Rowan County was formed in 1856 as Kentucky’s 104th County from parts of Morgan and Fleming Counties. It was named in honor of Judge John Rowan of Nelson County. He served in the U.S. Congress and Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives. Rowan also served on the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He built “Federal Hill” (My Old Kentucky Home) and is buried there. Rowan County is located in the northeastern part of the state, at the northern tip of the Daniel Boone National Forest which comprises approximately 35% of the county’s area of 290 square miles. The topography is mostly hilly to mountainous will elevations ranging from 625 to 1,435 feet above sea level. The population is approximately 25,000. Morehead is the county seat. The largest employers are Morehead State University, St. Claire Medical Center, Guardian Automotive and Family Dollar Distribution Center. Major highways are I-64, U.S. 60 and KY 32.

The main water source is the Licking River which was impounded in 1974 to form Cave Run Lake. At 8,270 acres, it is the state’s fifth largest lake and is well known for it’s muskie fishing. Timber is the leading natural resource but in the late 1800’s through the mid 1900’s, stone and clay were major sources of income. Many Depression Era public buildings were built by the W.P.A. throughout the region using stone from Rowan County. There was also a brick factory and a pipe factory until the clay was depleted.

From 1884 to 1887 the Martin - Toliver Feud, also called the Rowan County War, was raging. This was Kentucky’s bloodiest feud, with more men killed than the Hatfield and McCoy feud: 20 killed and 16 wounded. In 1887, Morehead Normal School was founded by Phoebe Button. It became Morehead State College in 1948 and Morehead State University in 1966.

In 1911, Cora Wilson Stewart, Rowan County Superintendent and the first female president of the Kentucky Educational Association, started an adult education program called Moonlight Schools to combat illiteracy in Rowan County. Her ideas spread to other parts of the state and the nation, this assisted in the advancement of her career. In 1928, President Hoover appointed her to chair the executive committee of the National Advisory Committee on illiteracy.

The city of Morehead was named for Governor James T. Morehead when Rowan County was created in 1856. It was incorporated in 1869. On March 21, 1865 Civil War guerrillas burned the first Courthouse. The second Courthouse burnt on November 13, 1880 and all records were destroyed. The third Courthouse was built in 1899 and was used until 1981 when county offices were moved to the present location.