Welcome to Ballard County, Kentucky
County History
Part of the Jackson Purchase, an area Andrew Jackson purchased from the Chickasaw Indians and added to the state in 1818, Ballard County was formed from portions of McCracken and Hickman Counties in 1842. The county was named for Capt. Bland Ballard, born in Virginia about 1760. Capt. Ballard came to Kentucky in 1779 and was a scout for George Rogers Clark's Ohio expedition in 1780 and '82. He took part in the Wabash campaign of 1786, and in the battles of Fallen Timbers, 1793; Tippecanoe, 1811; and, River Raisin, 1813. Capt. Ballard also served in the Kentucky Legislature for five terms. See Collins' 1874 History of Ballard County.
Blandville was the County Seat for 40 years until the Courthouse burned. Then, in 1882, the County Seat was moved to Wycliffe, named for Col. Charles A. Wickliffe, legislator, Confederate officer, and nephew and namesake of Kentucky's fifteenth governor. Sources: Kentucky Atlas and Gazateer and Kentucky Historical Society.
Other notable places, past and present, in Ballard County include: Bandana, Barlow, East Cairo, Filmore, Fort Jefferson, Hazlewood PO, Hinkleville, Kevil, La Centre, Lovelaceville, Monkey's Eyebrow, Ogden PO, Oscar, and Slater PO.
Places once in Ballard County and now in Carlisle County, taken from Ballard County on May 3, 1886, include: Arlington, Berkeley, Cunningham, Kirbyville, Laketon, Milburn, and Rudd PO.
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This site created September 30, 2007;
Last update August 24, 2023
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Carlisle County was taken entirely from south Ballard in 1886. Be sure to search there also for family members.
Teacher Bro. William Morris, Mattie Belle Beck, Lemmie Luckett, Olive Holbert (aka Painter of Trees, Olive Holbert Chaffee), Ellie Ragland Lyon.
Judge James Dempsey White, son of Willis and Mary Wright White
William Willis (1878-1919) and Sarah Elliot Lanier Morris (1881-1978) and baby Sarah.
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