This area belonged to different counties as they were established: in 1780 Lincoln County, with the county seat at Harrodsburg and one of Kentucky's three original counties; in 1792 Logan County, with the county seat at Logan Court House, now Russellville; in 1797 Christian County, with the county seat at Hopkinsville; and in 1799 Livingston County, whose county seats were Eddyville in 1800, Centerville in 1804, Salem in 1809, and Smithland in 1842. Salem served as the county seat of Livingston County from 1809 to 1842, when the county included present Crittenden County. Its first courthouse, built of hewn logs, was constructed by William Rodgers on land he donated. On Aug. 8, 1864, 35 Federal troops under Capt. Hugh M. Hiett repelled a Confederate force of 300 commanded by Major John T. Chenoweth in a six-hour skirmish there.