Edmonson County is a county in Kentucky, United States, home to most of Mammoth Cave National Park in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 12,126 at the 2020 census and covers 308 square miles (800 km2), centred near 37°13′N 86°15′W.
Brownsville is the county seat, and its postal code is 42210. The county has one incorporated municipality and roughly three dozen unincorporated communities and rural crossroads. Edmonson County observes Central time and is a dry county — the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
Towns & Villages in Edmonson County
Brownsville is Edmonson County’s only incorporated town; everywhere else on the list below is an unincorporated community, hamlet, or rural post office point. Several names on the older county lists (Demunbruns Store, Nick, Pig, Straw) are historic crossroads that no longer have services, but they remain recognized place names.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | City · seat | 875 | 42210 |
| Bee Spring | Unincorp. | — | 42207 |
| Mammoth Cave | Unincorp. | — | 42259 |
| Roundhill | Unincorp. | — | 42275 |
| Sweeden | Unincorp. | — | 42285 |
| Rocky Hill | Unincorp. | — | 42163 |
| Arthur | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Asphalt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Reedy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Black Gold | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Broadway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chalybeate | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chaumont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cub Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elko | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hillview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kyrock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lindseyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nash | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ollie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prosperity | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rhoda | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ridgedale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Segal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sloans Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stockholm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunfish | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Windyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodside | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 42210 — Brownsville (also serves Arthur, Ollie, Prosperity and most of the county’s north)
- 42259 — Mammoth Cave (also serves the national park area)
- 42207 — Bee Spring
- 42275 — Roundhill
- 42285 — Sweeden
- 42163 — Rocky Hill
Most of the county’s smaller crossroads communities use the ZIP of their nearest listed post office town rather than having their own ZIP.
Geography
Edmonson County sits on the Pennyroyal Plateau of south-central Kentucky, a karst landscape of sinkholes, underground rivers and cave systems. Most of Mammoth Cave National Park — the longest known cave system in the world — lies within the county, along with Nolin Lake State Park on its eastern edge. The Green and Nolin rivers cross the county and feed the region’s extensive cave drainage. Edmonson County borders Hart County to the east, Barren County to the southeast, Warren County to the southwest, Butler County to the west, and Grayson County to the north.
Demographics
Edmonson County had a population of 12,126 at the 2020 census, entirely rural with no incorporated place topping 1,000 residents. Brownsville, the county seat, is the largest community with 875 people; Mammoth Cave’s surrounding unincorporated area is the next-largest cluster. Median household income in the county runs below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting the county’s rural, tourism- and timber-dependent economy. Population density is about 40 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism tied to Mammoth Cave National Park is the county’s dominant industry, drawing roughly two million visitors a year to cave tours, hiking and the Green River. Agriculture — cattle, tobacco allotment history, hay and timber — remains significant on land outside the park. Edmonson County is part of the Bowling Green, Kentucky metropolitan area, and many residents commute south to Bowling Green for manufacturing and healthcare jobs. Edmonson County High School in Brownsville is the county’s single public high school.
History
Edmonson County was formed on January 12, 1825, from parts of Grayson, Hart and Warren counties, and named for Captain John “Jack” Edmonson, a Kentucky militia officer killed at the Battle of the River Raisin during the War of 1812. Mammoth Cave was already known and commercially toured by the early 1800s; the National Park Service acquired the core cave lands in the 1930s and established Mammoth Cave National Park in 1941, later designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The county has remained dry — prohibiting alcohol sales — since its earliest local-option votes.
Getting There
Kentucky Routes 70, 259, 101 and 185 cross the county; Interstate 65 clips its southeastern tip but has no exits inside the county line.
- Bowling Green — 30 miles southwest
- Cave City — 15 miles east
- Leitchfield — 20 miles north
- Elizabethtown — 35 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport; Nashville International Airport, about 100 miles south, offers a much wider range of flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Edmonson County, Kentucky?
It is in the south-central part of the state, on the Pennyroyal Plateau between Bowling Green and Elizabethtown, and contains most of Mammoth Cave National Park.
What is the population of Edmonson County?
12,126 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Edmonson County?
308 square miles (800 km2), of which about 5.1 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Edmonson County?
Brownsville, the county’s only incorporated municipality.
How many towns are in Edmonson County?
Just one incorporated town, Brownsville, plus roughly three dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Edmonson County?
42210 (Brownsville), 42259 (Mammoth Cave), 42207 (Bee Spring), 42275 (Roundhill), 42285 (Sweeden) and 42163 (Rocky Hill).
Can you buy alcohol in Edmonson County?
No — it is a dry county, and alcohol sales are prohibited countywide.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.