Community

Barbourville, the county seat of Knox in southeastern Kentucky, is located in the center of the county on the banks of the Cumberland River and bordered by Richland Creek. Positioned 33 miles north of Cumberland Gap and 15 miles southeast of Corbin, Kentucky, the city is the point where US 25E and KY 11 intersect. Known by early travelers as the town on the big bend of the Cumberland River, Barbourville is surrounded by hills on all sides, a natural fortress protecting the area from most severe storms. After years of suffering from disastrous floods, the city is now protected by a massive floodwall, which shields it from annual tides. Barbourville is the site of many historic locations important to the history of Kentucky. Knox County's position along the pioneer roads from Cumberland Gap earns it the right to be a part of the "First Frontier," the land of promise for those generations who had not pushed farther than a couple hundred miles from the coastline of the original thirteen colonies. The city and county's tourism committee have made certain that history and recreation are blended to reinforce each other.