About Nicholas County

Nicholas county (KY's 42nd) was formed in 1799 from Bourbon County and Mason County. It is located in the Bluegrass region of the state. The elevation in the county ranges from 565 to 1060 feet above sea level. In 1990 the county population was 6,725 in a land area of 196 square miles, an average of 34.3 people per square mile. Nicholas County is named for Col. George NICHOLAS of Fayette Co. The first settlement was at Blue Licks ca 1784 by David TANNER. The first county court was held at the home of Martin BAKER Jr. in 1800. The county seat was established in Ellisville in 1805 on the James ELLIS farm and stayed county seat until 1816. Carlisle has been the county seat since 1816.