Robertson County, Kentucky is the least populated county in the state, with only 2,379 residents. It was created on February 11, 1867, by combining parts of four counties: Bracken, Harrison, Mason, and Nicholas.
The county was named after George Robertson, a judge and former member of Congress who lived from 1790 to 1874. The county’s seat is Mount Olivet. Mount Olivet is home to three historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Johnson Creek Covered Bridge, the Thomas Metcalfe House, and the Robertson County Courthouse.
Mount Olivet was founded in 1820 and became an official city on December 27, 1851. It was initially dissolved but later reincorporated on March 18, 1871, by the Kentucky General Assembly. Originally classified as a fifth-class city, Mount Olivet was reclassified as a home rule city in 2015.
Home rule cities are cities that have created their own rules for self-governance. In these cities, the people have the freedom to decide how their local government works. They can choose the size of the city council, set how long council members serve, decide how the mayor is elected, and create additional boards or commissions that they believe are needed to help run the city effectively.
A popular spot near Mount Olivet is Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park. This park is famous for being the site of the last Revolutionary War battle in Kentucky. The Pioneer Museum at the park shows the history of Blue Licks and displays artifacts, including mastodon bones.
The campground at the state park is closed from November 1 to March 31. The park also has the Hidden Waters Restaurant, located at 10299 Maysville Road, Carlisle, Kentucky.