Knott County was established in 1884 from land given by Breathitt, Floyd, Letcher, and Perry counties. The 1890s-era courthouse which was the second to serve the county burned in 1929 thus destroying the majority of the records that went involved in the county’s history. Knott County was named after the former 29th govenor of the state and homeboy, James Proctor Knott. With the county having a total area of an astounding 353 square miles, it is home to only just over 15,000 residents.