Knox County is a county in Kentucky, United States, on the Cumberland River in the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 30,193 at the 2020 census and covers 386 square miles (1,000 km2) of land plus 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) of water, centred near 36°53′N 83°51′W.
Barbourville is the county seat, and its postal code is 40906. The county has one city, three census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities scattered along the Cumberland River and its creek hollows. Knox County is in the Eastern time zone and is part of the London, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Knox County
Barbourville is the county’s only incorporated city. Corbin, a much larger city, sits mostly across the line in Whitley County, though its North Corbin census-designated place lies on the Knox County side. Artemus and Flat Lick are also recognized as census-designated places. Everything else below is an unincorporated community, crossroads, or former coal camp — Unincorp. in the table.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbourville | City · seat | — | 40906 |
| North Corbin | CDP | — | — |
| Artemus | CDP | — | 40903 |
| Flat Lick | CDP | — | 40935 |
| Old Flat Lick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arkle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Baughman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bimble | Unincorp. | — | 40915 |
| Boone Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cannon | Unincorp. | — | 40923 |
| Crane Nest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dewitt | Unincorp. | — | 40930 |
| Dishman Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Emanuel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Erose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gibbs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Girdler | Unincorp. | — | 40943 |
| Gray | Unincorp. | — | 40734 |
| Hammond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heidrick | Unincorp. | — | 40949 |
| Himyar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hinkle | Unincorp. | — | 40953 |
| Kayjay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moore Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Permon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Providence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rossland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scalf | Unincorp. | — | 40982 |
| Siler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sprule | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Swan Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Swanpond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tedders | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trosper | Unincorp. | — | 40995 |
| Walker | Unincorp. | — | 40997 |
| Warren | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wheeler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woollum | Unincorp. | — | — |
Corbin straddles the Knox–Whitley county line: most of the city and its ZIP code are in Whitley County, so it is named here for context only and not counted as a Knox County place; the North Corbin CDP that carries its population into Knox County is listed separately.
ZIP Codes
- 40906 — Barbourville (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 40903 — Artemus
- 40915 — Bimble
- 40923 — Cannon
- 40930 — Dewitt (PO Box only)
- 40935 — Flat Lick
- 40943 — Girdler
- 40734 — Gray
- 40949 — Heidrick
- 40953 — Hinkle
- 40982 — Scalf
- 40995 — Trosper
- 40997 — Walker
The remaining communities on the list above share one of these ZIP codes rather than having a post office of their own.
Geography
Knox County lies in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Kentucky. The Cumberland River runs through the county and past Barbourville, fed by numerous smaller creeks that cut the county’s terrain into narrow valleys and ridges. The county has historically produced coal alongside Clay and Bell counties to its north and east.
Knox County borders Clay County to the northeast, Bell County to the southeast, Whitley County to the southwest, and Laurel County to the northwest.
Demographics
Knox County had 30,193 residents at the 2020 census. Barbourville is its largest community, followed by the North Corbin CDP. Median household income in Knox County runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118, consistent with other Appalachian coal counties in the region. Population density is roughly 78 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Health care and social assistance is the county’s largest employer sector, followed by retail trade and educational services, according to Census Bureau data. Knox County remains one of the few Kentucky coal counties where population has held relatively steady even as mining employment has declined statewide. Union College, a Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college founded in Barbourville in 1879, is one of the county’s largest institutions and a major local employer.
History
Knox County was formed December 19, 1799, from part of Lincoln County. It is generally said to be named for Henry Knox, the Revolutionary War general and first U.S. Secretary of War, though some local historians argue the honor instead belongs to James Knox, a frontier explorer and road-builder active in the area. The Battle of Barbourville, an early Civil War skirmish, was fought here on September 19, 1861. The county’s current courthouse, completed in 1964, is the fifth building to serve that role.
Getting There
U.S. Route 25E and U.S. Route 25W both pass through the county, along with Kentucky Route 11 and Kentucky Route 190.
- London, Kentucky — about 20 miles northwest
- Corbin, Kentucky — about 10 miles south
- Manchester, Kentucky — about 20 miles north
- Pineville, Kentucky — about 20 miles southeast
The nearest commercial air service is London-Corbin Airport, a general-aviation field near the county; the nearest major commercial airport is McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Knox County, Kentucky?
It is in southeastern Kentucky, on the Cumberland River, part of the London Micropolitan Statistical Area.
What is the population of Knox County?
30,193 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Knox County?
386 square miles (1,000 km2) of land plus 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Knox County?
Barbourville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Knox County?
One incorporated city (Barbourville), three census-designated places, and dozens of smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Knox County?
Barbourville uses 40906; other communities use ZIP codes such as 40903 (Artemus), 40935 (Flat Lick), and 40734 (Gray).
Is Corbin, Kentucky in Knox County?
Most of Corbin sits across the line in Whitley County; only its North Corbin census-designated place lies within Knox County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.