List of counties in Kentucky

Map of Kentucky's counties

There are 120 counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky.

Alphabetical list

County	FIPS code	County seat[1]	Established[1]	Formed from[2]	Meaning of name[3]	Population (2020)[4]	Area[1]	Map
Adair County	001	Columbia	1802	Green County	John Adair, eighth Governor of Kentucky (1820–24)	18,903	407 sq mi (1,054 km^2)
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	20,588	346 sq mi (896 km^2)
Anderson County	005	Lawrenceburg	1827	Franklin County, Washington County and Mercer County	Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., Kentucky and United States legislator (1817–21)	23,852	203 sq mi (526 km^2)
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	7,728	251 sq mi (650 km^2)
Barren County	009	Glasgow	1798	Green County and Warren County	The Barrens, a region of grassland in Kentucky	44,485	491 sq mi (1,272 km^2)
Bath County	011	Owingsville	1811	Montgomery County	Medicinal springs located within the county	12,750	279 sq mi (723 km^2)
Bell County	013	Pineville	1867	Harlan County and Knox County	Joshua Fry Bell, Kentucky legislator (1862–67)	24,097	361 sq mi (935 km^2)
Boone County	015	Burlington	1798	Campbell County	Daniel Boone (1734–1820), frontiersman	135,968	246 sq mi (637 km^2)
Bourbon County	017	Paris	1785	Fayette County	House of Bourbon, European royal house	20,252	291 sq mi (754 km^2)
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)	48,261	160 sq mi (414 km^2)
Boyle County	021	Danville	1842	Lincoln County and Mercer County	John Boyle, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (1810–26)	30,614	182 sq mi (471 km^2)
Bracken County	023	Brooksville	1796	Mason County and Campbell County	William Bracken, trapper and frontiersman	8,400	203 sq mi (526 km^2)
Breathitt County	025	Jackson	1839	Clay County, Perry County and Estill County	John Breathitt, eleventh Governor of Kentucky (1832–34)	13,718	495 sq mi (1,282 km^2)
Breckinridge County	027	Hardinsburg	1799	Hardin County	John Breckinridge (1760–1806), Kentucky statesman and U.S. Senator	20,432	572 sq mi (1,481 km^2)
Bullitt County	029	Shepherdsville	1796	Jefferson County and Nelson County	Alexander Scott Bullitt, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1800–04)	82,217	299 sq mi (774 km^2)
Butler County	031	Morgantown	1810	Logan County and Ohio County	Richard Butler (1743–91), Revolutionary War general	12,371	428 sq mi (1,109 km^2)
Caldwell County	033	Princeton	1809	Livingston County	John Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1804)	12,649	347 sq mi (899 km^2)
Calloway County	035	Murray	1822	Hickman County	Richard Callaway (1724–80), pioneer	37,103	386 sq mi (1,000 km^2)
Campbell County	037	Alexandria and Newport	1794	Harrison County, Mason County and Scott County	John Campbell (1735–99), Revolutionary War colonel	93,076	152 sq mi (394 km^2)
Carlisle County	039	Bardwell	1886	Hickman County	John G. Carlisle, United States legislator (1877–89) and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives	4,826	192 sq mi (497 km^2)
Carroll County	041	Carrollton	1838	Gallatin County, Trimble County, and Henry county	Charles Carroll (1737–1832), last living signer of the Declaration of Independence	10,810	130 sq mi (337 km^2)
Carter County	043	Grayson	1838	Greenup County and Lawrence County	William Grayson Carter, Kentucky state senator (1834–38)	26,627	411 sq mi (1,064 km^2)
Casey County	045	Liberty	1806	Lincoln County	William Casey (1754–1816), Revolutionary War colonel	15,941	446 sq mi (1,155 km^2)
Christian County	047	Hopkinsville	1796	Logan County	William Christian (1743–86), Revolutionary War soldier and founder of Louisville, Kentucky	72,748	721 sq mi (1,867 km^2)
Clark County	049	Winchester	1792	Bourbon County and Fayette County	George Rogers Clark (1752–1818), Revolutionary War general	36,972	254 sq mi (658 km^2)
Clay County	051	Manchester	1807	Madison County, Floyd County, and Knox County	Green Clay (1757–1828), Revolutionary War general and western surveyor	20,345	471 sq mi (1,220 km^2)
Clinton County	053	Albany	1835	Cumberland County and Wayne County	DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York (1817–23)	9,253	198 sq mi (513 km^2)
Crittenden County	055	Marion	1842	Livingston County	John Jordan Crittenden, seventeenth Governor of Kentucky (1848–50)	8,990	362 sq mi (938 km^2)
Cumberland County	057	Burkesville	1798	Green County	The Cumberland River, which flows through the county	5,888	306 sq mi (793 km^2)
Daviess County	059	Owensboro	1815	Ohio County	Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), lawyer killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	103,312	462 sq mi (1,197 km^2)
Edmonson County	061	Brownsville	1825	Hart County, Grayson County, and Warren County	John Edmonson (1764–1813), military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	12,126	303 sq mi (785 km^2)
Elliott County	063	Sandy Hook	1869	Morgan County, Lawrence County, and Carter County	John Milton Elliott (1820–85), U.S. Representative from Kentucky	7,354	234 sq mi (606 km^2)
Estill County	065	Irvine	1808	Clark County and Madison County	James Estill (1750–82), military captain killed at the Battle of Little Mountain	14,163	254 sq mi (658 km^2)
Fayette County	067	Lexington	1780	Kentucky County	Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French-born Revolutionary War general	322,570	284 sq mi (736 km^2)
Fleming County	069	Flemingsburg	1798	Mason County	John Fleming (1735–91), frontiersman and one of the county's original settlers	15,082	351 sq mi (909 km^2)
Floyd County	071	Prestonsburg	1800	Fleming County, Montgomery County, and Mason County	John Floyd (1750–83), surveyor and pioneer	35,942	394 sq mi (1,020 km^2)
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	51,541	210 sq mi (544 km^2)
Fulton County	075	Hickman	1845	Hickman County	Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat	6,515	209 sq mi (541 km^2)
Gallatin County	077	Warsaw	1798	Franklin County and Shelby County	Albert Gallatin, United States Secretary of the Treasury (1801–14)	8,690	99 sq mi (256 km^2)
Garrard County	079	Lancaster	1796	Madison County, Lincoln County, and Mercer County	James Garrard, second Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804)	16,953	231 sq mi (598 km^2)
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	24,941	260 sq mi (673 km^2)
Graves County	083	Mayfield	1824	Hickman County	Benjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), army major killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	36,649	556 sq mi (1,440 km^2)
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	26,420	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
Green County	087	Greensburg	1792	Lincoln County and Nelson County	Nathanael Greene (1742–86), Revolutionary War general	11,107	289 sq mi (749 km^2)
Greenup County	089	Greenup	1803	Mason County	Christopher Greenup, third Governor of Kentucky (1804–08)	35,962	346 sq mi (896 km^2)
Hancock County	091	Hawesville	1829	Ohio County, Breckinridge County, and Daviess County	John Hancock (1737–93), signer of the Declaration of Independence	9,095	189 sq mi (490 km^2)
Hardin County	093	Elizabethtown	1792	Nelson County	John Hardin (1753–92), pioneer	110,702	628 sq mi (1,627 km^2)
Harlan County	095	Harlan	1819	Knox County	Silas Harlan (1753–82), army major in the Battle of Blue Licks	26,831	467 sq mi (1,210 km^2)
Harrison County	097	Cynthiana	1793	Bourbon County and Scott County	Benjamin Harrison (1726–91), co-author of the Kentucky Constitution	18,692	310 sq mi (803 km^2)
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	19,288	416 sq mi (1,077 km^2)
Henderson County	101	Henderson	1798	Christian County	Richard Henderson (1734–85), founder of the Transylvania Company	44,793	440 sq mi (1,140 km^2)
Henry County	103	New Castle	1798	Shelby County	Patrick Henry (1736–99), Revolutionary War-era legislator and U.S. founding father	15,678	289 sq mi (749 km^2)
Hickman County	105	Clinton	1821	Christian County	Paschal Hickman, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	4,521	244 sq mi (632 km^2)
Hopkins County	107	Madisonville	1806	Henderson County	Samuel Hopkins (1753–1819), Revolutionary War general	45,423	551 sq mi (1,427 km^2)
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)	12,955	346 sq mi (896 km^2)
Jefferson County	111	Louisville	1780	Kentucky County	Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States (1801–09)	782,969	385 sq mi (997 km^2)
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	52,991	173 sq mi (448 km^2)
Johnson County	115	Paintsville	1843	Floyd County, Lawrence County, and Morgan County	Richard Mentor Johnson, Vice President of the United States (1837–41)	22,680	262 sq mi (679 km^2)
Kenton County	117	Covington and Independence	1840	Campbell County	Simon Kenton (1755–1836), pioneer	169,064	163 sq mi (422 km^2)
Knott County	119	Hindman	1884	Perry County, Letcher County, Floyd County, and Breathitt County	James Proctor Knott, twenty-ninth Governor of Kentucky (1883–87)	14,251	352 sq mi (912 km^2)
Knox County	121	Barbourville	1799	Lincoln County	Henry Knox, United States Secretary of War (1785–94)	30,193	388 sq mi (1,005 km^2)
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	14,867	263 sq mi (681 km^2)
Laurel County	125	London	1825	Rockcastle County, Clay County, Knox County and Whitley County	Mountain laurel trees that are prominent in the area	62,613	436 sq mi (1,129 km^2)
Lawrence County	127	Louisa	1821	Greenup County and Floyd County	James Lawrence (1781–1813), naval commander during the War of 1812	16,293	419 sq mi (1,085 km^2)
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	7,395	210 sq mi (544 km^2)
Leslie County	131	Hyden	1878	Clay County, Harlan County and Perry County	Preston Leslie, twenty-sixth Governor of Kentucky (1871–75)	10,513	404 sq mi (1,046 km^2)
Letcher County	133	Whitesburg	1842	Perry County and Harlan County	Robert P. Letcher, fifteenth Governor of Kentucky (1840–44)	21,548	339 sq mi (878 km^2)
Lewis County	135	Vanceburg	1806	Mason County	Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809), explorer	13,080	484 sq mi (1,254 km^2)
Lincoln County	137	Stanford	1780	Kentucky County	Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), Revolutionary War general	24,275	337 sq mi (873 km^2)
Livingston County	139	Smithland	1799	Christian County	Robert Livingston (1746–1813), one of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence	8,888	316 sq mi (818 km^2)
Logan County	141	Russellville	1792	Lincoln County	Benjamin Logan (1742–1802), Revolutionary War general	27,432	556 sq mi (1,440 km^2)
Lyon County	143	Eddyville	1854	Caldwell County	Chittenden Lyon, United States Representative from Kentucky (1827–35)	8,680	216 sq mi (559 km^2)
McCracken County	145	Paducah	1825	Hickman County	Virgil McCracken, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	67,875	251 sq mi (650 km^2)
McCreary County	147	Whitley City	1912	Pulaski County, Wayne County, Whitley County	James McCreary, thirty-seventh Governor of Kentucky (1912–16)	16,888	428 sq mi (1,109 km^2)
McLean County	149	Calhoun	1854	Daviess County, Muhlenberg County and Ohio County	Alney McLean (1815–17; 1819–21), United States Representative from Kentucky	9,152	254 sq mi (658 km^2)
Madison County	151	Richmond	1785	Lincoln County	James Madison, President of the United States (1809–17)	92,701	441 sq mi (1,142 km^2)
Magoffin County	153	Salyersville	1860	Floyd County, Johnson County and Morgan County	Beriah Magoffin, twenty-first Governor of Kentucky (1859–62)	11,637	310 sq mi (803 km^2)
Marion County	155	Lebanon	1834	Washington County	Francis Marion (1732–95), Revolutionary War general	19,581	347 sq mi (899 km^2)
Marshall County	157	Benton	1842	Calloway County	John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–35)	31,659	305 sq mi (790 km^2)
Martin County	159	Inez	1870	Floyd County, Johnson County, Pike County, and Lawrence County	John P. Martin, United States Congressman from Kentucky (1845–47)	11,287	231 sq mi (598 km^2)
Mason County	161	Maysville	1788	Bourbon County	George Mason (1725–92), statesman known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"	17,120	241 sq mi (624 km^2)
Meade County	163	Brandenburg	1823	Breckinridge County and Hardin County	James Meade, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	30,003	308 sq mi (798 km^2)
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)	6,113	204 sq mi (528 km^2)
Mercer County	167	Harrodsburg	1785	Lincoln County	Hugh Mercer (1726–77), Revolutionary War hero who was killed at the Battle of Princeton	22,641	251 sq mi (650 km^2)
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)	10,286	291 sq mi (754 km^2)
Monroe County	171	Tompkinsville	1820	Barren County and Cumberland County	James Monroe, President of the United States (1817–25)	11,338	331 sq mi (857 km^2)
Montgomery County	173	Mount Sterling	1796	Clark County	Richard Montgomery (1736–75), military general killed at the Battle of Quebec	28,114	199 sq mi (515 km^2)
Morgan County	175	West Liberty	1822	Bath County and Floyd County	Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general	13,726	381 sq mi (987 km^2)
Muhlenberg County	177	Greenville	1798	Christian County and Logan County	Peter Muhlenberg (1746–1807), Revolutionary War general	30,928	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Nelson County	179	Bardstown	1784	Jefferson County	Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738–89), signer of the Declaration of Independence	46,738	423 sq mi (1,096 km^2)
Nicholas County	181	Carlisle	1799	Mason County and Bourbon County	George Nicholas (1743–99), Revolutionary War colonel	7,537	197 sq mi (510 km^2)
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	23,772	594 sq mi (1,538 km^2)
Oldham County	185	La Grange	1823	Henry County, Jefferson County and Shelby County	William Oldham (1753–91), Revolutionary War colonel	67,607	189 sq mi (490 km^2)
Owen County	187	Owenton	1819	Franklin County, Gallatin County and Scott County	Abraham Owen (1769–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	11,278	352 sq mi (912 km^2)
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)	4,051	198 sq mi (513 km^2)
Pendleton County	191	Falmouth	1798	Campbell County and Bracken County	Edmund Pendleton (1721–1803), member of the Continental Congress	14,644	280 sq mi (725 km^2)
Perry County	193	Hazard	1820	Floyd County and Clay County	Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), Admiral in the War of 1812	28,473	342 sq mi (886 km^2)
Pike County	195	Pikeville	1821	Floyd County	Zebulon Pike (1779–1813), western explorer and discoverer of Pike's Peak	58,669	788 sq mi (2,041 km^2)
Powell County	197	Stanton	1852	Clark County, Estill County, and Montgomery County	Lazarus Whitehead Powell, nineteenth Governor of Kentucky (1851–55)	13,129	180 sq mi (466 km^2)
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	65,034	662 sq mi (1,715 km^2)
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)	2,193	100 sq mi (259 km^2)
Rockcastle County	203	Mount Vernon	1810	Lincoln County, Madison County, Knox County and Pulaski County	Rockcastle River, the boundary between Rockcastle and Laurel County	16,037	318 sq mi (824 km^2)
Rowan County	205	Morehead	1856	Fleming County and Morgan County	John Rowan, Congressman from Kentucky (1809–11; 1825–31))	24,662	281 sq mi (728 km^2)
Russell County	207	Jamestown	1825	Adair County, Wayne County and Cumberland County	William Russell (1758–1825), pioneer and state legislator	17,991	254 sq mi (658 km^2)
Scott County	209	Georgetown	1792	Woodford County	Charles Scott (Governor of Kentucky), Revolutionary war general and later Governor of Kentucky (1808–12)	57,155	285 sq mi (738 km^2)
Shelby County	211	Shelbyville	1792	Jefferson County	Isaac Shelby, first Governor of Kentucky (1792–96; 1812–16)	48,065	384 sq mi (995 km^2)
Simpson County	213	Franklin	1819	Allen County, Logan County and Warren County	John Simpson, military captain killed at the Battle of Frenchtown	19,594	236 sq mi (611 km^2)
Spencer County	215	Taylorsville	1824	Nelson County, Shelby County, and Bullitt County	Spier Spencer, military captain killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe	19,490	186 sq mi (482 km^2)
Taylor County	217	Campbellsville	1848	Green County	Zachary Taylor, President of the United States (1849–50)	26,023	270 sq mi (699 km^2)
Todd County	219	Elkton	1819	Logan County and Christian County	John Todd (1750–82), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks	12,243	376 sq mi (974 km^2)
Trigg County	221	Cadiz	1820	Christian County and Caldwell County	Stephen Trigg (1744–82), military colonel killed at the Battle of Blue Licks	14,061	443 sq mi (1,147 km^2)
Trimble County	223	Bedford	1837	Gallatin County, Henry County and Oldham County	Robert Trimble, Associate Supreme Court Justice (1826–28)	8,474	149 sq mi (386 km^2)
Union County	225	Morganfield	1811	Henderson County	Unanimous decision of the residents to unite together and create a new county	13,668	345 sq mi (894 km^2)
Warren County	227	Bowling Green	1796	Logan County	Joseph Warren (1741–75), Revolutionary War general	134,554	545 sq mi (1,412 km^2)
Washington County	229	Springfield	1792	Jefferson County	George Washington, President of the United States (1789–97)	12,027	301 sq mi (780 km^2)
Wayne County	231	Monticello	1800	Pulaski County and Cumberland County	Anthony Wayne (1745–96), Revolutionary War general	19,555	459 sq mi (1,189 km^2)
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)	13,017	335 sq mi (868 km^2)
Whitley County	235	Williamsburg	1818	Knox County	William Whitley (1749–1813), Kentucky pioneer	36,712	440 sq mi (1,140 km^2)
Wolfe County	237	Campton	1860	Breathitt County, Owsley County, and Powell County	Nathaniel Wolfe (1808–65), member of the Kentucky General Assembly	6,562	223 sq mi (578 km^2)
Woodford County	239	Versailles	1788	Fayette County	William Woodford (1734–80), Revolutionary War general	26,871	191 sq mi (495 km^2)

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.

Map of Kentucky's counties

References

1. National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find A County". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
2. "Kentucky: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
3. Ireland, Robert M. (1992). "Counties". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 229–231. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
4. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kentucky". Retrieved September 4, 2021.

• 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).