Elizabethtown was settled about 1779, when pioneers built three forts in the area. It was designated as Elizabeth Town in 1797 when lots and streets were laid out by Colonel Andrew Hynes, one of the original settlers, and named for his wife Elizabeth.
The Hardin County Courthouse (located by the letter 'A' on the below map) currently stands in the center of the town square, but within a couple of years, a new one will be built on East Dixie. The present building was erected in 1934 after its predecessor, which stood for more than fifty years, was destroyed by fire. Its Palladian windows and Corinthian columns are interesting features. The downtown area from Mulberry Street to Quince Alley, along Dixie Avenue and the Public Square, constitutes a historic district and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Genealogists visiting this community may find reference material either in the County Clerk's office in the Hardin County Government Complex, the Brown-Pusey House, the Hardin County Library or the Elizabethtown Community College Library. A day in Elizabethtown is never enough to visit all the attractions, so plan to remain overnight.
Our tour begins on the corner of North Main and Plum Alley and ends on the Public Square. Parking is available on both sides of Cherry Alley and around the downtown square. Please use crosswalks while crossing the street. Enjoy the tour!
Elizabethtown was settled about 1779, when pioneers built three forts in the area. It was designated as Elizabeth Town in 1797 when lots and streets were laid out by Colonel Andrew Hynes, one of the original settlers, and named for his wife Elizabeth.
