Estill County

Estill County occupies eastern Kentucky with the Kentucky River running through its center, creating a landscape of rolling hills and forested terrain. The county seat of Irvine serves as the administrative hub for the area.

The county was established in 1808 and named after Captain James Estill, who died during the Battle of Little Mountain in the American Revolution. This founding marked the formal organization of the eastern Kentucky frontier.

The Mountain Mushroom Festival held in Irvine each April celebrates morel mushrooms that grow wild throughout the region and have long been part of local food traditions. Visitors can observe how the community gathers to honor this harvest.

The terrain is hilly, making road travel the most practical way to explore the county from the west. The town of Irvine provides basic services and offers a good starting point for visiting the region.

The Fitchburg Furnace, standing 81 feet (25 meters) tall, ranks among the world's largest dry-stone masonry structures built without mortar. This industrial ruin shows the mining and smelting operations that once shaped the local economy.

Location: Kentucky

Inception: January 27, 1808

Capital city: Irvine

Shares border with: Powell County, Lee County, Jackson County, Madison County, Clark County

Website: http://estillcountyky.net

GPS coordinates: 37.69000,-83.96000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:22