Elizabethtown, KY Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Elizabethtown, KY: What You Need to Know

Elizabethtown is the county seat of Hardin County in western Kentucky. Also called Etown, the city has a special connection to President Abraham Lincoln.

The Local History

Hardin County, established in 1793, was named after Col. John Hardin, who was killed by Native Americans while on a peace mission in Ohio. Col. Andrew Hynes divided his 30 acres into lots to establish Elizabethtown, in honor of his wife. Elizabethtown was incorporated in 1797. President Abraham Lincoln’s parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, were once Elizabethtown residents. Their daughter, Sarah, was born in the city in 1808. However, Abraham was born in nearby Hodgenville where the Lincolns moved soon after Sarah was born. During the Civil War, Elizabethtown was an important trade center and a strategic point along the railroad from Louisville to Tennessee.

Things to Do in Elizabethtown

The downtown area showcases Elizabethtown’s rich history. Visit the stately Brown-Pusey House, where Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer stayed when he was assigned to suppress illegal distilleries and the Ku Klux Klan. While you’re downtown, stop by the Hardin County History Museum, which has an extensive collection of artifacts depicting life in the Kentucky frontier back when it was part of Virginia. The museum is part of the Lincoln Heritage Trail, which identifies areas with historic connections to the president. 

The Cost of Living

Good things come in small packages like Elizabethtown (population: 30,289). The city’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 15.5%, 28.3%, and 29.9% lower than the national average respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $760. Kentucky charges a flat income tax rate of 5%, which is slightly below the national average. The state levies a sales tax of 6%. One thing unique about Kentucky: it’s one of the few states with an inheritance tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Residents agree their hometown is near perfect for its hospitable people, good schools, and great amenities. A little over half of all residents in Elizabethtown rent. Suburbanites are drawn to Vine Grove and Sonora, both within commuting distance of Elizabethtown. Vine Grove is famous for its Autumn Daze, Bluegrass Festival, and other events. Sonora is a quaint residential community with above-average schools. Don’t expect a lot of action, but it has easy access to other cities. 

Weather and Climate

Elizabethtown usually has mild winters. However, on Feb. 29, 2012, a tornado packing winds of up to 125 miles per hour touched down in the city, damaging homes and injuring one person. On average, Elizabethtown gets 47 inches of rain per year versus the U.S. average of 38 inches. It receives only about three inches of snow annually, well below the national average of 28 inches.