city, seat of Knox county, southeastern Kentucky, U.S. It lies on the Cumberland River, in the Cumberland Mountains, and is a gateway to Daniel Boone National Forest. It was founded in 1800 and named for James Barbour, who donated land for the town site. Union College was established there by the Methodist Church in 1879. The Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site, 6 miles (10 km) south of the city, has a replica of the log cabin (the first house in Kentucky) built in 1750 by Walker, who explored the region and named the Cumberland Gap. During the American Civil War, Confederate troops attacked a small Union force there (September 19, 1861), Kentucky's first encounter of the war.

Barbourville is an agricultural trading centre (tobacco, timber, vegetables, and sorghum) and has some light industry. Tourism is also important to the economy. A floodwall protects the city from the meandering Cumberland River. Pop. (1990) 3,658; (2000) 3,589.