Trimble County is a county in Kentucky, United States, on the south bank of the Ohio River in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 8,474 at the 2020 census and covers 156 square miles (400 km2) centred near 38°36′N 85°20′W.
Bedford is the county seat, and its postal code is 40006. The county has two incorporated cities and several unincorporated communities, and it sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Trimble County
Trimble County has two incorporated cities, Bedford and Milton, plus a handful of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no separate municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | City · seat | — | 40006 |
| Milton | City | — | 40045 |
| Monitor | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
| Mount Pleasant | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
| Providence | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
| Wises Landing | Unincorp. | — | 40045 |
| Callis Grove | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
| Carmon | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
| Gill Ridge | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
| Trout | Unincorp. | — | 40045 |
| Upper Middle Creek | Unincorp. | — | 40006 |
City-limit populations for Bedford and Milton were not independently verified for this page; the county has only two ZIP codes, so every rural community above shares one with Bedford or Milton depending on which side of the county it falls on.
ZIP Codes
- 40006 — Bedford (also serves Monitor, Mount Pleasant, Providence, Callis Grove, Carmon, Gill Ridge, Upper Middle Creek)
- 40045 — Milton (also serves Wises Landing, Trout)
Trimble County is unusually small, so its entire land area is covered by just these two postal routes.
Geography
Trimble County is one of Kentucky’s smallest counties by land area, with rolling hill country running down to the Ohio River, which forms the county’s entire northern and western boundary. Of the county’s 156 square miles, 152 square miles are land and 4.6 square miles (about 2.9 percent) are water. The Ohio River is the dominant physical feature, separating Trimble County from Indiana.
Across the river to the northwest lies Jefferson County, Indiana, and to the west Clark County, Indiana. On the Kentucky side, Carroll County lies to the east, Henry County to the southeast, and Oldham County to the southwest.
Demographics
Trimble County had 8,474 residents at the 2020 census. Bedford and Milton are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118, typical of the state’s small rural counties, and population density is light at roughly 56 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
The Trimble County Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant operated by LG&E and KU on the Ohio River, is the county’s largest single industrial employer and supplies electricity to about a million Kentucky customers. Beyond the plant, agriculture (tobacco and grain farming, cattle) and small local trades anchor the rest of the county’s economy, and many residents commute toward Louisville or Madison, Indiana, for work.
History
Trimble County was organized in 1837 from parts of Gallatin, Henry, and Oldham counties and named for Robert Trimble, a U.S. Supreme Court justice and Kentucky native. The county was formerly a local-option “dry” county but no longer restricts alcohol sales. Its two main towns grew up as river ports: Milton and Bedford both trace their economies to Ohio River steamboat trade, tobacco warehousing, and the ferry crossing to Madison, Indiana, that operated for generations before US 421’s bridge replaced it. Trimble remains one of Kentucky’s least populous counties, a legacy of its small land area and its historically river- and farm-based economy rather than industrial growth.
Getting There
US 421 and KY 55 are the county’s main highways, both running through Bedford. A bridge at Milton carries US 421 across the Ohio River into Madison, Indiana.
- Louisville, Kentucky — about 45 miles southwest
- Madison, Indiana — about 10 miles north, across the river
- Carrollton, Kentucky — about 20 miles east
- La Grange, Kentucky — about 15 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Trimble County, Kentucky?
It is in north-central Kentucky, on the south bank of the Ohio River across from southern Indiana, between Louisville and Cincinnati.
What is the population of Trimble County?
It had a population of 8,474 at the 2020 census.
How big is Trimble County?
It covers 156 square miles (400 km2), making it one of Kentucky’s smallest counties by area.
What is the county seat of Trimble County?
Bedford is the county seat.
How many towns are in Trimble County?
The county has two incorporated cities, Bedford and Milton, plus several smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Trimble County?
40006 (Bedford) and 40045 (Milton) cover the entire county.
What is Trimble County’s biggest employer?
The Trimble County Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant on the Ohio River, is the county’s largest industrial employer.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.