Crittenden County turns 170 on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. The northeastern section of Livingston County was divided and Crittenden County was formed. It was named for John J. Crittenden, Kentucky politician who served in Congress.
The first county and circuit courts were to be held at the home of Samuel Ashley, which was the former tavern and voting place of Cross Keys, at about the territorial center of the newly formed Crittenden County. At this time Cross Keys was the one and only administrative outpost of this area. This site was either at or near the Fred Gilbert's residence located on the Crooked Creek Church Road. It is located about 1.5 miles North.
Barry Gilbert, the Grandson of Fred Gilbert now owns this land. Through the effort of the Gilberts a Monument has been erected on this historic site and marks the location of this first meeting to form the government of the new county.
The Monument reads" By an Act of the Kentucky General Assembly Jan. 26, 1842 a portion of land in Livingston county was set apart and organized with a court of its own. The new county, the 91st, was named in honor of John J. Crittenden. This site was selected because if was located in the center of the new county. The Inn owned by Samuel Ashley was a popular overnight stopping pace for hundreds of migrating folks en-route west via Fords Ferry during the 1820s-1840s.
Happy 170th Birthday to Our Home - Crittenden County.
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