Pike County was founded on December 19, 1821. The county was named for General Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered Pikes Peak. On May 6, 1893, Pikeville officially became a city and the county seat. Pike County is Kentucky's largest county in terms of land area. According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 788.84 square miles, of which 787.69 square miles is land and 1.15 square miles is water. Also according to the 2010 census, the population was 65,024 which makes Pike County the 11th largest county in Kentucky in terms of population. Pike County has trademarked itself as America's Energy CapitalTM, because of its vast coal and natural gas reserves.