Manufacturing, education, health care, tourism – Hardin County attracts all kinds of industries and the people who run them.
The Elizabethtown-Fort Knox MSA was ranked No. 3 in SmartAsset’s “Top 10 Places to Work in Manufacturing” for 2019, citing the metro area’s 27.3% growth in the number of manufacturing jobs between 2014 and 2017, and increase in average income for manufacturing workers from $50,000 in 2016 to almost $53,500 in 2017.
Elizabethtown manufacturing companies include AGC Automotive Americas, Altec, Amaray, Dow, E-Town Truss, Eurotrol, Fischbach, Flex Films, Gates Corp., Hendrickson, Metalsa, Modern Plating Coatings & Finishes, Mouser Cabinetry, Quest Industries, Structures USA, Summit Polymers and WL Plastics.
The 60-year-old Central Kentucky Community Foundation founded Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in 1964, and in November 2019, opened the Home of Philanthropy. The $2.6 million, 9,500-s.f. facility serves as the foundation’s headquarters and a place to promote a spirit of philanthropy throughout the region. The facility also accommodates businesses and organizations with meeting spaces. Community Hall can seat up to 250 people and features a catering kitchen and state-of-the-art technology.
Charlie and Tiana Watkins, a father-daughter business team, are franchisee owners of Waters Edge Winery & Bistro of E-Town. Other tourist attractions in Hardin County include American Legion Park, Hardin County History Museum, Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame and outdoor activities at Freeman Lake Park.
County seat: Elizabethtown
Jeff Gregory, mayor
elizabethtownky.org
2019 population: 107,988
Average median age: 36
No. of households: 44,199
Median household income: $57,252
Labor force: 54,924
Hardin County
Chamber of Commerce:
Brad Richardson, president
hardinchamber.com
Elizabethtown Hardin County Industrial Foundation:
Richard Games, president/COO
eifky.com
Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau:
Janna Clark, executive director
touretown.com
Judge-Executive: Harry L. Berry
hcky.org
Education: Over 13% have bachelor’s degrees; 10.5% have graduate degrees
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