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
863 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 )