Editing Hardin County, Kentucky

{{short description|County in Kentucky, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Hardin, Kentucky}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Hardin County
 | state                = Kentucky
 | flag                 = Flag of Hardin County, Kentucky.png
 | seal                 = Seal of Hardin County, Kentucky.png
 | founded year         = 1792
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Elizabethtown
 | largest city wl      = Elizabethtown
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 630
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 623
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 6.9
 | area percentage      = 1.1%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 110702
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 112826 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.hcky.org
 | named for            = [[John Hardin]]
 | ex image             = Hardin County Courthouse in Elizabethtown.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Hardin County courthouse in Elizabethtown
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''Hardin County''' is a [[county (United States)|county]] located in the central part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kentucky]]. Its county seat is [[Elizabethtown, Kentucky|Elizabethtown]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was formed in 1792.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyenc.org/entry/h/HARDI05.html|title=Hardin County|publisher=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|year=2000|access-date=August 22, 2014}}</ref> Hardin County is part of the Elizabethtown-[[Fort Knox, Kentucky|Fort Knox]], KY [[Elizabethtown metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], as well as the [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]]/[[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson County]]—Elizabethtown-[[Bardstown, Kentucky|Bardstown]], KY-[[Indiana|IN]] [[Louisville metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 110,702.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hardincountykentucky/PST045221|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 28, 2022}}</ref>

Hardin County is known for being the birthplace of former U.S. president [[Abraham Lincoln]], though the location is now part of neighboring [[LaRue County]].

==History==
Hardin County was established in 1792 from land partitioned from [[Nelson County, Kentucky|Nelson County]]. Hardin was the 15th [[list of Kentucky counties|Kentucky county]] in order of formation.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZFQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA26 | title=Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2 | publisher=Collins & Company | author=Collins, Lewis | year=1882 | pages=26}}</ref>
The county is named for [[Colonel (United States)#Origins|Col]]. [[John Hardin]], a [[Continental Army]] officer during the [[American Revolution]] and a brother of the [[Captain (US Army)|Capt]]. [[William Hardin]] who founded [[Hardinsburg, Kentucky|Hardinsburg]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&pg=PA130 | title=Kentucky Place Names | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | year=1987 | access-date=April 28, 2013 | author=Rennick, Robert M. | pages=130| isbn=0813126312 }}</ref>

Courthouse fires destroyed county records in 1864 and again in 1932. The present courthouse dates from 1934.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAVlVS29NKIC&q=%22bell+county%22+1914+1918+1976&pg=PA245 | title=Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research | publisher=Ancestry Publishing | year=1992 | access-date=July 26, 2013 | author=Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth | isbn=9780916489496 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|630|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|623|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.9|sqmi}} (1.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 16, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210847/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_21.txt|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> It is the fourth-largest county by area in Kentucky.

===Adjacent counties===
Hardin County borders nine counties, more than any other county in Kentucky.
{{div col}}
* [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Louisville-Jefferson County]] (northeast)
* [[Bullitt County, Kentucky|Bullitt County]]  (northeast)
* [[Nelson County, Kentucky|Nelson County]]  (east)
* [[LaRue County, Kentucky|LaRue County]]  (southeast)
* [[Hart County, Kentucky|Hart County]]  (south//CST Border)
* [[Grayson County, Kentucky|Grayson County]]  (southwest/CST Border)
* [[Breckinridge County, Kentucky|Breckinridge County]]  (west/CST Border)
* [[Meade County, Kentucky|Meade County]]  (northwest)
* [[Harrison County, Indiana]] (north)
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1800 = 3653
| 1810 = 7531
| 1820 = 10498
| 1830 = 12849
| 1840 = 16357
| 1850 = 14525
| 1860 = 15189
| 1870 = 15705
| 1880 = 22564
| 1890 = 21304
| 1900 = 22937
| 1910 = 22696
| 1920 = 24287
| 1930 = 20913
| 1940 = 29108
| 1950 = 50312
| 1960 = 67789
| 1970 = 78421
| 1980 = 88917
| 1990 = 89240
| 2000 = 94174
| 2010 = 105543
| 2020 = 110702
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 112826
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|access-date=March 13, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ky190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 105,543 people, 39,853 households, and 28,288 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|167.5|/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 43,261 housing units at an average density of {{convert|68.7|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 80.5% [[White Americans|White]] (77.8% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic]]), 11.6% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Natives|Alaska Native]], 2.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islands Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.5% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 3.5% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].  [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 5.0% of the population.

There were 39,853 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 25.97% under 18, 9.93% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.41 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.54 males.

Complete economic data from the 2010 Census has not yet been released. According to the 2010 Census, the median income for a household in the county was $43,421, and the median income for a family was $55,151. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $23,744. Remaining economic data is from the 2000 Census. At that time, males had a median income of $30,743 versus $22,688 for females. About 8.20% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:An UH-1 Iroquois helicopter flies over the US Gold Bullion Depository.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Aerial view of the U.S. Gold Bullion Depository at Fort Knox.  [[Godman Army Airfield]] and the fort can be seen in the background.]]
The economy of Hardin County is largely dominated by the adjacent [[Fort Knox]] Military Installation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Human resource center opens at Fort Knox |url=http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2010/05/24/daily42.html |website=[[American City Business Journals]] |date=May 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531214713/http://louisville.bizjournals.com:80/louisville/stories/2010/05/24/daily42.html |archive-date=May 31, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Army [http://feinknopf.photoshelter.com/gallery/G00000rgxsIfLQZA Human Resource Center], the largest construction project in the history of Fort Knox, began in November 2007. It is a $185 million, three-story, {{convert|880000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} complex, sitting on {{convert|104|acre|km2}}. As many as 2,100 new permanent human resources, information technology, and administrative white-collar civilian professionals will be working there.

Officials expect that as many as 12,000 people, including the families of soldiers and civilian workers to relocate to the area as a result of the Fort Knox realignment of 2005.

Approximately $1 billion in new federal and state construction, and infrastructure funds were committed to Fort Knox, and in the surrounding areas by the end of 2011 for Fort Knox realignment of 2005.

Gov. [[Steve Beshear]] of Kentucky announced the creation of a task force to help Hardin County, and the surrounding counties prepare for the Fort Knox realignment. The group is "designed to meet specific needs" in areas such as transportation, economic development, education, water and sewer availability, and area wide planning.

Hardin County is classified by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) as both a [[moist county]] and a "limited [[dry county]]". Under ABC terminology, a "moist county" is an otherwise dry county in which at least one city has voted to allow sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption. The word "limited" means that at least one city within the county, or the county as a whole, has voted to allow alcohol sales in qualifying restaurants. In the case of Hardin County, Elizabethtown, Radcliff, and Vine Grove all voted to allow off-premises sales in October 2011. West Point has voted to allow sale of alcohol by the drink in restaurants that seat at least 50 and derive at least 70% of their revenue from food (including non-alcoholic beverages).

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Hardin County, Kentucky|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|30,672|16,572|838|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|29,832|18,101|1,008|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|26,971|13,944|2,241|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|23,357|15,214|647|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|23,896|15,650|444|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|24,627|11,507|307|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|18,964|11,095|631|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|12,642|11,031|2,944|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|12,299|9,417|4,242|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|13,240|7,262|97|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,293|6,329|149|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|9,779|8,339|620|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|6,965|7,977|243|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,740|4,060|456|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,329|4,470|2,938|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,744|7,460|60|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,191|5,141|0|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,050|4,325|55|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,914|4,599|45|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,297|3,990|320|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,831|4,436|27|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,351|4,718|21|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,284|4,480|50|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,801|6,047|72|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,624|3,210|14|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,735|4,296|167|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,334|5,382|66|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,887|3,272|28|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|632|2,656|1,330|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,913|3,010|67|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,671|2,714|152|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,053|3,059|95|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,885|2,848|140|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,075|1,909|531|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,421|2,175|76|Kentucky}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|901|1,531|53|Kentucky}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|962|1,677|310|Kentucky}}
The county voted "No" on [[2022 Kentucky Amendment 2]], an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 51% to 49%, and backed [[Donald Trump]] with 61% of the vote to [[Joe Biden]]'s 37% in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=November 8, 2022 - Official 2022 General Election Results |url=https://elect.ky.gov/results/2020-2029/Documents/2022%20General%20Election%20results.pdf |publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections |access-date=December 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224001202/https://elect.ky.gov/results/2020-2029/Documents/2022%20General%20Election%20results.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2022}}</ref>

The formal government structure of Hardin County consists of a Fiscal Court along with six incorporated cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hardincountyunited.com/ken-howard-introduces-the-governance-committee/2011/01/ |title=Ken Howard Introduces the Governance Committee |publisher=Hardin County United |date=January 26, 2011 |access-date=February 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317170530/http://www.hardincountyunited.com/ken-howard-introduces-the-governance-committee/2011/01/ |archive-date=March 17, 2012 }}</ref>  Elizabethtown is the county seat. In 2010, the Hardin County Government, led by Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry, commissioned a study entitled, "Hardin County Vision Project," in part to explore the benefits of consolidated government in the county. The growth of the area and the changes expected due to the realignment of Fort Knox led to the study. Hardin County United, a volunteer-led organization, was established to consider the findings of this project and develop recommendations for the future of government in the county.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hardincountyunited.com/about/hardin-county-united/ |title=Hardin County United |publisher=Hardin County United |access-date=February 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317170555/http://www.hardincountyunited.com/about/hardin-county-united/ |archive-date=March 17, 2012 }}</ref>

[[Law enforcement in the United States|Law enforcement]] and [[Property tax in the United States|property tax]] collection are provided by the Hardin County Sheriff's Office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcky.org/hcso/|title=Hardin County Sheriff's Office|website=www.hcky.org|language=en|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Elected officials===
{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Elected officials as of January 3, 2025'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>
|- 
! scope=row|[[U.S. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Brett Guthrie]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|2|B}}
|- 
! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Matthew Deneen]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 10th Senate district|10]]
|- 
!rowspan=5 |[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Josh Calloway]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|10
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Samara Heavrin]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|18
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Steve Bratcher]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|25
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Peyton Griffee]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|26
|- 
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Nancy Tate]] (R)
| {{party shading/Republican}}|27
|}

==Education==
===K-12===

Two public school districts operate in the county.<ref name=Censusmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21093_hardin/DC20SD_C21093.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190753/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21093_hardin/DC20SD_C21093.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hardin County, KY|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 4, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st21_ky/schooldistrict_maps/c21093_hardin/DC20SD_C21093_SD2MS.txt Text list] - "Fort Knox Dependent Schools" refers to the DoDEA schools. - For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: {{cite web|url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/lrc/publications/ResearchReports/RR415.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210175230/https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/lrc/publications/ResearchReports/RR415.pdf |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |url-status=live |title=Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Elizabethtown ISD |work=Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer |publisher=Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission |location=Frankfort, KY |page=105 (PDF p. 119/174)|date=September 15, 2015 }}</ref>
* The [[Hardin County Schools]], headquartered in a portion of Radcliff that has an Elizabethtown mailing address, serve K–12 students in most of the county, with the exception of (most of) Elizabethtown and Fort Knox. The district operates 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools, plus one alternative school for middle and high school grades. In July 2020, the former [[West Point Independent School District]], which operated a single K–8 school serving the West Point area (cut off from the rest of the county by [[Fort Knox]]), closed and merged into the Hardin County district after long-term declines in enrollment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quicksie983.com/2020/02/19/west-point-agrees-to-merger/ |title=West Point agrees to merger |publisher=[[WQXE]] |location=Elizabethtown, KY |language=en-US |date=February 19, 2020| access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wdrb.com/news/west-point-schools-to-shut-down-merge-with-hardin-county/article_d258b95e-5454-11ea-bb7e-77b5673af7d6.html |title=West Point schools to shut down, merge with Hardin County school district |first=Sara |last=Sidery |publisher=WDRB |date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref>
* The [[Elizabethtown Independent Schools]] serve students in most of the city of Elizabethtown; however, some areas are instead served by the Hardin County district. The district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and [[Elizabethtown High School|one high school]]. Before the closure of the West Point district, that area's high school students attended Elizabethtown High under a contract between the two districts. West Point students that had attended Elizabethtown High under that contract may complete their high school education there; the last such students are expected to graduate in 2023.

[[Fort Knox]] however is assigned to the [[Department of Defense Education Activity]] (DoDEA),<ref name=Censusmap/> which, through its Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools subagency, operates four [https://web.archive.org/web/20080515231513/http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO/index.htm schools on the Fort Knox base] for [[Military brat (U.S. subculture)|military dependents]]. DDESS has one elementary school (grades K-5), one intermediate school (1–5), one middle school (6–8), and one high school (9–12) on base. After the Army inactivated a combat brigade, resulting in the relocation of 3,500 soldiers and their families from the base, DoDEA closed four other schools—three elementary schools and one intermediate school—at the end of the 2013–14 school year. At that time, DoDEA also restructured the grades at all of the remaining schools except the high school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140305/NEWS/303050003/4-schools-Fort-Knox-close |title=4 schools at Fort Knox to close |first=Karen |last=Jowers |newspaper=[[Army Times]] |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref> A new $16-million [[Fort Knox High School]], a two-story, state-of-the-art facility that united the existing vocational school with the current gymnasium, creating a connected campus was completed in 2008, with dedication on August 7, 2008. The remaining parts of the old high school were then demolished.<ref>[http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO/Pages/NewHSProject.htm The new Fort Knox High School] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012100425/http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO/Pages/NewHSProject.htm |date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref>

Five private schools also operate in the county, St. James Catholic School ([[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville]]), Gloria Dei Lutheran School (LCMS), Elizabethtown Christian Academy, North Hardin Christian School, and Hardin Christian Academy.

===Postsecondary education===
Elizabethtown is home to [[Elizabethtown Community and Technical College]], a member of the [[Kentucky Community and Technical College System]].
* [http://www.elizabethtown.kctcs.edu Elizabethtown Community and Technical College &ndash; Home Page]

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Elizabethtown, Kentucky|Elizabethtown]] (county seat)
* [[Muldraugh, Kentucky|Muldraugh]] (mostly in [[Meade County, Kentucky|Meade County]])
* [[Radcliff, Kentucky|Radcliff]]
* [[Sonora, Kentucky|Sonora]]
* [[Upton, Kentucky|Upton]] (partly in [[LaRue County, Kentucky|LaRue County]])
* [[Vine Grove, Kentucky|Vine Grove]]
* [[West Point, Kentucky|West Point]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Cecilia, Kentucky|Cecilia]]
* [[Fort Knox]], a military base (partly in Meade County and Bullitt County, although all of the base housing is in Hardin County)
* [[Rineyville, Kentucky|Rineyville]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Big Spring, Kentucky|Big Spring]] (partly in [[Breckinridge County, Kentucky|Breckinridge County]] in the [[Central Time Zone]] and [[Meade County, Kentucky|Meade County]] in the [[Eastern Time Zone]])
* [[Blue Ball, Kentucky|Blue Ball]]
* [[Colesburg, Kentucky|Colesburg]]
* [[Dever Hollow, Kentucky|Dever Hollow]]
* [[Eastview, Kentucky|Eastview]]
* [[Glendale, Kentucky|Glendale]]
* [[Harcourt, Kentucky|Harcourt]]
* [[Howell Spring, Kentucky|Howell Spring]]
* [[Hardin Springs, Kentucky|Hardin Springs]]
* [[Howe Valley, Kentucky|Howe Valley]]
* [[Mill Creek, Kentucky|Mill Creek]]
* [[New Fruit, Kentucky|New Fruit]]
* [[Nolin, Kentucky|Nolin]]
* [[Old Stephensburg, Kentucky|Old Stephensburg]]
* [[Quaker Valley, Kentucky|Quaker Valley]]
* [[Red Mills, Kentucky|Red Mills]]
* [[Saint John, Kentucky|St. John]]
* [[Star Mills, Kentucky|Star Mills]]
* [[Stephensburg, Kentucky|Stephensburg]]
* [[Summitt, Kentucky|Summitt]]
* [[Tip Top, Kentucky (Hardin County)|Tip Top]]
* [[Tunnel Hill, Kentucky|Tunnel Hill]]
* [[Vertrees, Kentucky|Vertrees]]
* [[White Mills, Kentucky|White Mills]]
* [[Youngers Creek, Kentucky|Youngers Creek]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown–Bardstown, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardin County, Kentucky]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sOonx-pQdZUC | title=Hardin and LaRue Counties: 1880-1930 | isbn=978-0-7385-4282-9 | last1=Howell | first1=Carl | last2=Waters | first2=Don | date=March 2006 | publisher=Arcadia }}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCHGcUtbRso | title=Hardin County History Museum - Elizabethtown Kentucky | website=[[YouTube]] |date=July 23, 2020 |publisher=itsmontez.com}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhj1V2zQChs | title=A History of Hardin County: Part 1 | website=YouTube |date=October 8, 2023|publisher=Kentucky History Channel}}

{{Hardin County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|37.70|-85.96|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-KY_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Hardin County, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties]]
[[Category:Kentucky counties on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Elizabethtown metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1792 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1792]]