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Kentucky · North-Central Kentucky · #474
Hardin County Government Offices
On the Rolling Fork River between Louisville and Bowling Green, Hardin County holds Fort Knox - where the United States Bullion Depository stores the nation's gold reserve - alongside the growing city of Elizabethtown and a regional economy built significantly on Army employment and automotive manufacturing.
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Office: Hardin County Emergency Management – 170 N Provident Way, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 | (270) 765-5978; Director Joey Scott. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM. Hardin County E-911 consolidates dispatch for the Sheriff’s Office, West Point Police, EMS, Coroner, and Animal Control.
Sheriff: Hardin County Sheriff’s Office – 150 N Provident Way, Suite 101, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 | (270) 765-5133 | Email: [email protected]. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-65, the Bluegrass Parkway, and the Western Kentucky Parkway serve Elizabethtown, the county seat, in central Kentucky.
Notes: Hardin County was formed in 1792 and is named for Colonel John Hardin, a Revolutionary War officer. (Hardin County, Illinois is itself named after this Kentucky county – a naming trap worth flagging when researching either.)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Hardin County Courthouse – Elizabethtown, KY.
Notes: Hardin County is home to the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, the highly secure Treasury Department facility that has stored the bulk of the nation’s gold reserves since 1937 – currently about 147.3 million troy ounces, roughly half of the U.S. Treasury’s total gold holdings. Built in 1936 as a bombproof, fortified structure, the depository is not open to public visits by law and has never been fully audited or opened for independent inspection beyond limited official visits. During World War II it also briefly safeguarded the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The facility’s reputation gave rise to the enduring American phrase “as safe as Fort Knox.” The surrounding Fort Knox Army post spans Hardin, Meade, and Bullitt counties and serves as the Army’s Human Resources Command headquarters.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Hardin County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via hardincountyky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Hardin County Public Library (Elizabethtown) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Fort Knox and the General George Patton Museum of Leadership are the county’s most nationally recognized attractions (though the gold vault itself is not accessible to the public).
Notes: The genuine origin of “as safe as Fort Knox” is one of the most widely recognized American idioms traced to a real place covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Hardin County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via hardincountyky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Hardin County Animal Care and Control – 220 Peterson Drive, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 | (270) 769-3428 | Email: [email protected]. Managed-intake, county-run shelter serving Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Vine Grove, West Point, Cecilia, Glendale, Sonora, White Mills, and Eastview. All animals spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before adoption. Hours: Mon-Sat 12-4 PM, closed Sunday. Supported by the nonprofit Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Hardin County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via hardincountyky.gov.
NOTES: Hardin County is the fourth county in Kentucky’s seventh batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine origin of “as safe as Fort Knox” is one of the most widely recognized American idioms traced to a real place covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Hardin County
Hardin County carries one of American military history’s most iconic addresses: Fort Knox, where the United States Bullion Depository – the hardened vault containing most of America’s gold reserve – sits alongside the Army’s Armor Center and School. The vault’s precise contents have been the subject of periodic congressional inquiries and popular speculation; its security protocols are genuine. Fort Knox’s military population – soldiers, family members, and civilian employees – represents a significant share of Hardin County’s economy, and the base’s physical footprint encompasses much of the county’s northern area.
Elizabethtown, the county seat, has developed into a functioning small city largely independent of the base – with its own manufacturing sector (automotive suppliers, food processing), healthcare system (Hardin Memorial Health), and commercial infrastructure. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is located in the county’s southeastern corner at Sinking Spring Farm, where Lincoln was born in 1809; it is one of the most visited national historic sites in Kentucky. The county’s I-65 and Bluegrass Parkway corridors have attracted distribution and logistics operations, and Elizabethtown’s position between Louisville and Bowling Green gives it commuter reach to both metro employment markets.
Heritage | Elizabethtown is the county seat and a significant Central Kentucky city anchored by Fort Knox (the U.S. Army Armor Center and the U.S. Bullion Depository — the most secure building in America stores much of the nation’s gold reserve here; no tours are permitted but the exterior and the adjacent Patton Museum are outstanding); Abraham Lincoln birthplace — the Lincoln Heritage area includes the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (Hodgenville, adjacent LaRue County; accessible from Elizabethtown); Hardin County is one of the largest counties by population in Kentucky and is growing rapidly as a Louisville suburb; significant manufacturing Outdoors | Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area (Muldraugh — the only area near Louisville with access to the Ohio River bluffs; excellent hiking; closed then reopened; beautiful landscape); Nolin River Lake (excellent bass and crappie fishing; Nolin Lake State Park; camping; accessible from Elizabethtown); Rough River Lake (accessible); hunting and fishing; Elizabethtown’s extensive park system Notable | Fort Knox and the U.S. Bullion Depository (Elizabethtown area — the most heavily guarded building in America stores the nation’s gold reserves; the Fort Knox Army installation is one of the Army’s premier bases; the General George Patton Museum of Leadership at Fort Knox is outstanding — the armor and military vehicle collection and the Patton exhibit are excellent; highly recommended for military history enthusiasts); Hardin Memorial Hospital is a Level II Trauma Center and a major regional medical anchor; Elizabethtown Community and Technical College; the city is growing significantly with Louisville suburban expansion; the Lincoln birthplace accessibility (Hodgenville in adjacent LaRue County — the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is beautifully maintained; the symbolic log cabin and the memorial building are moving; an essential Kentucky heritage destination) Library | Hardin County Public Library — (270) 769-6337 | hardinlibrary.org
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Kentucky assesses property at 100% of fair cash value annually; the PVA sets assessments. Property owners may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals by May 20. Kentucky has no estate or inheritance tax.
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
Phone: (270) 765-4125
Address: 100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Note: Kentucky sheriffs collect property taxes
Courts & Legal
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
Phone: (270) 766-5000
Address: 100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.ky.gov
CIRCUIT COURT
Phone: (270) 766-5000
Address: 100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.ky.gov | 9th Judicial Circuit
Senior Services
Barren River / Lincoln Trail Area Development District – Area Agency on Aging
613 College Street Road, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 769-2393
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and long-term care counseling for Hardin County residents.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
14 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-2171
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 766-5000
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
14 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-2171
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Hardin County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Fort Knox, home to the U.S. Bullion Depository, is a significant local historical and military resource.
Local societies
No dedicated Hardin County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Hardin County District Court Hardin County Justice Center, 120 East Dixie Avenue, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (270) 766-5000, option 4 Hardin County is in central Kentucky, seated in Elizabethtown, home to Fort Knox.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Kentucky has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code; probate is governed by KRS Chapter 395 (Administration of Estates), handled by the District Court in the county where the decedent resided (KRS 24A.120).
Dispensing with Administration – Kentucky’s simplified small-estate procedure, governed by KRS 395.450, 395.455, and 395.470. Available when the value of the personal estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $30,000, and the petitioner is a surviving spouse, adult child, or other qualifying heir/preferred creditor. The petitioner files a Petition to Dispense with Administration (Form AOC-830) with an affidavit listing assets, debts, and proposed distribution – no personal representative or full administration is required. Real estate is generally not covered by this procedure.
Regular (Full) Administration – for larger or more complex estates, the District Court appoints a personal representative (executor if named in a will, administrator if intestate), who gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains under court oversight.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Executor/Administrator (Form AOC-805) with the District Court in the county of residence.
If there’s a will, the court admits it to probate; it is then recorded with the county clerk (KRS 394.140).
The personal representative files an Inventory and Appraisement (Form AOC-841) of estate assets.
Notice to creditors is published; creditors generally have 6 months from appointment to file claims.
The personal representative pays valid debts, taxes, and expenses.
A Settlement of Estate (Form AOC-846) is filed, and the court closes the estate upon approval.
What it costs
Filing fees and publication costs are collected by the clerk and vary somewhat by county.
Kentucky does not require an attorney for probate, though it is commonly recommended, especially for formal administration.
Typical timelines: full probate generally takes 6-12 months; the creditor claims period is 6 months. Dispensing with Administration can move significantly faster once the estate qualifies.
Before distribution, a surviving spouse may petition for release of up to $2,500 from the estate as an exempt charge against estate property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-4125
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-4125
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
14 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-2171
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
14 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-2171
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Hardin County Health Dept
(270) 769-1601
KY CHFS — Lincoln Trail Region
(270) 766-5100
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Hardin Memorial Hospital
hmh.net (Elizabethtown — quality regional hospital; Level II Trauma)
Baptist Health Hardin
baptisthealthhardin.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Hardin County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Elizabethtown
Population: 114,000
Area: 629 sq mi
Established: 1792
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Hardin County facilities via Amazon.
