Williamstown, Kentucky
Williamstown is a city of 3,945 people in Grant County, Kentucky.
Why visit Williamstown
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 24 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Ark Encounter and Webb Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Williamstown
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Williamstown
Williamstown is a home-rule-class city in Grant and Pendleton counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, Williamstown had a population of 3,894. It is the county seat of Grant County.
From the Wikipedia article Williamstown, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Ararat Ridge Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 1.7 mi
Exotic animals from all over the world like Tibetan yaks, kangaroos, emus, and ostriches. Camel rides and petting zoo.
Museums and landmarks14
The Ark
Museum · 1.6 mi
Largest timber-frame structure in the world. • 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, 51 feet high. • 3.3 million board feet of timber. • Made...
1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown
Truth Traveler
Monument and historic site · 1.7 mi
Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Ark Encounter
Sports field and stadium · 1.4 mi
Ark Encounter is a one-of-a-kind themed attraction with a life-size Noah’s Ark for the whole family.
1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown
Jan 04-Mar 07 We-Sa 10:00-17:00; Mar 08-May 23 Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30;...
Restaurants and cafes24
Emzara’s Buffet
Diner · American · 1.7 mi
Adjacent to the Ark, the two-story themed Emzara’s Kitchen is an award-winning buffet-style restaurant with a variety of delicious...
Su 13:00-18:00; Mo-Fr 11:00-18:00
12 more on the map.
History
When Grant County was formed in 1820, William Arnold offered land for the county seat. Arnold was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and settled in the area in 1795. The town built there was named after him when it incorporated in 1825.
The county grew slowly, reaching a population of just 281 by 1870. The Cincinnati Southern Railway was built through the county in 1877, and Williamstown Lake was created in 1957. Finally, Interstate 75 was built in the 1960s.
Since 2016, Williamstown is home to Ark Encounter theme park with its newly built Noah's Ark.
From the History section of Williamstown, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Hampton Inn & Suites Williamstown Ark Encounter
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
2 Skyway Drive, Williamstown
Churches and places of worship9
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare2
Map of Williamstown
89 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 25°F | 3.1 in | 6.7 in |
| Feb | 47°F | 28°F | 3.3 in | 4.1 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 4.3 in | 1.7 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 45°F | 4.1 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 63°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 58°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 47°F | 3.0 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 37°F | 3.5 in | 0.4 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 29°F | 3.5 in | 2.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Williamstown Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Grant County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-04-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-28: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 miles away.
- Dry Ridge 3 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Crittenden 10 mi north, about 17 min by car
- Verona 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Falmouth 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Walton 16 mi north, about 25 min by car
- Owenton 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
- Warsaw 20 mi northwest, about 32 min by car
- Claryville 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Independence 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Union 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Williamstown, Kentucky, W.marsh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grant County Judicial Center, Main Street, Williamstown, KY, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Grant County Judicial Center, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035254594, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Historical Marker, William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035557548, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53034493017, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035074406, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035465720, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035557343, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035074811, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035254534, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035074861, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- William Arnold House, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035074236, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035254514, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035255014, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- C. J. Glass Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Grant County Courthouse in Williamstown, lower front, Nyttend, Public domain
- C. J. Glass Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035557748, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- C. J. Glass Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035074921, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035465315, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Datestone, Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Citizens Telephone Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035076661, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Citizens Telephone Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035467390, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Citizens Telephone Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035256544, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035559243, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035467335, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035559148, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035467490, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53034494472, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035467230, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035559373, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Old Grant County Record Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035466440, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035256884, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Williamstown Post Office, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035076851, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Grant County Courthouse, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035558323, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Citizens Telephone Building, Main Street, Williamstown, KY - 53035559718, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Grant County Judicial Center from west, Nyttend, Public domain
- Grant County Judicial Center from north, Nyttend, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.