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Kentucky County
Webster County, Kentucky
Dixon's Western Kentucky Coal Field heritage - from Webster County's coal mining legacy (the Western Kentucky Coal Field that underlies Webster County produced significant bituminous coal for over a century - the coal seams beneath the county's agricultural surface sustained mining operations that defined the regional economy through much of the 20th century, and the transition from coal to agriculture and light manufacturing reflects the broader economic evolution of western Kentucky's energy communities) and the county's productive grain and livestock farming on the post-coal landscape.
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Office: Webster County Emergency Management – 773 US Highway 41-A, Dixon, KY 42409 | Mailing: PO Box 307 | (270) 639-8000 ext. 204 | Fax (270) 639-8001 | Email: [email protected]; Director Jeremy Moore.
Sheriff: Webster County Sheriff’s Office – 25 US Highway 41A South, Dixon, KY 42409 | (270) 639-5067; Sheriff William “Billy” Braden (also reported as Sheriff Donald Jones in some sources – confirm current officeholder). Office located on the 1st floor of the Webster County Courthouse.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Central Dispatch: (270) 639-5012.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-41A and KY-132 serve Dixon, the county seat, in northwestern Kentucky near the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers.
Notes: Webster County was formed in July 1860 from parts of Henderson, Hopkins, and Union counties, named for statesman Daniel Webster. Dixon, incorporated in 1861, is named for Archibald Dixon, a former Kentucky lieutenant governor and U.S. Senator, and is smaller than the older town of Providence. Webster County saw Civil War activity due to its strategic river location, including a September 1861 skirmish at Burnt Mill – among the first armed clashes in Kentucky during the war – and the passage of Confederate cavalry under Nathan Bedford Forrest later that year.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Webster County Courthouse – Dixon, KY.
Notes: Dixon is the birthplace of noted early 20th-century author Cale Young Rice and his educator brother Laban Lacy Rice, commemorated by a state historical marker. Webster County’s economy has historically centered on oil, coal, agriculture, and railroads, with coal and agriculture continuing to drive the local economy today. Sebree, founded as a railroad town in 1868 ahead of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad’s arrival, carries the local nickname “Railroad Country.”
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Webster County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via webstercountyky.com.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Webster County Public Library – 101 KY Route 132 E, Dixon, KY 42409 | (270) 639-9171; a satellite branch in Providence, KY maintains a smaller genealogy/historical photo collection.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Canaan Ridge Park and the historic railroad heritage of Sebree are the county’s notable local attractions.
Notes: Webster County’s Civil War-era river crossroads history and literary heritage (the Rice brothers) are covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Webster County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via webstercountyky.com.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Webster County Animal Care and Control – 1919 State Route 132 West, Dixon, KY 42409 | (270) 639-7034 | Email: [email protected]; Director Aaron Richmond. Dog-focused facility serving the county since 2014; has maintained a 90%+ live release rate since 2016 and cares for 300+ dogs annually. Adoption fee $150 in-county (includes spay/neuter voucher and rabies vaccination; $50 if already fixed). Hours: Tue-Fri 8 AM-4 PM, Sat 8 AM-noon.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Webster County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via webstercountyky.com.
NOTES: Webster County is the first county in Kentucky’s seventeenth (and final) batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. Webster County’s Civil War-era river crossroads history and literary heritage are 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 Webster County
Webster County is western Kentucky’s Coal Field transition county – the bituminous coal seams that defined the county’s economy for generations have given way to grain farming and light manufacturing as the community navigates the post-coal economic landscape common to Kentucky’s western coalfield counties.
Dixon (the county seat, population ~700) is one of Kentucky’s smallest county seats, serving Webster County’s agricultural communities between Henderson and Madisonville.
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Webster County PVA at 25 US Highway 41A S., Suite 4, Dixon, KY 42409, phone 270-639-9015. KY residential assessed at 100% of fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Webster County Circuit Court at 25 US Highway 41A S., Dixon, KY 42409, phone 270-639-5024, 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 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-5042
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
20 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-5007
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
20 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-5042
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Webster County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Webster 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
Webster County District Court 35 U.S. Highway 41A South, Dixon, KY 42409 (270) 639-9160 Webster County is in western Kentucky, seated in Dixon.
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 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-9027
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
20 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-9027
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
20 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-5042
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
20 U.S. Highway 41A, Dixon, KY 42409
(270) 639-5042
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Office: Webster County Health Department – confirm current contact via webstercountyky.com.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Dixon
Population: 13,500
Area: 335 sq mi
Established: 1860
Tier: 3
Public Records
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