Lee County, Kentucky

Lee County is nestled in the heart of eastern Kentucky, where the hills start to look more like mountains. Daniel Boone National Forest covers the western half of the county.

Beattyville serves as the county seat and is located near the center of the county. Kentucky Routes 52 and 11 both run through Beattyville.

The county’s big draw is the Red River Gorge, located just north of the county boundary. Rock climbers come from all over to scale its cliffs. With a population of around 7,000, Lee County is one of the smaller counties in the state.

CategoryDetails
County NameLee County
County SeatBeattyville
EtymologyNamed after Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General
Cities, Towns, and CommunitiesBeattyville, St. Helens, Cressmont, Heidelberg
Interstates and HighwaysKY-11, KY-52, KY-498
FIPS Code21-129
Total Area (Land and Water)211 sq mi (Land: 210 sq mi; Water: 1 sq mi)
Adjacent Counties (and Direction)Powell County (North), Wolfe County (Northeast), Breathitt County (Southeast), Owsley County (South), Jackson County (Southwest), Estill County (Northwest)
Time ZoneEastern Time Zone (ET)
StateKentucky
Coordinates37.5779° N, 83.7098° W
Major LandmarksRed River Gorge Geological Area, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Three Forks Historical Center
PopulationApproximately 7,000
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