Boyd County Information

In 1860, Boyd County was created from parts of Greenup, Carter, and Lawrence counties. It was named in honor of Linn Boyd who had served as U.S. Congressman as a representative of western Kentucky. Born in Nashville, Tennessee on November 22, 1800, he moved to the Jackson Purchase on a farm in Calloway County in 1826. He represented Calloway County in 1828-29 in the Kentucky legislature at the same time his father, Abraham Boyd, represented Trigg County. He was elected to the U.S. Congress and served 1835-37 until he was unseated by the Whigs. Democrats regained control of his district and Boyd served continuously in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1835-1855. He helped Henry Clay with the Compromise of 1850 and was Speaker of the House from 1851-55. He was a strong supporter of Andrew Jackson and states rights, but insisted on preserving the Union. He ran for Vice President in 1856 but was defeated. In 1859, he was elected lieutenant governor of Kentucky but did not live to take the office. He died December 17, 1859 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery at Paducah. The Boyd County courthouse is located in Catlettsburg, Ky.