Bell County, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. It was formed August 1, 1867, from parts of Knox
and Harlan
Counties and augmented from Knox County in 1872. As of 2010 the population was 69,060. Its county seat
is Pineville
. The county is named for Joshua Fry Bell
, and was originally called "Josh Bell" but shortened to "Bell" by 1880.
Bell County is a dry county, meaning that the sale of alcohol is prohibited.
The Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area
includes all of Bell County.
of 2000, there were 30,060 people, 12,004 households, and 8,522 families residing in the county. The population density
was 83 /sqmi. There were 13,341 housing units at an average density of 37 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 96.02% White
, 2.40% Black or African American
, 0.25% Native American
, 0.35% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.12% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,004 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples
living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $19,057, and the median income for a family was $23,818. Males had a median income of $24,521 versus $19,975 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $11,526. About 26.70% of families and 31.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.00% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. It was formed August 1, 1867, from parts of Knox
Knox County, Kentucky
Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 31,795. Its county seat is Barbourville. The county is named for General Henry Knox...
and Harlan
Harlan County, Kentucky
Harlan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1819. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. Its county seat is Harlan...
Counties and augmented from Knox County in 1872. As of 2010 the population was 69,060. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Pineville
Pineville, Kentucky
Pineville is a city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,093 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County. It is located on a small strip of land between the Cumberland River and Pine Mountain.-History:...
. The county is named for Joshua Fry Bell
Joshua Fry Bell
Joshua Fry Bell was a Kentucky political figure.Bell was born in Danville, Kentucky, where he attended public schools and then Centre College, where he graduated in 1828...
, and was originally called "Josh Bell" but shortened to "Bell" by 1880.
Bell County is a dry county, meaning that the sale of alcohol is prohibited.
The Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area
Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area
The Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the vicnity of Middlesboro, Kentucky. The Middlesborough Micropolitan Statistical Area encompasses Bell County entirely. The Micropolitan Statistical Area had a...
includes all of Bell County.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 361.35 square miles (935.9 km²), of which 360.77 square miles (934.4 km²) (or 99.84%) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km²) (or 0.16%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Clay CountyClay County, Kentucky- Demographics :As of the census of 2011, there were 21,000 people, 8,556 households, and 6,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 9,439 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
(north) - Leslie CountyLeslie County, KentuckyLeslie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 12,401. Its county seat is Hyden. The county is named for Preston H. Leslie, Governor of Kentucky...
(northeast) - Harlan CountyHarlan County, KentuckyHarlan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1819. As of 2000, the population was 33,200. Its county seat is Harlan...
(east) - Lee County, VirginiaLee County, VirginiaAccording to the census 2009 estimates, there were 25001 people, 11,587 households, and 6,852 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,587 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
(southeast) - Claiborne County, Tennessee (south)
- Whitley CountyWhitley County, KentuckyWhitley County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. 2005 census projections list its population at 38,029 . The county seat is at Williamsburg, though the largest city is Corbin, and the county's District Court sits in both cities...
(southwest) - Knox CountyKnox County, KentuckyKnox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 31,795. Its county seat is Barbourville. The county is named for General Henry Knox...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 30,060 people, 12,004 households, and 8,522 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 83 /sqmi. There were 13,341 housing units at an average density of 37 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 96.02% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 2.40% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.25% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.35% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,004 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $19,057, and the median income for a family was $23,818. Males had a median income of $24,521 versus $19,975 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $11,526. About 26.70% of families and 31.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.00% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- MiddlesboroughMiddlesborough, KentuckyMiddlesboro, also spelled Middlesborough, is a city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,384 at the 2000 census. The estimated July 1, 2009 population of the city is 14,835. The entire micropolitan area has a population of 69,060 which includes all of Bell County...
(also spelled Middlesboro) - PinevillePineville, KentuckyPineville is a city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,093 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County. It is located on a small strip of land between the Cumberland River and Pine Mountain.-History:...
Bell County Schools
The largest of the three in enrollment and by far the largest in geographic scope. The district operates six mainstream K-8 "school centers", one alternative school, one vocational school, and one high schoolBell County High School
Bell County High School is the only high school in the Bell County Schools after the consolidation of Bell County High School and Lone Jack High School in the 1980s. It is located in Bell County, Kentucky and accommodates grades 9-12...
.
Middlesboro Independent Schools
The second-largest of the three, with boundaries coinciding exactly with the corporate limits of Middlesboro. The district operates two elementary schools, one designated as "primary" and the other as "intermediate"; one middle school; and one high school. The two elementary schools are separate facilities that share the same campus design (both schools are designed in an "X" shape), and the middle and high schools are separate facilities on one campus on the west side of town.Pineville Independent Schools
The county's smallest district; its boundaries generally, but do not exactly, follow the corporate limits of Pineville. The district operates elementary, middle, and high schools on the same campus.See also
- Dry countyDry countyA dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
- Hensley SettlementHensley Settlement (Kentucky)Hensley Settlement is an Appalachian living history museum on Brush Mountain, Bell County, Kentucky in the United States. The settlement is part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. It is located approximately north of the park visitor center on Ridge Trail, and contains twelve...
- Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical AreaMiddlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical AreaThe Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the vicnity of Middlesboro, Kentucky. The Middlesborough Micropolitan Statistical Area encompasses Bell County entirely. The Micropolitan Statistical Area had a...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bell County, Kentucky