Garrard County, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Garrard County
U.S. county
Garrard County Courthouse in Lancaster
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	December 17, 1796
Named for	James Garrard
Seat	Lancaster
Largest city	Lancaster
Area
• Total	234 sq mi (610 km2)
• Land	230 sq mi (600 km2)
• Water	3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  1.7%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,953
• Estimate  (2023)	17,829
• Density	72.45/sq mi (27.97/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd

Garrard County (/ˈɡærərd/ GARR-ərd) is a county located in east-central Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, about 16,953 people lived here. Its county seat (the main town for government) is Lancaster.

The county was created in 1796. It was named after James Garrard, who was the Governor of Kentucky from 1796 to 1804. For a long time, Garrard County was a "dry county," meaning alcohol sales were not allowed. However, on November 7, 2023, voters decided to allow alcohol sales throughout the county.

Lancaster started as a group of log cabins in 1776. It was built near a spring that gave water to early settlers. It is one of the oldest cities in Kentucky. Other old settlements nearby include Boonesborough (founded 1775), Lexington (founded 1775), and Stanford (founded 1775). Harrodsburg, the oldest permanent settlement in Kentucky, was founded in 1774. Garrard County's current courthouse is one of the oldest in Kentucky that is still used today.

History of Garrard County

The land that is now Kentucky was once part of the U.S. State of Virginia. In 1776, Virginia created Kentucky County. Later, in 1780, Kentucky County was split into three smaller counties: Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln.

How Garrard County Was Formed

In 1785, parts of Lincoln County were used to create Mercer and Madison Counties. Kentucky became a separate state in 1792. Then, in 1796, parts of Lincoln, Mercer, and Madison Counties were combined to form Garrard County. It was the 25th county created in the new state of Kentucky. The county was named after Colonel James Garrard, who was Kentucky's second governor.

Famous Author's Visit

Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the famous book Uncle Tom's Cabin, visited Garrard County. She came to the Thomas Kennedy home in the Paint Lick area to gather information for her book. The cabin that inspired her novel was a real building behind the main house. In 2008, officials planned to rebuild the cabin at the Governor William Owsley House. However, this plan did not happen.

Political History and the Civil War

Garrard County has a history of supporting the Whig and Republican parties. Its early leaders were strong supporters of Henry Clay, a famous politician. During the Civil War, Garrard County strongly supported the Union (the northern states). It has remained a Republican area, even though much of the surrounding Bluegrass Region was mostly Democratic until recently.

Garrard County is also home to Camp Dick Robinson. This was the first base for the Union Army south of the Ohio River during the Civil War.

Geography and Location

According to the United States Census Bureau, Garrard County covers a total area of 234 square miles. About 230 square miles is land, and 3.9 square miles (1.7%) is water.

Most of the county is in the gently rolling hills of the Bluegrass region. The southeastern part, near Cartersville, is in the Knobs area, which has more rounded hills. Garrard County is also considered part of Appalachia.

Neighboring Counties

Garrard County shares borders with these other counties:

• Jessamine County (to the north)
• Madison County (to the northeast)
• Rockcastle County (to the southeast)
• Lincoln County (to the southwest)
• Boyle County (to the west)
• Mercer County (to the northwest)

Population and People

In 2000, there were 14,792 people living in Garrard County. There were 5,741 households and 4,334 families. The population density was about 64 people per square mile.

Most of the people in the county were White (95.75%). About 3.06% were Black or African American. A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or from other races. About 1.32% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 33.40% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (62.60%) were married couples. The average household had 2.56 people. The average family had 2.95 people.

The median age in the county was 37 years old. About 24.40% of the population was under 18. About 13.00% were 65 or older.

The median income for a household was $34,284. For a family, it was $41,250. About 14.70% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 19.10% of those under 18 and 17.00% of those 65 or older.

Towns and Communities

Garrard County has one city and several smaller communities.

City

• Lancaster (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller towns or areas that are not officially organized as cities:

• Bryantsville
• Buckeye
• Cartersville
• Davis Town
• Hyattsville
• Paint Lick

Notable People from Garrard County

Many interesting people have connections to Garrard County.

• Simeon H. Anderson (1802–1840) - A U.S. Representative from Kentucky.
• John Boyle (1774–1834) - A U.S. Congressman and a chief judge. Boyle County, Kentucky, is named after him.
• William O. Bradley (1847–1914) - Born in Garrard County, he became Kentucky's first Republican governor and a U.S. senator. He joined the Union Army at age 16 during the Civil War. He worked to improve the lives of Black Kentuckians. His statue is outside the Garrard Justice Center.
• Kenny Davis (1949–) - A basketball player who was on the 1972 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team. The team famously refused their silver medals due to a controversial game outcome.
• Bradley Kincaid (1895–1989) - Known as "The Kentucky Mountain Boy," he was a pioneer singer of folk songs on radio in the 1920s-40s. He was one of the first major country music stars in the U.S.
• Robert P. Letcher (1788–1861) - He lived in Garrard County and was a U.S. Congressman, an ambassador to Mexico, and a Governor of Kentucky. Letcher County, Kentucky, is named after him. His statue is also outside the Garrard Justice Center.
• Eddie Montgomery (1963–) - A member of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry. He was raised in Garrard County.
• John Michael Montgomery (1965–) - A country music artist, born and raised in Garrard County. He is Eddie Montgomery's brother.
• Allan A. Burton (1820–1878) - A farmer, lawyer, judge, and diplomat. He supported ending slavery gradually. He was appointed a judge and later an ambassador by President Abraham Lincoln.
• Carrie (or Carry) Amelia Nation (1846–1911) - Born in Garrard County, she was famous for her strong opposition to alcohol before it was banned in the U.S. Her home is preserved near Bryantsville.
• Jody Payne - A guitarist who played with country music star Willie Nelson for 34 years.
• Cicero Price (1805–1888) - A U.S. Navy commodore who served during the American Civil War.
• William Owsley (1782–1862) - A politician and judge who became the sixteenth Governor of Kentucky. His home, Pleasant Retreat, is in Lancaster. Owsley County is named after him. His statue is outside the Garrard Justice Center.
• Henry Smith (1788–1851) - An early leader in the Texas independence movement and the first American-born governor of Texas. He was born and raised in Garrard County.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Garrard para niños