I'm Karen Schafer, and I'm the Breckinridge County Archivist. As you might imagine, I love history and genealogy, so it's always been a pleasure to assist patrons who are researching their families or the history of Breckinridge County.

Although the Breckinridge County Courthouse has endured a total of three fires, one in the 1820's, another during the Civil War, and the last in 1958, almost all of the county records were saved. While a few of the loose Breckinridge Circuit Court papers and the county clerk's marriage records (1800 to 1851) were burned in the 1958 fire, almost everything else remains here. In fact, we've been able to reconstruct most of the marriage records (1800 to 1851), and the circuit court papers were documented in the Order Books of the Breckinridge Circuit Clerk, which survive.

Our Web Site contains numerous materials, but make sure to take a look at the Inventory of Breckinridge County Records. If you would like to obtain a copy of a record, it's always best to first ascertain whether the series of records is available from the County Archives before sending in your request.

You can contact us at: www.archives@bbtel.com

Hope to see you soon in Hardinsburg!

Directions to the Archives

Located in the basement of the courthouse in Hardinsburg, Kentucky, the Breckinridge County Archives is about one hour driving time west of Louisville, and about one hour driving time west of Owensboro.

From Louisville, take U.S. Highway 60 west until you reach the stoplight at Old U.S. 60 and the Bypass (the Breckinridge Inn is on that corner, and you can see Hardees restaurant from the stoplight). Turn right onto Old U.S. 60, and follow that road until you reach Main Street. Turn right on main street, and the courthouse is in the middle of the block. Driving time: a little more than an hour.

From Owensboro, take U.S. Highway 60 east until you reach the Hardinsburg city limits. Turn left at the first set of flashing yellow lights, and follow that road until you reach Main Street. The courthouse is in the middle of the block. Driving time: About one hour.

Inventory of Breckinridge County Records

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