Located less than two miles to the south of Lexington, Jessamine County was formed in 1798 when it was separated from Fayette County. The origin of the name is still debated. Some say the county was named for the jasmine flower that grows along creek banks. Others say it was named for Jessamine Douglas, daughter of settler James Douglas. Nicholasville also was formed in 1798, and was named for Revolutionary War Col. George Nicholas. Another one of the state’s fastest-growing places to live and work, 43,859
people call Jessamine County home, including country singer John Michael Montgomery. Meanwhile, nearby Wilmore (population 5,826) is home to Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary. Considered the "Garden Area" of Central Kentucky with lush vegetation, rambling creeks and considerable Kentucky River frontage, this area has been documented in diaries and journals from its earliest settlements as a place of natural wonders. For more information, visit www.jessamineco.com, www.nicholasvilletourism.com,
or www.wilmore.org.