Hardin County was first established in 1792 from land given by Nelson County and then became the 15th county within the state in order of formation. The county is named after colonel John  Hardi who was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolution and a brother of Captian William Hardin who is the founder of Hardinsburg. Multiple courthouse fires destroyed county records in 1864 and again in 1932 however, the present courthouse dates from 1934. With the last bureau report stating the county had 630 square miles with almost 111,000 residents making up the counties’ population.