Named after Gov. Powell, it was the 101st county formed in Kentucky. Powell County is located in the Eastern Knobs and Eastern Coal Field regions of Kentucky. The elevation ranges from 580 to 1440 feet above sea level. Powell County is home to the Natural Bridge State Resort park, Pilot Knob Nature Preserve, and the Red River Gorge. Portions of the county are covered by the Daniel Boone National Forest. Pilot Knob in Powell County is believed to be where Daniel Boone first viewed the Kentucky Bluegrass region in 1769. Powell County is bordered by Menifee County to the northeast, Montgomery County to the north,Clark County to the northwest, Estill County to the southwest, Lee County to the midsouth, and Wolfe County to the southeast . Stanton, orginally known as Beaver Pond until 1852, is the county seat. During the Civil War, Stanton, named in honor of Representative Richard M. Stanton, saw the county courthouse burned in 1863 and the county jail destroyed in 1864. These attacks caused some of the early records to be destroyed. Clay City is located on the Red River and was orginally know as Collins Forge. It was later renamed Red River Iron Works. During the 1800's it was one of the nations largest logging and iron manufacturing plants. Clay City was also known as Waltersville and finally its present name in 1883. Stanton and Clay City are the principle cities in Powell County ; other communities in the county include Cane Creek, Slade, Nada and Lombard. The land area of Powell County is 180 square miles and as of the 2000 census the population was 13,237.