However, in 1767–1768, Daniel Boone took his first steps in what is now Kentucky near present-day Elkhorn City on a hunting expedition.

On October 16, 1882, the post office was renamed "Praise" for "Camp Praise-the-Lord", a tent colony that was established by evangelist George O. Barnes for a revival there in August 1881.

In 1907, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway established a station in Praise that was named "Elkhorn City".

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all land.

Elkhorn City is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky.

The city has many geographic wonders that make it one of the major tourism destinations in Kentucky.

First and foremost of these natural wonders is the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River which flows through the center of the city.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.