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Kentucky County
Edmonson County, Kentucky
Mammoth Cave - the world's longest known cave system - from Mammoth Cave National Park (the UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve in Edmonson County - whose 426+ miles of surveyed cave passages make it the longest known cave system in the world, with new passages still being discovered - the cave's extraordinary geological formations, unique cave ecosystems of blind fish and eyeless crickets, and 4,000-year-old human artifacts make it one of the most scientifically significant and visitor-beloved natural wonders in America, drawing 600,000+ visitors annually to Edmonson County).
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Office: Edmonson County Emergency Management – Director Terry “Moose” Massey. Emergency dispatch coordinates the Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control, Jailer, Mammoth Cave National Park Rangers, EMS, and Brownsville Police.
Sheriff: Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office – 110 Jackson Street, Brownsville, KY 42210; Sheriff James E. Vincent.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Non-emergency dispatch: (270) 597-2729.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: KY-70 and KY-259 serve Brownsville, the county seat and only incorporated municipality, in south-central Kentucky just off I-65.
Notes: Edmonson County, established January 12, 1825, is named for Captain John “Jack” Edmonson, killed at the 1813 Battle of Frenchtown in the War of 1812. The county remains legally “dry.”
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Edmonson County Courthouse – Brownsville, KY.
Notes: Edmonson County contains most of Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the longest known cave system on Earth – over 400 miles of surveyed passageways (with new discoveries still being mapped), more than double the length of the world’s second-longest cave. Established as a national park in 1941, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990, the park’s cave system was explored by Native Americans as far back as roughly 4,000 years ago. Among its most remarkable human stories is that of Stephen Bishop, an enslaved man who served as a cave guide beginning in the 1830s and personally discovered many miles of previously unmapped passages, becoming renowned among 19th-century visitors for his charisma and deep knowledge of the cave.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Edmonson County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via edmonsoncounty.ky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Edmonson County Public Library (Brownsville) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Mammoth Cave National Park (cave tours, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing on the Green and Nolin rivers) is by far the county’s most significant attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Notes: The genuine “world’s longest cave system” distinction and Stephen Bishop’s remarkable history are among the most significant natural and human-history facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Edmonson County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) – confirm current contact via edmonsoncounty.ky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Edmonson County Animal Control Officer – (270) 597-2157; Officer Joe Carl Daugherty.
Humane Society of Edmonson County (HSEC) – P.O. Box 274, Brownsville, KY 42210 | (270) 286-6586 | Email: [email protected]. ⚠️ Currently operates as a foster-based organization without a permanent facility while fundraising for a building; offers adoptions, low-cost spay/neuter, and trap-neuter-return for community cats.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Edmonson County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via edmonsoncounty.ky.gov.
NOTES: Edmonson County is the second county in Kentucky’s fifth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “world’s longest cave system” distinction and Stephen Bishop’s remarkable history are among the most significant natural and human-history 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 Edmonson County
Edmonson County is Mammoth Cave – the world’s longest known cave system at 426+ miles of surveyed passages is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws 600,000 visitors annually, and its unique blind cave fish, eyeless crickets, and 4,000-year-old human artifacts make it one of the most scientifically remarkable places in America.
Brownsville (the county seat, population ~900) serves the county’s communities in the Green River valley south of the national park.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Edmonson County PVA at 112 Cross Street, Suite 2, Brownsville, KY 42210, phone 270-597-2381. KY residential assessed at 100% of fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Edmonson County Circuit Court at 112 Cross Street, Brownsville, KY 42210, phone 270-597-2824, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2616
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2120
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2616
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Edmonson County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Mammoth Cave National Park, the world’s longest known cave system, is a significant local landmark and historical resource.
Local societies
No dedicated Edmonson 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
Edmonson County District Court 110 Cross Main Street, Brownsville, KY 42210 (270) 597-2584
Edmonson County is in south-central Kentucky, seated in Brownsville, home to most of Mammoth Cave National Park.
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
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2911
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2911
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2616
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
108 S. Main Cross St., Brownsville, KY 42210
(270) 597-2616
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Edmonson County Health Dept
(270) 597-2268
KY CHFS — Barren River Region
(270) 780-2340
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Medical Center at Bowling Green
themedicalcenter.org (Warren County — primary regional hospital)
T.J. Samson Community Hospital
tjsamson.org (Glasgow — Barren County)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Edmonson County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Brownsville
Population: 12,500
Area: 302 sq mi
Established: 1825
Tier: 3
Public Records
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