On March 14, 1890, the city of Middlesboro, Kentucky, was officially incorporated—though it was originally spelled “Middlesborough.” Sitting just west of the Cumberland Gap, this city has a history as unique as its geography. Middlesboro isn’t just another Appalachian city; it was built in a meteor crater and once aspired to be the “Pittsburgh of the South.”
Scottish-born entrepreneur Alexander Arthur had big dreams for Middlesboro in the late 19th century. With financial backing from British investors, he envisioned a booming industrial city of 250,000 people, complete with electric streetcars, running water, and a world-class sporting commons. He even started construction on the Powell Valley Railroad to link the city to Knoxville, Tennessee.
The city’s early years saw an iron and steel industry boom, but the local ore wasn’t of high enough quality to sustain it. Financial troubles, a devastating fire in 1890, and the Panic of 1893 led to the collapse of Arthur’s ambitious project. By 1894, the city’s name was shortened to Middlesboro.
The city wasn’t done making history. In the early 1890s, local pianist Ben Harney helped shape the ragtime genre while playing in saloons. Middlesboro even petitioned to host the 1892 World’s Fair. The city installed the first electric streetcars west of Washington, D.C., enhancing tourism and local transportation.
By the 1930s, Middlesboro had earned a new nickname: “Little Las Vegas.” Slot machines, saloons, and brothels lined the streets, and shootouts became a daily occurrence. Under the control of the notorious Ball brothers, Middlesboro gained national attention as one of the most dangerous cities in the country.
Despite its early struggles and lawless reputation, Middlesboro has survived and evolved. Home to the Middlesboro Country Club—one of the oldest continuously played golf courses in the U.S.—and rich in Appalachian heritage, it remains a fascinating piece of Kentucky history.
Very cool history!!!!