In 1890 this Kentucky city was incorporated, and as a result of the discovery of the ironstone deposits, the city was named after its English namesake.  Although the spelling was soon altered to Middlesboro to facilitate postal delivery, the official city letterhead still retains the spelling 'Middlesborough'.

From 1899 to 1814, 35 libraries were built by the Carnegie Corporation.  The library in Middlesboro was one of these. On November 20, 1908,  a grant of $15,000 was made with an additional 10% of that amount to be a contribution from the city.

The beautiful building was completed in 1912.  In order to get the key to open the doors, the city needed to present its $1500. The city probably could not afford that at the time, in any event the money was not  provided. Middlesboro and investors had counted heavily in newly found iron-ore production, which turned out to be economically disappointing.  Following the failure of iron, coal mining was the next enterprise. In 1912 there were 73 coal camps in Bell County, most lasting only a couple of years, but others opened up. Coal mining continued to be the  dominant economic importance of the area until timber harvest became a factor. For whatever reason, the city funding to the library was not made and the building stood empty for a number of years,   

Eventually  the Middlesboro library occupied the building, but previous to that it was a classroom for an overcrowded school system. for a period of time. The Red Cross rolled bandages here during WWII. It finally did become the public library before a new modern facility was built a few blocks away on south 20th Street. Most recently it housed the city  police station.  And, decisively and conclusively, it is now the quarters of the Bell County Historical Society Museum.

The society decided to hold regular meetings on the third Thursday of each month, alternating between the Community rooms of the Middlesboro and Pineville Libraries.

The organizations mission statement contained three main objectives, to publish local history information, including the establishment of a Bell County historical magazine; to found a museum centered on Bell County history; and to locate and identify historic sites within the county

The first actual physical property of historic value was the obtaining the old Carnegie Library Building

The society's first major publication was the Bell County Kentucky: History and People. This book, comprising approximately 400 pages, contains the history of over 600 Bell County families who submitted their family histories.

The  10th anniversary celebration of the Museum's beginning was in 2008

Pianist Ben Harney originated ragtime music in Middlesboro in the early 1890s, inspired by the fusion of African-American and local music styles heard in the community's saloons.

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Lee Majors is a member of the Middlesboro High School Sports Hall Of Fame in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Majors played varsity football for the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets during the 1950s

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an automatic rifleman serving with the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands on 22 July 1944. Suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy machineguns not more than 15 yards away while clearing out hostile positions holding up the advance of his platoon through a narrow gully, Pfc. Mason, alone and entirely on his own initiative, climbed out of the gully and moved parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position. Although fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and wounded repeatedly in the arm and shoulder, Pfc. Mason grimly pressed forward and had just reached his objective when hit again by a burst of enemy machinegun fire, causing a critical wound to which he later succumbed. With valiant disregard for his own peril, he persevered, clearing out the hostile position, killing 5 Japanese, wounding another and then rejoining his platoon to report the results of his action before consenting to be evacuated. His exceptionally heroic act in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Mason and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country