Groundwater Resources of Harrison County, Kentucky

Topography

Discussion from McGrain and Currens (1978)

Harrison County is in the Bluegrass Region of central Kentucky. Most of the county is hilly, typical of the Outer Bluegrass, but the more subdued topography of some of the southern part of the county is more representative of the rolling terrain of the Inner Bluegrass.

The valleys of the Licking River, which marks the eastern boundary, and of the South Fork of the Licking River, which bisects the county, are the most striking topographic features. The largest areas of flat or nearly flat land in the county are found on the inside of the large meander loops of the South Fork of the Licking River.

Ridgetop elevations generally range from 800 to 950 feet. Local relief is generally in excess of 100 feet. The greatest local relief occurs along the valleys of the major rivers, where it may exceed 200 feet between the streams and the adjacent hilltops.

The highest elevation in Harrison County, 1,060 feet, is on a ridge on the Harrison-Scott County line about a mile west of Leesburg. This ridge is part of the drainage divide between the Licking and Kentucky Rivers.The lowest elevation, 540 feet, is the point where the Licking River leaves the county. The South Fork of the Licking River leaves the county at an elevation of approximately 605 feet.

The elevation of Cynthiana, at the courthouse, is 725 feet. Elevations of other communities are Berry, 676 feet; Claysville, 582 feet; Connersville, 821 feet; Leesburg, 898 feet; and Robinson, 670 feet.

The 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps that cover Harrison County are shown, by name and by index code (Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet) on the index map.

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