Kentucky Gazetteers

A gazetteer is a list and description of places such as villages, towns, and cities and may also mention neighborhoods, cemeteries, populations, rivers and mountains, and other geographical features. It can be used to locate the places where your ancestor lived.

Several guides to place names in Kentucky include:

Atlas of Kentucky. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1998. (Not at Family History Library.)

Kentucky Places and People: 1895–96. Reprint of R. L. Polk and Company’s "Kentucky State Gazetteer and Business Directory." 1895. Reprint, Utica, KY: McDowell Publications. 1984. (FHL book 976.9 E4k) The city and town locations are described, and business names are listed in alphabetical order.

Rennick, Robert M. Kentucky Place Names. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1984. (FHL book 976.9 E2r) The location and history of the town or county are given.

Riddle, Billie Jean. "Creeks, Branches, Forks, Licks, Runs, Sloughs and Hollows in Kentucky." The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. 49: 280–330. (FHL film 896519) This alphabetical list of water courses contains the names of the counties where they are located.

For more information about place-finding aids for Kentucky, see the "Maps" section. Other gazetteers and place name resources can be located in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

KENTUCKY- GAZETTEERS

KENTUCKY- NAMES, GEOGRAPHICAL

KENTUCKY- HISTORY- PERIODICALS

KENTUCKY- HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY