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Kentucky County
Meade County, Kentucky
Brandenburg's Civil War Morgan's Raid crossing and Fort Knox proximity - from the Battle of Brandenburg (July 7-8, 1863 - Confederate General John Hunt Morgan crossed the Ohio River at Brandenburg with 2,400 cavalry in the most daring Confederate raid of the war, beginning the famous Morgan's Raid that would penetrate deep into Indiana and Ohio before Morgan's capture) to Meade County's proximity to Fort Knox (the US Army installation - home to the Army's Armor Center and the US Bullion Depository - provides significant employment and economic influence in adjacent Meade and Hardin counties) and the Ohio River's scenic Meade County bluffs.
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Office: Meade County Emergency Management – 520 Hillcrest Drive, Brandenburg, KY 40108 | (270) 422-2776 | Email: [email protected]. Meade County uses the CodeRED emergency notification system for public alerts.
Sheriff: Meade County Sheriff’s Office – 516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 14, Brandenburg, KY 40108 | (270) 422-4937 | Fax (270) 422-5191; Sheriff Phillip Wimpee. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM, Thu until 6 PM.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-31W and KY-333 serve Brandenburg, the county seat, on the Ohio River in north-central Kentucky, near Fort Knox.
Notes: Meade County, formed December 17, 1823 from parts of Hardin and Breckinridge counties, is named for Captain James Meade, killed at the Battle of the River Raisin in the War of 1812.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Meade County Courthouse – Brandenburg, KY.
Notes: Meade County was the site of the only F5 tornado ever recorded in Kentucky history. On April 3, 1974, as part of the historic “Super Outbreak,” a violent tornado tore a 32-mile path through the region, devastating downtown Brandenburg, destroying 128 homes and 30 businesses (including the Meade County Courthouse and City Hall), and killing 31 people – 18 along Green Street alone. It remains the deadliest tornado in Kentucky history and one of only 59 tornadoes ever rated F5/EF5 in U.S. records. The tragedy directly spurred major nationwide improvements in tornado warning systems, radar technology, and emergency alerts still in use today. A memorial at First Baptist Church honors the victims, and the community holds remembrance ceremonies on the anniversary.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Meade County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via meadeky.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Meade County Public Library (Brandenburg) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The historic Doe Run Inn near Brandenburg (built as a mill beginning 1788-1792, with stonework partly credited to Thomas Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s father) and Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area are the county’s notable heritage and outdoor attractions.
Notes: The genuine 1974 F5 tornado – the only one in Kentucky’s recorded history – is presented with care, as a significant piece of the county’s history that continues to be commemorated by the community.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Meade County Property Valuation Administrator – 516 Hillcrest Dr, Suite 3, Brandenburg, KY 40108 | (270) 422-2178 | Fax (270) 422-5199. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Meade County Animal Shelter – 526 Hillcrest Drive, Brandenburg, KY 40108 | (270) 422-2064; Director/ACO “Nessa.” Hours: Mon-Fri 12-4 PM, Sat 11 AM-1 PM, closed Sunday. Supported by the nonprofit Pets In Need Society (PINS), which funds spay/neuter vouchers.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Meade County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via meadeky.gov.
NOTES: Meade County is the first county in Kentucky’s twelfth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine 1974 F5 tornado – the only one in Kentucky’s recorded history – is presented with care given its significance to the community’s history. 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 Meade County
Meade County is northwestern Kentucky’s Morgan’s Raid crossing and Fort Knox adjacent county – the most daring Confederate cavalry raid of the Civil War launched from Brandenburg’s Ohio River bank, and the nation’s gold depository sits just across the county line.
Brandenburg (the county seat, population ~2,800) is where General John Hunt Morgan made his audacious Ohio River crossing on July 7-8, 1863, beginning the raid that penetrated further north than any other Confederate force. The crossing point is commemorated as one of the Civil War’s most dramatic moments.
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Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Meade County PVA at 516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 3, Brandenburg, KY 40108, phone 270-422-2178. KY property assessed at fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Meade County Circuit Court at 516 Hillcrest Drive, Brandenburg, KY 40108, phone 270-422-5011, 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)
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-2152
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-3976
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-2152
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Meade County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Meade County Jail (1906), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a significant local landmark.
Local societies
No dedicated Meade 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
Meade County District Court 516 Hillcrest Drive, Suite 4, Brandenburg, KY 40108 (270) 422-4961
Meade County was founded December 17, 1823, named for Captain James Meade. Its seat, Brandenburg, is also its largest city, on the Ohio River about 40 miles southwest of Louisville.
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
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-2544
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-2544
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-2152
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
516 Hillcrest Dr., Brandenburg, KY 40108
(270) 422-2152
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Meade County Health Dept
(270) 422-3962
KY CHFS — Louisville Region
(502) 595-4200
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Hardin Memorial Hospital
hmh.net (Elizabethtown — Hardin County)
Baptist Health Louisville
baptisthealthlouisville.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Meade County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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