Williamsburg, Kentucky
| Williamsburg, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 |
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| Nickname(s): The 'Burg; Gateway to the Cumberlands | |
| Motto: "Feels Like Home" | |
 Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky |
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| Coordinates: 36°44′12″N 84°9′53″W / 36.73667°N 84.16472°WCoordinates: 36°44′12″N 84°9′53″W / 36.73667°N 84.16472°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Whitley |
| Established | February 5, 1819 |
| Incorporated | March 3, 1851 |
| First meeting of city government | June 4, 1894 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Roddy Harrison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.8 sq mi (12.4 km2) |
| • Land | 4.7 sq mi (12.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 928 ft (283 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,245 |
| • Density | 1,092.7/sq mi (423.0/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 40769 |
| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-83334 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0516385 |
| Website | http://www.williamsburgky.com/ |
Williamsburg is a city in and the county seat of Whitley County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census. The city was founded in 1818 and named after William Whitley. The Cumberland River flows through the city.
Williamsburg was first known as the Spring Ford after a nearby ford crossing the Cumberland River. On 19 April 1818 the first meeting of the Whitley County Court was held at Samuel Cox's own home. This first court appointed local officials as well as constables to work with the county militia. The town was then known simply as Whitley Courthouse. This name would be changed in 1882 to Williamsburgh, and later changed in 1890 to its current Williamsburg.
The town's initial growth was fueled by three fresh water springs in the area and then by coal and lumber industries. This growth was greatly accelerated by the introduction of the L&N railroad coming to the town in 1883, opening the town to far flung markets and greatly easing the flow of population. Shortly thereafter in 1886 the town would elect W. H. Parker as its first mayor.
This first city government would enact a number of new ordinances including:
The Williamsburg school system was established in 1909 when the town voted to consolidate the multiple single-room schools in the area into one unified school district. This building would be destroyed by fire in 1926 and rebuilt into what would eventually be remodeled into the Anderson Building currently in use by the University of the Cumberlands. Finally, the district would move to its current location in 1983.
Similarly, the county courthouse would be destroyed by fire in 1931, rebuilt, and then renovated 40 years later in 1971. Finally, in 2011 the courthouse was moved to the newly constructed Whitley County Judicial Center located adjacent to the old courthouse.
Williamsburg is located at 36°44′12″N 84°09′53″W / 36.736576°N 84.164713°W, within the Eastern Mountain Coal Fields and the Appalachian Plateau regions. It rests along the I-75 corridor at exits 11 and 15. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), of which 4.7 square miles (12 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (2.10%) is water.
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