2000 Population:
693,604 County Seat: Louisville
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History from
Collins' History of Kentucky, 1877
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Jefferson County - making, with Fayette and
Lincoln, the three original counties which composed the district of Kentucky
- was formed out of part of Kentucky county, in
May, 1780, by the
Virginia Legislature, and named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, then
governor of the state, but more widely known as the author of the Declaration
of Independence, and third president of the United States. It then embraced
"that part of the south side of Kentucky river which lies west and north
of a line beginning at the mouth of Benson's big creek, and running up
the same and its main ford to the head; thence south to the nearest waters
of Hammond's creek, and down the same to its junction with the Town Fork
of Salt river; thence south to Green river, and down the same to its junction
with the Ohio." As now reduced in size - by the formation of 28 other counties
and parts of counties out of its original territory - Jeffe3rson is situated
in the north-west middle part of the state, and bounded N by Oldham county
and the Ohio river, E by Shelby, S by Spencer and Bullitt counties, and
W by the Ohio river.
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Besides the Ohio river - which, in a beautiful
curve, borders half of the northern and the entire western portion of the
county - Jefferson is watered by Beargrass creek (the most noted in the
early history of the state), which enters the Ohio through the city of
Louisville, and by Pond's and Floyd's creeks - the latter emptying its
waters into Salt river. The middle and western part of the county, including
the city of Louisville, is an almost unbroken level plain, rich, productive,
and highly cultivated; while the uplands, in the eastern portion, are undulating
or hilly, with a soil inferior to the bottom lands, but producing excellent
wheat, oats, and corn. The county is dotted with fine gardens and fruit
farms for the supply of the Louisville market with vegetables and fruit. |
