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Kentucky County
Powell County, Kentucky
Red River Gorge - Kentucky's most spectacular geological landscape - from the Red River Gorge Geological Area (the 26,000-acre sandstone canyon system in the Daniel Boone National Forest - whose natural arches, towering cliffs, rock shelters, and old-growth forest constitute one of the most spectacular geological landscapes east of the Rocky Mountains - the Red River Gorge's over 100 natural arches represent the highest concentration of natural arches east of the Mississippi, and the area's rock climbing, hiking, and backcountry camping draw visitors from across the eastern US to Powell County's extraordinary natural heritage).
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Office: Powell County Emergency Management – 33 Commerce Drive, Stanton, KY 40380 | (606) 663-0544, located on the 2nd floor of the Powell County 911 Dispatch Center; Director J.L. Bowen. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM. The Powell County CSEPP program coordinates federal, state, and local emergency management. Residents can sign up for the CodeRED emergency alert system.
Sheriff: Powell County Sheriff’s Office – 524 Washington Street, Stanton, KY 40380 | (606) 663-2226 | Fax (606) 663-2910; Sheriff Danny Rodgers (also spelled Rogers in some sources). 24-hour patrol coverage.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: KY-15 and the Mountain Parkway serve Stanton, the county seat, in east-central Kentucky. Nada Tunnel provides scenic vehicle access into the Red River Gorge area.
Notes: Powell County was formed January 7, 1852 from parts of Clark, Estill, and Montgomery counties, named for Kentucky Governor Lazarus W. Powell. It was a dry county until 2018.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Powell County Courthouse – 525 Washington Street, Stanton, KY 40380.
Notes: Powell County is home to two of Kentucky’s most important natural and ecotourism destinations: Natural Bridge State Resort Park, centered on a spectacular 78-foot natural sandstone arch, and the world-renowned Red River Gorge Geological Area, a premier destination for rock climbing, hiking, and scenic photography known internationally within the climbing community. The Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve is also within the county. Stanton itself is nicknamed “Nature’s Bridge to the Mountains” and is the birthplace of Hall of Fame thoroughbred horse trainer Woody Stephens.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Powell County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via powellcountyky.us.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Powell County Public Library (Stanton) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system; also assists with PALS spay/neuter assistance program applications.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geological Area are the county’s premier – and among Kentucky’s most nationally significant – outdoor recreation destinations.
Notes: The genuine world-class status of the Red River Gorge among rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts is a distinctive Kentucky tourism fact covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Powell County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via powellcountyky.us.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Powell County Animal Shelter – 121 Echo Hollow Road, Clay City, KY 40312 | (606) 663-4998 or (606) 663-0021 | Email: [email protected]. County-run facility supported by Friends of Powell County’s Pets (FOPCP), a nonprofit partner offering the PALS low-income spay/neuter assistance program and TNR services for stray cats. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 AM-5 PM.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Powell County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via powellcountyky.us.
NOTES: Powell County is the fourth county in Kentucky’s fourteenth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine world-class status of the Red River Gorge among rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts is a distinctive Kentucky tourism fact covered 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 Powell County
Powell County is the Red River Gorge – the 26,000-acre sandstone canyon system with over 100 natural arches represents the highest concentration of natural arches east of the Mississippi and one of the most spectacular geological landscapes in the eastern United States, drawing rock climbers and hikers from across the country.
Stanton (the county seat, population ~3,000) is the gateway to the Red River Gorge and serves Powell County’s tourism and agricultural communities.
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Powell County PVA at 50 Court Square, Suite 3, Stanton, KY 40380, phone 606-663-6196. KY residential assessed at 100% of fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Powell County Circuit Court at 50 Court Square, Stanton, KY 40380, phone 606-663-4216, 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)
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-6366
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-4280
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-6366
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Powell County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Powell County’s proximity to the Red River Gorge Geological Area is a significant local natural landmark.
Local societies
No dedicated Powell 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
Powell County District Court 525 Washington Street, P.O. Box 578, Stanton, KY 40380 (606) 663-4141 Powell County is in eastern Kentucky near the Red River Gorge, seated in Stanton.
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
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-2424
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-2424
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-6366
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
525 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380
(606) 663-6366
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Powell County Health Dept
(606) 663-2414
KY CHFS — Bluegrass Region
(859) 246-2090
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Clark Regional Medical Center
clarkregional.com (Winchester — Clark County; accessible)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Powell 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: Stanton
Population: 12,500
Area: 181 sq mi
Established: 1852
Tier: 3
Public Records
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