Hardin County is named for John Hardin, who was a pioneer in the area and who lived from 1753 to 1792.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Meade County and Harrison County, Indiana
E – Bullitt County, Nelson County and LaRue County
S – Hart County and Grayson County
W – Grayson County, Breckinridge County and Meade County
Created: December 15, 1792
County Seat:
Elizabethtown 1792 – present
County Courthouse – Elizabethtown
Location: 14 Public Square / Main Street
Built: 1933 – 1934
Style: Neo-Classical
Architect: Thomas Nolan of Louisville
Contractor: H G Wittenburg
Description: The building faces northwest and is a three story dark red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Public Square in the center of Elizabethtown. The northwest front has a one story portico supported by four narrow columns, with a balcony above. White colored stone fills in the three window spaces above the entrance. There is a similar portico on the southeast side. The front section of the building projects with east and west wings behind, and a stone balustrade runs along the roof line.
See: The architect, Thomas J Nolan of Louisville also designed courthouses in Grayson County, Hart County and Marion County.
County Justice Center – Elizabethtown
Location: 120 East Dixie Street / Quince Alley
Built: 1996 – 1997
Style: Modern
Architect: Louis & Henry Group of Louisville
Contractor: Jenkins-Essex Construction Company of Elizabethtown
Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Elizabethtown to the south of the courthouse. The building forms a curve along the street on the east side with a series of columns rising to the roof line and recessed glass walls. At the south end is a round concrete tower with conical roof. On the east side, a two story section with green colored glass walls projects from the main curved building. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court and County District Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit.
History: The county was created in 1792 and Elizabethtown was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure erected on the Public Square in 1795. The second courthouse was built and the courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 23, 1864. The third courthouse was constructed in 1872 to 1873. An addition was designed by Brinton P Davis and constructed in 1906. The building burned on December 6, 1932. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1933 to 1934 at a cost of $64,500. The County Justice Center was constructed in 1996 to 1997.
County Courthouse – Elizabethtown
County Justice Center – Elizabethtown
Photos taken 2007, 2018 and 2026
Images 22