Carroll County is a county in Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Kentucky and Ohio rivers in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 10,810 at the 2020 census and covers 137 square miles (355 km2) centred near 38°40′N 85°08′W.
Carrollton is the county seat, and its postal code is 41008. The county has one incorporated city, two small incorporated towns, and several unincorporated communities; Kentucky has no county-level civil townships. Carroll County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Carroll County
Carroll County is home to one city and a scatter of smaller incorporated towns and unincorporated communities. Carrollton, the seat, holds the large majority of the county’s residents; Ghent, Prestonville, Sanders and Worthville are small towns, and the rest are unincorporated crossroads and rural communities with no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrollton | City · seat | — | 41008 |
| Ghent | City | — | 41045 |
| Worthville | City | — | 41098 |
| Prestonville | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Sanders | Unincorp. | — | 41083 |
| English | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Carson | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Easterday | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Indian Hills | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Kings Ridge | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Langstaff | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Locust | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
| Mill Creek | Unincorp. | — | 41008 |
Prestonville sits directly across the Kentucky River from Carrollton and is often treated as part of the same community, though it is a separate unincorporated place.
ZIP Codes
- 41008 — Carrollton (also serves Prestonville, English, Carson, Easterday, Indian Hills, Kings Ridge, Langstaff, Locust and Mill Creek)
- 41045 — Ghent
- 41083 — Sanders
- 41098 — Worthville
Most of the county’s small unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and are served by the Carrollton ZIP.
Geography
Carroll County sits at the point where the Kentucky River flows into the Ohio River, giving it one of the most water-defined boundaries of any Kentucky county. The terrain rises from the river bottoms into rolling upland farm country, and at 137 square miles it is Kentucky’s third-smallest county by land area.
Carroll County borders Jefferson County, Indiana to the northwest across the Ohio River, Switzerland County, Indiana to the north, Gallatin County to the east, Owen County to the southeast, Henry County to the south, and Trimble County to the west.
Demographics
Carroll County had 10,810 residents at the 2020 census, spread across 129 square miles of land for a density of roughly 84 people per square mile. Carrollton is by far the largest community, followed by Ghent. Median household income in the county runs below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting the county’s small industrial and agricultural tax base.
Economy & Local Life
Carroll County’s economy centers on Carrollton, the seat and only city of real size, and on the Ghent Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant on the Ohio River near Ghent that has long been one of the county’s largest employers and taxpayers. General Butler State Resort Park, just outside Carrollton, is a local recreation anchor with a lake, golf course and lodge. Farming and river-related industry round out the rest of the county’s economic base.
History
Carroll County was formed in 1838 from parts of Gallatin, Henry and Trimble counties and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. The county was strongly pro-Confederate in sympathy during the Civil War, and its politics shifted from long-standing Democratic dominance to a Republican lean starting in the 1980s.
Getting There
Interstate 71 runs through the county with an exit serving Carrollton, and US 42 and Kentucky 227 provide the main local routes along the rivers and into town.
- Louisville — about 45 miles southwest
- Cincinnati — about 50 miles northeast
- Frankfort — about 35 miles south
- Madison, Indiana — about 20 miles west
The nearest commercial airports are Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), each roughly an hour’s drive from Carrollton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carroll County, Kentucky?
It sits in north-central Kentucky at the confluence of the Kentucky and Ohio rivers, across the Ohio from southern Indiana.
What is the population of Carroll County?
Carroll County had a population of 10,810 at the 2020 census.
How big is Carroll County?
The county covers 137 square miles (355 km2), of which about 8.7 square miles is water — making it Kentucky’s third-smallest county by land area.
What is the county seat of Carroll County?
Carrollton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Carroll County?
The county has one city (Carrollton) plus the small towns of Ghent, Prestonville, Sanders and Worthville, along with several unincorporated rural communities.
What ZIP codes are in Carroll County?
The main ZIP codes are 41008 (Carrollton), 41045 (Ghent), 41083 (Sanders) and 41098 (Worthville).
Why is it called Carroll County?
It was named in 1838 for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.