Beech Tree News Network

This week I will continue my Kentucky county origins series.  Today, I will look at Anderson, Ballard and Barren counties. 
Anderson County was formed in 1827.  As of 2010, the population was 21,421.  Its county seat is Lawrenceburg.  The county is named for Richard Clough Anderson, a Kentucky Legislator, U.S. Congressman and minister to Colombia. 
The county is in the heart of the Kentucky Bluegrass region along the Kentucky River.  From its beginning days in in the early 1800’s, its heritage is persevered today and includes Civil War scrimmages, the gravesite of the late great-grandparents of department store founder J.C. Penny, the story of African American Anna Mac Clark and the evolution of bourbon. 
Anderson County is business friendly with easy access to airports in Louisville and Lexington as well as easy interstate highway access.  Nearby Lexington, Louisville and Frankfort provide dining, shopping and other activities.
Ballard County is located in extreme western Kentucky at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.  Ballard County is part of the region known as the Jackson Purchase.  Comprising an area of 254 square miles, Ballard County, the 93rd county in order of formation, was established on February 15, 1842, out of parts of Hickman and McCracken counties and named in honor of Captain Bland Ballard, a participant in the battle of Fallen Timbers(1793) and River Raisin (1813) and a member of the Kentucky General Assembly.
 Ballard County is bordered by the Ohio River on the north and the Mississippi River on the west.  Carlisle and McCracken Counties share its southern and eastern boundaries, respectively.  Wickliffe is the county seat. (from the Kentucky Encyclopedia). 
Barren County was founded in 1798.  The population of the county is 38,033 and the county seat is Glasgow.  Cave City and Park City are also incorporated cities in Barren County.  Barren County is home to Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Western Kentucky University-Glasgow Campus, Glasgow Plaza Theatre, site of the Glasgow Highland Games, and numerous other points of interest. 
I hope you enjoyed this segment of County Origins.  I’ll do more of these spread out over the summer.