Harlan County, Kentucky
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

See Also Kentucky Land Records, Marriage Records, Court, Tax & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information. The courthouse burned in Oct 1863, but the county clerk's records were saved.

Harlan County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1820 and Land Records from 1820 and is located at PO Box 670, 205 Central Street, Harlan, KY 40831-0670; Phone: (606) 573-3636, FAX: (606) 573-0064 .

The duties of the county clerk are numerous and varied, falling into the general categories of clerical duties of the fiscal court, issuing and registering, recording and keeping records of various legal instruments, election duties, tax duties, transfers, and titling, and issuance of marriage licenses and much more. One of the most important responsibilities of the County Clerk's office is the recording of land records. The most common documents recorded are deeds, mortgages, and assignments and mortgage releases. The other is Marriage Liscenses

Harlan County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Probate Records from 1820 and Court Records from 1820 and is located at Courthouse, 210 East Central Street, Suite 304, Harlan Ky 40831; Phone:606-573-2680, Fax: 606-573-5895 .

The Circuit Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining the records of the circuit court. Divorces, civil litigation, criminal crimes, probate, wills , estates and various other functions.

One of the most valuable sources for early Kentucky until 1892 is its tax records. Most counties have yearly tax records from the date of organization. Some early tax schedules list watercourse, value and acreage of real estate, men over twenty-one, young men between sixteen and twenty-one, slaves, and horses. Extant county tax schedules from the date of organization of the county through 1892 have been microfilmed for most counties and are available from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the FHL.

Numerous original tax records from 1892 are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The Kentucky Historical Society has tax records to 1875.

Kentucky tax lists are arranged by county and date. Within the counties, residents within its districts are grouped together and names usually arranged under the beginning letter of the surname, although these are not in strict alphabetical order. Some early tax records have been published and are available in research libraries.

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Harlan Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
• Harlan County, Kentucky Court Books at Amazon.com
• Kentucky Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.
• Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850 - This database of Kentucky marriages from 1802-1850 contains over 145,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked. The marriage date is usually the date of marriage as given in the original entry. However, when no marriage date is given (e.g., the "marriage return" was not provided to the record keeper), the date of the license is used. In a few cases, a marriage will be listed twice, but in two different counties. This most often happened when a couple obtained a license in one county, but were actually married in another.
• Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900 - Admitted to the Union as the 15th state in 1792, Kentucky was settled predominantly by Irish, German, and English men and women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This database contains marriage records from Allen, Boyle, Butler, Caldwell, Christian, Clay, Crittenden, Garrard, Greenup, Henderson, Henry, Hopkins, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marshall, McCracken, Menifee, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Taylor, Todd, Washington, and Webster Casey counties between 1851 and 1900. Taken from microfilm copies of original county documents, each record provides spouses' names, marriage date, and county of residence. Records for "white" individuals and "colored" individuals were kept in separate volumes. This database only includes the volumes of "white" marriages.
• Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999 - This database is an index to about 2.3 million individuals who were married in the state of Kentucky between 1973 and 1999. Copies of marriage records are available through the Vital Records branch of the Kentucky Department of Health. They maintain marriage records beginning in June 1958. For information about how to obtain a copy. Records of marriages occurring before 1958 must be obtained from the county clerk of the county in which the marriage license was issued.
• Kentucky Marriages, 1797-1865
• Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914 - This database is an index to Kentucky marriages from 1852-1914. While all Kentucky counties except for McCreary and Mercer are included in this database, there may not be records for all years between 1852-1914 for each county. See below for a list of years included for each county.
• Kentucky Land Grants: This wonderful database contains the records of the Kentucky Land Office from 1782 to 1924. The work is intended as a source book for historical workers, genealogists, and others who need a complete and chronological index to the early documentary land records and history of Kentucky. Due to the large number of early records contained in these two volumes, The Kentucky Land Grants has been termed "the rarest book of its size, covering early Kentucky history and genealogy, to be found anywhere."
• Kentucky Will Index - County probate records are filed at their respective county courthouse usually under the county clerk's jurisdiction. Probate records include wills, estates, administrators, executors, inventories, settlements, and many other documents. This database is an index of wills found in the six southern Kentucky counties of Cumberland, Christian, Russell, Logan, Todd, and Trigg. This update adds the following counties to the database: Fleming, Harrison, and Nicholas. The time span covered by this volume is 1795 through 1849. Each entry lists the book, page number, name of the testator, and date of probate of the original record. This database will prove useful to many seeking ancestors in southern Kentucky. For further information about individuals in this index you may contact the appropriate county court house or your local LDS family history center.
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
• Search Land Patents at Gov-Records.com
• Search Property Records at Gov-Records.com

See Also Vital Records in Kentucky

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics is located at State Dept of Human Resources, 275 E. Main St. 1EA, Frankfort, KY 40621; (502) 564-4212. They have the following records:

• Ordering Vital Records Online- You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering fromVitalChek Express Certificate Service.
• Birth & Death Certificates: The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910 and became effective Jan. 1, 1911. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for those born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence. Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates.
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Harlan County clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates.

Cost of certificates

Birth: $10 per certificate; Death, Marriage and Divorce are $6 per certificate

• In Person:You can stop in the office at 275 E. Main St. in Frankfort and obtain a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate by completing an application form between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday.There is approximately a one-hour wait to receive the certificate. Directions to Vital Statistics Office
• By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" along with the necessary information to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St. 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Processing Time

Please allow up to approximately 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail.

• Birth Records: Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September. You should request certified copies of your birth certificate early enough to avoid delays if you are planning retirement, sporting events for the children, travel/passports, children entering school for the first time, etc.
• Death Records: There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes.

Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card

To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax, on-line or purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek. There is an additional $10.50 fee for all credit card purchases. Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If faster delivery is required, you may wish to have the certified copy sent by Federal Express. Please state this when placing the order for the copy. There is an additional fee for this service.

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• Vital Records from Archives.com: Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
• VitalChek Express Certificate Service. - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
• Kentucky Vital Records Project
• Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999 - This database is an index to over 5.9 million births recorded in Kentucky between 1911 and 1999. With the information provided in this index, you may be able to obtain a copy of a birth certificate. If possible, it is important that you do this because oft times more information is provided in an original record than is provided in its index. For information on how to order a copy of a birth certificate, visit the Kentucky Department of Health, Vital Records website.
• Kentucky Birth Records, 1852-1910 - Birth records begin in Kentucky as early as 1852 when statewide registration was first enacted. The requirement continued only for ten years. Some births were recorded (1874-79, 1892-1910), but observance remained sporadic. This database contains county birth records from Kentucky for the years 1852-1910.
• Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850 - This database of Kentucky marriages from 1802-1850 contains over 145,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked. The marriage date is usually the date of marriage as given in the original entry. However, when no marriage date is given (e.g., the "marriage return" was not provided to the record keeper), the date of the license is used. In a few cases, a marriage will be listed twice, but in two different counties. This most often happened when a couple obtained a license in one county, but were actually married in another.
• Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900 - Admitted to the Union as the 15th state in 1792, Kentucky was settled predominantly by Irish, German, and English men and women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This database contains marriage records from Allen, Boyle, Butler, Caldwell, Christian, Clay, Crittenden, Garrard, Greenup, Henderson, Henry, Hopkins, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marshall, McCracken, Menifee, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Taylor, Todd, Washington, and Webster Casey counties between 1851 and 1900. Taken from microfilm copies of original county documents, each record provides spouses' names, marriage date, and county of residence. Records for "white" individuals and "colored" individuals were kept in separate volumes. This database only includes the volumes of "white" marriages.
• Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999 - This database is an index to about 2.3 million individuals who were married in the state of Kentucky between 1973 and 1999. Copies of marriage records are available through the Vital Records branch of the Kentucky Department of Health. They maintain marriage records beginning in June 1958. For information about how to obtain a copy. Records of marriages occurring before 1958 must be obtained from the county clerk of the county in which the marriage license was issued.
• Kentucky Marriages, 1797-1865
• Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914 - This database is an index to Kentucky marriages from 1852-1914. While all Kentucky counties except for McCreary and Mercer are included in this database, there may not be records for all years between 1852-1914 for each county. See below for a list of years included for each county.
• Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000 - This important database contains an index to more than 2.6 million death records of individuals living in Kentucky from 1911 on. All records contain the following information: name of the individual, date of death, county of death, county of residence, age at death, and volume and certificate number.
• Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953 - This database contains the following Kentucky death records: Death certificates, 1911-1953; Mortuary records, registers of deaths, and death certificates for Newport, Louisville, Lexington, Covington, and Jefferson County, up to 1911; Returns of death, 1852-1910 (not all years are extant for each county). Additional information, such as occupation, cause of death, and date and place of burial, may be available on the original record and can be obtained by viewing the image.
• Harlan County, Kentucky Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Harlan County, Kentucky are1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Harlan County, Kentucky are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890 but only returns for sixty-five Kentucky counties remain of the 1890 Union veterans and widows schedule of the federal census of Kentucky.

Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Extracts and indexes for many of Kentucky's censuses have been compiled and published. Original or microfilm copies of the federal census returns are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Several Kentucky indexes to censuses predate those published by AISI.

State School Census for Kentucky infrequently enumerated public school students beginning in 1888. Scattered records are at the office of the respective county Board of Health or Board of Education. Some are maintained by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Kentucky Historical Society.

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Census Records at Archives.com
• Harlan County, Kentucky Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Kentucky and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Kentucky Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect...

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Maps. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Harlan County, Kentucky Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

See Also Military Records in Kentucky

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Revolutionary War Muster and Pay Rolls (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Patriot Army Records of the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783.
• Revolutionary War Pensions (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Southern Claims Commission Records from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Civil War Veterans Organization Index of Pension Files from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Civil War Confederate Soldier Service Records from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Kentucky Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 323 High Str, Paris, Ky, 40361;(859) 987- 1788
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Kentucky Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Harlan County, Kentucky Military Books at Amazon.com
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

See Also Other Kentucky Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Harlan County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1498, Harlan, KY 40831
• The Kentucky Historical Society, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601; 877-444-7867,[EMAIL]
• The Kentucky Genealogical Society, PO Box 153, Frankfort, KY 40602-0153 [EMAIL]
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• Kentucky Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kentucky

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Harlan County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Harlan County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Church membership of early Kentuckians include Baptist, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Some church records were published, others were microfilmed, some are housed in church repositories, but many remain in the local church. Church records and histories may be found in periodicals pertaining to Kentucky. Repositories include the DAR Library, the FHL, Kentucky Historical Society, University of Kentucky Library, and Filson Club Library.

Many collections of cemetery records are available for Kentucky. In 1977 the Kentucky Historical Society began computerizing extant cemetery records for the state. Cemetery tombstone transcriptions are included in the Ardery collection. Kentucky regional libraries and some other large genealogical libraries outside the state have collections of Kentucky cemetery transcriptions. In addition, publications pertaining to Kentucky and Kentuckians frequently contain cemetery records for the state.

Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Cemetery Records at Archives.com
• Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147
• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Alabama obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Alabama newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Alabama.
• Obituary Records at Archives.com
• America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com - Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!
• Harlan County, Kentucky Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Harlan County, Kentucky Church Books at Amazon.com

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Harlan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Harlan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Kentucky Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Kentucky Researcher!
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Harlan County ] [ Kentucky ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The Kentucky Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Harlan County, Kentucky Family Books at Amazon.com

Four mountain ranges run across the county­Pine, Black, Little Black, and Stone. A spur of Black Mountain near Lynch is the highest point in the state, at 4,145 feet. Except for its northernmost corner, the county lies in the Cumberland River wa­tershed; Martins Fork, Clover Fork, and Poor Fork converge at the county seat of HARLAN to form the Cumberland. Forests cover much of the county's 305,920 acres, but the coal that lies underneath is the county's most valuable resource.

There are seven incorporated cities in the county-Harlan, CUMBERLAND, Benham, LYNCH, Evarts, Loyall, and Wallins Creek. Principal high­ways are U.S. 119 and U.S. 421. CSX Transportation provides rail service; Tucker-Guthrie Memorial Airport near Harlan accommodates small planes.

Long Hunters and land speculators explored the county before settlement of the state began: Elisha and Tommy Walden, Joseph and Brice Martin, William Carr, and the McAfee brothers among oth­ers. Settlement had begun by 1782; one of the first families, the Cations, was decimated by an Indian raid. Permanent settlement occurred in the 1790s: Carr Bailey, William Turner, and Samuel Howard were among the first settlers.

During the nineteenth century. residents sup­ported themselves by subsistence farming and by bartering ginseng, produce, and hides. The coun­ty's hogs, mules, and cattle went for sale to buyers who drove them to markets outside the mountains.

The Civil War brought disruption to the county; fighting was limited to minor skirmishes, but forag­ing by both armies and raids by guerrillas occurred.

After the war, the logging industry sent walnut, cherry, poplar, oak, and chestnut logs floating down the Cumberland to mills at Wasioto and Williamsburg. In 1913, Harlan Countians formed the state's first forest fire protective association; in 1919 the county was the site of the first state forest, Kentenia, on Pine Mountain.

After T.J. Asher extended his Wasioto & Black Mountain Railroad into the county from Bell County in 1911, the coal industry grew rapidly. Spurred by World War I, the industry in the 1920s took advantage of nonunion labor and favorable freight differentials. Coal production in the county peaked in 1928, dropped sharply during the early 1930s. then rose to an all-time high of 14.7 million tons in 1942.

The population increased by 556 percent between 1900 and 1930. Though blacks and eastern Euro­pean immigrants were part of this rise, the majority were mountain whites from nearby counties. Most of the new arrivals were first-generation industrial workers unprepared for living in the close quarters of coal camps and unused to payment in cash. Min­ers' penchant for whiskey and guns erupted in this volatile environment. The homicide rate in Harlan County in the 1920s was the highest in the nation, but fell sharply as the industry matured. Successful unionization occurred in the 1930s; in the process both sides used violence, giving the county a noto­riety that lingers yet.

Since World War II, shifts in markets, techno­logical advances, increases in freight charges, increased state and federal regulation, and environ­mental concerns have kept the industry in a boom­bust cycle. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of low production and a depressed economy; both coal production and the population of the county were cut in half. The 1970s brought a resurgence; despite occasional setbacks, production climbed to postwar highs in 1980 and 1984. However, a greater degree of mechanization meant that fewer employees were needed, and the need for a diversified economy was the top issue confronting Harlan Countians as they entered the 1990s.

Kingdom Come State Park, Martins Fork and Cranks Creek lakes, the Little Shepherd Trail, and Sand Cave provide outdoor recreational opportuni­ties. Two festivals take place annually-the Poke Sallet Festival and Harlan County Homecoming in June and the Kingdom Come Swappin' Meetin' at Southeast Community College in October.

Floods along the Cumberland River have been a problem in Harlan County. the two most serious be­ing those of March 1963 and April 1977. Martins Fork Dam was built in the 1970s as a flood control measure, and channel diversion and floodwall projects for Harlan and Loyall were under way by 1990.

The county has produced a number of notable journalists, including Don Whitehead, Maxine Che­shire, Cawood LEDFORD, and Jim Hampton, as well children's authors Rebecca CAUDILL and George Ella Lyon. It has been portrayed in literature by John Fox, Jr., Charles Neville Buck, Perry Mac­Kaye, William A. Bradley, John Dos Passos, James Jones, Walter TEVIS, Gurney Norman, and James Sherburne. Its folk songs, dances, and tales have been collected by Cecil J. Sharp, Howard Brock­way and Loraine Wyman, Leonard ROBERTS, H.H. Fuson, and Evelyn Wells. Florence Reece, Aunt Molly JACKSON, and Merle TRAVIS have captured the plight of its miners in song; Barbara Kopple did likewise on film. S. McMaster Kerr got the Presby­terian Church, U.S.A. involved in the creation of the Appalachian Regional Hospital chain. Juanita KREPS served as secretary of commerce under Pres­ident Jimmy Carter. The HARLAN Boys CHOIR sang at the 1989 inauguration of President George Bush.