Lee County is named for Robert E. Lee, who was a Confederate general in the Civil War, and who lived from 1807 to 1870, or for Lee County in Virginia.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Estill County, Powell County and Wolfe County
E – Breathitt County
S – Owsley County
W – Jackson County and Estill County
Created: January 29, 1870
County Seat:
Beattyville 1870 – present
County Courthouse – Beattyville
Location: 256 Main Street / Center Street
Built: 1977 – 1978
Style: Modern
Architect: Wickman-Salle
Contractor: Forbes Morris Building Company
Description: The building faces south and is a three story red colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Beattyville. The south front has three large two story arches with recessed entrance. On the third story, there are three windows and a clock on the west section. The roof line is flat. The iron fence in front of the building is all that remains of the old courthouse. The building houses the County Circuit Court and County District Court of the 23rd Judicial Circuit.
See: The 23rd Judicial District includes Estill County and Owsley County.
History: The county was created in 1870 and Beattyville was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story structure built in 1872 and expanded in 1916. An annex was built in 1963. The courthouse was used until 1977 when it was razed. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1977 to 1978.
County Courthouse – Beattyville
Photos taken 2007
Images 6