Breckinridge County is a county in Kentucky, United States, on the south bank of the Ohio River in the state’s north-central knobs region. It had a population of 20,432 at the 2020 census and covers 586 square miles (1,520 km2) centred near 37°46′N 86°26′W.
Hardinsburg is the county seat, and its postal code is 40143. The county has three incorporated cities, dozens of unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Breckinridge County
Breckinridge County has three incorporated cities — Hardinsburg, Cloverport and Irvington — and a long list of unincorporated crossroads communities scattered across its farmland and river bluffs. None of the unincorporated places has its own census-tract population figure, so most rows below carry a dash rather than an estimate.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardinsburg | City · seat | 2,362 | 40143 |
| Cloverport | City | 1,146 | 40111 |
| Irvington | City | 1,341 | 40146 |
| Custer | Unincorp. | — | 40115 |
| Garfield | Unincorp. | — | 40140 |
| Harned | Unincorp. | — | 40144 |
| Hudson | Unincorp. | — | 40145 |
| McDaniels | Unincorp. | — | 40152 |
| McQuady | Unincorp. | — | 40153 |
| Stephensport | Unincorp. | — | 40170 |
| Union Star | Unincorp. | — | 40171 |
| Webster | Unincorp. | — | 40176 |
| Westview | Unincorp. | — | 40178 |
| Big Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Falls of Rough | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cave Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clifton Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glen Dean | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kingswood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Merino | Unincorp. | — | — |
The county line with Indiana runs down the middle of the Ohio River, so river towns like Cloverport and Stephensport serve as the closest supply points for Perry County, Indiana communities across the water — not a boundary dispute, just shared geography.
ZIP Codes
- 40143 — Hardinsburg
- 40111 — Cloverport
- 40146 — Irvington
- 40144 — Harned
- 40145 — Hudson
- 40115 — Custer
- 40176 — Webster
- 40140 — Garfield
- 40152 — McDaniels
- 40178 — Westview
- 40170 — Stephensport
- 40171 — Union Star
- 40153 — McQuady (PO Box only)
Smaller crossroads such as Big Spring, Falls of Rough, Cave Spring and Mount Merino have no post office of their own and are served by one of the ZIP codes above.
Geography
Breckinridge County lies in the western Pennyroyal-knobs transition, with rolling farmland in the interior giving way to steep river bluffs along its northern edge. The Ohio River forms the entire northern boundary; Rough River and Sinking Creek drain the interior. Of the county’s 586 square miles, 18 square miles (3.2%) are water.
The county borders Meade County to the northeast, Hardin County to the east, Grayson County to the south, Ohio County to the southwest, and Hancock County to the west, with Perry County, Indiana across the Ohio River to the north.
Demographics
Breckinridge County had 20,432 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 36 people per square mile. Hardinsburg (2,362) and Irvington (1,341) are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county trails the Kentucky median of $61,118, consistent with the rural, agriculture- and manufacturing-based economy typical of the surrounding counties.
Economy & Local Life
Farming remains central to the county’s economy, with tobacco, corn, soybeans and cattle the leading agricultural products. Manufacturing and distribution facilities around Hardinsburg and Irvington employ a significant share of the workforce, and the county’s riverfront at Cloverport and Stephensport supports barge and river-shipping traffic on the Ohio. Breckinridge County Schools is one of the county’s largest employers.
History
Breckinridge County was organized in 1799 from part of Hardin County, the 38th county formed in Kentucky. It was named for John Breckinridge (1760–1806), a Kentucky legislator, U.S. senator and U.S. attorney general under Thomas Jefferson. The county was legally “dry” for 105 years before a January 2013 local-option vote made it wet. The riverfront community of Cloverport was an active steamboat landing through the 19th century.
Getting There
US 60 runs east–west through Hardinsburg and Cloverport; KY 261, KY 259 and KY 79 connect the county’s smaller communities.
- Elizabethtown — 25 miles east
- Owensboro — 40 miles west
- Louisville — 65 miles northeast
- Leitchfield — 20 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport; Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport offers a wider range of commercial flights about 65 miles away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Breckinridge County, Kentucky?
It is in north-central Kentucky, on the south bank of the Ohio River, roughly 65 miles southwest of Louisville.
What is the population of Breckinridge County?
20,432 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Breckinridge County?
586 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 18 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Breckinridge County?
Hardinsburg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Breckinridge County?
Three incorporated cities — Hardinsburg, Cloverport and Irvington — plus more than a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Breckinridge County?
13 ZIP codes, led by 40143 (Hardinsburg), 40111 (Cloverport) and 40146 (Irvington).
Was Breckinridge County ever a dry county?
Yes. It stayed dry for 105 years until a local-option vote on January 29, 2013 made it wet.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.