KNOW HARDIN COUNTY
Where Elizabethtown fits in Hardin County: the cities, the history, Fort Knox, healthcare and the local offices you’ll actually use. Plus who’s behind ElizabethtownKY.com.
113,482
Hardin County population (Census 2025 estimate)
35,448
Elizabethtown population (Census 2025 estimate)
1792
Year the county was formed, from Nelson County
22,000+
Fort Knox workforce (Hardin County Chamber)
CITIES & TOWNS
The cities of Hardin County
Elizabethtown is the county seat. Six other cities sit fully or partly inside the county line.
COUNTY SEAT
Elizabethtown
Established July 4, 1797 by Andrew Hynes and named for his wife, Elizabeth. Home to Baptist Health Hardin and ECTC.
NORTH
Radcliff
Borders Fort Knox. Home to Boundary Oak Distillery.
NORTH
Vine Grove
Small city in northern Hardin County, close to Fort Knox.
NORTH
West Point
River town where the Salt River meets the Ohio.
SOUTH
Sonora
Small city in southern Hardin County, off I‑65.
SOUTH
Upton
Small city on the Hardin–LaRue county line.
PARTLY IN COUNTY
Muldraugh
Mostly in Meade County; a small part lies in Hardin County.
A SHORT HISTORY
Forts, Lincolns and the Army
1779–80
Three forts are built near today’s Elizabethtown: Hynes, Helm and Haycraft.
1792
Hardin County is formed from Nelson County, named for Col. John Hardin.
1797
Elizabethtown is established on July 4 by Andrew Hynes.
1807
Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, parents of Abraham Lincoln, live in Elizabethtown; their daughter Sarah is born here.
1862
Morgan’s Christmas Raid reaches Elizabethtown.
1871–73
George Armstrong Custer is stationed in Elizabethtown.
1918
Camp Knox opens; it later becomes Fort Knox.
Sources: Hardin County History Museum; Kentucky Historical Society markers.
FORT KNOX
Fort Knox, next door
The post
U.S. Army post north of Elizabethtown and Radcliff, with a workforce of 22,000+.
Getting on post
Chaffee Gate has the main Visitor Center. Wilson and Brandenburg gates have limited hours.
Worth a visit
General George Patton Museum of Leadership. Ireland Army Health Clinic and the Fort Knox VA Clinic serve military families and veterans.
About 22 min from the north side of Elizabethtown (Ring Rd at I‑65) · about 27 min from the south side (near ECTC)
HEALTHCARE
Hospital and clinics
HOSPITAL
Baptist Health Hardin
Regional hospital with 300 beds, a 24/7 emergency department and a Level II NICU.
913 N Dixie Ave · about 7–9 min from the north and south sides of town
WALK-IN
Urgent care
Baptist Health Urgent Care (1009 N Mulberry St and 1111 Ring Rd), Norton Immediate Care Heartland (157 Towne Dr #104), CareFirst (2005 N Dixie Hwy).
PUBLIC
Public & community health
Lincoln Trail District Health Department (580 Westport Rd). Communicare behavioral health (107 Cranes Roost Ct).
FORT KNOX
Military & veterans
Ireland Army Health Clinic on post. Fort Knox VA Clinic, 282 Brule St.
LOCAL OFFICES
Who handles what
ABOUT ELIZABETHTOWNKY.COM · WHY WE EXIST
A lot happens in E‑Town every week.
A lot happens in Elizabethtown every week. Restaurants open, events fill the calendar, employers like Fort Knox, Baptist Health Hardin and the new Ford Energy plant in Glendale keep hiring, and the city keeps growing. Keeping up with all of it usually starts in the same place: a search bar.
ElizabethtownKY.com puts it in one place: local news, where to eat, what to do on a Saturday, events, jobs and local businesses, plus the practical side of living here (utilities, licenses, schools, neighborhoods). It’s for everyone in E‑Town, whether you’ve been here for decades or just arrived.
WHO WE ARE
Who we are
ElizabethtownKY.com is written by people who live and work in Hardin County.
OUR RULES
How we choose what we feature
1
We list real places with addresses and phone numbers we’ve checked against public sources.
2
Paid listings and placements are always labeled, so you know what’s sponsored.
3
Our Featured Living communities are partners, and we label them that way.
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