Wolfe County was formed in 1860 from parts of Breathitt, Morgan, Owsley, and Powell counties as the 110th county created. It was named for Nathaniel Wolfe, who lived from 1810 to 1865, was a native of Virginia, and was reported to be the first graduate of the University of Virginia. In Kentucky, he served as Commonwealth's Attorney for Jefferson County for 13 years, from 1839 to 1852, and was a member of the state legislature from 1853 to 1855 and from 1859 to 1863.