I recently found a detailed article concerning the formation of Kentucky  at the Kentucky Genealogical Society website.  It was written by the former publisher of “Bluegrass Roots”, Landon Wills, and I am sharing a summary of the article.  Bluegrass Roots was a great source of information and was published until he passed in 1998.

In 1776, Virginia divided Fincastle County and one new county was called Kentucky. Soon after the end of the American Revolution, a separation movement began in Kentucky. There would soon be a strong plea to separate from Virginia and join the United States.

Prior to December 31, 1776, Kentucky was part of Fincastle County, Virginia. Virginia then re-organized their counties and established Kentucky County.

In 1780, Kentucky County, Virginia, was divided into Fayette County, Jefferson County, and Lincoln County. Many early settlers were finding their way into these area. Boone’s Trace (or Wilderness Road) through Cumberland Gap was an easy path into Kentucky. By about 1783, most residents of Kentucky district were not from Virginia, but rather from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other origins. Many pioneers made their way into Kentucky using what some would consider dangerous paths.

Agitation for separation from Virginia increased. After nine conventions, a constitution for the new state of Kentucky was completed in 1792. Kentucky had joined the United States.

Before statehood, Kentucky carved six more counties out of the first three counties: Nelson, 1784; Bourbon, 1785; Mercer, 1785; Madison, 1785; Mason, 1788; and Woodford, 1788. Thus, Kentucky entered statehood in 1792 with nine counties.

There’s a practical reason for counties to form. Tax collectors at one time would visit the landowners to collect the money.

However, once the population grew, this method was not practical so the citizens had to pay the taxes at the courthouse. If you were in a large county living near the border of the state, it took days to travel to and from the courthouse. Thus, the lawmakers decided each taxpayer had to live within a day’s ride to the courthouse. As the population continued to grow, the map continued to change. A rush continued to accommodate horse-and-buggy transportation, as well as local pride and individual ambitions.  This practice was a common rule of thumb when states formed.  Several more counties were formed by 1818.

By 1855, Kentucky’s county divisions were almost complete, except for a handful of counties yet to form in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. In 1903, Kentucky created Beckham County, but three months later it was dissolved after a dispute from a local businessman.

Kentucky’s last new county — McCreary — was created in 1912.  This gave the state a total of 120 counties, more than any other state except Georgia and Texas.

Prior to 1820, the Walker Line at the state’s southern border had not yet been established. This means Kentucky’s southern border was fifteen miles further south than it is now. If you are researching family in that county, you might want to check Tennessee records as well.

The historical maps (1777, 1792, 1818, 1855, 1912) included in this post are from Bluegrass Roots magazine/The Kentucky Genealogical Society.   Below are a list of the counties and when they came into existence.  Beckham county was formed in 1904 and dissolved the same year.  Josh Bell County was formed in 1867 and the name was changed to Bell county in 1873.

Here is a list of Kentucky counties organized by the year they were formed.

If you are researching family in Kentucky, I encourage you to visit the Kentucky Genealogical Society website.

Welcome to “Sharing the Stories of History with Tim Mann”!

Meet Timothy A. Mann, a passionate historian born and raised in the heart of Shelby County, Ohio where Tim’s roots run deep in the rich soil of American history. As the author of articles and books, including “Frontier Miscellany Concerning the Miami County Ohio Militia,” “Colonel John Mann, His Kith and Kin,” and “Frontier Militia – The War of 1812,” Tim’s literary contributions have enlightened and inspired countless history enthusiasts.