Backusburg is an unincorporated community in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States.

Backusburg, Kentucky
Backusburg is located in Kentucky
Backusburg
Backusburg
Location within the state of Kentucky
Backusburg is located in the United States
Backusburg
Backusburg
Backusburg (the United States)
Coordinates: 36°42′21″N 88°28′6″W / 36.70583°N 88.46833°W / 36.70583; -88.46833
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyCalloway
Elevation
433 ft (132 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CST)
GNIS feature ID507433[1]

Two different archaeological sites are located near the community; one of them, known as the Backusburg Mounds, is one of the premier sites throughout the Jackson Purchase.[2] A post office was first established at the site on April 27, 1846, as Clarks River, Kentucky. This post office was closed on July 6, 1860. The post office was re-established on November 7, 1873, as Backusburg. The town is said to have been named after Asa Backus (who co-owned a sawmill) after he won a coin flip with another man.[3]

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Backusburg, Kentucky
  2. ^ Funkhouser, W.D., and W.S. Webb. "Archaeological Survey of Kentucky". University of Kentucky Reports in Anthropology 7.5 (1950): 65.
  3. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 11. Retrieved December 15, 2020.