Anderson County was formed in 1827. When the county population was searching for a name, they wanted a name that signified the spirit of their new venture. In the end, the recipient of the honor was Richard Clough Anderson, Jr.a man of many skills who hailed from Louisville, Jefferson County, and had died the year before.Anderson was a lawyerand a politicianand also a diplomat. After practicing as a lawyer for several years in Louisville, he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1815. In 1816, he became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Later, he returned to the state government level, and served there until being elected as the first U.S. Minister to the Republic of Colombia in 1823. At the time of his death in 1826, Anderson was headed to yet another new positionEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Panama Congress of Nations.Anderson County is separated from Jefferson County by Shelby, but Anderson County hews closely to its namesake’s ambition and tenacity. After more than 180 years, it still maintains its distinctive and vivacious spirit, while growing and changing with each successive generation.

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