Creelsboro, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Creelsboro is a ghost town
in Russell County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The historic town was thriving some sixteen years before Russell County was formed. It was named for Elijah Creel, an early settler, and was at one time the busiest river port on the Cumberland River between Nashville, Tennessee
, and Burnside, Kentucky
. The town hosted a bank, school, three stores and a building that provided lodging for steam boat passengers. Creelsboro was a major trade center along the Cumberland River
in the 19th century, although its actual population was only about 50. With the construction of the Wolf Creek Dam
, traffic from steamboat
s and other vessels greatly decreased. Creelsboro's current population primarily are involved in agriculture. Many tourists visit the area to access the Cumberland River for trout fishing and other recreational boating activities.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Russell County
Russell County, Kentucky
Russell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 17,565 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Jamestown. The county is named for William Russell...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The historic town was thriving some sixteen years before Russell County was formed. It was named for Elijah Creel, an early settler, and was at one time the busiest river port on the Cumberland River between Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and Burnside, Kentucky
Burnside, Kentucky
Burnside is a city in Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 637 at the 2000 census. In 2005, Burnside became the only town in Pulaski County or any adjoining county to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in qualified establishments...
. The town hosted a bank, school, three stores and a building that provided lodging for steam boat passengers. Creelsboro was a major trade center along the Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
in the 19th century, although its actual population was only about 50. With the construction of the Wolf Creek Dam
Wolf Creek Dam
The Wolf Creek Dam is a multi-purpose dam on the Cumberland River in the western part of Russell County, Kentucky, United States. The dam serves at once four distinct purposes: it generates hydroelectricity; it regulates and limits flooding; it releases stored water to permit year-round navigation...
, traffic from steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s and other vessels greatly decreased. Creelsboro's current population primarily are involved in agriculture. Many tourists visit the area to access the Cumberland River for trout fishing and other recreational boating activities.