Knox County is named for Henry Knox, who was the United States Secretary of War from 1785 to 1794.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Laurel County and Clay County
E – Bell County
S – Bell County
W – Whitley County
Created: December 19, 1799
County Seat:
Barbourville 1788 – present
County Courthouse – Barbourville
Location: 401 Court Square / Knox Street
Built: 1963 – 1965
Style: Modern Colonial Revival
Architect: Perkins, Threadgill and Associates
Contractor: Davis Building Company
Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The north front has a large portico supported by four large Corinthian columns rising to the pediment at the roof. In the center of the pediment is a clock. The roof is hipped. The building houses the County Circuit Court and County District Court of the 27th Judicial Circuit.
See: The 27th Judicial Circuit includes Laurel County.
History: The county was created in 1799 and Barbourville was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built by David Dewees in 1802. The second courthouse was a timber and brick structure built by Richard Ballinger in 1812. The third courthouse was built in 1829. The fourth courthouse was a stucco Spanish style structure built by Daniel Johnson and his father in 1874 to 1875 and remodeled with the construction of wings on both sides designed by Frank P Milburn in 1906 to 1907. The sixth and present courthouse was constructed in 1n 1963 to 1964.
County Courthouse – Barbourville
Photos taken 2007
Images 5