Bullitt County History

1853-1854 State Auditor's Reports

The following state auditor's reports provide us with a snapshot of Bullitt County in the years 1853-1854.

The following information is transcribed from the Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1854 [Frankfort, Ky., A. G. Hodges, State Printer, 1855].

NOTE: Because of the nature of the layout, horizontal scrolling will be necessary on smaller screens. We apologize for the inconvenience.


Page 34

                                 BULLITT COUNTY

ITEMS OF TAXATION, &c.    Valuation 1854  Valuation 1853  Increase  Decrease

160,643 acres of land       $1,267,411
167,887 acres of land                       $1,234,307    $33,104
7,241 decrease in acres

192 town lots                   97,027
188 town lots                                   97,884                  $857
4 increase in town lots

1,319 total slaves             606,845
1,336 total slaves                             580,550     26,295
17 decrease in slaves

2,582 horses and mares         145,134
2,729 horses and mares                         133,967     11,167
147 decrease in horses/mares

203 mules                       14,230
258 mules                                       14,460                   230
55 decrease in mules

14 jennies                       1,605
11 jennies                                         655        950
3 increase in jennies

5,137 cattle                    23,018
4,871 cattle                                    13,452      9,566
266 increase in cattle

21 stores                       34,650
27 stores                                       30,375      4,275
6 decrease in stores

Valuation under                425,454
   the Equalization Law                        368,115     57,339

Total                       $2,615,374      $2,473,765   $142,696     $1,087



Page 35

                               BULLITT COUNTY

ITEMS OF TAXATION, &c.                                   For 1854   For 1853

Tax on valuation, at 17 cents per $100 ................ $4,446.14  $4,205.40
Value of pleasure carriages, barouches,
  buggies, stage coaches, gigs, omnibuses,
  and other vehicles for passengers ........ $7,738.00
Value of gold, silver, and other metallic 
  watches and clocks ....................... 10,051.00
Value of gold and silver plate .............. 4,373.00
Value of pianos ............................. 2,206.00
Total value ............................... $24,368.00

Tax on the above, at 30 cents per $100 ................     73.10      70.32
Auditor's list ........................................     22.31      20.17
Clerk's list ..........................................     -----      -----

Total revenue ......................................... $4,541.55  $4,295.80

Increase of revenue ...................................   $245.66

WHITE MALES, &c.                                         For 1854   For 1853

Total number of white males over 21 years old .........     1,174      1,208
Total number of slaves over 16 years old ..............       615        637
Total number of children between 6 and 18 years old ...     1,488      1,523
Total number of studs, jacks, and bulls - 
  (rates 1854, $67; rates 1853, $56) ..................        18         14
Total number of tavern licenses .......................        11         13
Free whites that are blind ............................         3         --
Free whites that are deaf and dumb ....................        --         --
Total number of hogs over six months old ..............    14,773     12,477

LAND REPORTED                                               Acres      Value

Land reported by the commissioner of said county
  for 1854, as lying in the county of Bullitt .........   154,792 $1,226,453
Land reported from other counties 
  as lying in said county .............................    16,733     61,276

Total land lying in Bullitt County, and value, 
  (as per returns) ....................................   171,525 $1,287,729

Average value, per acre, for 1854 ..... $7,51
Average value, per acre, for 1853 ..... $6.85

Increase value, per acre .............. $0.66

HENRY O. THOMAS, Sheriff of Bullitt County for 1854.



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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Jan 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/auditorreport1854.html