Garrard County
Also known as Garrard County, Kentucky, Garrard County, KY
county in Kentucky, United States
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Kentucky
- Founded
- December 17, 1796
- Named after
- James Garrard
- Seat
- Lancaster
- Largest city
- Lancaster
- Judge executive
- Chris Elleman (R)
- Total
- 234 sq mi (610 km )
- Land
- 230 sq mi (600 km )
- Water
- 3.9 sq mi (10 km ) 1.7%
- Estimate 2025
- 18,207
- Density
- 74/sq mi (28/km )
- Time zone
- UTC−5 ( Eastern )
Article
Garrard County (/ˈɡærərd/ GARR-ərd) is a county located east-central Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 16,953. Its county seat is Lancaster. The county was formed in 1796 and was named for James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky from 1796 to 1804. One of the earliest settlers was Harman Back Jr. (1737–1797). He, his wife Katherine, and their three sons (Joseph, Harman Jr., and Jacob) had migrated there, in 1789, from Little Fork, Virginia.
It was a prohibition or dry county until November 7, 2023, when voters approved to allow alcohol sales countywide.