Harlan County
Sign in to savecounty in Kentucky, United States
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Kentucky
- Named after
- Silas Harlan
- Seat
- Harlan
- Largest city
- Cumberland
- Judge executive
- Dan Mosley (R)
- Total
- 468 sq mi (1,210 km )
- Land
- 466 sq mi (1,210 km )
- Water
- 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km ) 0.5%
- Estimate 2025
- 24,725
- Density
- 57.6/sq mi (22.2/km )
- Time zone
- UTC−5 ( Eastern )
- Summer dst
- UTC−4 ( EDT )
- Congressional district
- 5th
- Website
- judge-executive .harlanonline .net
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
Harlan County is located in southeastern Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,831. The county seat is Harlan. Kentucky's highest natural point, Black Mountain (4,145 feet (1,263 m)), is in Harlan County.
During the Great Depression it was a center of labor strife between coal mine owners and unionized workers, notably in the Harlan County War of the 1930s. After the respite provided by WWII's need for coal to drive war production, the industry declined in the 1950s. The loss of jobs resulted in a steadily declining population and depressed economy. Harlan County has a high prevalence of poverty, lower longevity, and low family income.