Butler

Formed January 18, 1810 (52^nd county)

Butler County (12,371), Morgantown (2,506)

The 1975 red/brown brick courthouse is at G. L. Smith and Main streets.  United States Highway 231 goes from Smith to Main streets at the intersection.  The building was renovated in 1998.  Howard, Nielsen, Lyne, Thomas, Aldred, Henry, and O’Brien are the architects.  The courthouse sits on a hill and features a tower.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  There were 1811 and 1873 courthouses in Morgantown, the only county seat.  Butler County was formed on January 18, 1810 out of parts of Logan and Ohio counties as the 52^nd county.  It is named for French-Indian War hero General Richard Butler.  Morgantown is said to be named for Daniel Morgan Smith, the first child born in the settlement.  Butler County was the birthplace of 1 Kentucky Governor, William S. Taylor. 

Butler County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 5 Magistrates.  Two Circuit Court Judges, Two District Court Judges, and One Family Court Judge serve Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties.  The county is in west central Kentucky.  Bowling Green, Kentucky is directly southeast of the county.  The county center is in Morgantown 1.7 miles South-Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Grayson, Edmonson, Warren, Logan, Muhlenberg, and Ohio counties.  

The area of the county is 428 square miles.  It is 26 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 88 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 28.9 persons per square mile making it 110 out of 120 in the state.  Butler County has 21.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 231 goes north to south in the county from Ohio County to Warren County.  The county is shaped like a small letter r.  Morgantown is located near the center of the county.  Morgantown is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 20.3% of the county population.