Burkesville is a small Kentucky town located in the Appalachian foothills, with the Cumberland River running along its southern and eastern borders. Burkesville is the Cumberland County seat and, as of 2000, has a population of 1,756. The city has an area of 2.8 square miles. The original citizens of Burkesville settled along the river in the mid 1700's, before the Iroquois Indian tribe had actually sold the land. The town was initially called Cumberland Crossings until it was renamed in 1846 after a prominent town leader named Samuel Burk.
The Cumblerland River became a sort of line between Confederate and Union forces in the Civil War and Burkesville became the site of much crossfire and army movement. During the famous Morgan Raid by the Confederate army, the town's courthouse was burned down. In the late nineteenth century, when transportation by river was critical to the country, Burkesville became a bustling river port for steamboats and river trade. This chapter of history came to a close when the Tennessee Valley Authority built dams both upstream and downstream of the town, to solve flooding issues.
Today Burkesville is an intersection of Highways 90 and 61, which meet at the town's one stoplight. The Burkesville, Kentucky yellow pages contain a variety of real estate offices, law firms, and insurance agents. However, the location of the city makes it a popular spot for cabin vacation rentals, hunting, and fishing. The Burkesville, Kentucky business directory lists several resorts and lodges for those seeking a beautiful vacation spot at the foot of the Appalachians. The river provides plenty of recreation, both for citizens of Burkesville and tourists who come for water sports and camping.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
