McCracken County was founded in 1825 from Hickman County. The county was named after Woodford County native, Captain Virgil McCracken who was killed in the Battle of Frenchtown in southeastern Michigan during the War of 1812. Now during the American civil war, the Battle of Paducah happened in March of 1864 which resulted in a victory for the Confederate Army and over 140 troops lost their lives that day. With the county having 268 sqaure miles, it is home to over 65,000 ressidents.