Bell County, Kentucky

Bell County
Bell County Courthouse in Pineville
Flag of Bell County
Map of Kentucky highlighting Bell County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°44′N 83°40′W / 36.74°N 83.67°W / 36.74; -83.67
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedFebruary 5, 1867[1]
Named forJoshua Fry Bell
SeatPineville
Largest cityMiddlesboro
Area
 • Total361 sq mi (930 km2)
 • Land359 sq mi (930 km2)
 • Water2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total24,097
 • Estimate 
(2023)
23,317Decrease
 • Density67/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitebellcounty.ky.gov/default.htm

Bell County is a county located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,097.[2] Its county seat is Pineville and its largest city is Middlesboro.[3] The county was formed in 1867, during the Reconstruction era from parts of Knox and Harlan counties[4] and augmented from Knox County in 1872.[5] The county is named for Joshua Fry Bell, a US Representative. It was originally called "Josh Bell", but on January 31, 1873, the Kentucky legislature shortened the name to "Bell",[5][1]

  1. ^ a b Bell County About Us
  2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Bell County, Kentucky" Genealogy Inc. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Census Office. Tenth Census of the United States (1880) I:62.