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Kentucky County
Knott County, Kentucky
Hindman Settlement School - the birthplace of Appalachian literacy - from the Hindman Settlement School (founded in 1902 by Katherine Pettit and May Stone - the first rural social settlement school in America, established to provide education in the isolated eastern Kentucky mountains when no public schools reached the hollow communities - the Hindman Settlement School's tradition of bringing literacy, music, crafts, and healthcare to Appalachian communities pioneered the model of rural education and cultural preservation that defined progressive Appalachian engagement for a century) and Knott County's coal mining heritage.
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Office: Knott County Emergency Management – 40 Center Street, Hindman, KY 41822 | (606) 785-0343. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM.
Sheriff: Knott County Sheriff’s Office – 54 West Main Street, Hindman, KY 41822 | (606) 785-5354; Sheriff Dale Richardson.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Knott County and its county seat Hindman are within a flood-prone valley along Troublesome Creek and have experienced serious flooding in recent years, including a severe event in July 2022 – residents in flood-prone areas are encouraged to maintain an active weather-alert plan.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: KY-160 and KY-15 serve Hindman, the county seat, in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.
Notes: Knott County, formed in 1884, is named for J. Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky (1883-1887); Hindman is named for Lieutenant Governor James R. Hindman, who served under Knott. The county became “wet” (permitting alcohol sales) as of 2024.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Knott County Courthouse/Judicial Center – Hindman, KY.
Notes: Knott County is home to the Hindman Settlement School, founded in 1902 by May Stone and Katherine Pettit as the first rural social settlement school in the United States. Over more than a century, the school has evolved from a boarding academy into a nationally recognized center for Appalachian literacy and culture – since 1980 it has run one of the region’s leading dyslexia-intervention programs using the Orton-Gillingham method, and it hosts the long-running Appalachian Writers’ Workshop, drawing generations of regional poets and novelists. The 200-acre campus, along Troublesome Creek, also holds the graves of noted Appalachian writer James Still. Knott County is also home to Alice Lloyd College in nearby Pippa Passes.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Knott County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via Knott County Fiscal Court.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Knott County Public Library – (606) 785-5412.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Hindman Settlement School campus (Appalachian Writers’ Workshop, dyslexia and literacy programs, cultural arts) is the county’s most nationally significant institution.
Notes: The genuine “first rural settlement school in America” distinction is one of the most historically significant Appalachian cultural-history facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Knott County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via Knott County Fiscal Court.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter – serves Knott County (regional facility also serving Breathitt County) | (606) 439-4064.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Knott County Solid Waste – confirm current contact via Knott County Fiscal Court.
NOTES: Knott County is the third county in Kentucky’s ninth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine “first rural settlement school in America” distinction at Hindman Settlement School is one of the most historically significant Appalachian cultural-history facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Knott County
Knott County is the birthplace of Appalachian settlement education – the Hindman Settlement School founded in 1902 was the first rural social settlement in America, pioneering the model of bringing literacy and opportunity to isolated mountain communities that has defined progressive Appalachian engagement for 120 years.
Hindman (the county seat, population ~750) serves the county’s post-coal communities navigating economic transition in the eastern Kentucky mountains.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Knott County PVA at 54 W. Main Street, Suite 2, Hindman, KY 41822, phone 606-785-5523. KY residential assessed at 100% of fair cash value.
Courts & Legal
Knott County Circuit Court at 54 W. Main Street, Hindman, KY 41822, phone 606-785-3066, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-5011
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-3148
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-5011
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Knott County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Knott County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Knott County District Court Knott County Judicial Center, 53 West Main Street, Hindman, KY 41822 (606) 785-5021 Knott County is in eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian region, seated in Hindman.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Kentucky has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code; probate is governed by KRS Chapter 395 (Administration of Estates), handled by the District Court in the county where the decedent resided (KRS 24A.120).
Dispensing with Administration – Kentucky’s simplified small-estate procedure, governed by KRS 395.450, 395.455, and 395.470. Available when the value of the personal estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $30,000, and the petitioner is a surviving spouse, adult child, or other qualifying heir/preferred creditor. The petitioner files a Petition to Dispense with Administration (Form AOC-830) with an affidavit listing assets, debts, and proposed distribution – no personal representative or full administration is required. Real estate is generally not covered by this procedure.
Regular (Full) Administration – for larger or more complex estates, the District Court appoints a personal representative (executor if named in a will, administrator if intestate), who gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains under court oversight.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Executor/Administrator (Form AOC-805) with the District Court in the county of residence.
If there’s a will, the court admits it to probate; it is then recorded with the county clerk (KRS 394.140).
The personal representative files an Inventory and Appraisement (Form AOC-841) of estate assets.
Notice to creditors is published; creditors generally have 6 months from appointment to file claims.
The personal representative pays valid debts, taxes, and expenses.
A Settlement of Estate (Form AOC-846) is filed, and the court closes the estate upon approval.
What it costs
Filing fees and publication costs are collected by the clerk and vary somewhat by county.
Kentucky does not require an attorney for probate, though it is commonly recommended, especially for formal administration.
Typical timelines: full probate generally takes 6-12 months; the creditor claims period is 6 months. Dispensing with Administration can move significantly faster once the estate qualifies.
Before distribution, a surviving spouse may petition for release of up to $2,500 from the estate as an exempt charge against estate property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-5012
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-5012
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-5011
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
54 Main St., Hindman, KY 41822
(606) 785-5011
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Knott County Health Dept
(606) 785-3192
KY CHFS — Kentucky River Region
(606) 439-3557
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
Knott County ARH Hospital
arh.org/knott (Hindman — quality community hospital)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Knott County Health Department – confirm current contact via chfs.ky.gov local health department directory.
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