Gallatin County is a county in Kentucky, United States, on the south bank of the Ohio River in the northern part of the state. It had a population of 8,690 at the 2020 census and covers 105 square miles (270 km2), of which 101 square miles (260 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) is water, centred near 38°46′N 84°52′W.
Warsaw is the county seat, and its postal code is 41095. The county has three incorporated cities — Warsaw, Sparta and Glencoe — plus several unincorporated communities. Gallatin County observes Eastern Time and is Kentucky’s second-smallest county by land area.
Towns & Villages in Gallatin County
Eight places are listed below: three incorporated cities and five unincorporated communities. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | City · seat | — | 41095 |
| Sparta | City | — | 41086 |
| Glencoe | City | — | 41046 |
| Ethridge | Unincorp. | — | 41095 |
| Munk | Unincorp. | — | 41095 |
| Napoleon | Unincorp. | — | 41095 |
| Ryle | Unincorp. | — | 41095 |
| Carson | Unincorp. | — | 41046 |
Kentucky has no civil townships, so places are grouped only by ZIP service area above. The unincorporated communities of Ethridge, Munk, Napoleon and Ryle sit within Warsaw’s rural mail-service area rather than forming their own postal towns.
ZIP Codes
- 41095 — Warsaw (also serves Ethridge, Munk, Napoleon and Ryle)
- 41086 — Sparta
- 41046 — Glencoe (also serves Carson)
All three ZIP codes are shared with, or bleed into, neighboring counties along their edges, so a Gallatin County mailing address does not always guarantee a Gallatin County location.
Geography
Gallatin County lies in the Outer Bluegrass region, bounded on its north side by a broad bend of the Ohio River. The terrain rises from river-bottom land near Warsaw and Ghent-area landings to rolling upland farm country in the county’s interior. The Ohio River is the county’s dominant water feature and its historic transportation route; the county has no large inland lakes.
Gallatin County borders Boone County to the northeast, Grant County to the southeast, Owen County to the south, and Carroll County to the west. Across the Ohio River to the north lies Switzerland County, Indiana.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 8,690 residents in Gallatin County. Warsaw, the county seat, is the largest community, followed by Glencoe. The Kentucky median household income is $61,118; county-level income data was not available to verify against it. Population density works out to roughly 86 people per square mile of land, among the more sparsely settled counties on the Cincinnati metropolitan fringe.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, light manufacturing and river-related industry anchor the local economy, and a growing share of residents commute north into the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN combined statistical area for work. The Gallatin County Airport near Warsaw began operations in June 2023, adding a small general-aviation facility to the county’s transportation base. Interstate 71 crosses the southern part of the county with exits serving Sparta and Glencoe, drawing warehousing and travel-related business along the corridor.
History
Gallatin County was formed in 1798 and named for Albert Gallatin, who served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Thomas Jefferson. Its original boundaries were far larger than today’s; over the following decades the legislature carved several neighboring counties, including Owen and Carroll, from Gallatin’s original territory, leaving it Kentucky’s second-smallest county by land area. Warsaw, on the Ohio River, grew as a steamboat landing and county-seat town serving the surrounding farm districts, and the river remained the county’s main trade route well into the 20th century before highway access took over.
Getting There
Interstate 71 runs through the southern half of the county with exits near Sparta and Glencoe, connecting the county to Cincinnati to the northeast and Louisville to the southwest. Kentucky Route 42 and Route 355 provide local connections along the river and into the interior.
- Cincinnati, Ohio — about 35 miles northeast
- Louisville, Kentucky — about 65 miles southwest
- Frankfort, Kentucky — about 40 miles south
The nearest major commercial airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), roughly 30 miles northeast of Warsaw. The small Gallatin County Airport near Warsaw serves general aviation only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gallatin County, Kentucky?
It sits in northern Kentucky on the Ohio River, between Cincinnati and Louisville.
What is the population of Gallatin County?
8,690 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Gallatin County?
105 square miles (270 km2) total, of which 101 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Gallatin County?
Warsaw is the county seat.
How many towns are in Gallatin County?
Three incorporated cities — Warsaw, Sparta and Glencoe — plus several unincorporated communities such as Ethridge, Munk, Napoleon, Ryle and Carson.
What ZIP codes are in Gallatin County?
41095 (Warsaw), 41086 (Sparta) and 41046 (Glencoe).
Who was Gallatin County named for?
Albert Gallatin, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Thomas Jefferson.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.