Williamsburg, Kentucky
Williamsburg is a city of 5,270 people in Whitley County, Kentucky, founded in 1819.
Why visit Williamsburg
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 17 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Lane Theater, Cumberland Inn Museum and Kentucky Splash Waterpark.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Williamsburg
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Williamsburg
Williamsburg is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Whitley County, on the southeastern border of Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,326 at the 2020 census. Developed along the Cumberland River, the city was founded in 1818 and named after William Whitley.
From the Wikipedia article Williamsburg, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
Lane Theater
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Former movie theater in Williamsburg, Kentucky, United States
Cumberland Inn Museum
Museum · 0.8 mi
Museum In University of The Cumberlands
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Restaurants and cafes17
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 1.3 mi
937 Highway 25 West, Williamsburg
Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 1.2 mi
604 Highway 92 West, Williamsburg
Mo-Th 07:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-02:00; Su 07:00-01:00
5 more on the map.
History
Williamsburg was first known by early European-American settlers as the Spring Ford, after a nearby ford crossing the Cumberland River. On April 19, 1818, the first meeting of the Whitley County Court was held at Samuel Cox's dwelling. This first court appointed local officials as well as constables to work with the county militia. The town was known simply as Whitley Courthouse. In 1882, the city was renamed as Williamsburgh, and the spelling was changed in 1890 to the current Williamsburg.
The town's initial growth was fueled by three freshwater springs in the area. Settlers were attracted to this water source. They later developed coal mining and lumber industries, based on natural resources of the area.
Construction of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) to the town in 1883 stimulated new growth. It connected the town to far-flung markets and attracted new residents and trade. Shortly thereafter in 1886, the town elected W. H. Parker as its first mayor.
This first city government enacted a number of new ordinances including:
From the History section of Williamsburg, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship8
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic
76 West Sycamore Street, Williamsburg
Shopping4
WD Bryant's Hardware Store
Hardware store · 0.4 mi
372 South 5th Street, Williamsburg
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Pleasant View Elementary School
School · 4.8 mi
5554 Hwy 25 W South, Williamsburg
Whitley Central Intermediate School
School · 3.0 mi
2940 North Highway 25W, Williamsburg
Whitley County Alternative School
School · 2.9 mi
351 Boulevard Of Champions, Williamsburg
Whitley County Central Primary School
School · 3.0 mi
520 Blvd Of Champions, Williamsburg
Healthcare2
Map of Williamsburg
59 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 25°F | 4.2 in | 4.1 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 27°F | 4.5 in | 2.6 in |
| Mar | 59°F | 33°F | 5.1 in | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 41°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 52°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 61°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 63°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 33°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 49°F | 28°F | 5.2 in | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Williamsburg Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Whitley County has had 28 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-05-29: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-05-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
London-Corbin Airport (LOZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Corbin 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- North Corbin 16 mi north, about 26 min by car
- Stearns 17 mi west, about 28 min by car
- Barbourville 18 mi northeast, about 29 min by car
- Pineville 25 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Middlesborough 26 mi east, about 42 min by car
- London 27 mi north, about 43 min by car
- Somerset 34 mi northwest, about 55 min by car
- Manchester 36 mi northeast, about 57 min by car
- Monticello 39 mi west, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Williamsburg, Kentucky, GreenMGo, Public domain
- Williamsburg Lane Theater, Nyttend, Public domain
- Whitley County Courthouse, Williamsburg, Nyttend, Public domain
- Williamsburg Armory, Nyttend, Public domain
- J.B. Gatliff House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ancil Gatliff House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Freightliner FS-65 dashboard 2, Jordan from United States, CC BY 2.0
- 2010 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2, Jordan from United States, CC BY 2.0
- Freightliner FS-65 dashboard, Jordan from United States, CC BY 2.0
- Whitley county courthouse (3651198095), w.marsh, CC BY 2.0
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