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Bell County, Kentucky
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Bell County, Kentucky Facts

When was Bell County, KY Created?
Bell County was created on August 1, 1867 from Knox County and Harlan County.

What is the County Seat of Bell County, KY?
The County Seat is located in Pineville additionally, the county government website is www.bellcounty.ky.gov

What counties are adjacent to Bell County, KY?
Bordering Counties are Clay County, Leslie County, Harlan County, Lee County, Virginia, Claiborne County, Tennessee, Whitley County, Knox County.

Bell County, KY Vital Records

Where can find Bell County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Bell County vital records can be found at the Kentucky Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has copies for of birth & deathe certificates (1911 – present), marriage licenses & divorce decrees (since June 1958). There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Kentucky for current fees and application process.

You can search online for Bell County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for Birth Certificate, Marriage / Divorce Certificate or Death Certificates to mail.

The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives contains birth and death records for the cities of Louisville, Lexington, Covington and Newport, which introduced records laws before 1911. The Archives also offers birth and death records before to 1911 and 1911-1957 death records for the entire state.

Bell County, KY Census Records


What Bell County, KY census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Bell County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Bell Co. Mortality Schedules can be acquired for 1870 and 1880. Bell Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1870 and 1880. Bell Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. One can find free down loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Kentucky Census Records Research Guide

Bell County, KY Courthouse and Government Records

Bell County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Bell County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Bell County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Kentucky courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Kentucky residents.

The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Bell County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also Kentucky Corthouse Records Research Guide.

Bell County, KY Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Bell County, KY?
A list of Bell County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Kentucky Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

Where can I connect with other Bell County, KY Researchers through message boards and forums?

  • Kentucky Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
  • Kentucky State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
  • Bell County, Kentucky Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Bell County
  • Bell County, Kentucky Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
  • KYBELL. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Bell County, Kentucky. To subscribe send “subscribe” to [email protected] (mail mode) or [email protected] (digest mode).
  • EASTERNKENTUCKY. A mailing list for all researchers who’s ancestors settled in or traveled through the state of Kentucky. Some of the counties covered are Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliot, Estill, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rowan, Whitley, Wolfe, and adjacent counties that represent the East Kentucky Coalfields. Additional information can be found on the East Kentucky Genealogy website. To subscribe send “subscribe” to [email protected] (mail mode) or [email protected] (digest mode).
  • EAST-KY-CEMETERIES. A mailing list for the posting of information on cemeteries in the eastern part of Kentucky (i.e., Harlan, Leslie, Letcher, Clay, Perry, and Bell Counties) including their location, timeframe, and monument descriptions. To subscribe send “subscribe” to [email protected] (mail mode) or [email protected] (digest mode).
  • KYHARLAN. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Harlan, Leslie, and Bell Counties, Kentucky. Interested individuals may want to check out the KYGenWeb pages for Harlan County, Leslie County, and Bell County. To subscribe send “subscribe” to [email protected] (mail mode) or [email protected] (digest mode).
  • SE-KENTUCKY. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in the Kentucky counties that border Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia, and surrounding south eastern Kentucky counties (i.e., Whitley, Knox, Bell, Harlan, Clay, Leslie, Perry, Letcher, Knott, Breathitt, Pike, Floyd, Martin, Johnson, Morgan, Lawrence). To subscribe send “subscribe” to [email protected] (mail mode) or [email protected] (digest mode).

What other genealogical resources are available in Bell County, KY?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Bell County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a payment. This is basically a collection that has been gathered or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site over another.

Bell Co. KY Books, Newspapers & Publications

Bell Co. KY Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards

Bell Co. KY General and History Websites

Bell Co. KY Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Bell Co. KY Military Records