The county was formed on December 14, 1825, from portions of Adair, Cumberland and, Wayne counties and is named for William Russell. Russell was a soldier, pioneer and, resident of both Kentucky and Virginia who was born on March 6, 1758 and passed away on July 3, 1825. Russell county is home to the Wolf Creek Dam which impound both the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland. The county has a total area of 283 square miles with a population count of 17, 565 residents.
