Bullitt County Facts

Click HERE to see D.O.T. County Map Bullitt County, the twentieth in order of formation, is located in the far western Bluegrass region known as the Knobs. It has an area of 300 square miles. The county was formed in December of 1796 from parts of Jefferson and Nelson counties and named far Alexander Scott Bullitt, Kentucky's first lieutenant governor (1800-1804) and the nephew of Capt. Thomas Bullitt. SHEPHERDSVILLE, founded in 1793 where the western leg of the Wilderness Road crossed Salt River, is the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1804 of brick; the second, of Beaux Arts-influenced design, was constructed in 1900. The County is bordered by Jefferson County (north), Spencer County (east), Nelson County (southeast), Hardin County (southwest). Cities, Towns and Communities include Brooks, Fox Chase, Hebron Estates, Hillview, Hunters Hollow, Lebanon Junction, Mount Washington, Pioneer Village, Shepherdsville The county is hilly, with knobs covering most of its area. Salt River and its tributaries, the Rolling Fork and Floyd's Fork, drain to the west and empty into the Ohio River at West Point in Hardin County. Archaeological discoveries along parts of Salt River and Floyd's Fork indicate that Native Americans lived there 15,000 years ago. Settlers who arrived in the late 1770s and 1780s had numerous conflicts with Indians. Henry Crist, who later represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives (1809-11), was attacked by Indians in 1788 while attempting to navigate a boatload of salt kettles up Salt River. Of his party of thirteen, ten men were killed, a woman was captured, another man escaped, and Crist was badly wounded. Weakened by loss of blood, Crist crawled through the woods for three days, reaching safety among the salt makers at BULLITT'S LICK. Salt licks attracted pioneers to the area. Furnaces to boil the salt-laden water were built at Bullitt's Lick, near what is now Shepherdsville. Named for surveyor Capt. Thomas Bullitt in 1779, they became the first commercial saltworks in Kentucky. Salt was manufactured also at Long Lick, Dry Lick, and Parakeet Lick. Iron ore is found in several places throughout the county, and smelting began at an early date. MT. WASHINGTON, first called Mt. Vernon, was established in 1818. The city was an important stagecoach stop on the Louisville-to-Nashville turnpike and eventually became one of the largest cities in the county. In 1832 a town was established at the junction of the Salt River and Rolling Fork. The community, first called Pittstown and later Pitts Point, became a part of the FORT KNOX military reservation in the 1940s and no longer exists. After the construction of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (now CSX Transportation) in the mid-1850s, rail stops sprang up along the tracks on both the main line to Nashville and on the branch lines to Bardstown and Lebanon. They included Brooks Station, Hubers, Gap In Knob, Salt River, Bardstown Junction, Lebanon Junction, Clermont, and Hobbs. Lebanon Junction was selected by the railroad as a site for a railyard and a roundhouse for steam locomotives. As a result this rail stop became one of the county's largest cities. In 1895, when railroad expansion began, the city experienced rapid growth and prosperity. As the steam engine was gradually replaced by the diesel engine, demand for rail service diminished, the yard at Lebanon Junction became unnecessary, and the city declined. The construction of a full interchange on I-65 in the mid-1980s promised to revitalize Lebanon Junction. Lebanon Junction Press, a printing firm, opened in 1989. Whiskey distilling, manufacturing, printing, and quarrying are the major industries in the county. Agriculture is also important, and burley tobacco and soybeans are the major crops. Beef and dairy cattle and hogs are also raised there. Much of the county is wooded, including 10,000 acres of BERNHEIM FOREST and some of the 35,000 acres of county land that are part of the Fort Knox Military Reservation. Among the prominent natives of Bullitt County was James Turner Morehead. Born near Shepherdsville on May 24, 1797, Morehead was elected lieutenant governor in 1832 and served as governor of Kentucky from 1834 to 1836. After busing to further integration was instituted in the Louisville public school system, many people moved to Bullitt County, particularly the northern sector. The county became a commuter area, giving rise to several small incorporated cities. Among them are HILLVIEW, Pioneer Village, Hunters Hollow, Fox Chase, and Hebron Estates, all incorporated after 1965. By 1986 Hillview led all other cities in the county in population. The population of Bullitt County was 26,090 in 1970; 43,346 in 1980; and 47,567 in 1990. .The Official County Website is located at http://www.bullittcounty.org/ . See Extended History for More information. Bullitt County, Kentucky History Books at Amazon.com Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

Back to top

Bullitt County Court Records

See Also Kentucky Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

   Bullitt County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1797 and Land Records from 1797 and is located at PO Box 6, Shepherdsville, KY 40165-0006; Phone: (502) 543-2513, FAX: (502) 543-9121, [EMAIL] .
   The duties of the county clerk are numerous and varied, falling into the general categories of clerical duties of the fiscal court, issuing and registering, recording and keeping records of various legal instruments, election duties, tax duties, transfers, and titling, and issuance of marriage licenses and much more. One of the most important responsibilities of the County Clerk's office is the recording of land records. The most common documents recorded are deeds, mortgages, and assignments and mortgage releases. The other is Marriage Liscenses

   Bullitt County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Probate Records from 1796 and Court Records from 1797 and is located at P. O. Box 746, 505 Buffalo Run Road, Shepherdsville, Ky. 40165; (502)543-7104 .
   The Circuit Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining the records of the circuit court. Divorces, civil litigation, criminal crimes, probate, wills , estates and various other functions.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include: Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850; Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900; Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999; Kentucky Land Grants; Kentucky Will Index, vol. 1 & 2 and Kentucky Will Index, Vol. 2,

Click Here to Search Kentucky Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Bullitt County, Kentucky Court Books at Amazon.com
• Kentucky Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.

Back to top

Bullitt County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Kentucky

Click Here to Search Kentucky Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!

• Birth & Death Certificates: The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910 and became effective Jan. 1, 1911. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for those born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence.Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958.  The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date.  Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued.  Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Bullitt County clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE

Cost of certificates:  Birth: $10 per certificate; Death, Marriage and Divorce are $6 per certificate
In Person:  You can stop in the office at 275 E. Main St. in Frankfort and obtain a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate by completing an application form between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday.  There is approximately a one-hour wait to receive the certificate.
Directions to Vital Statistics Office 
By Mail:  Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" along with the necessary information to the following address:  Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St.  1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621.  Please include return address on envelope and application form.
Processing Time:  Please allow up to approximately 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. 
Birth Records:  Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September.  You should request certified copies of your birth certificate early enough to avoid delays if you are planning retirement, sporting events for the children, travel/passports, children entering school for the first time, etc.
Death Records:  There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card:  To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax, on-line or purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek. There is an additional $10.50 fee for all credit card purchases.  Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If faster delivery is required, you may wish to have the certified copy sent by Federal Express.  Please state this when placing the order for the copy. There is an additional fee for this service. 

There are a few online marriage databases which include: Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999; Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850; Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900; Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999; and Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Kentucky Vital Records Project
• Bullitt County, Kentucky Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Bullitt County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Click Here to Search Kentucky Voter Lists & Census Records! - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable.

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Bullitt County, Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Bullitt County, Kentucky are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890 but only returns for sixty-five Kentucky counties remain of the 1890 Union veterans and widows schedule of the federal census of Kentucky.

  Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Extracts and indexes for many of Kentucky's censuses have been compiled and published. Original or microfilm copies of the federal census returns are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Several Kentucky indexes to censuses predate those published by AISI.

  State School Census for Kentucky infrequently enumerated public school students beginning in 1888. Scattered records are at the office of the respective county Board of Health or Board of Education. Some are maintained by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Kentucky Historical Society.

See Also Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Bullitt County, Kentucky Census Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Bullitt County Maps & Atlases

      Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Kentucky and other states.
   You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
   You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Kentucky Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect...

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Maps. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Bullitt County, Kentucky Map Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Bullitt County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Kentucky

Click Here to Search Kentucky Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

   The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Kentucky Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 323 High Str, Paris, Ky, 40361;(859) 987- 1788
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Kentucky Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Bullitt County, Kentucky Military Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Bullitt County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

   One of the most valuable sources for early Kentucky until 1892 is its tax records. Most counties have yearly tax records from the date of organization. Some early tax schedules list watercourse, value and acreage of real estate, men over twenty-one, young men between sixteen and twenty-one, slaves, and horses. Extant county tax schedules from the date of organization of the county through 1892 have been microfilmed for most counties and are available from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the FHL. Numerous original tax records from 1892 are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The Kentucky Historical Society has tax records to 1875.
  Kentucky tax lists are arranged by county and date. Within the counties, residents within its districts are grouped together and names usually arranged under the beginning letter of the surname, although these are not in strict alphabetical order. Some early tax records have been published and are available in research libraries.

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Bullitt County, Kentucky Tax Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Bullitt County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Kentucky Genealogical Addresses

   The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Bullitt County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 950, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
• Local Kentucky Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
• The Kentucky Historical Society, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601; 877-444-7867,[EMAIL]
• The Kentucky Genealogical Society, PO Box 153, Frankfort, KY 40602-0153 [EMAIL]
• Kentucky Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
• Kentucky Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Bullitt County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kentucky

Click Here to Search Kentucky Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Bullitt County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Bullitt County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Church membership of early Kentuckians include Baptist, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Some church records were published, others were microfilmed, some are housed in church repositories, but many remain in the local church. Church records and histories may be found in periodicals pertaining to Kentucky. Repositories include the DAR Library, the FHL, Kentucky Historical Society, University of Kentucky Library, and Filson Club Library.

Many collections of cemetery records are available for Kentucky. In 1977 the Kentucky Historical Society began computerizing extant cemetery records for the state. Cemetery tombstone transcriptions are included in the Ardery collection. Kentucky regional libraries and some other large genealogical libraries outside the state have collections of Kentucky cemetery transcriptions. In addition, publications pertaining to Kentucky and Kentuckians frequently contain cemetery records for the state.

Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147
• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers throughout the world.
• Bullitt County, Kentucky Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Bullitt County, Kentucky Church Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Click Here to Search Kentucky Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

   When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Bullitt County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Bullitt County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Bullitt County ] [ Kentucky ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
• Kentucky Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
• Bullitt County, Kentucky Family Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

County History

   Bullitt County is situated in the Middle Western part of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson County, the east by Spencer County, the south by Nelson County and the west by Hardin County. Salt River runs through the middle of the county, in an east-west direction. Floyds Fork, one of two tributaries, empties into the Salt just above Shepherdsville and the Rolling Fork, forms a common boundary with Nelson and Hardin counties, joining the Salt at Pitts Point, site of a once prosperous but now extinct town.

Parts of Bullitt County were inhabited several thousand years ago. This being determined by archaeological digs along Salt River and Floyds Fork. Evidence of early inhabitants has been found in caves and several rock outcroppings or overhangs.

Captain Thomas Bullitt discovered the salt lick that bares his name in 1773 while surveying lands for French and Indian War soldiers.

Most of Bullitt's first settlers came from Virginia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York. Earliest settlement of the county did not occur until after 1777, the year of Indian raids into Kentucky.

A salt works was erected at Bullitts Lick in 1779. Salt was produced here and at other licks in the County for many years. Kentucky's first commercial industry was the production of salt in Bullitt County.

Immigration into Kentucky and Bullitt County increased at a rapid pace. Kentucky was made a separate state in 1792. The area now known as Bullitt County was a part of Fincastle County, Virginia; Kentucky County, Virginia; Jefferson County, Virginia; and Jefferson County, Kentucky. As the population of Kentucky increased new counties were formed. Citizens petitioned the Kentucky General Assembly for a new county in 1796. By an act of the Legislature, Bullitt County was created on December 13, 1796. The land comprising Bullitt County was taken from Jefferson County (north of Salt River) and Nelson County (south of Salt River). The county was named for Alexander Scott Bullitt, a nephew of Captain Thomas Bullitt, owner of Oxmore in Jefferson County and a person influential in early Kentucky politics. Bullitt was Kentucky's first Lieutenant Governor.

A pie shaped wedge was added to Bullitt's land area in 1811 by taking more land from Jefferson County. In 1824, part of eastern Bullitt was taken and given to the new county of Spencer. Present-day Bullitt covers 300 square miles.

Salt production and iron production were two of Bullitt's early industries. Salt was produced from 1779 until the 1840s. The discovery of new salt deposits and cheaper methods of production forced salt making in Bullitt out of business. Iron was produced from circa 1825 until the Civil War. As with salt, discovery of richer iron fields and cheaper means of ore extraction caused the iron business in Bullitt to go out of business.

Paroquet Springs, a mineral water spa, enjoyed a long period of popularity in Kentucky and through out parts of the south. The water was thought to have medicinal properties that could cure a variety of illnesses. Many people came to Bullitt County for the season, which usually was from June through August. Here they would drink and bathe in the mineral water. The first development of the springs began in 1838 when 20 acres were opened with accommodations for about 200 people. Over time, the grounds were further developed and more people could be cared for. The Civil War caused the restriction of travel and thus a corresponding decline of Paroquet. In 1871, a group of investors from Louisville tried to revive the springs. A new hotel was built and accommodations for up to 800 people developed. This revived popularity was short lived because the hotel burned to the ground in 1879. The water was still sold until circa 1915, and the old buildings were still used for a number of years after the fire, however the height of Paroquet's popularity was just prior to the Civil War.

During the 1850's, the L & N Railroad constructed tracks from north to south through Bullitt County. This opened the county for trade with Louisville and other major points along the road. Prior to the construction of the railroad, timber, hay, livestock and other goods were shipped via Salt River and its tributaries.

America's Civil War touched Bullitt County as it did other counties. The railroad participated by transporting troops and equipment as well as produce and goods both north and south of Bullitt County. Railroad property, including the bridges at Shepherdsville and Lebanon Junction were frequent objects for destruction by Confederate troops. Many Bullitt county men fought for both sides.

In 1918, the Federal Government began to expand Camp Knox in Hardin County by purchasing land from Bullitt. The name was changed to Fort Knox and the Federal Government continued to purchase Bullitt land. Today, there are over 21,000 acres of Bullitt County that are in the Fort Knox Military Reservation.

From 1900 to 1910, Bullitt County experienced a period of internal development. Roads were taken over by the county and attempts were made to improve old ones and build new ones. A new courthouse (first one built in 1804) was constructed in 1900. Modern road bridges were constructed across Salt River at Shepherdsville and Greenwell Ford. Many smaller bridges were constructed during this period also.

From 1900 until 1950, Bullitt remained primarily an agricultural county. The population remained about the same and little economic development was carried out. During the 1950's, the Kentucky Turnpike was constructed from Louisville to Elizabethtown. The turnpike was a modern 4-lane limited-access highway. There was a full interchange and toll booth at Shepherdsville and a limited interchange at Lebanon Junction. This road changed the county. Quicker access to Louisville caused people in Louisville and Jefferson County to move to Bullitt. New businesses were opened and small industry began to move in.

During the 1980's, the Federal Interstate Highway System was developed. The Kentucky Turnpike was made a part of this system. Again the county was given access to new markets and economic development continued at a greater pace. By the year 2000, plans were being made for three industrial parks.

Back to top