Welcome to Franklin County, KY History

Home                                                  Communities                                         Graveyards                                        Early Residents                              Early Settlers JAMES W. CARTER Operated a mill at Switzer and was a grain dealer in the area. Charles Patterson In 1795, he petitioned the Franklin County court for permission to build a grist mill on north Elkhorn. He and his wife, Elizabeth, resided at Elk Hill.   George Patterson, nephew of Charles, came to Franklin County in 1801.  He build a stone house on north Elkhorn. VALENTINE SWITZER He came to Franklin County prior to 1801 from Switzerland and settled on north Elkhorn. Church and Graveyards BARTLETT-FEATHERSTON GRAVEYARD This small graveyard is located off Switzer Road near the railroad track. Gallahue Cemetery Only one stone is visible.  Other members of the Gallahue are known to have been buried there.  The cemetery is located on Switzer Road about two miles from the Forks of Elkhorn near Lucas Lane. NORTH FORK BAPTIST CHURCH Established in 1801 by William Hickman and George Eve. NORTH FORK CHURCH CEMETERY Located beside the North Fork Baptist Church is sometimes called the Switzer Cemetery. Switzer The community of Switzer is located on the north fork of the Elkhorn Creek in western Franklin County, just a few miles from the Scott County line. The area began settlement in the late 1790's when Charles Patterson built a grist on the north Elkhorn.  By 1801, Valentine Switzer, John Carter and others were making their homes along the the north Elkhorn.  In April of 1801, a small group from the Forks of Elkhorn Church, along with William Hickman and George Eve established the North Fork Baptist Church. In later years, John Switzer descendant of Valentine, became the proprietor of the local store and was in charge of the Post Office at Switzer.  When the railroad came to the area in 1885, this community north of Elkhorn was named Switzer for the family that had settled there in the early 1800's. By the mid 1850's the community along the Elkhorn had grown.  There was need to cross the creek for travel to Woodlake and Scott County without traveling back to the forks.  In 1855, a bridge was built.  The BRIDGE has become a focal point of the community.  Annual festivals are held at the bridge where crafts, good food and fellowship are enjoyed.  The Elkhorn Bridge is only one of a few that still exist in Kentucky. In the late 1920's, The Cardinal, a self-powered, one car passenger, freight and mail car ran the tracts between Frankfort and Paris.  It became known as the "dinkey".  In 1952, the F & C discontinued passenger service to Switzer. Today, the depot is gone, the train no longer runs and no stores exist in the Switzer Community.  The area has become ruarl residential with many residents working in Frankfort, Georgetown and Lexington.