A Kentucky Kind of Place: Bell County

Photo: Bell County KY Tourism

Bell County was established in 1867 and named for Joshua Fry Bell, a Kentucky congressman and state legislator.

It sits where Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia meet, a tri-state corner defined by mountains. Pine Mountain runs along the county’s edge, shaping one of the most dramatic landscapes in the state.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves the natural pass that once served as a gateway to the west. It’s where Daniel Boone and thousands of settlers crossed into Kentucky during America’s early expansion.

The city of Middlesboro, the county’s seat, sits inside a massive meteorite crater - one of the few cities in the world built entirely within an ancient impact site. The crater spans three miles and dates back nearly 300 million years.

Over in Pineville, Chained Rock sits high above town on Pine Mountain (Kentucky's first state park). A heavy chain, added in the 1930s, links the boulder to the mountain. Local legend claimed the rock was chained to keep it from crashing down onto Pineville. The story stuck, and today it’s a popular hike with a wide view of the Cumberland Valley below.

Water worth finding: The Clear Fork River flows down from the mountains, carving out deep swimming holes and quiet fishing spots on its way to the Cumberland.