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Ohio County was established in 1798 from parts of Hardin and Hancock counties and was named for the Ohio River, which formed its northern boundary and shaped its early development. The county grew as a center of agriculture and river-based trade, with communities benefiting from fertile land and access to transportation routes linking western Kentucky to broader markets. Beaver Dam and Hartford emerged as important local towns, serving surrounding farming areas and contributing to the county’s long-standing rural character and economic stability.
