Pair the mounds with the river overlook
Build a half-day around Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site and the Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross, two stops that explain why the meeting of the Ohio and Mississippi matters here.
A landmark becomes a launchpad
See how local hands are giving old places a bold second life—and where your own skills can help shape what comes next.
Get to know Ballard County.
These sourced place ideas are general county discovery—not coupons or paid offers. Check current hours and conditions before visiting.
Step inside the Barlow House story
The eleven-room Barlow House preserves original furnishings, needlework, art, and a family's wide-ranging collection. Its limited volunteer hours make checking ahead part of the plan.
Choose a public-land day by the river
Ballard County's visitor guide identifies Ballard and Boatwright wildlife management areas among its large public outdoor spaces. Check current state rules and conditions before planning wildlife viewing, fishing, or a seasonal hunt.
Every Kentucky West place record, ready to search.
Choose a door to search the complete source-backed county list. Results stay inside Kentucky West; each detail page includes an optional Google Maps link for directions.
Meet Ballard County businesses.
Sponsored supporters keep their reserved featured position. The independent directory below is maintained by a local public or chamber source and is not sponsored.
Featured supporters
Sponsored listings.
Community directory
Every published business in Ballard County.
A business appears here as soon as it is published. Sponsored listings keep their featured positions above.
- Chub's Bar & Grill Sponsored listingFood & Drink · (270) 334-3246
- KY West Inc. Sponsored listingNonprofit
- R+S Forestry & Land Mgt., LLC Sponsored listingAgriculture · (270) 838-2301
- Smokey D's Family Restaurant Sponsored listingFood & Drink · (270) 665-8050
- A Cut AboveRetail · 270-665-9755
- Ballard County Co-OpAgriculture · (270) 665-5101
- Giving Tree BoutiqueRetail · (270) 227-2021
- Mi Rancho Mexican Grill La CenterFood & Drink · (270) 665-8345
- Newton's SupermarketRetail · (270) 665-5529
- Sutton DrugsRetail · (270) 665-5192
Independent local source
Ballard County Chamber Member Directory
Search chamber members by business name, contact, or keyword.
Chamber member directory · maintained by Ballard County Chamber of CommerceOpen local directory ↗These links open directories maintained by local chambers or public organizations. Kentucky West does not copy, rank, or imply sponsorship of their records.
Useful Ballard County resources.
Open a Kentucky West profile first for the important local facts, then continue to the institution's official site when you need it.
Living in Ballard County.
Practical county information appears only when it is tied to an identified source. Empty sections remain visible while local research is reviewed.
Kentucky State Resources for County Residents
Official Kentucky programs and services that residents can use.
Kentucky resident services
Start with the Commonwealth's resident portal for state services and agency pathways.
Commonwealth of KentuckyOpen profile →Start a business in Kentucky
The official One Stop guide covers business structure, registration, taxes, insurance, permits, and employers.
Kentucky Business One StopOpen profile →Travel & Tourism
Official and locally maintained travel information.
Chambers & City Resources
Chambers, city governments, and other official local gateways.
Ballard County Chamber of Commerce
Business support, local contacts, chamber membership, and a searchable member directory.
Ballard County Chamber of CommerceOpen profile →Barlow
Active home-rule city; use the state city record for government contacts.
Kentucky Secretary of StateOpen profile →Kevil
Active home-rule city spanning Ballard and McCracken counties.
Kentucky Secretary of StateOpen profile →La Center
Active home-rule city; use the state city record for government contacts.
Kentucky Secretary of StateOpen profile →Wickliffe
County-seat city government and local services.
City of WickliffeOpen profile →Unwritten Rules
Sourced local context that helps people participate respectfully, without stereotypes or guesses.
Check river and refuge conditions
Water, wildlife-area, and seasonal access can change; check the managing agency before setting out.
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife ResourcesOpen profile →Small offices may run on local hours
Call ahead when a trip depends on a city office, museum, or locally staffed attraction.
Ballard County government servicesOpen profile →Treat working land as working land
Stay on public routes, honor posted boundaries, and ask before entering farms or private river access.
Discover Ballard CountyOpen profile →What You'll Find Here
A source-backed introduction to the places and community life found in the county.
River country and wetlands
The county sits at the Ohio-Mississippi confluence and includes refuge and wetland landscapes.
Discover Ballard CountyOpen profile →Small towns with distinct roles
Barlow, Kevil, La Center, and Wickliffe anchor daily life across the county.
Ballard County Chamber of CommerceOpen profile →History
County history tied to identified archives, museums, or public records.
County formed in 1842
Ballard County was formed in 1842 and named for soldier and state legislator Bland Ballard.
Discover Ballard CountyOpen profile →Mississippian history at Wickliffe
Wickliffe Mounds preserves the site of a Mississippian village occupied roughly 1100–1300 CE.
Kentucky State ParksOpen profile →Who's Who
Past and present people documented by identified public sources.
Bland Ballard · past
The county namesake was a War of 1812 veteran and Kentucky legislator.
Kentucky Historical SocietyOpen profile →Lindsay Bowles · present
The chamber's current public page identifies Bowles as director and a local business contact.
Ballard County Chamber of CommerceOpen profile →Education
School boards, districts, colleges, libraries, and official learning resources.
Ballard County Schools
One public district serves preschool through high school on a shared campus.
Ballard County SchoolsOpen profile →Ballard County Board of Education
Find board members, meeting information, and public contact details.
Ballard County SchoolsOpen profile →Kentucky district and school directory
Confirm K-12 district, school, address, and contact information in the state-maintained directory.
Kentucky Department of EducationOpen profile →Employment & Job Boards
Official job-search tools, workforce help, and local public-employer openings.
Ballard County Fiscal Court employment
County-government openings and application information.
Ballard County Fiscal Court employmentOpen profile →Ballard County Schools employment
School-district vacancies and application links.
Ballard County Schools employmentOpen profile →Kentucky Focus Career
Search Kentucky jobs, build a résumé, and connect with Kentucky Career Center services.
Kentucky Career CenterOpen profile →West Kentucky Career Center
Find regional career-center locations, training, job-search, and workforce assistance.
West Kentucky Career CenterOpen profile →College, University & Scholarships
Regional colleges, university programs, financial aid, and scholarship gateways.
West Kentucky Community & Technical College
Explore regional degree, diploma, certificate, workforce, and transfer programs.
West Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeOpen profile →WKCTC scholarships and financial aid
Review college scholarships, aid steps, and Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship information.
WKCTC scholarships and financial aidOpen profile →Murray State University scholarships
Search university scholarship programs, eligibility, and application guidance.
Murray State University scholarshipsOpen profile →Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Use Kentucky's official gateway for state grants, scholarships, and college-planning help.
KHEAA scholarships and grantsOpen profile →University of Kentucky College of Engineering — Paducah
Explore UK engineering programs delivered on the WKCTC Paducah campus.
University of Kentucky Paducah CampusOpen profile →Organizations & Nonprofits
Regional service organizations plus every current Kentucky charity-register entry with a mailing address in this county. Register amounts are filing data, not an endorsement or a measure of local impact.
United Way of Western Kentucky
The goal of the United Way of Western Kentucky is to continue the work started in 1935 by mobilizing the power of our community to improve lives. The manner in which we do that today looks a little different than it did in 1935, but the mission remains the same and results can be seen every day in lives that are changed.
Official Source United WayOpen profile →Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center
The state-designated domestic-violence program serving all eight Purchase Area counties, including Ballard; services are free and confidential.
Merryman House Domestic Crisis CenterOpen profile →Purchase Area Development District
A regional gateway for volunteer opportunities, human-support programs, aging and disability services, and community partnerships serving Ballard County.
Purchase Area Development DistrictOpen profile →Ballard County Farm Bureau of Ballard County, Inc.
Registered address: PO Box 299, La Center, KY 42056. Latest filing year: 2024. Reported contributions: $36,328.00; reported revenue: $36,328.00.
Kentucky Attorney General charity register · page 17Open profile →Kentucky West Inc.
Registered address: 307 Lake Drive, Barlow, KY 42024. Latest filing year: 2025. Reported contributions: $0.00; reported revenue: $0.00.
Kentucky Attorney General charity register · page 83Open profile →Olive Branch Christian Academy
Registered address: 712 Court Street, Wickliffe, KY 42087. Latest filing year: 2024. Reported contributions: $12,337.00; reported revenue: $57,441.00.
Kentucky Attorney General charity register · page 110Open profile →Media & Communications
Regional broadcast outlets and address-level internet, telephone, and cable availability tools.
BTC Services
We know firsthand the importance of dependable internet, phone, and television services, especially in rural areas where options can be limited. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to bring cutting-edge technology and personalized service to every home and business in our region.
Open profile →WKMS public radio
Murray State University's public-radio service for western Kentucky, with regional news, programs, and listening options relevant to Ballard County.
WKMS public radioOpen profile →WPSD Local 6
Paducah-based regional television news, weather, and programming serving the Jackson Purchase, including Ballard County.
WPSD Local 6Open profile →Kentucky Educational Television
Kentucky's statewide public television network, with broadcast schedules and streaming programs.
Kentucky Educational TelevisionOpen profile →Kentucky Broadband Availability Map
Search broadband availability around Ballard County before contacting a provider.
Kentucky Office of Broadband DevelopmentOpen profile →FCC National Broadband Map
Enter an address to compare internet providers and technologies reported as available at that exact location.
Federal Communications CommissionOpen profile →Spectrum service availability
Check a specific address for Spectrum cable internet, television, and voice service; county presence does not establish address-level availability.
SpectrumOpen profile →AT&T service availability
Check a specific address for AT&T internet and telephone options before comparing plans.
AT&TOpen profile →Public Utilities by Availability
Official service-area and provider lookups for electric, gas, water, sewer, and telecommunications utilities.
Kentucky PSC utility maps
Use official electric, natural-gas, telecommunications, water, and sewer service-area maps around Ballard County; boundaries may divide a county or overlap.
Kentucky Public Service CommissionOpen profile →Kentucky utility directory by county and type
Look up utilities associated with Ballard County, then confirm the exact service address with the provider.
Kentucky Public Service Commission Utility MasterOpen profile →Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative
Review the cooperative's published six-county service area and confirm whether a specific address is inside it.
Jackson Purchase Energy CooperativeOpen profile →Community Sports
Public and nonprofit leagues, facilities, and participation information.
Bomber clubs and athletics
The district lists academic teams, arts, career organizations, 4-H, and school sports by level.
Ballard County SchoolsOpen profile →BEES nature trail
The county lists a public dawn-to-dusk nature walking and hiking trail at Ballard Memorial High School.
Ballard County governmentOpen profile →Kids Zone
Verified activities and public resources intended for children and families.
Ballard–Carlisle County Library
Start with the public library and bookmobile for family reading and current programs.
Ballard County governmentOpen profile →School clubs and enrichment
Elementary options listed by the district include robotics, 4-H, scouts, chorus, and student activities.
Ballard County SchoolsOpen profile →Child Care
Official child-care search, licensing, assistance, and provider resources.
Find regulated child care
Any Kentucky resident can use kynect's provider search; confirm openings and program details with the provider.
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family ServicesOpen profile →Child Care Assistance Program
Review state child-care assistance, eligibility, and provider information through the Division of Child Care.
Kentucky Division of Child CareOpen profile →Elder Care
Official aging, caregiving, transportation, and support resources.
Purchase Aging & Disability Resource Center
Regional information and referral for aging, disability, caregiver, respite, nutrition, and in-home services.
Purchase Area Agency on Aging & Independent LivingOpen profile →Regional aging resource directory
Use the regional directory to explore programs; eligibility varies and the agency can help confirm fit.
Purchase Area Agency on Aging & Independent LivingOpen profile →Ballard County Senior Citizens Complex
County-listed local senior center; call to confirm current services and schedules.
Ballard County governmentOpen profile →Golf Courses
Verified public information for golf courses serving the county.
Attractions
Verified museums, parks, landmarks, and other visitor destinations.
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
State-managed archaeology, museum, trail, and Mississippian cultural interpretation.
Kentucky State ParksOpen profile →Fort Jefferson Historic Site
A county tourism stop overlooking the Ohio-Mississippi confluence; confirm access before visiting.
Discover Ballard CountyOpen profile →Kentucky Veterans and Patriots Museum
A Wickliffe museum identified by the county tourism organization.
Discover Ballard CountyOpen profile →Arts & Entertainment
Verified cultural venues, arts organizations, and permanent entertainment resources.
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
A state museum and archaeological site interpreting the art, architecture, and daily life of a Mississippian community.
Kentucky State ParksOpen profile →Kentucky Veterans and Patriots Museum
A Wickliffe museum included in the county tourism organization's durable places-to-visit guide.
Discover Ballard CountyOpen profile →Ballard student arts and performance programs
The school district lists band, chorus, drama, art, and related student organizations among its countywide opportunities.
Ballard County SchoolsOpen profile →Events
Official event-calendar gateways for time-sensitive community listings.
Discover Ballard County community updates
Use the chamber and tourism gateway for current community announcements and local happenings; confirm details with the organizer.
Ballard County Chamber of CommerceOpen profile →Ballard County chamber updates
The chamber page is a current contact point for business and community programs when no single countywide calendar is available.
Ballard County Chamber of CommerceOpen profile →
Who serves Ballard County.
Names come from official county, city, and Kentucky government sources. Verified August 30, 2026.
County offices
- County Judge/Executive
- Todd Cooper
- County Clerk
- Katie Mercer
- County Sheriff
- Ronnie Giles
- Property Valuation Administrator
- Susan Sullivan
- County Jailer
- Eric Coppess
- County Attorney
- Bethany Denton
Fiscal Court
- District 2
- Jody Brown
- District 4
- Nathan Whipple
Wickliffe
Names remain unpublished until the official sources agree.
Official sources
Projects and contribution
Join useful work from Ballard County.
The founding projects serve the connected Kentucky West region. Start with the work, or use Talent DNA to find one small contribution.
Deals, coupons, and offers
No verified Ballard County offers are published right now.
The Deal Guide only holds real, current offers. Kentucky West will not turn place recommendations into pretend deals.
