Harlan at a glance…

Welcome to the mountains, and to the friendly community of Harlan, Kentucky. Harlan County is located in Southeastern Kentucky, the state's richest bituminous coal field. The majority of the county lies between two major mountain ridges, Pine Mountain to the north and Cumberland Mountain to the south. Atop Cumberland Mountain, Harlan County shares a border with Lee County, Virginia. In between these two long mountain ridges lie the three spurs of Black Mountain, one of which is the highest point in the state. Harlan is a two-hour drive from Knoxville, Tennessee, and a three-hour drive from Lexington, Kentucky.

Population

Harlan County has a population of approximately 33,000 residents. The county seat, Harlan, has a population of approximately 2,700.

Industry

Since the early 1920s, Harlan County has been a major coal-producing region in the state and nation. In fact, several towns in the county, such as Benham and Lynch, began as coal mining camps. Black Mountain is a key source of coal in the region.

Education

There are two public school systems that provide services to children and adults in Harlan County. The Harlan County School District has information posted on its website www.harlan.k12.ky.us. Information on the Harlan Independent School District, often referred to locally as the City Schools, can be found at www.harlan-ind.k12.ky.us.

Southeast Community and Technical College provides degree and certificate programs in a variety of disciplines. For detailed information, visit www.southeast.kctcs.edu.

Recreation

Like other parts of Appalachia, Harlan County is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground! The county is located within a short driving distance from several Kentucky state parks and some of the large lakes in the Tennessee Valley Authority system. Part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is located in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, with the park’s entrance located in neighboring Bell County. These parks provide opportunities for golf, tennis, swimming, fishing, hiking, and more.

Harlan County is also home to the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum in Benham, as well as Kingdom Come State Park, Pine Mountain Settlement School, Martins Fork Lake, and The Blanton Forest, one of the largest old-growth forests east of the Mississippi River. The Great Smoky Mountains are located in neighboring east Tennessee, offering outdoor recreation, amusement parks, shopping, and snowskiing.

Health Services

Harlan ARH Hospital is a state-licensed, 150-bed, acute-care facility. We continue to build upon our 40-year reputation as a regional healthcare center providing specialty medical services and community-based care. Although Harlan ARH Hospital is the only major healthcare facility in its immediate service area, nine other clinical providers serve the community. The ARH Cumberland Valley Primary Care Center, for example, is located in Lynch. The ARH Daniel Boone Clinic-Harlan, a multi-specialty group practice, is located adjacent to the hospital.

For more information about Harlan County visit HarlanCounty.com

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