KYGenWeb: Anderson County Member of the USGenWeb Project®

Start Your Anderson County Research

Anderson County was created in 1827 from portions of Franklin County. Early families settled around fertile farmland, mills, and along the Kentucky River. Lawrenceburg became the county seat and remains the center of local records.

This site brings together the records most useful to genealogists, historians, and local researchers. You’ll find marriages, cemeteries, obituaries, military material, church history, and contributed family records throughout the county section.

Research Highlights

Core Records

Begin with marriages, cemeteries, obituaries, probate, and court records. These often provide the quickest path to connecting generations.

Cluster Research

Anderson County families often appear in Franklin, Mercer, Shelby, Washington, and Woodford County records before and after the county formed.

Military Connections

Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, and later veterans materials can help place families in the county earlier than standard census records.

Community History

Churches, small settlements, African American communities, and cemetery pages often preserve details not found in courthouse records.

History Snapshot

  • County seat: Lawrenceburg
  • Established: 1827
  • Early settlements: Kaufman’s (Coffman’s) Station, Kentucky River Settlement Area, Benson Creek Settlements, Hammond Creek Settlements, Old Wash Farm / Wash Family Settlement, Salt River & Tributary Settlements, and Frontier Cluster (Multiple Small Claims)
  • Later settlements: Alton aka Rough and Ready, Beaver Creek, Camdenville, Van Buren, Peanickle
  • Key roads: Buffalo Trace, King's Highway, Salt River Route, Anderson Turnpike, Lawrenceburg-Frankfort Road, Lawrenceburg-Versailles Road, and Mill Road
  • Early industries: Agricultural foundations, distilling, milling, timber, and merchant trade
  • Nearby landmarks: T.P. Ripy House, Old Wash House, Wild Turkey Distillery

Repositories & Records

Repository Records Available
Anderson County Courthouse Marriage books, deeds, probate, court orders
KDLA Microfilm copies of county records
Kentucky History Center Manuscripts, newspapers, local histories

Counties Surrounding Anderson County

Map of Anderson County and surrounding counties
  • Franklin
  • Woodford
  • Mercer
  • Shelby
  • Spencer
  • Nelson
  • Washington

Common Anderson County Surnames

Kaufmann / Coffman, Lawrence, McBrayer, Benson, Hammond, Taylor, Catlett, Thacker, Shouse, Petty, Brown, Davis, Craig, Driskell, Johnson, Moore, Ripy, Orr, McCall, Spencer.