First established in 1824 and named after Benjamin Franklin Graves. Graves was a former politician and military leader in early 19th-century Kentucky. During the War of 1812, Graves served as a major in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Kentucky Volunteer regiment. Together with other officers, he commanded Kentucky troops in the Battle of Frenchtown (also known as the Battle of the River Raisin) on January 22, 1813, in what was then Michigan Territory. With the county listed as having 557 square miles, it is home to 37,137 residents.