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Kentucky · Greater Cincinnati · Northern Kentucky · #607 Most Populous County in the US
Campbell County, Kentucky
Northern Kentucky's Ohio River county facing Cincinnati - from Newport's entertainment district and the BB&T Arena to Cold Spring's suburban communities, Highland Heights's Northern Kentucky University campus, and a county that has transformed from a struggling urban Ohio River city into a diverse metro suburb with one of the region's most vibrant entertainment districts. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Campbell County residents.
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Campbell County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Campbell County Office of Emergency Management – 8774 Constable Dr, P.O. Box 153, Alexandria, KY 41001.
Sheriff: Campbell County Sheriff’s Office – Newport office: 1098 Monmouth St, Suite 216, Newport, KY 41071 | (859) 292-3833 | Fax (859) 292-3826; Alexandria satellite office: 8330 West Main Street, Alexandria, KY 41001 | (859) 547-3446 | Fax (859) 547-3448; Sheriff Mike Jansen. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM, with occasional Saturday hours 9 AM-noon on the 1st and 3rd Saturday.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Campbell County Consolidated Dispatch (non-emergency): (859) 292-3622.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-471 and US-27 serve the county’s twin seats – Alexandria and Newport – in Northern Kentucky across the Ohio River from Cincinnati; Fort Thomas is the county’s largest city.
Notes: Campbell County, established December 17, 1794, is named for Colonel John Campbell, a Revolutionary War soldier and Kentucky legislator.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Historic County Courthouse – Alexandria, KY; Campbell County Courthouse – Newport, KY.
Notes: Newport is home to one of the most genuinely notorious and well-documented chapters in American vice history. From Prohibition through the early 1960s, Newport earned national nicknames like “Sin City” for its open, officially tolerated illegal gambling, prostitution, and organized crime presence – casinos and clubs there reportedly drew celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Marilyn Monroe. The turning point came in 1961, when reform candidate George Ratterman ran for Campbell County Sheriff on an anti-gambling platform; a mob-orchestrated blackmail plot drugged him and staged a compromising photo, but the scheme backfired, generating public sympathy and helping Ratterman win the sheriff’s race. With support from Kentucky’s governor and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s organized-crime task force, the reform effort ultimately dismantled Newport’s gambling industry over the following years.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Campbell County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via campbellcountyky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Campbell County Public Library – Alexandria location (859) 572-7463, Cold Spring location (859) 781-6166.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Newport on the Levee (riverfront entertainment district) and AJ Jolly Park and Golf Course in Alexandria are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine “Sin City” history – and the dramatic 1961 sheriff’s race that helped end it – is one of the most historically significant true-crime facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) – confirm current contact via campbellcountyky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Campbell County Animal Services – 1989 Poplar Ridge Rd, Melbourne, KY 41059 | (859) 635-2819 | Director Lisa Krummen. Provides no-cost animal control coverage for unincorporated Campbell County and the cities of Alexandria, Bellevue, Cold Spring, Crestview, Fort Thomas, Highland Heights, Melbourne, Silver Grove, and Wilder under interlocal agreements, with hours recently expanded to respond to non-emergency calls until 10 PM daily. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 AM-4:30 PM, Sat 9 AM-1:30 PM; after-hours emergencies route through Campbell County Dispatch (859-292-3622).
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Campbell County Solid Waste – offers 4 household-trash disposal vouchers per program year (July-June) to Covington or Butler landfill locations; confirm current contact via campbellcountyky.gov.
NOTES: Campbell County is the fifth county in Kentucky’s third batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “Sin City” history and the dramatic 1961 sheriff’s race that helped end it are among the most historically significant true-crime facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Campbell County
Campbell County is a northern Kentucky Ohio River county and the 607th most populous in the United States, covering 151 square miles of the Cincinnati metro’s Kentucky side.
Newport (population ~15,000) is Campbell County’s largest city – an Ohio River city facing Cincinnati that has undergone dramatic transformation from its 20th-century identity as a “sin city” of gambling and vice operations into a legitimate entertainment and residential destination. The Newport on the Levee entertainment complex (restaurants, cinema, Newport Aquarium) and 21c Museum Hotel Newport anchor the riverfront redevelopment. The Newport Aquarium – featuring shark tunnel and interactive exhibits – is one of the Cincinnati metro’s most-visited attractions.
Cold Spring (population ~7,500) and Highland Heights (population ~6,500) anchor the county’s suburban southern tier – the most rapidly growing communities in the county, drawing Cincinnati commuters seeking newer construction and Kentucky’s lower income tax rates.
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) (enrollment ~14,000) in Highland Heights has grown significantly as the region’s comprehensive public university – NKU’s Chase Law School and healthcare programs provide professional education across the Cincinnati metro’s Kentucky side.
Campbell County’s proximity to Cincinnati creates a distinctive cross-river identity – residents regularly use Cincinnati institutions while maintaining Kentucky county government and tax structures. Kentucky’s no state income tax on Social Security and generally lower income tax rates make northern Kentucky an attractive retirement and relocation destination from Ohio.
KY inheritance tax: Kentucky has no estate tax but imposes an inheritance tax. Class A beneficiaries (spouses, children, parents, grandchildren) are fully exempt. Class B beneficiaries (siblings, nieces, nephews) pay 4%–16%. Class C (all others) pay 6%–16%.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Kentucky assesses at 100% of fair market value. The Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) at 1098 Monmouth Street, Newport, KY 41071, phone 859-292-3871, determines values.
The appeal process: File with the Campbell County Board of Assessment Appeals within 61 days of receiving your assessment notice. If dissatisfied, appeal to the Kentucky Claims Commission then Circuit Court.
KY inheritance tax: Class A beneficiaries exempt. Class B (siblings, nieces, nephews): 4%–16%. Class C (all others): 6%–16%. No KY estate tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Campbell County Board of Assessment Appeals: within 61 days of notice. Newport entertainment district and Cold Spring suburban appreciation from Cincinnati metro. No KY estate tax; inheritance tax applies to non-direct heirs. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Campbell County Board of Assessment Appeals: within 61 days of notice. Newport entertainment district and Cold Spring suburban appreciation from Cincinnati metro. No KY estate tax; inheritance tax applies to non-direct heirs. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
District/Circuit Court (Probate): Kentucky probate matters are handled by the District Court. The Campbell County District Court at 600 Columbia Street, Newport, KY 41071, phone 859-292-6322, handles estate administration and probate matters.
County Clerk: The Campbell County Clerk at 1098 Monmouth Street, Newport, phone 859-292-3838, maintains real property records (deeds, deeds of trust) and marriage records. Land records searchable online.
Senior Services
The Campbell County Fiscal Court, Senior Services and the KIPDA Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living at 11520 Commonwealth Drive, Louisville, KY 40299, phone 502-266-5571, serve the county’s senior population. St. Elizabeth Healthcare Newport provides significant geriatric care.
Recommended
Assisted living, memory care, and independent living across Campbell County - from Newport and Cold Spring to Alexandria, Highland Heights, and the Ohio River communities.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
330 York St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-3840
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
330 York St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-6322
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
330 York St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-3840
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Campbell County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Campbell County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Campbell County District Court 330 York Street, Newport, KY 41071 (859) 292-6314, Option 2
Campbell County is in the Cincinnati metro area, seated in Newport, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Kentucky has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code; probate is governed by KRS Chapter 395 (Administration of Estates), handled by the District Court in the county where the decedent resided (KRS 24A.120).
Dispensing with Administration – Kentucky’s simplified small-estate procedure, governed by KRS 395.450, 395.455, and 395.470. Available when the value of the personal estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $30,000, and the petitioner is a surviving spouse, adult child, or other qualifying heir/preferred creditor. The petitioner files a Petition to Dispense with Administration (Form AOC-830) with an affidavit listing assets, debts, and proposed distribution – no personal representative or full administration is required. Real estate is generally not covered by this procedure.
Regular (Full) Administration – for larger or more complex estates, the District Court appoints a personal representative (executor if named in a will, administrator if intestate), who gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains under court oversight.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Executor/Administrator (Form AOC-805) with the District Court in the county of residence.
If there’s a will, the court admits it to probate; it is then recorded with the county clerk (KRS 394.140).
The personal representative files an Inventory and Appraisement (Form AOC-841) of estate assets.
Notice to creditors is published; creditors generally have 6 months from appointment to file claims.
The personal representative pays valid debts, taxes, and expenses.
A Settlement of Estate (Form AOC-846) is filed, and the court closes the estate upon approval.
What it costs
Filing fees and publication costs are collected by the clerk and vary somewhat by county.
Kentucky does not require an attorney for probate, though it is commonly recommended, especially for formal administration.
Typical timelines: full probate generally takes 6-12 months; the creditor claims period is 6 months. Dispensing with Administration can move significantly faster once the estate qualifies.
Before distribution, a surviving spouse may petition for release of up to $2,500 from the estate as an exempt charge against estate property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
1098 Monmouth St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 547-1700
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
1098 Monmouth St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 547-1700
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
330 York St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-3840
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
330 York St., Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-3840
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
uchealth.com (Cincinnati — world-class academic medical center)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Northern Kentucky Health Department (serves Boone, Campbell, Grant, Kenton) – (859) 341-4264.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
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