Corbin borders the Daniel Boone National Forest
Corbin, a small city of about 8,100 people, stands on the edge of the Daniel Boone National Forest, blending the natural beauty of Eastern Kentucky with access to a solid restaurant scene and big-box stores. This attracts a mix of residents, says Tommy Black, broker and owner of Corbin-based Re/Max on Main and one of the top agents in the city. “You’ve got a lot of retirees who come in and want out of the city.” Black also says that the reputation of the local school district draws in families, while Kentucky’s decreasing income tax appeals to others. The state government has lowered Kentucky’s income tax multiple times since 2023, and the tax rate will drop another half a percentage point in 2026.
New construction and rural estates in Corbin
Ranch-style and Craftsman homes line the streets surrounding downtown. To the east and west, Colonial Revivals and Tudor Revivals rise from wide yards. Some communities were built along peninsulas along Laurel River Lake, but few houses sit on the lakefront. Turnkey homes start around $100,000. New construction homes range from $175,000 to $390,000. Four- and five-bedroom houses with multiple acres of land can cost up to $775,000.
Trains once frequently hauled coal through Corbin, home to tracks and a railyard. However, those operations have cut back since 2015. Freight trains still pass through the community, but most homes are buffered from the noise by the wooded thickets and Main Street businesses surrounding the tracks.
Corbin Independent Schools gets high marks from Niche
Kindergartners through third graders can go to Corbin Primary School, scored an A-minus by Niche. Corbin Elementary School, which teaches fourth and fifth graders, and Corbin Middle School both receive A grades. Corbin Middle has more than 20 electives and special interest courses, including current events, first aid & safety and History of Rock & Roll I. Corbin High School gets a B-plus.
Seeing a moonbow, the ‘Niagara of the South’ and more at local parks
Many locals spend warm days on Laurel River Lake, paddling and fishing and even leaping from rocky bluffs into the water. The lake extends west into the Daniel Boone National Forest, made up of more than 700,000 acres of protected land crisscrossed by 600 miles of hiking, cycling and all-terrain vehicle trails. Farther west, falls referred to as the “Niagara of the South” spill over a gorge at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Visitors may see a moonbow, a rainbow that streaks through the night sky when moonlight is refracted through water droplets. Many scientific and historical organizations consider Cumberland Falls to be one of two places on earth where moonbows consistently appear. “We have the only moonbow in the Western Hemisphere,” Black says. In the center of Corbin, Rotary Park encompasses a playground, baseball fields and a dog park. People can catch a concert at The Corbin Arena.
Home to bourbon bars, coffee shops and a bit of fried chicken history
Locally owned restaurants are packed into the blocks of Main Street between 2nd and 3rd streets. The Wrigley pairs a farm-to-table menu with an expansive bourbon selection, while Folktale serves morning espresso and after-work cocktails. Nearby, the Sanders Cafe & Museum recognizes Corbin as the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders first served his chicken, complete with 11 herbs and spices, in the cafe in the ‘30s. The restored building now houses a KFC restaurant and a free museum on the history of Sanders and his fried chicken empire. Residents can shop in Corbin at Kroger and W-D Bryant & Son Ace. There are also large retail chains, such as Walmart, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Belk, in the neighboring community of North Corbin.
NIBROC Festival celebrates the community with carnival, sports
The community celebrates for four days in August during the NIBROC Festival, a name that comes from “Corbin” spelled backward. The fanfare consists of carnival rides, a parade and live music, along with friendly competitions such as cornhole and a volleyball tournament.
I-75 links the city to Knoxville, Lexington
Corbin is along Interstate 75, which stretches 85 miles south to Knoxville and roughly 90 miles north to Lexington. Just outside of Knoxville, airlines at Tyson McGhee Airport fly nonstop to more than 30 U.S. destinations. Corbin residents can use Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated Inc. to schedule shuttle rides to stores, workplaces and appointments at health care facilities such as Baptist Health Corbin.
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Written By
Alex Soderstrom
