Knox County, Kentucky

Knox County
County
Knox County courthouse in Barbourville
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°53′26″N 83°51′15″W / 36.89067°N 83.85404°W / 36.89067; -83.85404
Country United States
State Kentucky
FoundedDecember 19, 1799
Named afterHenry Knox
SeatBarbourville
Largest cityBarbourville
Area
  Total
388 sq mi (1,000 km2)
  Land386 sq mi (1,000 km2)
  Water1.5 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
30,193
  Estimate 
(2024)
29,657
  Density78/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websiteknoxfiscalcourt.com

Knox County is a county located in Appalachia near the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,193. Its county seat is Barbourville. The county is named for General Henry Knox. It is one of the few coal-producing counties in Kentucky that has not suffered massive population loss. Knox County is included in the Corbin, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.