Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Overview

Water Use

Topography of the County

Geology of the County

Groundwater Availability

Exploration for Groundwater

Karst

Water Quality

Maps and Data

Additional Reading

References Cited

Definitions of Geologic Terms

Rock Descriptions

Discussion from McGrain and Currens (1978)

Nelson County includes parts of the Outer Bluegrass Region of central Kentucky and fringes of The Knobs Region east of Muldraugh Hill (Highland Rim). The valley of Rolling Fork separates upland masses from the main escarpment in the southwestern part of the county.

The topography of Nelson County is varied, ranging from a nearly flat tableland in the Bardstown area to the rolling hills of the eastern part of the county and the knobs terrain of the western and southwestern areas. Eastern and north-central parts of the county have a hilly topography, gently to moderately rolling and well dissected. Local relief of 100 feet is common, and steep slopes are rare.

Broad, flat areas are present between valleys in the central part of the county. The tableland dips gently from an elevation of about 750 feet east of Bardstown to about 600 feet west of Bardstown.

The most striking topography in the county is found in the western and southwestern areas. In The Knobs area, conical hills and irregular land masses rise 300 to 400 feet or more above the surrounding lowland. Slopes are steep. The highest elevation in the county, 1,090 feet, is on Rohan Knob, located on the Nelson-Marion County line. Cecil Ridge, northeast of Howardstown, has a maximum elevation of 1,022 feet, and Indian Grave Ridge in Knobs State Forest has a maximum elevation of 902 feet. Several knobs northeast of New Haven also attain elevations in excess of 900 feet.

The lowest elevations in the county are along the valley of Rolling Fork. The lowest point, approximately 390 feet, is where Rolling Fork leaves the county.

The elevation of Bardstown, at the courthouse, is 647 feet. Other elevations are Bloomfield, 657 feet; Boston, 454 feet; Chaplin, 830 feet; Coxs Creek, 700 feet; Cravens, 617 feet; Deatsville, 687 feet; Fairfield, 721 feet; Howardstown, 507 feet; Nelsonville, 473 feet; New Haven, 470 feet; New Hope, 518 feet; Samuels, 677 feet; and Woodlawn, 790 feet.

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

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