[6] Whitesburg was founded in 1842 on land offered by Stephen Hiram Hogg to build the county seat.

[7] Previously called Summit city, it was renamed for John D. White who had introduced Letcher county's enactment bill in the State legislature.

Kentucky Route 15 passes through the city, leading northwest 31 miles (50 km) to Hazard.

As a result of a survey taken subsequent to the census it was established that the city's population was made up of 3,100 residents.

When these facilities are included in the population count the number of city residents climbs to 3,100.

Founded by Nehemiah Webb in 1907, the weekly paper has been owned by the Gish family of Letcher County since 1956.

The Eagle has won numerous awards for its coverage of strip mining and its environmental effects, as well as education, and political corruption.

[18] Whitesburg's oldest continuously operating radio station, WTCW-AM/WXKQ-FM, is located 5 miles (8 km) outside the city near the community of Mayking.

Whitesburg is the home of Appalshop, a nonprofit aimed at helping people tell stories and educate others about Appalachia.