Barbourville,
Kentucky

Barbourville is located in southeastern Kentucky, in Knox County. It sits at 36.8654°N, 83.8894°W — approximately 2 hours south of Lexington and 1.5 hours north of Knoxville, Tennessee, just off US-25E. The nearest interstate access is I-75 via Corbin, about 15 minutes away.

Barbourville is the county seat of Knox County, Kentucky. Knox County was established in 1799 and has a population of approximately 31,000 residents.

Barbourville is known for the Daniel Boone Festival (Kentucky's oldest continuous festival, held every October since 1948), Union College (founded 1879, now Union Commonwealth University), its rich Appalachian heritage and crafts, and its proximity to the Cumberland Gap and the Cumberland River. The town also sits along the historic Wilderness Road blazed by Daniel Boone in 1775.

The city of Barbourville has approximately 3,100 residents. Knox County as a whole has approximately 31,000 residents. The city sits at an elevation of 981 feet in the Appalachian foothills.

The Daniel Boone Festival takes place over several days each October in downtown Barbourville. The 2026 festival is scheduled for October 4–10. It features pioneer craft demonstrations, a grand parade, beauty pageants, live music, and living history reenactments. Admission to most events is free.

Barbourville's dining scene includes Sagebrush Steakhouse and various local Appalachian home cooking establishments. Restaurant rankings powered by live Google reviews are available on our Restaurants page, which is updated regularly with the latest ratings and rankings.

Popular activities include attending the Daniel Boone Festival (October), kayaking and fishing on the Cumberland River, visiting the Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site, hiking at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (85+ miles of trails), attending Union College Bulldogs athletics games, exploring downtown Barbourville, and visiting the Barbourville Farmers Market (Saturdays, May–October).

Barbourville is served by Knox County Public Schools (including Knox Central High School, Knox County Middle School, and several elementary schools) and Barbourville Independent Schools (Barbourville City School, K–8). Union College (Union Commonwealth University) provides higher education right in town, offering 30+ undergraduate degree programs.

Baptist Health Corbin, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Barbourville, is the nearest full-service hospital with a 24/7 emergency department. The Knox County Health Department provides public health services including immunizations and screenings within Barbourville.

Barbourville has a cost of living index of approximately 78 (national average = 100). The median home value is around $132,000, median rent for a 2-bedroom is approximately $750/month, and Kentucky has a flat 4% state income tax and 6% sales tax. Property taxes are below the state average at 0.76%.