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BHistory
History · Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown dates to 1797, and 37 of its places are on the National Register

More historic than 64% of U.S. towns · #63 of 142 in Kentucky. What drives it

Most of Elizabethtown was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1990. 37 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 46 buildings between them. Below: 28 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1810.

1797founded
37on the National Register
5%homes built before 1940
28old photos & papers
19famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Elizabethtown’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Elizabethtown began

When was Elizabethtown founded?

1797

Elizabethtown dates its founding to 1797 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1810.

First census: 181 in 18102020 census: 31,394229 years

How historic is Elizabethtown?

B

More historic than 64% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1831.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Elizabethtown’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Elizabethtown is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns, #63 of 142 in Kentucky. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.

B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Elizabethtown’s overall grade.
Founding era1797, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 19405.1% of homes (±1.6) · typical KY town 5.9% · U.S. 8.4%CNational Register37 listings, 82 historic buildings, 25.2 per 10,000 residents · typical KY town 29.9 · U.S. 2.4B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 64%
NewerOlder
Kentucky towns of 2,500+ (142)Ahead of 56%

Kentucky towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Kentucky town has 29.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Elizabethtown’s 25.2 sits near the middle of its state (46% of Kentucky towns have fewer) while its 82 historic buildings outnumber those of 88% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A−. The pre-1940 share (±1.6 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1797.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Elizabethtown’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Landmarks on the Register37 places on the National Register.A town in old photos28 old photos, postcards and papers, 1880–1958.Shrank, then grewLost a third of its people between 1840 and 1860, then grew more than tenfold.Mapped building by building7 fire insurance maps, 1886 to 1922, drew every building in Elizabethtown.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

37 historic places in Elizabethtown

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
37
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
82
each building in a district counts
first listed
1973
Lincoln Heritage House
Brown Pusey House Community CenterFirst Baptist ChurchHelm PlaceElizabethtown Courthouse Square and Commercial DistrictBenjamin Helm HouseChrist Episcopal ChurchEmbry Chapel ChurchFirst Presbyterian ChurchJ. Roy Bond HouseJohn B. Helm HouseLarue-Layman HouseW. T. Kerrick HouseWilliam Bush HouseDavid L. May HouseEliza Vertrees HouseHoratio Wintersmith HouseMorrison Lodge, built 1913Samuel B. Thomas HouseSamuel Robertson HouseStephen Rawlings HouseUS Post Office-ElizabethtownWilliam Montgomery HouseWilliam Wilson HouseDr. Robert B. Pusey HouseState TheatreElizabethtown ArmoryGeorge Woodard HouseJonathan Hills HouseLincoln Heritage HouseHagan HouseHeller HotelPhilip Arnold HouseGeorge W. Smith HouseHazel HillMontgomery Avenue Historic DistrictPenniston HouseElizabethtown City Cemetery
BuildingsDistrictsSites

Architectural styles listings

Italianate6
Federal5
Colonial Revival4
Greek Revival3
Romanesque Revival2
Craftsman2
Brown Pusey House Community CenterFederal
First Baptist ChurchBuilding
Helm PlaceFederal
Elizabethtown Courthouse Square and Commercial DistrictItalianate
Benjamin Helm HouseBuilding
Christ Episcopal ChurchGothic Revival
Embry Chapel ChurchRomanesque Revival
First Presbyterian ChurchRomanesque Revival
All 37 listings
J. Roy Bond HouseBuilding · listed 1988John B. Helm HouseBuilding · listed 1988Larue-Layman HouseBuilding · listed 1988W. T. Kerrick HouseBuilding · listed 1988William Bush HouseBuilding · listed 1988David L. May HouseBuilding · listed 1988Eliza Vertrees HouseBuilding · listed 1988Horatio Wintersmith HouseBuilding · listed 1988Morrison LodgeBuilding · listed 1988Samuel B. Thomas HouseBuilding · listed 1988Samuel Robertson HouseBuilding · listed 1988Stephen Rawlings HouseBuilding · listed 1988US Post Office-ElizabethtownBuilding · listed 1988William Montgomery HouseBuilding · listed 1988William Wilson HouseBuilding · listed 1988Dr. Robert B. Pusey HouseBuilding · listed 1989State TheatreBuilding · listed 1998Elizabethtown ArmoryBuilding · listed 2002George Woodard HouseBuilding · listed 2003Jonathan Hills HouseBuilding · listed 2009Lincoln Heritage HouseBuilding · listed 1973Hagan HouseBuilding · listed 1988Heller HotelBuilding · listed 1988Philip Arnold HouseBuilding · listed 1988George W. Smith HouseBuilding · listed 1988Hazel HillDistrict · listed 1988Montgomery Avenue Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1988Penniston HouseBuilding · listed 1988Elizabethtown City CemeterySite · listed 1997

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

By decade

Elizabethtown, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1880s to the 1950s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1880s–1910s24 items
1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky - Hardin County - Elizabethtown - ED 47-1, ED 47-13, ED 47-2318801940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky - Ha…Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. L.W. Hine. LOC nclc.004181916Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. L.W. Hine.…Lummie Durrett. See report. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Kentucky1916Lummie Durrett. See report. Location: Elizabethtown […Lummie Durrett. See report.] Location: [Elizabethtown vicinity, Kentucky1916Lummie Durrett. See report.] Location: [Elizabethtown…Dottie Durrett. Dairy farm. See card and report. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Kentucky1916Dottie Durrett. Dairy farm. See card and report. Loca…Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. Location: [Elizabethtown vicinity, Kentucky1916Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. Location: …Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. Location: [Elizabethtown vicinity, Kentucky1916Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. Location: …Orval Riggins. See card and report. L.W. Hine. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Kentucky1916Orval Riggins. See card and report. L.W. Hine. Locati…William, Anna Belle and Garland Carter. See card and report. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Kentucky1916William, Anna Belle and Garland Carter. See card and …Calvin Humphrey family. See cards of Estelle and Felix, also report. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Kentucky1916Calvin Humphrey family. See cards of Estelle and Feli…Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. L.W. Hine. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Kentucky1916Home and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. L.W. Hine.…James and Frank Crawford taking milk to town for father, a dairyman. See report. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinity], Ke…1916James and Frank Crawford taking milk to town for fath…[Calvin Humphrey family. See cards of Estelle and Felix, also report. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabethtown vicinity, Ken…1916[Calvin Humphrey family. See cards of Estelle and Fel…Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. Location: Elizabethtown [vicinit…1916Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Hu…Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabetht…1916Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Hu…Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabetht…1916Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Hu…[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabeth…1916[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix H…[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabeth…1916[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix H…[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabeth…1916[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix H…Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabetht…1916Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Hu…[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix Humphrey. See card reports of same. L.W. Hine] Location: [Elizabeth…1916[Series showing the day's work of Estelle and Felix H…Charles Hoffman said he was 13 years old and in the sixth grade. At the plow after school. See report. L.W. Hine. Locat…1916Charles Hoffman said he was 13 years old and in the s…Willie Nall, 11 years old; Raymond Jones, 10 years old; Denver Jones, 5 years old; plowing on farm. They had just finis…1916Willie Nall, 11 years old; Raymond Jones, 10 years ol…Willie Nall, 11 years old; Raymond Jones, 10 years old; Denver Jones, 5 years old; plowing on farm. They had just finis…1916Willie Nall, 11 years old; Raymond Jones, 10 years ol…
1920s–1950s2 items
Elizabethtown High School (KY) (1923)1923Elizabethtown High School (KY) (1923)Elizabethtown High School (1958)1958Elizabethtown High School (1958)
1960s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown2 to date
A history of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and its surroundingsDate?A history of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and its surroun…BookPanther Baseball ParkDate?Panther Baseball Park
Today30 recent
State Theatre in2011State Theatre inSamuel Robertson House2011Samuel Robertson HouseSamuel B. Thomas House2011Samuel B. Thomas HouseOld post office in2011Old post office inOld First Baptist Church in2011Old First Baptist Church inMorrison Lodge2011Morrison LodgeMcKinney-Helm House2011McKinney-Helm HouseLarue-Layman House2011Larue-Layman HouseJonathan Hills House2011Jonathan Hills HouseJohn B. Helm House2011John B. Helm HouseHoratio Wintersmith House2011Horatio Wintersmith HouseHardin County Courthouse in2011Hardin County Courthouse inGravestones in the Elizabethtown City Cemetery2011Gravestones in the Elizabethtown City CemeteryGeorge Woodard House2011George Woodard HouseFirst Presbyterian Church in2011First Presbyterian Church inEmbry Chapel Church2011Embry Chapel ChurchElizabethtown Commercial District2011Elizabethtown Commercial DistrictEliza Vertrees House2011Eliza Vertrees HouseDr. Robert B. Pusey House2011Dr. Robert B. Pusey HouseDavid L. May House2011David L. May HouseCity Hall in2011City Hall inChrist Episcopal Church in2011Christ Episcopal Church inBrown Pusey House Community Center2011Brown Pusey House Community CenterBenjamin Helm House2011Benjamin Helm HouseElizabethtowncommunitycollege2010ElizabethtowncommunitycollegeSteve jameson red truck2009Steve jameson red truckLowe's Knows2009Lowe's KnowsFEMA - 34352 - A couple posing with a NOAA weather radio in Kentucky2008FEMA - 34352 - A couple posing with a NOAA weather ra…Hardin County Kentucky courthouse2007Hardin County Kentucky courthouseKYMap-doton-Elizabethtown2004KYMap-doton-Elizabethtown
People over time

Elizabethtown, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,0001850190019502000979 in 1840Low: 556

Lost a third of its people between 1840 and 1860, then grew more than tenfold.

20 censuses, 1810–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Elizabethtown’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Elizabethtown came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Elizabethtown.

Read it all →

Established in 1793, Hardin County was named for Colonel John Hardin, an Indian fighter who worked with tribes in the local area. In a few years, professional men and tradesmen came to live in the area. In 1793, Colonel Andrew Hynes had 30 acres (12 ha) (until then known as the "Severn's Valley Settlement") surveyed and laid off into lots and streets to establish Elizabethtown. Named in honor of his wife, Elizabethtown was legally established in 1797.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Elizabethtown in 1921

Passages that mention Elizabethtown, cut from the printed page as they were published.

a thorough education, and they have proved themselves to be energetic, thorough-going men, and they have succeeded in establishing one of the most popular colleges in Kentucky, known as Cecilian College, about six or seven miles from Elizabethtown and about a quarter of a mile from the Elizabethtow…
A history of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and its surroundings1921 · page 128Read the page →
Read the text

a thorough education, and they have proved themselves to be energetic, thorough-going men, and they have succeeded in establishing one of the most popular colleges in Kentucky, known as Cecilian College, about six or seven miles from Elizabethtown and about a quarter of a mile from the Elizabethtown and Paducah railroad, the stopping place for which, is Cecilia Station. The College is presided over by Henry A. Cecil as President, and Thomas G. and A. D. Cecil as Professors ; and a more accomplished and gentlemanly trio would be diffi-

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
1804, when, with his sons Denton, Thomas and J. H. Geoghegan, came to Kentucky and stopped at the Crab Orchard, in Lincoln county, and while there purchased of Arnistead Churchill the Hynes Station track, part of which is now in Elizabethtown. The deed bears date of 1805, and recognizes him as a ci…
A history of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and its surroundings1921 · page 127Read the page →
Read the text

1804, when, with his sons Denton, Thomas and J. H. Geoghegan, came to Kentucky and stopped at the Crab Orchard, in Lincoln county, and while there purchased of Arnistead Churchill the Hynes Station track, part of which is now in Elizabethtown. The deed bears date of 1805, and recognizes him as a citizen of Lincoln county. His grandson A. D. Geoghegan, Esq., says he arrived at Hynes' Station on the 2ist of February, 1808. But that must be a mistake as the deed bears date of December 29, 1806, and recognizes him as a citizen

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Elizabethtown, 1788 to 2020

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1788Born hereSarah Bush Lincoln is born here
  3. 1797
    FoundingElizabethtown is established
  4. 19th century
  5. 1831Post officeThe Elizabethtown post office opens
  6. 1874Born hereCharles Middleton is born here
  7. 1880In the archive1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky - Hardin County - Elizabethtown - ED 47-…
  8. 20th century
  9. 1913BuiltMorrison Lodge is built
  10. 1916In the archiveHome and farm of E.J. Hayward. See report. L.W. Hine. LOC nclc.00418
  11. 1923In the archiveElizabethtown High School (KY) (1923)
  12. 1938On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  13. 1958In the archiveElizabethtown High School (1958)
  14. 1960Born hereKenny Perry is born here
  15. 1968Born hereKelly Rutherford is born here
  16. 21st century
  17. 2020CensusPopulation peaks at 31,394
On the map

Elizabethtown on the map, 1938 to 1991

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Elizabethtown. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Elizabethtown on the 1938 USGS mapElizabethtown on the 1949 USGS mapElizabethtown on the 1960 USGS mapElizabethtown on the 1982 USGS mapElizabethtown on the 1991 USGS map1938Elizabethtown sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Elizabethtown.

Every building

Elizabethtown, building by building, 1886–1922

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Elizabethtown fire insurance map, 1886, sheet 11886Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky - Hardin County - Elizabethtown - ED 47-1, ED 47-13, ED 47-23
Retake this view1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky - Hardin County - Elizabethtown - ED 47-1, ED 47-13, ED 47-23, 1880

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Elizabethtown’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

19 famous people were born in Elizabethtown

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Kelly RutherfordAmerican actress · b. 1968
Charles MiddletonAmerican actor · b. 1874
Kenny PerryProfessional golfer · b. 1960
Sarah Bush LincolnStepmother of Abraham Lincoln · b. 1788
A
Antwain BarbourAmerican basketball player · b. 1982
Charles Debrille PostonAmerican author, explorer, and federal politici… · b. 1825
Places that used to be

Old corners and burying grounds

Elizabethtown’s post office has been open since 1831.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Indian Hills
3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Elizabethtown
Hardin Memorial ParkHelmSaint James

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Elizabethtown’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo2 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old view1940 Census Enumeration District Maps -…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

CeciliaIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townRadcliff1 historic placeD

Questions about Elizabethtown’s history

What year was Elizabethtown founded?

In 1797, according to Wikidata. Elizabethtown’s post office opened in 1831, and the census of 1810 counted 181 people here.

How does Elizabethtown rank for history?

Elizabethtown is more historic than 64% of U.S. towns, #63 of 142 in Kentucky. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Elizabethtown?

37 listings: 33 buildings, among them the Lincoln Heritage House (listed 1973, the first), 3 historic districts, the Elizabethtown Courthouse Square and Commercial District, the Hazel Hill and the Montgomery Avenue Historic District, with 46 contributing buildings, and 1 site. 82 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Elizabethtown?

5% of Elizabethtown’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.6 points), against a typical 5.9% for a Kentucky town; the median home was built in 1990.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (36), the Library of Congress (22), Wikidata (18), the National Register of Historic Places (37), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.