The county is located in the north-central portion of the state, on the southernmost edge of the Appalachian Mountains, in the center of the (former) iron, coal, and limestone mining belt of the Southern United States.
The county is located in the north-central portion of the state in the center of the (former) iron, coal, and limestone mining belt of the Southern United States. This was on the southernmost edge of the Appalachian Mountains.