Founded in August of 1779 by Sinclair Hardin who is the first cousin to former captain William Hardin (who is the founder of Hardin’s Fort), was killed by Shawnee Indians and was the first white settler in Breckinridge County. Now even though the county was found by Sinclair Hardin, it was actually named after John Breckinridge who was the 5th attorney general under president Thomas Jefferson. Sitting at 586 square miles, it is home to over 20,000 residents.