Owen County was formed as the 63rd county by the state of Kentucky and approved on February 6, 1819. It was formed Franklin, Scott, Gallatin, and Pendleton counties. The town of Hesler (Heslerville) was the first county seat. Owen County was named after Abraham Owen who was an Indian fighter and Kentucky legislator and was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Colonel Owen also surveyed and mapped the region that is now Owen County. On November 16, 1820, the state legislature passed another act that was restored to Franklin County part or all of what was taken from the county from the act that took place in 1819. With the county having a total area of 354 square miles, there are just under 11,000 residents calling the county home.