Why visit Hartford
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Cinema 33, Downtown Hartford Historic District and Old Town Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Hartford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Hartford
Hartford is a home rule-class city in Ohio County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 2,668 at the 2020 census. The town slogan, "Home of 2,000 happy people and a few soreheads", welcomes visitors when they enter the community.
From the Wikipedia article Hartford, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Cinema 33
Cinema and theater · 0.7 mi
1133 South Main Street, Hartford
Museums and landmarks5
Downtown Hartford Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic district in Kentucky, United States
Old Town Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Hartford, Kentucky, USA
Pendleton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
House in Hartford, Kentucky
Samuel E. Hill House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Hartford, Kentucky, listed on the NRHP in Ohio County, Kentucky
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Ohio County Community Golf Course
Golf course · 1.5 mi
1153 Country Club Lane, Hartford
Restaurants and cafes7
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 1.8 mi
1697 North Main Street, Beaver Dam
Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
History
The town was initially part of a 4000-acre grant from Virginia to Gabriel Madison. The area was surveyed in 1782 and settled before 1790. Fort Hartford (also known as Hartford Station) grew up around the head of navigation on the Rough River, which the bridge crossing that river is called the Fort Hartford Bridge. About the town, It initially faced Indian attacks but was named the seat of Ohio County the year after its formation in 1798 in exchange for a grant of land from Mr. Madison. The post office was established as Hartford Court House in 1801 and the settlement was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1808.
An account written in the early 1800s by a William Smithers relates that he and several other settlers helped build "a fort at Hartford on Rough Creek" in 1782–83, which local tradition asserts was the first permanent settlement in Ohio County and the entire lower Green River Valley. It is believed to have consisted of a stockade and small log buildings on the bluff above the Rough River now occupied by Hartford's water plant. Although many believe the town's name refers to a ford on the Rough River (a large tributary of the Green River then known as Rough Creek), and an early settler who operated a ferry there, the name's origin remains uncertain.
From the History section of Hartford, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries8
Ohio County Alternative Learning Program
School · 0.8 mi
100 W Render St, Hartford
Ohio County Area Technology Center
School · 1.7 mi
1406 South Main Street, Hartford
Healthcare1
Map of Hartford
34 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 24°F | 3.8 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 26°F | 4.0 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 35°F | 5.1 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 5.0 in |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 5.5 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.3 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 4.5 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 65°F | 3.4 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 58°F | 3.8 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 45°F | 4.3 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 36°F | 3.7 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 4.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Beaver Dam (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Ohio County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Beaver Dam 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Central City 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- Greenville 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Owensboro 24 mi northwest, about 39 min by car
- Cloverport 30 mi northeast, about 48 min by car
- Rockport 31 mi north, about 51 min by car
- Hardinsburg 33 mi northeast, about 52 min by car
- Madisonville 35 mi west, about 56 min by car
- Tell City 35 mi north, about 57 min by car
- Bowling Green 41 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ohio County Courthouse Kentucky, Bedford at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Samuel E. Hill House in Hartford, Nyttend, Public domain
- Hartford Seminary on Center Street, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ohio County Courthouse, Hartford, Nyttend, Public domain
- John E. Pendleton House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Walker-Nall-Pirtle House, Nyttend, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.