In January 1820, the acting governor of Kentucky, Gabriel Slaughter, signed a bill put before him by the state's legislature to create a new county from portions of Christian and Caldwell Counties in Western Kentucky. Trigg County was named to honor Revolutionary War soldier and Native American fighter Col. Stephen Trigg. Organization of the county government commenced on May 15, 1820, at the home of Samuel Orr in the community of Warrenton. Justices of the Peace Boyd, Wadlington, Goode, Orr, Scott, Slaughter, Daniel, Fowler, and Dawson swore one another into office and set about the business of the new county. The village of Cadiz, located along the banks of Little River, was soon established as the county seat.