Harlan

Formed February 6, 1819 (60^th county)

Harlan County (29,278), Harlan (1,745), Cumberland (2,237)

The Beaux Arts masonry facility was built in 1918 in the city square at Central, 1^st, Court, and 2^nd streets.  United States Highway 421 is four blocks to the west of the courthouse.  C. C. and E. A. Weber are the architects.  The courthouse was renovated in 2014.  A Justice Center was added in 2004.  The courthouse features columns and veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county was established on February 6, 1819 from Knox County as the 60^th county.  Mount Pleasant was the first county seat.  There was an 1886 courthouse also at Harlan.  Revolutionary War hero Silas Harlan is the county and county seat namesake. 

Harlan County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 5 Magistrates.  One Circuit Court Judge and One District Court Judge serve Harlan County.  Harlan County is in southeast Kentucky on the border with Virginia.  Lexington, Kentucky is northwest and Huntington, West Virginia is northeast of the county.  The county center is 9.7 miles East-Northeast of Harlan nearer Evarts.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Perry and Letcher counties and Virginia and Bell and Leslie counties. 

The area of the county is 467 square miles.  It is 17 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 37 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 62.7 persons per square mile making it 59 out of 120 in the state.  Harlan County has 26.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 119 crosses the county northeast to southwest from Letcher County to Bell County.  United States Highway 421 goes north to south from Leslie County to Virginia.  The highest point in Kentucky, Black Mountain, is in the county.  The county looks like a caterpillar.  Harlan is in the southwest part of the county.  Cumberland is near the eastern border of the county.  Harlan is the county seat and Cumberland is the largest city.  Harlan is 6.0% of the county population while Cumberland is 7.6% of the county population.

Wallins Creek