Quick Answer
Bell County, Kentucky was formed in 1867, with Pineville as its county seat. Located in the Cumberland Mountains along the Cumberland River, it's known as the Gem City of the Cumberlands.
Bell County, Kentucky, was established in 1867 and takes its name from Kentucky politician Joshua Fry Bell. Pineville, nestled in a narrow gap of the Cumberland Mountains along the Cumberland River, serves as the county seat.
Known as the Gem City of the Cumberlands, Pineville grew as a hub for the coal and railroad industries and later became a gateway to outdoor tourism with the founding of Pine Mountain State Resort Park.
Today Bell County preserves its Appalachian heritage through festivals like the Mountain Laurel Festival, historic downtown architecture around the courthouse square, and a strong sense of community rooted in generations of mountain life.
