Rockcastle

Formed January 18, 1810 (54^th county)

Rockcastle County (16,042), Mount Vernon (2,456)                

The dark red brick Modern courthouse was built in 1964 on Main Street between Church and 1^st streets.  United States Highway 25 passes one block to the south of the site.  The building was enlarged with a Judicial Center in 1991.  The courthouse was designed by Bayless Clotfelter and Johnson.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  Rockcastle County was formed on January 18, 1810 from parts of Lincoln, Madison, Knox, and Pulaski counties as the 54^th county.  There was an 1871 courthouse earlier.  The county is named for the Rockcastle River.  The county seat is named for the estate of George Washington. 

Rockcastle 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 Rockcastle, Lincoln, and Pulaski counties.  The county is in southern Kentucky with Mount Vernon as the only county seat.  Lexington, Kentucky is north and Bowling Green, Kentucky is west.  The county center is 5 miles Northeast of Mount Vernon nearer Wildie.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Madison, Jackson, Laurel, Pulaski, Lincoln, and Garrard counties. 

The area of the county is 318 square miles.  It is 57 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 70 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 50.4 persons per square mile making it 69 out of 120 in the state.  Rockcastle County has 23.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 75 crosses the county north to south from Madison County to Laurel County.  United States Highway 25 parallels Interstate Highway 75 to Madison to Laurel counties.  United States Highway 150 originates in the county and goes west into Lincoln County.  The county has an overall diamond shape.  Mount Vernon is located south of center in the county.  Mount Vernon is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 15.3% of the county population.  This county is in the Richmond-Berea Micropolitan Statistical Area.