Kentucky

Harlan

26,831
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Harlan

Harlan, Kentucky, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 1,961. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 26,831.

Its recorded population peaked at 75,275 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 64 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Engagement at Harlan (Harlan County), Action at Harlan (Harlan County), Action at Harlan County (1863), and 5 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202026,831
201029,278
200033,202
199036,574
198041,889
197037,370
196051,107
195071,751
194075,275
193064,557
192031,546
191010,566
19009,838
18906,197
18805,278
18704,415
18605,494
18504,268
18403,015
18302,929
18201,961
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Harlan

Military engagements that took place in Harlan, Kentucky.

Engagement at Harlan (Harlan County)
1862
Action at Harlan (Harlan County)
1863
Action at Harlan County (1863)
1863
Guerrilla Action at Harlan (1864)
1864
Battle of Evarts (Kentucky 1931)
1931

Historic places in Harlan

National Register of Historic Places listings in Harlan, Kentucky.

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Bledsoe
Lynch Historic District
Lynch
Benham Historic District
Benham
Harlan Commercial District
Harlan
Cumberland Central Business District
Cumberland

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Explore census history and historic records for more Kentucky counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Harlan County, Kentucky

This page charts the census history of Harlan 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 Harlan

When does Harlan first appear in the US census?
Harlan, Kentucky first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 1,961.
What is the population of Harlan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Harlan had a recorded population of 26,831.
When did Harlan's population peak?
Harlan's recorded population peaked at 75,275 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Harlan?
5 documented military engagements took place in Harlan, including Engagement at Harlan (Harlan County), Action at Harlan (Harlan County), Action at Harlan County (1863).
How many historic places are in Harlan?
5 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Harlan, Kentucky.
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