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Shelby County, Ky.: World-class host

Known as the “American Saddlebred Capital of the World,” Shelby County is home to world-class equestrian events. It also houses the Presidential Mint Julep Cup at Wakefield-Scearce Galleries in Shelbyville and was designed by the gallery’s co-founder during Franklin Roosevelt’s administration. Old Stone Inn & Tavern in Simpsonville is more than 200 years old and now has a new owner and executive chef, David Danielson, who is also the executive chef at Churchill Downs.

Bourbon has been a draw in the county since the 2016 opening of Jeptha Creed Distillery, followed by Bulleit Distilling Co. a year later. Bulleit’s 300-acre campus has a 52-foot still and four barrel houses, each capable of holding 55,000 barrels, and a new visitor center. To attract more groups and individual travelers, ShelbyKY Tourism spreads the word nationally and recently received two Traverse Awards from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association Board.

County Seat: Shelbyville; David Eaton, mayor; shelbyvillekentucky.com

Estimated 2019 population: 48,518

Number of households: 16,369

Median household income: $63,171

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce: Belinda Nichols, president; shelbycountykychamber.com

Judge-Executive: Dan Ison; shelbycountykentucky.com

ShelbyKY Tourism & Visitors Bureau: Katie Fussenegger, executive director; visitshelbyky.com