Timeline story
Bardstown
The Bardstown area was explored in the mid-1770s and briefly called Salem.
In 1780 William Bard arrived as agent for his brother David and John Cockey Owings, surveyed a town on their 1,000-acre grant, and set aside ground for public buildings. Named seat of new Nelson County in 1784, it was chartered by Virginia as Baird’s Town in 1788 and settled into the name Bardstown—one of Kentucky’s oldest inland towns, still county seat on the Beech Fork watershed.
Cite this story
Published . Last revised .
Chicago
Snowden, Shannon. "Bardstown." Kentucky History Drive. Published September 12, 2026. Last revised September 15, 2026. https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/bardstown/.
MLA
Snowden, Shannon. "Bardstown." Kentucky History Drive, published 12 Sept. 2026, last revised 15 Sept. 2026, https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/bardstown/.
