcher County	133	Whitesburg	1842	Perry County and Harlan County	Robert P. Letcher, fifteenth Governor of Kentucky (1840–44)	7004233590000000000♠23,359	7002339000000000000♠339 sq mi (7002878000000000000♠878 km2)
Lewis County	135	Vanceburg	1806	Mason County	Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer	7004138800000000000♠13,880	7002484000000000000♠484 sq mi (7003125400000000000♠1,254 km2)
Lincoln County	137	Stanford	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), Revolutionary War general	7004244450000000000♠24,445	7002337000000000000♠337 sq mi (7002873000000000000♠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	7003935900000000000♠9,359	7002316000000000000♠316 sq mi (7002818000000000000♠818 km2)
Logan County	141	Russellville	1792	Lincoln County	Benjamin Logan (1742–1802), Revolutionary War general	7004268670000000000♠26,867	7002556000000000000♠556 sq mi (7003144000000000000♠1,440 km2)
Lyon County	143	Eddyville	1854	Caldwell County	Chittenden Lyon, United States Representative from Kentucky (1827–35)	7003843000000000000♠8,430	7002216000000000000♠216 sq mi (7002559000000000000♠559 km2)
McCracken County	145	Paducah	1825	Hickman County	Virgil McCracken, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	7004653160000000000♠65,316	7002251000000000000♠251 sq mi (7002650000000000000♠650 km2)
McCreary County	147	Whitley City	1912	Pulaski County, Wayne County and Whitley County	James McCreary, thirty-seventh Governor of Kentucky (1912–16)	7004178630000000000♠17,863	7002428000000000000♠428 sq mi (7003110900000000000♠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	7003947800000000000♠9,478	7002254000000000000♠254 sq mi (7002658000000000000♠658 km2)
Madison County	151	Richmond	1785	Lincoln County	James Madison, President of the United States (1809–17)	7004873400000000000♠87,340	7002441000000000000♠441 sq mi (7003114200000000000♠1,142 km2)
Magoffin County	153	Salyersville	1860	Floyd County, Johnson County and Morgan County	Beriah Magoffin, twenty-first Governor of Kentucky (1859–62)	7004129130000000000♠12,913	7002310000000000000♠310 sq mi (7002803000000000000♠803 km2)
Marion County	155	Lebanon	1834	Washington County	Francis Marion (1732–95), Revolutionary War general	7004200070000000000♠20,007	7002347000000000000♠347 sq mi (7002899000000000000♠899 km2)
Marshall County	157	Benton	1842	Calloway County	John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–35)	7004309530000000000♠30,953	7002305000000000000♠305 sq mi (7002790000000000000♠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)	7004125370000000000♠12,537	7002231000000000000♠231 sq mi (7002598000000000000♠598 km2)
Mason County	161	Maysville	1788	Bourbon County[9]	George Mason (1725–92), statesman known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"	7004171660000000000♠17,166	7002241000000000000♠241 sq mi (7002624000000000000♠624 km2)
Meade County	163	Brandenburg	1823	Breckinridge County and Hardin County	James Meade, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	7004291390000000000♠29,139	7002308000000000000♠308 sq mi (7002798000000000000♠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)	7003628700000000000♠6,287	7002204000000000000♠204 sq mi (7002528000000000000♠528 km2)
Mercer County	167	Harrodsburg	1785	Lincoln County	Hugh Mercer (1726–77), Revolutionary War hero who was killed at the Battle of Princeton	7004213190000000000♠21,319	7002251000000000000♠251 sq mi (7002650000000000000♠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)	7003999000000000000♠9,990	7002291000000000000♠291 sq mi (7002754000000000000♠754 km2)
Monroe County	171	Tompkinsville	1820	Barren County and Cumberland County	James Monroe, President of the United States (1817–25)	7004107040000000000♠10,704	7002331000000000000♠331 sq mi (7002857000000000000♠857 km2)
Montgomery County	173	Mount Sterling	1796	Clark County[10]	Richard Montgomery (1736–75), military general killed at the Battle of Quebec	7004274740000000000♠27,474	7002199000000000000♠199 sq mi (7002515000000000000♠515 km2)
Morgan County	175	West Liberty	1822	Bath County and Floyd County	Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general	7004133030000000000♠13,303	7002381000000000000♠381 sq mi (7002987000000000000♠987 km2)
Muhlenberg County	177	Greenville	1798	Christian County and Logan County	Peter Muhlenberg (1746–1807), Revolutionary War general	7004312070000000000♠31,207	7002475000000000000♠475 sq mi (7003123000000000000♠1,230 km2)
Nelson County	179	Bardstown	1784	Jefferson County	Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738–89), signer of the Declaration of Independence	7004448120000000000♠44,812	7002423000000000000♠423 sq mi (7003109600000000000♠1,096 km2)
Nicholas County	181	Carlisle	1799	Mason County and Bourbon County	George Nicholas (1743–99), Revolutionary War colonel	7003704100000000000♠7,041	7002197000000000000♠197 sq mi (7002510000000000000♠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	7004239770000000000♠23,977	7002594000000000000♠594 sq mi (7003153800000000000♠1,538 km2)
Oldham County	185	La Grange	1823	Henry County, Jefferson County and Shelby County	William Oldham (1753–91), Revolutionary War colonel	7004634900000000000♠63,490	7002189000000000000♠189 sq mi (7002490000000000000♠490 km2)
Owen County	187	Owenton	1819	Franklin County, Gallatin County and Scott County	Abraham Owen (1769–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	7004106450000000000♠10,645	7002352000000000000♠352 sq mi (7002912000000000000♠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)	7003450800000000000♠4,508	7002198000000000000♠198 sq mi (7002513000000000000♠513 km2)
Pendleton County	191	Falmouth	1798	Campbell County and Bracken County	Edmund Pendleton (1721–1803), member of the Continental Congress	7004144930000000000♠14,493	7002280000000000000♠280 sq mi (7002725000000000000♠725 km2)
Perry County	193	Hazard	1820	Floyd County and Clay County	Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), Admiral in the War of 1812	7004275970000000000♠27,597	7002342000000000000♠342 sq mi (7002886000000000000♠886 km2)
Pike County	195	Pikeville	1821	Floyd County	Zebulon Pike (1779–1813), western explorer and discoverer of Pike's Peak	7004630340000000000♠63,034	7002788000000000000♠788 sq mi (7003204100000000000♠2,041 km2)
Powell County	197	Stanton	1852	Clark County, Estill County, and Montgomery County	Lazarus Whitehead Powell, nineteenth Governor of Kentucky (1851–55)	7004124340000000000♠12,434	7002180000000000000♠180 sq mi (7002466000000000000♠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	7004638250000000000♠63,825	7002662000000000000♠662 sq mi (7003171500000000000♠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)	7003219700000000000♠2,197	7002100000000000000♠100 sq mi (7002259000000000000♠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	7004168260000000000♠16,826	7002318000000000000♠318 sq mi (7002824000000000000♠824 km2)
Rowan County	205	Morehead	1856	Fleming County and Morgan County	John Rowan, Congressman from Kentucky (1809–11; 1825–31))	7004236550000000000♠23,655	7002281000000000000♠281 sq mi (7002728000000000000♠728 km2)
Russell County	207	Jamestown	1825	Adair County, Wayne County and Cumberland County	William Russell (1758–1825), pioneer and state legislator	7004177740000000000♠17,774	7002254000000000000♠254 sq mi (7002658000000000000♠658 km2)
Scott County	209	Georgetown	1792	Woodford County	Charles Scott (Governor of Kentucky), Revolutionary war general and later Governor of Kentucky (1808–12)	7004512840000000000♠51,284	7002285000000000000♠285 sq mi (7002738000000000000♠738 km2)
Shelby County	211	Shelbyville	1792	Jefferson County	Isaac Shelby, first Governor of Kentucky (1792–96; 1812–16)	7004448750000000000♠44,875	7002384000000000000♠384 sq mi (7002995000000000000♠995 km2)
Simpson County	213	Franklin	1819	Allen County, Logan County and Warren County	John Simpson, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	7004178260000000000♠17,826	7002236000000000000♠236 sq mi (7002611000000000000♠611 km2)
Spencer County	215	Taylorsville	1824	Nelson County, Shelby County, and Bullitt County	Spier Spencer, military captain killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	7004176680000000000♠17,668	7002186000000000000♠186 sq mi (7002482000000000000♠482 km2)
Taylor County	217	Campbellsville	1848	Green County	Zachary Taylor, President of the United States (1849–50)	7004252570000000000♠25,257	7002270000000000000♠270 sq mi (7002699000000000000♠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	7004125200000000000♠12,520	7002376000000000000♠376 sq mi (7002974000000000000♠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	7004141420000000000♠14,142	7002443000000000000♠443 sq mi (7003114700000000000♠1,147 km2)
Trimble County	223	Bedford	1837	Gallatin County, Henry County and Oldham County	Robert Trimble, Associate Supreme Court Justice (1826–28)	7003878600000000000♠8,786	7002149000000000000♠149 sq mi (7002386000000000000♠386 km2)
Union County	225	Morganfield	1811	Henderson County	Unanimous decision of the residents to unite together and create a new county	7004151650000000000♠15,165	7002345000000000000♠345 sq mi (7002894000000000000♠894 km2)
Warren County	227	Bowling Green	1796	Logan County	Joseph Warren (1741–75), Revolutionary War general	7005120460000000000♠120,460	7002545000000000000♠545 sq mi (7003141200000000000♠1,412 km2)
Washington County	229	Springfield	1792	Jefferson County	George Washington, President of the United States (1789–97)	7004119590000000000♠11,959	7002301000000000000♠301 sq mi (7002780000000000000♠780 km2)
Wayne County	231	Monticello	1800	Pulaski County and Cumberland County	Anthony Wayne (1745–96), Revolutionary War general	7004204860000000000♠20,486	7002459000000000000♠459 sq mi (7003118900000000000♠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)	7004132360000000000♠13,236	7002335000000000000♠335 sq mi (7002868000000000000♠868 km2)
Whitley County	235	Williamsburg	1818	Knox County	William Whitley (1749–1813), Kentucky pioneer	7004355030000000000♠35,503	7002440000000000000♠440 sq mi (7003114000000000000♠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	7003721400000000000♠7,214	7002223000000000000♠223 sq mi (7002578000000000000♠578 km2)
Woodford County	239	Versailles	1788	Fayette County	William Woodford (1734–80), Revolutionary War general	7004255630000000000♠25,563	7002191000000000000♠191 sq mi (7002495000000000000♠495 km2)

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.

See also

• Kentucky
• County (United States)
• Lists of U.S. county name etymologies
• List of cities in Kentucky

Notes

Further reading

• Kleber, John E.; Thomas D. Clark; Lowell H. Harrison; James C. Klotter (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.  (Main reference for data in the list, unless otherwise noted).

External links

• Kentucky Atlas and County Formation Maps, genealogyinc.com website