Bell County, Kentucky

Founding: 1867
Parent counties: Harlan and Knox

Namesake: Joshua Bell, Kentucky politician
Seat: Pineville (1867–)

Land area: 359 square miles

Population (2020): 24,097

Population (historic): 3,731 (1870); 10,312 (1890); 28,447 (1910); 38,747 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1950; 1970s

Subdivisions: Two cities

National Register listings: 10

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,084 (8.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 16.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 34.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 29.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $388
Average outbuilding value (1930): $150

Average farmhouse size (1940): 3.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,664
Average farm size (1920): 21.4 acres
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Pineville

Namesake: The region's pine forests

Founding: 1867 (platting); 1870 (post office); 1873 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,678

Population (historic): 83 (1880); 2,072 (1900); 3,567 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1950
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 155 (16.4%)
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