Livingston

Formed December 14, 1798 (30^th county)

Livingston County (8,892), Smithland (242), Salem (719)

The 1845 red brick Colonial courthouse was remodeled in 1870.  It is located on Court, Wilson, State, and Adair streets.  United States Highway 60 is Adair Street.  Preston Grace is the courthouse architect.  The courthouse features a tower.  A Justice Center was built in 2009 and an Administration building was built in 2001.  Livingston County was created on December 14, 1798 from Christian County as the 30^th county.  It is named for Robert R. Livingston, signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Eddyville, Centerville, Salem, and Smithland have all served as the county seat.  The county seat is named for explorer James Smith. 

Livingston County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 4 Magistrates.  Two Circuit Court Judges and One District Court Judge serve Livingston, Caldwell, Lyon and Trigg counties.  Livingston County is on the western border with Illinois.  The Ohio River forms its northern and western borders.  Paducah, Kentucky is southwest and Evansville, Indiana is northeast.  The county center is 8.7 miles North-Northeast of Smithland nearer Burna.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Illinois and Crittenden, Lyon, Marshall, and McCracken counties. 

The area of the county is 316 square miles.  It is 58 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 104 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 28.1 persons per square mile making it 111 out of 120 in the state.  Livingston County has 15.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 24 crosses east and west from Lyon County to Marshall County.  United States Highway 60 goes east to west from Crittenden County to McCracken County.  United States Highways 62/641 parallel Interstate Highway 24 from Lyon to McCracken counties.  The county is shaped like a fat letter J.  Smithland is on the southwest Ohio River border.  Salem is on the eastern border of the county.  Smithland is the county seat and Salem is the largest city.  Smithland is 2.7% of the county population while Salem is 8.1% of the county population.  This county is in the Paducah Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Smithland