Formed December 19, 1799 (41st county)
Nicholas County (7,532), Carlisle (2,092)
Another classy Romanesque and Second Empire courthouse for Nicholas County was constructed in 1894. The building was remodeled in 1974 and 1997. It is located at Main, Broadway, Chestnut and Locust streets. Kentucky State Highway 36 is Main Street. This red brick and stone courthouse’s architect is Erion. The building sits on a hill and features a tower. Veteran memorials and a military gun sit on the grounds. Nicholas County was established on December 19, 1799 from parts of Mason and Bourbon counties as the 41st county. Lower Blue Licks (1800), Ellisville (1805), and Carlisle (1816) have all served as the county seat. The Father of Kentucky Constitution, George Nicholas, is the namesake. He is also the namesake for the county seat of Jessamine County. The county seat is named for Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Nicholas County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 5 Magistrates. One Circuit Court Judge, Two District Court Judges, and One Family Court Judge serve Nicholas, Harrison, Pendleton and Robertson counties. Nicholas County is in eastern Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky is southwest and Cincinnati, Ohio is northwest of the county. The county center is 6.3 miles North-Northwest of Carlisle nearer Headquarters. The county is surrounded clockwise by Robertson, Fleming, Bath, Bourbon, and Harrison counties.
The area of the county is 197 square miles. It is 105 out of 120 in the state. It ranks 110 out of 120 in population in the state. It has a density of 38.2 persons per square mile making it 91 out of 120 in the state. Nicholas County has 28.0% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 68 travels northeast to southwest in the county from Fleming County to Bourbon County. The county is a rectangle. Carlisle is slightly south of center in the county. Carlisle is the county seat and the largest city. It is 27.8% of the county population.
Carlisle
