From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Todd County (KY) Enslaved, Free Blacks, and Free Mulattoes, 1850-1870
Todd County, formed in 1819 from portions of Logan and Christian Counties, is bordered by three Kentucky counties and the Tennessee state line. The county is named for John Todd, a colonel who was killed during the Battle of Blue Licks.Elkton, the county seat, was incorporated in 1820 and is located on Elk Fork, which was a water source for herds of elk. Both the city and the fork are named for the elk. The 1820 county population was 575 [heads of households], the population increasing to 6,726 by 1860, excluding the enslaved. Below are the number of slave owners, enslaved, free Blacks, and free Mulattoes for 1850-1870.
1850 Slave Schedule
- 635 slave owners
- 4,600 Black slaves
- 211 Mulatto slaves
- 69 free Blacks
- 28 free Mulattoes
- 583 slave owners
- 4,336 Black slaves
- 506 Mulatto slaves
- 38 free Blacks
- 7 free Mulattoes
- 4,421 Blacks
- 412 Mulattoes
- About 292 U.S. Colored Troops listed Todd County, KY as their birth location.