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Kentucky County
Henderson County, Kentucky
Henderson's John James Audubon heritage and Ohio River industry - from John James Audubon State Park and Museum in Henderson (the naturalist and painter who created Birds of America - one of the most celebrated works of art and natural history ever produced - lived in Henderson from 1810-1819, operating a general store while observing the Ohio River valley's extraordinary bird life that would eventually become his masterwork) to Henderson's significant Ohio River industrial base and the Ellis Park Racing facility.
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.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Henderson County Office of Emergency Management – Director Kenny Garrett; serves Henderson, Corydon, and Robards.
Sheriff: Henderson County Sheriff’s Office – 20 N Main Street, Suite 112, Henderson, KY 42420 | (270) 826-2713 | Fax (270) 827-6022.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. ⚠️ Naming trap: “Henderson Police Department” more commonly returns results for Henderson, Nevada – always confirm Kentucky when researching this county.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-41 and the Audubon Parkway serve Henderson, the county seat, on the Ohio River across from Evansville, Indiana.
Notes: Henderson County was formed in 1798 and named for Richard Henderson, a colonial-era land speculator.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Henderson County Courthouse – Henderson, KY.
Notes: Henderson is genuinely where the great American naturalist and painter John James Audubon lived from 1810 to 1819, running small (and often struggling) businesses while devoting himself to sketching and documenting the region’s abundant bird life along the Mississippi Flyway – work that would eventually become his masterwork, “The Birds of America.” John James Audubon State Park, established in 1934 through local citizen fundraising and built out by the Civilian Conservation Corps, now protects roughly 690-700 wooded acres along the Ohio River and houses the Audubon Museum, home to one of the world’s largest collections of original Audubon artwork and memorabilia, including a complete “Birds of America” double-elephant-folio edition. Local advocate Susan Starling Towles was instrumental in founding Kentucky’s first Audubon Society and securing the museum’s creation.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Henderson County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via hendersoncountyky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Henderson County Public Library (Henderson) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: John James Audubon State Park and Museum, the Audubon Wetlands (649 acres, boardwalk trails), and Sloughs Wildlife Management Area (11,000+ acres) are the county’s premier natural attractions.
Notes: The genuine John James Audubon connection is one of the most significant American naturalist-history facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Henderson County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via hendersoncountyky.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Humane Society of Henderson County (Henderson County Animal Control) – 203 Drury Lane, Henderson, KY 42420 | (270) 826-8966 | Email: [email protected]; open-intake shelter serving Henderson County since 1965, accepts surrenders from Henderson County only. Hours: Mon-Fri 12-6 PM, Sat 9 AM-12 PM, closed Sunday.
New Hope Animal Rescue – 526 Atkinson St, Henderson, KY 42420 | (270) 827-8088; separate no-kill rescue offering boarding and bathing.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Henderson County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via hendersoncountyky.gov.
NOTES: Henderson County is the first county in Kentucky’s eighth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine John James Audubon connection is one of the most significant American naturalist-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 Henderson County
Henderson County is western Kentucky’s Audubon heritage and Ohio River county – John James Audubon’s Henderson years produced the observations that led to Birds of America, one of the most celebrated works of art and natural history in American history.
Henderson (the county seat, population ~28,000) is where Audubon spent his most important formative years as a naturalist – the Ohio River valley’s exceptional bird diversity, observed from Henderson, provided the raw material for Birds of America. The John James Audubon State Park Museum houses the largest single collection of Audubon’s original works.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Henderson County PVA at 20 N. Main Street, Suite 100, Henderson, KY 42420, phone 270-827-6024. KY property assessed at fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Henderson County Circuit Court at 20 N. Main Street, Henderson, KY 42420, phone 270-826-3701, 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)
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-3971
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 827-2660
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-3971
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Henderson County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Henderson 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
Henderson County District Court Judicial Center, 5 North Main Street, Henderson, KY 42419 (270) 826-1566 Henderson County is on the Ohio River in western Kentucky, seated in Henderson.
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
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-2713
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-2713
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-3971
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
20 N. Main St., Henderson, KY 42420
(270) 826-3971
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Henderson County Health Dept
(270) 826-3969
KY CHFS — Green River Region
(270) 687-7000
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Methodist Hospital (Henderson)
methodisthospital.net (quality regional hospital)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Henderson 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: Henderson
Population: 46,000
Area: 436 sq mi
Established: 1798
Tier: 3
Public Records
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