Middlesboro in Bell County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Middlesboro Meteorite Crater Impact Site

Photographed By Elissa Graff, July 19, 2010

1. Middlesboro Meteorite Crater Impact Site Marker - Side A

Inscription.
Designated by the Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists as a Distinguished Geological Site. Middlesboro is one of only a few cities on the North American Continent located in the basin of a meteorite impact structure.

Sometime over the past 300 million years the impact of a meteorite in the heights of the Appalachian Mountains formed a circular basin approximately three miles in diameter in which the city of Middlesboro was built in 1889.

Erected 2006 by Bell County Historical Society, Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2225.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 36° 36.65′ N, 83° 42.128′ W. Marker is in Middlesboro, Kentucky, in Bell County. Marker is on 12th Street (U.S. 25E), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 324 12th Street, Middlesboro KY 40965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lewis and Clark in Kentucky Cumberland Gap (approx. ¼ mile away); The Emigrant's Dream (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gateway to Kaintuck

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(approx. 0.7 miles away); Stories of a journey through the Wilderness, into Kentucke.. (approx. 0.7 miles away); Middlesborough (approx. 0.7 miles away); Tri - State Heroes (approx. 0.7 miles away); St. Mary's Episcopal Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); Community Park to National Park (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middlesboro.

Regarding Middlesboro Meteorite Crater Impact Site. The Middlesboro Crater is located in the Appalachian Mountains, between the Cumberland Mountains and Pine Mountain. The town of Middlesborough, built in the crater, was established in 1886. Middlesboro Crater is approximately 3 miles in diameter and the age is estimated to be less than 300 million years.

Middlesboro Meteorite Crater Impact Site Marker - Side B image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Elissa Graff, July 19, 2010

2. Middlesboro Meteorite Crater Impact Site Marker - Side B

Did You Know That Meteorites Have Hit Kentucky? image. Click for full size.

via Kentucky Geological Survey, unknown

3. Did You Know That Meteorites Have Hit Kentucky?

Kentucky Geological Survey website entry

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2010, by Elissa Graff of Middlesboro, Kentucky. This page has been viewed 5,967 times since then and 179 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2010, by Elissa Graff of Middlesboro, Kentucky. 3. submitted on April 1, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.