Harlan County lies in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, in the
south eastern edge of Kentucky,near the Virginia Border. In the heart
of the Cumberland Mountains, the county has the highest elevation in the
state -- 4,150 feet on Big Black Mountain in its northeastern part. There
are no natural breaks in the mountains between Harlan and Virginia, and
the terrain is rugged and mountainous. The Cumberland River runs the entire
length of the county in a southwesterly direction. In area, Harlan County
covers 300,160 acres, being one of the largest counties in the state.
The people are simple, most work in the local coal mines. Some earn
their living with logging.
Right now there isn't that much to see for tourists, but they say,
they're working on that. We do have the
Kentucky Coal Mining Museum at Benham, KY, which provides a
comprehensive look at the mining industry that is so important to
Harlan County. There is also the
Blanton Forest, which is the largest old-growth forest in Kentucky.
And the most important part here, are these beautiful mountains.
The scenery is just breathtaking. I've only been here for 10 years
now, but can't immagine looking out of my window and not seeing
the mountains. If you're ever in these parts, you'll see what I'm
talking about.