Whoopflarea, Kentucky

Whoopflarea is an Owsley county community on Buffalo Creek about 18 miles southeast of Booneville. There are many unverified stories about the origin of the name involving wild animals, owls, Native Americans, a lost explorer or moonshiner named Larry, or a girl named Laura. The name has apparently been in use since sometime in the nineteenth century to refer to a string of hills in the area. There are numerous spellings and pronunciations, but Whoopflarea was the official spelling used by the post office.

The Whoopflarea post office opened in 1931 and closed in 1954.

---

---

© 2024 David C. Elbon