Grant County is a county in Kentucky, United States, about 35 miles south of Cincinnati along
Interstate 75. It had a population of 24,941 at the 2020 census, an estimated 26,181 by 2025, and
covers 258 square miles (670 km2) of land centred near 38°38′N 84°37′W.
Williamstown is the county seat; its postal code is 41097. The county holds 4 cities and 5
unincorporated communities with no ZIP or local government of their own, and it runs on Eastern
Time. Its FIPS code is 21081.
Towns & Villages in Grant County
Grant County has 9 named places on record: 4 incorporated cities and 5 unincorporated
communities. CDP stands for census designated place; Unincorp. covers crossroads and rural
communities with no formal boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamstown | City · seat | 3,894 | 41097 |
| Crittenden | City | 4,023 | 41030 |
| Dry Ridge | City | 2,102 | 41035 |
| Corinth | City | 226 | 41010 |
| Cordova | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Downingsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jonesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mason | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sherman | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two of the county’s cities cross into a neighbouring county. Williamstown’s limits reach
south into Pendleton County, and Crittenden’s reach north into Kenton County — both
populations above are citywide totals, not Grant County’s share alone.
ZIP Codes
- 41097 — Williamstown
- 41030 — Crittenden
- 41035 — Dry Ridge
- 41010 — Corinth
Cordova, Downingsville, Jonesville, Mason and Sherman have no ZIP code of their own; mail there
is delivered under the nearest incorporated city’s code.
Geography
Grant County sits in the Outer Bluegrass region of northern Kentucky, a belt of rolling hills
and pasture between the Ohio River and the Bluegrass proper. Of its 261 square miles, 258 are
land and 2.8 are water, about 1.1 percent — most of that is Williamstown Lake, a reservoir
built in 1957 on the edge of the county seat.
Boone County lies to the north, Kenton County to the northeast, Pendleton County to the east,
Harrison County to the southeast, Scott County to the south, Owen County to the west, and Gallatin
County to the northwest. Boone
County, Kenton County, Pendleton County, Harrison County, Scott County, Owen County and Gallatin County all border Grant
directly.
Demographics
Grant County had a population of 24,941 at the 2020 census, and the latest estimate puts the
county near 26,181 residents. Crittenden and Williamstown are the two largest communities, each
with roughly four thousand residents. Median household income runs $69,178, above Kentucky’s
statewide 2023 ACS figure of $61,118. Population density works out to
roughly 97 people per square mile of land, low for a county this close to Cincinnati, reflecting
its still-rural character outside the I-75 corridor towns.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing employs the most workers in the county, about 1,801 people, followed by retail
trade at 1,409 and health care and social assistance at 1,318. Ark Encounter, a Christian
theme park built around a full-scale wooden ark replica, opened in Williamstown in 2016 and draws
visitors from across the region, supporting hotels and restaurants along the I-75 exits. Grant
County High School and Grant County Middle School, both in Dry Ridge, anchor the county’s
public school system. County residents voted 56–44 percent in 2015 to approve alcohol
sales, ending decades of local prohibition.
History
The Kentucky legislature formed Grant County in 1820, carving it out of Pendleton County. It
was named for Colonel John Grant, who led a party of settlers to Grant’s Station, in
present-day Bourbon County, in 1779. Williamstown, platted on land donated by Revolutionary War
veteran William Arnold, was incorporated as the county seat in 1825. Dry Ridge, originally called
Campbell’s Station, was the last of the county’s four cities to incorporate, in 1909.
The Cincinnati Southern Railway reached Williamstown in 1877, and Interstate 75 was built
through the county in the 1960s, both reshaping a county that had grown slowly from just 281
residents in Williamstown in 1870. The county’s current courthouse dates to 1939; a new
judicial center opened in April 2010.
Getting There
Interstate 75 runs the length of the county north to south, with exits serving Crittenden
(166), Dry Ridge (159) and Williamstown (154 and 156). US 25 parallels the interstate through all
four cities as Main Street.
- Cincinnati — about 35 miles north
- Lexington — about 45 miles south
- Georgetown — about 20 miles south
- Falmouth — about 15 miles east
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, roughly 30 miles north of Williamstown, is
the nearest major commercial airport. Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, about 45 miles south,
offers an alternative for the county’s southern half.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grant County located?
It sits in northern Kentucky’s Outer Bluegrass region, about 35 miles south of Cincinnati
along Interstate 75, bordered by Boone, Kenton, Pendleton, Harrison, Scott, Owen and Gallatin
counties.
What is the population of Grant County?
24,941 at the 2020 census, with an estimate near 26,181 by 2025.
How big is Grant County?
261 square miles (680 km2) total, of which 258 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Grant County?
Williamstown, incorporated in 1825, is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Grant County?
Four incorporated cities — Williamstown, Crittenden, Dry Ridge and Corinth — plus five
unincorporated communities: Cordova, Downingsville, Jonesville, Mason and Sherman.
What ZIP codes does Grant County use?
41097 for Williamstown, 41030 for Crittenden, 41035 for Dry Ridge and 41010 for Corinth.
What is Grant County known for?
Ark Encounter, the full-scale wooden ark replica that opened in Williamstown in 2016, and its
position on Interstate 75 midway between Cincinnati and Lexington.
More counties in this state: Towns
and villages in Kentucky.