Crittenden County is a county in Kentucky, United States, on the Ohio River along the Illinois state line. It had a population of 8,990 at the 2020 census and covers 371 square miles (960 km2) centred near 37°22′N 88°05′W.
Marion is the county seat, and its postal code is 42064. The county has one city, one census-designated place besides it, and roughly two dozen smaller unincorporated communities. Crittenden County has no civil townships. It observes Central Time.
Towns & Villages in Crittenden County
Marion is Crittenden County’s only incorporated municipality. Crayne and Tolu are census-designated places, and the rest of the list below is unincorporated crossroads communities carried over from historical county records — treat their populations as unavailable unless noted.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | City · seat | — | 42064 |
| Crayne | CDP | — | 42033 |
| Tolu | CDP | — | 42064 |
| Dycusburg | Unincorp. | — | 42037 |
| Frances | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Mattoon | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Mexico | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Tribune | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Deanwood | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Fishtrap | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Fords Ferry | Unincorp. | — | 42037 |
| Hoods | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Irma | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Levias | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Lilydale | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Milford | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| New Salem | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Nunn | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Piney | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Piney Fork | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Repton | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Sheridan | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| View | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
| Weston | Unincorp. | — | 42064 |
ZIP Codes
- 42064 — Marion (also serves most of the county’s unincorporated communities)
- 42037 — Dycusburg (also serves Fords Ferry)
- 42033 — Crayne
Marion’s 42064 ZIP covers roughly 99.8% of county residents; Dycusburg and Crayne are post-office-only ZIPs with no separate delivery population.
Geography
Crittenden County sits in far western Kentucky’s Pennyroyal region, where rolling upland gives way to Ohio River bottomland along the county’s northwestern edge. The Ohio forms the boundary with Illinois there, and the Tradewater River drains the county’s southern reaches toward the Ohio. Crittenden County borders Union County to the west, Webster County to the southwest, Caldwell County to the south, Lyon County to the southeast, Livingston County to the east, and Hardin County, Illinois, across the Ohio River to the northwest. The Ohio River bottomland in the county’s northwest corner floods periodically, and much of that acreage stays in pasture and timber rather than row crops.
Demographics
Crittenden County had 8,990 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 25 people per square mile. Marion is by far the largest community; Crayne and Tolu are the next-largest census-designated places, both far smaller. Kentucky’s 2023 median household income was the Kentucky median of $61,118; Crittenden County, a rural agricultural county, runs below that state figure.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture (grain, cattle, tobacco) and fluorspar and limestone quarrying have historically anchored the county’s economy; Crittenden County was once a national center of fluorspar mining, and Marion still calls itself the “Fluorspar Capital of the World.” Row-crop and cattle farming remain the largest land uses outside Marion, and several family farms date back multiple generations. Marion’s downtown square, the county courthouse, and the Marion-Crittenden County Public Library are the community’s civic hubs.
History
Crittenden County was formed April 1, 1842, from part of Livingston County, becoming Kentucky’s 91st county. It was named for John J. Crittenden, a U.S. senator, U.S. attorney general, and later Kentucky’s governor, who never lived in the county that bears his name. The county’s fluorspar mines drove a mining boom from the late 1800s into the mid-20th century, and mining continued into the late 20th century before cheaper foreign supply ended domestic fluorspar production. Small mining-camp settlements, such as Nunn and Deanwood, still carry names tied to that era.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 60 and 641 and Kentucky Routes 70, 91, 120, and 295 cross the county.
- Paducah, Kentucky — 30 miles west
- Henderson, Kentucky — 45 miles northeast
- Owensboro, Kentucky — 60 miles northeast
- Evansville, Indiana — 55 miles north
Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Crittenden County, Kentucky?
It is in far western Kentucky, on the Ohio River across from Hardin County, Illinois, between Paducah and Henderson.
What is the population of Crittenden County?
8,990 at the 2020 census.
How big is Crittenden County?
371 square miles (960 km2), of which 360 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Crittenden County?
Marion is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Crittenden County?
One incorporated city (Marion), two census-designated places (Crayne, Tolu), and about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Crittenden County?
42064 (Marion), 42037 (Dycusburg), and 42033 (Crayne).
Why is Marion called the Fluorspar Capital of the World?
Crittenden County was a major U.S. source of fluorspar ore from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, and Marion still uses the nickname.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.