Kentucky

Bell

24,097
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Bell

Bell, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 3,731. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 24,097.

Its recorded population peaked at 47,602 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 49 percent.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cumberland Gap — First Confederate Occupation, Evacuation of Cumberland Gap (Union), Action at Pineville (Bell County), and 82 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202024,097
201028,691
200030,060
199031,506
198034,330
197031,087
196035,336
195047,602
194043,812
193038,747
192033,988
191028,447
190015,701
189010,312
18806,055
18703,731
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bell

Military engagements that took place in Bell, Kentucky.

Cumberland Gap — First Confederate Occupation
1861
Evacuation of Cumberland Gap (Union)
1862
Action at Pineville (Bell County)
1862
Battle of Cumberland Gap (Union Seizure)
1862
Skirmish near Middlesborough (Bell County)
1863
Burnside Captures Cumberland Gap
1863
Skirmish at Middlesboro (Bell County 1864)
1864

Historic places in Bell

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bell, Kentucky.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Middlesboro
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
Middlesboro
American Association, Limited, Office Building
Middlesboro
Hensley Settlement
Cubage
Middlesboro Downtown Commercial District
Middlesboro
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
Middlesboro
Pineville Courthouse Square Historic District
Pineville
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Other counties in Kentucky

Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bell County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Bell County, Kentucky. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bell

When does Bell first appear in the US census?
Bell, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 3,731.
What is the population of Bell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bell had a recorded population of 24,097.
When did Bell's population peak?
Bell's recorded population peaked at 47,602 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Bell?
7 documented military engagements took place in Bell, including Cumberland Gap — First Confederate Occupation, Evacuation of Cumberland Gap (Union), Action at Pineville (Bell County).
How many historic places are in Bell?
82 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bell, Kentucky.
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