County GIS · State lines · October 21, 2026
Illinois–Kentucky Border Counties: Parcel Maps on Both Sides
All 11 counties on the Illinois–Kentucky line, with seats, 2023 populations and a link to each official parcel map, plus what changes at the state line.
Looking for the counties on the Illinois–Kentucky border and their parcel maps? According to the Census Bureau's county adjacency file, 6 Illinois counties touch 5 Kentucky counties along the line. Each one keeps its own property records and its own parcel viewer, so land near the line often means checking two counties in two states.
A farm, hunting tract or lake lot can sit in one state while the road, the neighbors or the rest of the property are in the other. This page lists every county that touches the line on either side, with links to each official parcel map.
Illinois–Kentucky border at a glance
- Counties on the line: 11 (6 in Illinois, 5 in Kentucky)
- With a verified public parcel viewer in our directory: 7 of 11
- Residents, 2023 estimates: about 35,213 on the Illinois side and 105,982 on the Kentucky side
- Most populous on each side: Massac County, IL (13,661) and McCracken County, KY (67,428)
- Largest by land area: Pope County, IL (369 sq mi) and Crittenden County, KY (360 sq mi)
Illinois counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander County | Cairo | 235 | 4,695 | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
| Gallatin County | Shawneetown | 323 | 4,670 | WTH GIS |
| Hardin County | Elizabethtown | 177 | 3,569 | no verified public viewer listed yet |
| Massac County | Metropolis | 237 | 13,661 | BHA Maps |
| Pope County | Golconda | 369 | 3,707 | no verified public viewer listed yet |
| Pulaski County | Mound City | 199 | 4,911 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
Kentucky counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County | Wickliffe | 247 | 7,582 | qPublic (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Crittenden County | Marion | 360 | 8,974 | qPublic (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Livingston County | Smithland | 313 | 8,892 | no verified public viewer listed yet |
| McCracken County | Paducah | 249 | 67,428 | qPublic (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Union County | Morganfield | 343 | 13,106 | no verified public viewer listed yet |
Which counties face each other
The Census adjacency file pairs counties that share a boundary. Use it to find the county across the line from the one you know:
- Alexander County, IL borders Ballard County, KY
- Gallatin County, IL borders Union County, KY
- Hardin County, IL borders Crittenden County, KY, Livingston County, KY, Union County, KY
- Massac County, IL borders Livingston County, KY, McCracken County, KY
- Pope County, IL borders Livingston County, KY
- Pulaski County, IL borders Ballard County, KY, McCracken County, KY
What changes when you cross the line
- Different viewers. On the Illinois side the official maps run on: no verified public viewer listed yet (2); ArcGIS Map Viewer (1); WTH GIS (1); BHA Maps (1); ArcGIS Web AppBuilder (1). On the Kentucky side: qPublic (Schneider Geospatial) (3); no verified public viewer listed yet (2). Search boxes, parcel ID formats and the details shown in pop-ups will differ.
- Different records offices. Deeds, plats and tax bills are kept by the county where the parcel sits.
- Different rules. Zoning, septic permits and property tax are set locally and by each state, so check with the county on the side where you plan to build or buy.
Researching a tract that crosses the line
- Find the parcel in both counties' viewers. Each side will show only its own piece, with its own parcel number.
- Pull the recorded deed from each county's register or recorder, since each county records only the land inside its own boundary.
- Expect two tax bills, one from each county, and check each state's rules for homestead or farm exemptions.
- For a sale, a fence or a building permit, hire a licensed surveyor familiar with the line; tax-map lines are drawings, not surveys.
A quick way to check which side a spot is on
Search the address in the official parcel viewer of the county you expect (the links are in the tables above). If a county-run viewer shows no parcel at that spot, the land is probably in the neighboring county, so try that county's viewer next. Statewide viewers cover both sides, so check the county named in the parcel details.
Related guides
More: Illinois counties · Kentucky counties
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file, used for which counties share the line.
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files, 2020 county land area.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2023 (July 1, 2023 estimates)
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 21, 2026) for each county's official parcel viewer.
- County seats: Wikidata (county seat property), cross-checked against Census place names.