Barbourville is a small city with a college and conveniences
Barbourville is a small city in the rural area between the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Cumberland Gap. Many come here for college, as the city is home to the private Union Commonwealth University. This city of over 3,000 people also offers a slower pace of life and a few conveniences. Barbourville has a walkable and historic downtown with businesses like clothing boutiques, cafes and barbershops. U.S. Route 25E also passes through the area, providing a direct path to other communities. “Barbourville is a quaint little town. It’s got all the amenities you would need,” says Mike Campbell, a Realtor with Re/Max on Main. “And if it doesn’t have the amenities you need, then, of course, you can go to Corbin , which is a little bigger town. It has a little bit bigger of a hospital and it's right on the interstate.”
Region offers more affordability than larger metro areas
Neighborhoods here have many roads with no sidewalks. Many homes were built between the 1960s and today, but some date back to the years before World War II. Styles include ranch-style, Craftsman bungalow and manufactured homes. “Once you get down to the London area and over to Knox and Whitley [counties], it seems like prices will come down a little bit, but it still depends on the style of home and what you’re getting,” Campbell says, comparing the region’s costs to other areas like the Lexington metro. Costs go from about $160,000 for a 1,000-square-foot home to $350,000 for one triple that size. Barbourville’s median sale price is over $100,000 less than Lexington’s. However, Barbourville does have more renters than owners, with rentals making up about two-thirds of the area.
Food options include handcrafted pizzas and Tex-Mex
Downtown’s staples include the Ugly Mug Coffee House, popular for its iced coffees and smoothies. The pet friendly cafe has music-themed decor throughout its space. The Black Street Pizza Company serves handcrafted pies and bakes bread. Los primos Mexican restaurant is one of a few places in the city for Tex-Mex fare. Sometimes, the restaurant makes specialty dishes like birria pizzas and tacos. The Oven Mitt has comfort foods and classic American breakfasts. True to its name, the restaurant’s decor includes oven mitts on its walls. The Parkway Plaza offers grocery and retail shopping options with chains like Walmart and IGA.
Amenities include fishing holes sports facilities and golf
Barbourville City Park has tennis, pickleball and basketball courts and a few baseball fields for Little League games. The park also has a pond stocked with bass, trout and catfish. Thompson R.V. Park has more amenities, including a dog park and a boat ramp along the Cumberland River. The Indian Springs Country Club has a public, nine-hole course, while Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site offers another spot for sports and casual recreation. The park’s attractions include a miniature golf course and a log cabin replica of the first house settlers built in the state. The Union-owned Turner Outdoor Center offers several miles of wooded hiking and biking trails.
Barbourville and Knox County schools serve the city
The city has Barbourville Independent School, which gets a B-minus from Niche and covers prekindergarten to 12th grade. In 2024, the school was among the state’s 31 winners of the College Success Award. The honor recognizes schools for their efforts to prepare students for college. Students in the city may also go to Knox County Middle and Knox Central High. The middle school gets a B-minus, while the high school receives a C. Union Commonwealth University has an enrollment of about 1,200 students. Its programs include master’s degrees in a few areas like business and education.
Daniel Boone Festival is a city tradition
One of the city’s signature events is the week-long Daniel Boone Festival in October. The event includes parades with performers dressed in frontiersman clothing, long rifle shooting demonstrations and performances by dancers wearing traditional Native American wear. Other attractions include carnival rides and butter churning demonstrations.
Travelers have access to U.S. Route 25E and I-75
Commuters have direct access to U.S. Route 25E, which connects Barbourville to several communities. The highway goes to Corbin, less than 20 miles west. Interstate 75 also passes through Corbin and goes to larger cities like Lexington to the north and Knoxville to the south. The Lexington and Knoxville areas have some of the nearest airports for passenger airlines. Barbourville is about 110 miles from the Knoxville area’s McGhee Tyson Airport and Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. For medical care, Barbourville has the 25-bed Barbourville ARH Hospital.
Flooding may occur
The area is prone to some flooding, partly due to the Cumberland River and a few creeks. The city, however, has long had a flood wall to control the issue.
