List of counties in Kentucky

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's 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 fewer 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.

[edit] Alphabetical list

County	FIPS Code [4]	County seat [5]	Established [5]	Origin	Etymolgy	Population [5]	Area [5]	Map
Adair County	001	Columbia	1802	Green County	John Adair, Governor of Kentucky (1820–1824)	&0000000000017244.00000017,244	&0000000000000407.000000407 sq mi (&0000000000001054.0000001,054 km²)
Allen County	003	Scottsville	1815	Barren County and Warren County	John Allen (1771–1813), soldier in the War of 1812	&0000000000017800.00000017,800	&0000000000000346.000000346 sq mi (&0000000000000896.000000896 km²)
Anderson County	005	Lawrenceburg	1827	Franklin County, Washington County and Mercer County	Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., Kentucky and United States legislator (1817–1821)	&0000000000019111.00000019,111	&0000000000000203.000000203 sq mi (&0000000000000526.000000526 km²)
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	&0000000000008286.0000008,286	&0000000000000251.000000251 sq mi (&0000000000000650.000000650 km²)
Barren County	009	Glasgow	1798	Green County and Warren County	The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky	&0000000000038033.00000038,033	&0000000000000491.000000491 sq mi (&0000000000001272.0000001,272 km²)
Bath County	011	Owingsville	1811	Montgomery County	Medicinal springs located within the county	&0000000000011085.00000011,085	&0000000000000279.000000279 sq mi (&0000000000000723.000000723 km²)
Bell County	013	Pineville	1867	Harlan County and Knox County	Joshua Fry Bell, Kentucky legislator (1862–1867)	&0000000000030060.00000030,060	&0000000000000361.000000361 sq mi (&0000000000000935.000000935 km²)
Boone County	015	Burlington	1798	Campbell County	Daniel Boone (1734–1820), frontiersman	&0000000000085991.00000085,991	&0000000000000246.000000246 sq mi (&0000000000000637.000000637 km²)
Bourbon County	017	Paris	1785	Fayette County	House of Bourbon, European royal house	&0000000000019360.00000019,360	&0000000000000291.000000291 sq mi (&0000000000000754.000000754 km²)
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)	&0000000000049752.00000049,752	&0000000000000160.000000160 sq mi (&0000000000000414.000000414 km²)
Boyle County	021	Danville	1842	Lincoln County and Mercer County	John Boyle, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (1810–1826)	&0000000000027697.00000027,697	&0000000000000182.000000182 sq mi (&0000000000000471.000000471 km²)
Bracken County	023	Brooksville	1796	Mason County and Campbell County	William Bracken, trapper and frontiersman	&0000000000008279.0000008,279	&0000000000000203.000000203 sq mi (&0000000000000526.000000526 km²)
Breathitt County	025	Jackson	1839	Clay County, Perry County and Estill County	John Breathitt, Governor of Kentucky (1832–1834)	&0000000000016100.00000016,100	&0000000000000495.000000495 sq mi (&0000000000001282.0000001,282 km²)
Breckinridge County	027	Hardinsburg	1799	Hardin County	John Breckinridge (1760–1806), Kentucky statesman	&0000000000018648.00000018,648	&0000000000000572.000000572 sq mi (&0000000000001481.0000001,481 km²)
Bullitt County	029	Shepherdsville	1796	Jefferson County and Nelson County	Alexander Scott Bullitt, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1800–1804)	&0000000000061236.00000061,236	&0000000000000299.000000299 sq mi (&0000000000000774.000000774 km²)
Butler County	031	Morgantown	1810	Logan County and Ohio County	Richard Butler (1743–1791), Revolutionary War general	&0000000000013010.00000013,010	&0000000000000428.000000428 sq mi (&0000000000001109.0000001,109 km²)
Caldwell County	033	Princeton	1809	Livingston County	John Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1804)	&0000000000013060.00000013,060	&0000000000000347.000000347 sq mi (&0000000000000899.000000899 km²)
Calloway County	035	Murray	1822	Hickman County	Richard Callaway (1724–1780), pioneer	&0000000000034177.00000034,177	&0000000000000386.000000386 sq mi (&0000000000001000.0000001,000 km²)
Campbell County	037	Alexandria and Newport	1794	Harrison County, Mason County and Scott County	John Campbell (1735–1799), Revolutionary War soldier	&0000000000088616.00000088,616	&0000000000000152.000000152 sq mi (&0000000000000394.000000394 km²)
Carlisle County	039	Bardwell	1886	Hickman County	John G. Carlisle, United States legislator (1877–1889)	&0000000000005351.0000005,351	&0000000000000192.000000192 sq mi (&0000000000000497.000000497 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	&0000000000010155.00000010,155	&0000000000000130.000000130 sq mi (&0000000000000337.000000337 km²)
Carter County	043	Grayson	1838	Greenup County and Lawrence County	William Grayson Carter, Kentucky state senator (1834–1838)	&0000000000026889.00000026,889	&0000000000000411.000000411 sq mi (&0000000000001064.0000001,064 km²)
Casey County	045	Liberty	1806	Lincoln County	William Casey (1754–1816), Revolutionary War soldier	&0000000000015447.00000015,447	&0000000000000446.000000446 sq mi (&0000000000001155.0000001,155 km²)
Christian County	047	Hopkinsville	1796	Logan County	William Christian (1743–1786), Revolutionary War soldier	&0000000000072265.00000072,265	&0000000000000721.000000721 sq mi (&0000000000001867.0000001,867 km²)
Clark County	049	Winchester	1792	Bourbon County and Fayette County	George Rogers Clark (1752–1818), Revolutionary War soldier	&0000000000033144.00000033,144	&0000000000000254.000000254 sq mi (&0000000000000658.000000658 km²)
Clay County	051	Manchester	1807	Madison County, Floyd County, and Knox County	Green Clay (1757–1828), military general and surveyor	&0000000000024556.00000024,556	&0000000000000471.000000471 sq mi (&0000000000001220.0000001,220 km²)
Clinton County	053	Albany	1835	Cumberland County and Wayne County	DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York (1817–1823)	&0000000000009634.0000009,634	&0000000000000198.000000198 sq mi (&0000000000000513.000000513 km²)
Crittenden County	055	Marion	1842	Livingston County[6]	John Jordan Crittenden, Governor of Kentucky (1848–1850)	&0000000000009384.0000009,384	&0000000000000362.000000362 sq mi (&0000000000000938.000000938 km²)
Cumberland County	057	Burkesville	1798	Green County	The Cumberland River, which flows through the county	&0000000000007147.0000007,147	&0000000000000306.000000306 sq mi (&0000000000000793.000000793 km²)
Daviess County	059	Owensboro	1815	Ohio County	Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), lawyer killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	&0000000000091545.00000091,545	&0000000000000462.000000462 sq mi (&0000000000001197.0000001,197 km²)
Edmonson County	061	Brownsville	1825	Hart County, Grayson County, and Warren County	John Edmonson (1764–1813), military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin	&0000000000011644.00000011,644	&0000000000000303.000000303 sq mi (&0000000000000785.000000785 km²)
Elliott County	063	Sandy Hook	1869	Morgan County, Lawrence County, and Carter County	John Lisle Elliott or John Milton Elliott (1820–1885), legislators	&0000000000006748.0000006,748	&0000000000000234.000000234 sq mi (&0000000000000606.000000606 km²)
Estill County	065	Irvine	1808	Clark County and Madison County	James Estill (1750–1782), military captain killed at the Battle of Little Mountain	&0000000000015307.00000015,307	&0000000000000254.000000254 sq mi (&0000000000000658.000000658 km²)
Fayette County	067	Lexington	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	General Lafayette (1757–1834), Revolutionary War general	&0000000000260512.000000260,512	&0000000000000284.000000284 sq mi (&0000000000000736.000000736 km²)
Fleming County	069	Flemingsburg	1798	Mason County	John Fleming (1735–1791), early settler of Kentucky	&0000000000013792.00000013,792	&0000000000000351.000000351 sq mi (&0000000000000909.000000909 km²)
Floyd County	071	Prestonsburg	1800	Fleming County, Montgomery County, and Mason County	John Floyd (1750–1783), surveyor and pioneer	&0000000000042441.00000042,441	&0000000000000394.000000394 sq mi (&0000000000001020.0000001,020 km²)
Franklin County	073	Frankfort	1794	Mercer County, Shelby County, and Woodford County	Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), signer of the Declaration of Independence	&0000000000047687.00000047,687	&0000000000000210.000000210 sq mi (&0000000000000544.000000544 km²)
Fulton County	075	Hickman	1845	Hickman County	Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat	&0000000000007752.0000007,752	&0000000000000209.000000209 sq mi (&0000000000000541.000000541 km²)
Gallatin County	077	Warsaw	1798	Franklin County and Shelby County	Albert Gallatin, United States Secretary of the Treasury (1801–1814)	&0000000000007870.0000007,870	&0000000000000099.00000099 sq mi (&0000000000000256.000000256 km²)
Garrard County	079	Lancaster	1796	Madison County, Lincoln County, and Mercer County[7]	James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804)	&0000000000014792.00000014,792	&0000000000000231.000000231 sq mi (&0000000000000598.000000598 km²)
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	&0000000000022384.00000022,384	&0000000000000260.000000260 sq mi (&0000000000000673.000000673 km²)
Graves County	083	Mayfield	1824	Hickman County	Benjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), soldier killed at the Battle of River Raisin	&0000000000037028.00000037,028	&0000000000000556.000000556 sq mi (&0000000000001440.0000001,440 km²)
Grayson County	085	Leitchfield	1810	Hardin County and Ohio County	William Grayson (1740–1790), aide to George Washington	&0000000000024053.00000024,053	&0000000000000504.000000504 sq mi (&0000000000001305.0000001,305 km²)
Green County	087	Greensburg	1792	Lincoln County and Nelson County	Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), Revolutionary War general	&0000000000011518.00000011,518	&0000000000000289.000000289 sq mi (&0000000000000749.000000749 km²)
Greenup County	089	Greenup	1803	Mason County	Christopher Greenup, Governor of Kentucky (1804–1808)	&0000000000036891.00000036,891	&0000000000000346.000000346 sq mi (&0000000000000896.000000896 km²)
Hancock County	091	Hawesville	1829	Ohio County, Breckinridge County, and Daviess County	John Hancock (1737–1793), signer of the Declaration of Independence	&0000000000008392.0000008,392	&0000000000000189.000000189 sq mi (&0000000000000490.000000490 km²)
Hardin County	093	Elizabethtown	1792	Nelson County	John Hardin (1753–1792), pioneer	&0000000000094174.00000094,174	&0000000000000628.000000628 sq mi (&0000000000001627.0000001,627 km²)
Harlan County	095	Harlan	1819	Knox County	Silas Harlan (1753–1782), soldier in the Battle of Blue Licks	&0000000000033202.00000033,202	&0000000000000467.000000467 sq mi (&0000000000001210.0000001,210 km²)
Harrison County	097	Cynthiana	1793	Bourbon County and Scott County	Benjamin Harrison (1726–1791), co-author of the Kentucky Constitution	&0000000000017983.00000017,983	&0000000000000310.000000310 sq mi (&0000000000000803.000000803 km²)
Hart County	099	Munfordville	1819	Hardin County and Barren County	Nathaniel G. T. Hart (1784–1813), lawyer captured at the Battle of River Raisin	&0000000000017445.00000017,445	&0000000000000416.000000416 sq mi (&0000000000001077.0000001,077 km²)
Henderson County	101	Henderson	1798	Christian County	Richard Henderson (1734–1785), founder of the Transylvania Company	&0000000000044829.00000044,829	&0000000000000440.000000440 sq mi (&0000000000001140.0000001,140 km²)
Henry County	103	New Castle	1798	Shelby County	Patrick Henry (1736–1799), Revolutionary War patriot	&0000000000015060.00000015,060	&0000000000000289.000000289 sq mi (&0000000000000749.000000749 km²)
Hickman County	105	Clinton	1821	Christian County	Paschal Hickman, military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin	&0000000000005262.0000005,262	&0000000000000244.000000244 sq mi (&0000000000000632.000000632 km²)
Hopkins County	107	Madisonville	1806	Henderson County	Samuel Hopkins (1753–1819), Revolutionary War general	&0000000000046519.00000046,519	&0000000000000551.000000551 sq mi (&0000000000001427.0000001,427 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 (1829–1837)	&0000000000013495.00000013,495	&0000000000000346.000000346 sq mi (&0000000000000896.000000896 km²)
Jefferson County	111	Louisville	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–1809)	&0000000000693604.000000693,604	&0000000000000385.000000385 sq mi (&0000000000000997.000000997 km²)
Jessamine County	113	Nicholasville	1798	Fayette County	Jessamine Creek	&0000000000039041.00000039,041	&0000000000000173.000000173 sq mi (&0000000000000448.000000448 km²)
Johnson County	115	Paintsville	1843	Floyd County, Lawrence County, and Morgan County	Richard Mentor Johnson, Vice President of the United States (1837–1841)	&0000000000023445.00000023,445	&0000000000000262.000000262 sq mi (&0000000000000679.000000679 km²)
Kenton County	117	Covington and Independence	1840	Campbell County, Kentucky	Simon Kenton (1755–1836), pioneer	&0000000000151464.000000151,464	&0000000000000163.000000163 sq mi (&0000000000000422.000000422 km²)
Knott County	119	Hindman	1884	Perry County, Letcher County, Floyd County, and Breathitt County	James Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883–1887)	&0000000000017649.00000017,649	&0000000000000352.000000352 sq mi (&0000000000000912.000000912 km²)
Knox County	121	Barbourville	1799	Lincoln County	Henry Knox, United States Secretary of War (1785–1794)	&0000000000031795.00000031,795	&0000000000000388.000000388 sq mi (&0000000000001005.0000001,005 km²)
Larue County	123	Hodgenville	1843	Hardin County	John Larue (1746–1792), early settler of Kentucky	&0000000000013373.00000013,373	&0000000000000263.000000263 sq mi (&0000000000000681.000000681 km²)
Laurel County	125	London	1825	Rockcastle County, Clay County, Knox County and Whitley County	Mountain laurel trees that are prominent in the area	&0000000000052715.00000052,715	&0000000000000436.000000436 sq mi (&0000000000001129.0000001,129 km²)
Lawrence County	127	Louisa	1821	Greenup County and Floyd County	James Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812	&0000000000015569.00000015,569	&0000000000000419.000000419 sq mi (&0000000000001085.0000001,085 km²)
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	&0000000000007916.0000007,916	&0000000000000210.000000210 sq mi (&0000000000000544.000000544 km²)
Leslie County	131	Hyden	1878	Clay County, Harlan County and Perry County	Preston Leslie, Governor of Kentucky (1871–1875)	&0000000000012401.00000012,401	&0000000000000404.000000404 sq mi (&0000000000001046.0000001,046 km²)
Letcher County	133	Whitesburg	1842	Perry County and Harlan County	Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky (1840–1844)	&0000000000025277.00000025,277	&0000000000000339.000000339 sq mi (&0000000000000878.000000878 km²)
Lewis County	135	Vanceburg	1806	Mason County	Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer	&0000000000014092.00000014,092	&0000000000000484.000000484 sq mi (&0000000000001254.0000001,254 km²)
Lincoln County	137	Stanford	1780	One of three original Kentucky counties	Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), Revolutionary War general	&0000000000023361.00000023,361	&0000000000000337.000000337 sq mi (&0000000000000873.000000873 km²)
Livingston County	139	Smithland	1799	Christian County	Robert Livingston (1746–1813), one of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence	&0000000000009804.0000009,804	&0000000000000316.000000316 sq mi (&0000000000000818.000000818 km²)
Logan County	141	Russellville	1792	Lincoln County	Benjamin Logan (1742–1802), military general from Virginia	&0000000000026573.00000026,573	&0000000000000556.000000556 sq mi (&0000000000001440.0000001,440 km²)
Lyon County	143	Eddyville	1854	Caldwell County	Chittenden Lyon, United States Representative (1827–1835)	&0000000000008080.0000008,080	&0000000000000216.000000216 sq mi (&0000000000000559.000000559 km²)
McCracken County	145	Paducah	1825	Hickman County	Virgil McCracken, military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin	&0000000000065514.00000065,514	&0000000000000251.000000251 sq mi (&0000000000000650.000000650 km²)
McCreary County	147	Whitley City	1912	Pulaski County, Wayne County and Whitley County	James McCreary, Governor of Kentucky (1912–1916)	&0000000000017080.00000017,080	&0000000000000428.000000428 sq mi (&0000000000001109.0000001,109 km²)
McLean County	149	Calhoun	1854	Daviess County, Muhlenberg County and Ohio County	Alney McLean (1815–1817; 1819–1821), United States Representative	&0000000000009938.0000009,938	&0000000000000254.000000254 sq mi (&0000000000000658.000000658 km²)
Madison County	151	Richmond	1785	Lincoln County	James Madison, President of the United States (1809–1817)	&0000000000070872.00000070,872	&0000000000000441.000000441 sq mi (&0000000000001142.0000001,142 km²)
Magoffin County	153	Salyersville	1860	Floyd County, Johnson County and Morgan County	Beriah Magoffin, Governor of Kentucky (1859–1862)	&0000000000013332.00000013,332	&0000000000000310.000000310 sq mi (&0000000000000803.000000803 km²)
Marion County	155	Lebanon	1834	Washington County	Francis Marion (1732–1795), Revolutionary War general	&0000000000018212.00000018,212	&0000000000000347.000000347 sq mi (&0000000000000899.000000899 km²)
Marshall County	157	Benton	1842	Calloway County	John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–1835)	&0000000000030125.00000030,125	&0000000000000305.000000305 sq mi (&0000000000000790.000000790 km²)
Martin County	159	Inez	1870	Floyd County, Johnson County, Pike County, and Lawrence County	John P. Martin, United States Congressman (1845–1847)	&0000000000012578.00000012,578	&0000000000000231.000000231 sq mi (&0000000000000598.000000598 km²)
Mason County	161	Maysville	1788	Bourbon County[8]	George Mason (1725–1792), statesman	&0000000000016800.00000016,800	&0000000000000241.000000241 sq mi (&0000000000000624.000000624 km²)
Meade County	163	Brandenburg	1823	Breckinridge County and Hardin County	James Meade, killed at the Battle of River Raisin	&0000000000026349.00000026,349	&0000000000000308.000000308 sq mi (&0000000000000798.000000798 km²)
Menifee County