Logan County can rightfully boast that it’s the granddaddy of all southcentral Kentucky counties, and it may be the only county in the nation that celebrates a bank robbery as part of its annual festival.

Created from Lincoln County on Sept. 1, 1792, Logan County was named for Revolutionary War hero Benjamin Logan.

Only the 13th Kentucky county to be formed, Logan County’s original territory stretched from the Mississippi River in the west to the Little Barren River in the east, and from the Green and Ohio Rivers in the north to the Tennessee border on the south. That large area now encompasses 28 other counties that have been formed over the years.

But its rich history isn’t all that sets Logan County apart. Known for years primarily for its agricultural production, the county that was formed in the same year that Kentucky became the 15th state in the U.S. now has much more than crops and cows powering its economy and fueling its growth.

Home to one of the region’s largest and most innovative manufacturers in Logan Aluminum and to the high-tech Logan County Career and Technical Center, the county where Jesse James once rode has advanced well beyond the horse-and-buggy days.

“We’re starting to see a lot of residential growth, particularly in the Auburn area,” said Logan County Judge-Executive Phil Baker. “And some things are in the works on the industrial and commercial side.

“We’re excited to see some investment in our two industrial parks.”

The numbers back up Baker’s assessment that his county is growing. According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, Logan County’s population has climbed from 26,854 in 2010 to an estimated 27,877 in 2022.

Not breakneck growth, but the 3.8% increase keeps pace with the state and outpaces most Kentucky counties.

Fueling much of the growth is Logan Aluminum, a joint venture of Novelis and Tri-Arrows Aluminum that produces aluminum sheet for the beverage, building, automotive and aerospace industries.

Already up to approximately 1,400 employees after a series of expansions over the years, Logan Aluminum has been approved for state incentives expected to lead to a $249.8 million expansion that will add production capacity for its beverage can and automotive businesses, according to Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority documents.

And that’s not the only Logan County industrial project in the works, according to KEDFA documents.

A $22.3 million project to create a Schupan & Sons aluminum processing facility has been approved for state incentives.

Schupan & Sons began as a scrap metal recycler in Michigan but has since expanded to process beverage containers, aluminum and plastic parts.

“Logan Aluminum is a big piece of our economy,” Baker said. “With Logan Aluminum comes other industries that feed it.

“When you get a company that is able to grow and employ the number of people it does, that brings a lot to Logan County.”

And now Baker is hinting that more good economic news could be on the way.

“We have two industrial parks, and we’re starting to see some investment in there,” he said.

In 2021, KEDFA approved a Product Development Initiative grant of $335,361 that will help the Logan Industrial Development Authority prepare a 52-acre site that is being added to the county’s West Industrial Park.

Combined with a Tennessee Valley Authority grant and other funding, the KEDFA money is being used for site preparation and to build a road into what was American Legion and Logan County Fairgrounds property along U.S. 68-Ky. 80.

The 52 acres will boost the size of the West Industrial Park to 167 developable acres.

And that’s not the only site the county can use to attract employers. Logan County’s 93-acre Shelton Lane Industrial Park is home to a “speculative” building that can be used to attract industrial prospects.

Any employers locating in those industrial parks are likely to find some employees through the Logan County Career and Technical Center located at 2400 Bowling Green Road.

The CTC provides training for Logan County, Todd County and Russellville high school students in a number of professions, including nursing, electrical, welding, carpentry and automotive.

Baker, who served on the Logan County school board before becoming judge-executive, said the CTC is a boon for students who might not want the traditional college route.

“The CTC is something that is vital to our community,” he said. “It allows us to educate kids and move them toward vocations, not just college.

“Some of them get out of high school and go straight to work with the certifications they can get.”

The industrial and vocational developments may be moving Logan County toward a different future, but Baker said the county isn’t abandoning its past.

Once a major tobacco producer before that crop declined, Logan County continues to be home to row-crop farmers and plenty of animal agriculture.

“Agriculture is still extremely strong in Logan County,” Baker said. “Those farmers invest in the community, and support businesses like seed companies and fertilizer suppliers fuel a lot of growth.”

Even the Agriculture Extension Office on John Paul Road is contributing to Logan County’s economic development through a building project.

Baker said a 1,500-seat outdoor arena is in the works on the extension office’s property.

“It will allow us to bring in rodeos, tractor pulls, motocross and other events,” he said. “We’ve already broken ground for it.”

Such growth – and the rich history that made it possible – is celebrated each fall at the Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival.

A golf scramble, parades, pageants and tours of Russellville’s historic homes make the festival a fun event, but the highlight is always a nod to the county’s notorious past.

The Jesse James Bank Robbery, a reenactment of an infamous 1868 Russellville burglary, is staged each year during the festival.

Logan County’s past is indeed rich, and Baker believes the future will be too.

“We have a nice, neat downtown (in Russellville),” he said. “Some of the buildings have been repurposed. It’s exciting to see them continue to be used.

“We’re on a four-lane highway that stretches from Interstate 65 to I-24, and plans are in the works to expand Ky. Highway 79 between Russellville and Guthrie. We’re looking forward to the future.”