Harlan County includes six cities, each with its own history. Benham was formerly a coal camp built by major coal mining companies, was incorporated in 1961, once boomed in population and housed almost 20 nationalities, and currently has a population around 500. Cumberland was settled in 1837, was originally named Poor Fork, became Cumberland in 1926, is home to Southeast Community and Technical College, and currently has a population of 2,240. Evarts was incorporated in 1921, is home to Harlan's most visited attractions, the Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area and the Black Mountain Thunder Zip Line, has a current population of about 960, and is also known for the Battle of Evarts concerning a mining strike in 1931. Harlan was settled in 1796 by Samuel and Chloe Howard, is one of three Kentucky county seats to share its name with its county, and currently has a population around 1750. Loyall was incorporated in 1924, was originally named Shonn, a local slang term for rail siding, and currently has a population around 770. Lynch was plotted in 1917 by the U.S. Coal and Coke Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, as a company town to house workers at the company's nearby coal mines, was incorporated in 1963, was named after Thomas Lynch, the head of U.S. Coal and Coke, and currently has a population around 750.