Webster County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the Western Coal Field region south of the Ohio River. It had a population of 13,017 at the 2020 census and covers 336 square miles (870 km2) centred near 37°31′N 87°41′W.
Dixon is the county seat, and its postal code is 42409. The county has six incorporated cities, two census-designated places and more than twenty unincorporated communities. It sits on Central time and is the southernmost county in the Evansville, Indiana–Kentucky metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Webster County
Webster County has 33 named places in total: six incorporated cities (including the county seat), two census-designated places (CDPs), and 25 unincorporated communities and crossroads settlements. Only the incorporated cities and CDPs have confirmed 2020 census population counts; the smaller unincorporated places are listed by name only.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon | City · seat | 933 | 42409 |
| Providence | City | 2,892 | 42450 |
| Sebree | City | — | 42455 |
| Clay | City | — | 42404 |
| Slaughters | City | — | 42456 |
| Wheatcroft | City | — | 42388 |
| Onton | CDP | — | — |
| Poole | CDP | — | — |
| Bellville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blackford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Breton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Derby | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diamond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elmwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairmont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Free Union | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gatesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hearin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jolly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lisman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Zion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ortiz | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pratt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shelton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stanhope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steamport Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tilden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vanderburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Virginia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wanamaker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Wheatcroft | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Williams | Unincorp. | — | — |
West Wheatcroft is a separate rural crossroads community from the city of Wheatcroft itself, a short distance to the east; the two are not the same place despite the shared name.
ZIP Codes
- 42409 — Dixon (also serves the surrounding rural county seat area)
- 42450 — Providence (also serves nearby unincorporated communities such as Diamond and Vanderburg)
- 42455 — Sebree
- 42404 — Clay
- 42456 — Slaughters
- 42388 — Wheatcroft
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities do not have their own ZIP code and are served by the nearest city’s post office.
Geography
Webster County lies in the Western Coal Field physiographic region of western Kentucky, a low, rolling landscape historically mined for coal, with the Tradewater River forming part of its western edge and the Ohio River lying just to the north across Henderson County. The county covers 332 square miles of land and 3.7 square miles of water, about 1.1% of its total area.
Webster County borders Henderson County to the north, McLean County to the northeast, Hopkins County to the southeast, Caldwell County to the south, Crittenden County to the southwest, and Union County to the northwest.
Demographics
Webster County had 13,017 residents at the 2020 census. Providence, with 2,892 people, is the county’s largest community, followed by Dixon, the county seat, with 933. Median household income in the county runs below the Kentucky median of $61,118, consistent with the rest of the rural Western Coal Field. Population density works out to roughly 39 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining shaped Webster County’s economy for well over a century, and surface and underground mining still operate in parts of the county alongside agriculture, particularly corn, soybeans and grain farming on the county’s flatter land. Providence and Sebree serve as the county’s retail and service centers. Since 2018, Providence and Sebree have allowed alcohol sales after local option votes, with Clay following in 2022, making the county moist rather than fully dry or wet.
History
Webster County was formed in 1860 from parts of Henderson, Hopkins and Union counties and named for U.S. statesman Daniel Webster (1782–1852), who never lived in Kentucky. During the Civil War the county was mostly pro-Confederate in sympathy and saw several skirmishes and periods of guerrilla activity, reflecting the divided loyalties common across western Kentucky at the time.
Getting There
- Henderson — 20 miles north
- Madisonville — 15 miles southeast
- Evansville, Indiana — 30 miles north
- Owensboro — 35 miles northeast
U.S. Route 41-Alternate and the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway both pass through the county, linking Dixon and Providence to the wider Western Kentucky highway network. The nearest commercial airport is Evansville Regional Airport in Indiana, about 30 miles to the north.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Webster County, Kentucky?
It is in western Kentucky’s Western Coal Field region, bordering the Evansville, Indiana metropolitan area to the north.
What is the population of Webster County?
13,017 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Webster County?
336 square miles (870 km2), including 3.7 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Webster County?
Dixon is the county seat.
How many towns are in Webster County?
Six incorporated cities — Dixon, Providence, Sebree, Clay, Slaughters and Wheatcroft — plus two census-designated places and more than twenty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Webster County?
42409 (Dixon), 42450 (Providence), 42455 (Sebree), 42404 (Clay), 42456 (Slaughters) and 42388 (Wheatcroft).
Is Webster County a wet or dry county?
It is moist: Providence and Sebree approved alcohol sales in 2018, and Clay followed in 2022, while the rest of the county remains dry.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.