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65-476: Hopkinsville is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Christian County , Kentucky , United States. The population at the 2020 census was 31,180. The area of present-day Hopkinsville was initially claimed in 1796 by Bartholomew Wood as part of a 1,200-acre (5 km) grant for his service in the American Revolution . He and his wife Martha Ann moved from Jonesborough, Tennessee , first to

130-494: A Reconstruction Finance Corporation loan in the amount of $ 2.2 million. 1954 saw the opening of the first unit of the Tennessee Valley Authority 's Kingston coal-fired power generating plant , which was largely fed coal from TC's own on-line coal mines operators. The company dropped money-losing passenger service on July 31, 1955, which by post-war years had narrowed to a single trip from Nashville to Harriman and

195-486: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant and well-spread, with an average of 49.1 inches (1,250 mm). Snowfall is light and sporadic, with an average of 9.8 inches (25 cm). The data below was accessed via the WRCC and was collected from 1896 until 2018. As of the census of 2010, there were 31,577 people, 12,600 households and 14,318 housing units in

260-467: A unitary urban county government (UCG); Louisville and other cities within Jefferson County have also merged into a single metro government. However, under state law, both major cities retained their pre-merger classification before the new scheme took effect. The General Assembly had historically reclassified cities only when requested by the city government. If all cities had been reclassified in

325-615: A Hopkinsville attorney before the war and was killed in service to the Union at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. Private citizens who supported the Union cause provided the army with mules, wagons, clothing, and food. The occupation of Hopkinsville changed at least half a dozen times between the Confederate and Union forces. In December 1864, Confederate troops under Gen. Hylan B. Lyon captured

390-451: A broad market share as they own several well-known brand names including Hammer , Dyno-Thane , Columbia 300 , Track , and Robby's. The Hopkinsville plants produced 60 percent of the world's bowling balls before their closing in November 2019 when they were purchased by Brunswick Bowling Products . Hopkinsville-Christian County has strong agricultural roots dating back to the settlements in

455-483: A cabin near present-day W. Seventh and Bethel streets; then to a second cabin near present-day 9th and Virginia streets; and finally to a third home near 14th and Campbell. Following the creation of Christian County the same year, the Woods donated 5 acres (20,000 m) of land and a half interest in their Old Rock Spring to form its seat of government in 1797. By 1798, a log courthouse, jail, and "stray pen" had been built;

520-470: A female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

585-411: A gas leak. On January 1, 2022 , an EF2 tornado struck Hopkinsville, removing the canopy from a gas station, and destroying the petrol pumps. A church lost parts of its roof, and trees were snapped and some uprooted along the path. This was the first confirmed tornado of 2022. On March 31, 2023 , the downtown area sustained noteworthy damage from straight-line winds of up to 90 mph, lifting off

650-544: A mayor- alderman government, but that does not apply to the merged governments in Louisville and Lexington. All other cities have a different form of government, including mayor-council , commission , and city manager , and are designated " home rule class" cities. The two-class system went into effect on January 1, 2015, following the 2014 passage of House Bill 331 by the Kentucky General Assembly and

715-411: A miniature circus; antique quilts; black history; historic modes of transportation; as well as historical license plates from Kentucky. Every May, Hopkinsville hosts Little River Days, a two-day family fun festival featuring road running , canoe racing , a bicycle tour, arts and crafts , food vendors and live entertainment. All activities take place at Merchant Park in downtown Hopkinsville. During

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780-460: A neighboring county and having the same namesake, Hopkinsville was never the county seat of Hopkins County, despite Hopkins County being created from Christian and Henderson Counties). Along with the rest of Kentucky, the town was late in establishing free lower education , but natives organized private schools, and the town was the home of South Kentucky College (est. 1849) and Bethel Female College (est. 1854). Since 1854, Hopkinsville has been

845-533: A reverse trip. Also in that year, the TC ended operations of their steam locomotives. 1956 saw the TC purchase more diesel locomotives and coal hoppers with another RFC loan. Brief profitability was restored from 1949 through 1956. In 1957 the TVA began awarding contracts to non-TC coal mine operators and their traffic boom went bust. Although the program of right-of-way improvement and new equipment acquisition had been carried out,

910-780: A route which ascended the Cumberland Plateau Escarpment at Walden's Ridge between Emory Gap and Crossville. The traditional major route for this passage had been made via Chattanooga . In 1893, enter the likes of entrepreneur "Colonel" Jere Baxter . He was known as charismatic and regarded as ruthless. Although no money could be found in Tennessee to complete the property that was to be the Tennessee Central, he traveled to St. Louis and eventually found backing. For much of his construction financing, he issued bonds. He organized and constructed four lines that, together with

975-664: A technical center specializing in agricultural classes. FFA classes at local high schools have over 200 members. The local 4-H group is extremely active serving over a thousand members in a variety of subjects. The Chamber of Commerce maintains an Agri-Business Committee that promotes "Ag Week". The Agri-Business Committee promotes local agriculture with two events annually with a media blitz via newspaper, radio, and television; one in March during National Agriculture Week and again in July during Christian County Agriculture Week. It honors local farmers in

1040-466: Is home to a wide range of businesses and industries, including Fortune 500 companies. Over 50 companies make up the local industrial community. Local industries provide a range of services and manufactured products. There are nine Japanese companies (wholly owned or joint ventures) in Hopkinsville, as well as one German, Spanish, Canadian and Italian. The Western State Hospital , established in 1854 as

1105-547: Is now part of Todd County, Kentucky . Several local businessmen and plantation owners contributed money and war supplies to the South. After Confederate forces retreated to Tennessee, however, Camp Joe Anderson was established by the Union to the northwest of Hopkinsville in 1862. Men who trained there became members of the 35th Kentucky Cavalry, the 25th Kentucky Infantry , and the 35th Kentucky Infantry . Gen. James S. Jackson had been

1170-452: Is owned and funded by the city of Hopkinsville and was established to perpetuate the heritage of southwestern Kentucky's rich history. In 1974, the city of Hopkinsville acquired the old Post Office building from the U.S. government for use as an educational museum. The Pennyroyal Area Museum was established in October 1975, and opened on July 8, 1976. Its board and staff maintain a wide range of activities in its endeavor to preserve and interpret

1235-732: Is the second largest in area in Kentucky at 722 square miles (1,870 km) and has an estimated 1,150 farms with over 300,000 acres (1,200 km) of farmland, with 230,000 acres (930 km) in cropland. The average size farm is 267 acres (1.08 km). Agriculture has become a highly technical industry, and Christian County farmers realized the need for continuing education and technical training concerning implements, machinery, fertilizers, chemicals, seeds, and overall good farming practice. Because of this progressive attitude, Christian County continues to be an agricultural leader and example of good farming practices. The Hopkinsville Community College has

1300-513: The Interstate 169 (formerly Pennyrile Parkway). A four-lane bypass almost completely circles the city. The Southern portion of the bypass is the route for US 68 Bypass. Congressional funding approved for an extension of the Pennyrile Parkway (now I-169) to Interstate 24 in southern Christian County near Fort Campbell . Construction was completed in three phases. Phase One took the parkway to

1365-563: The Ku Klux Klan ) to terrorize farmers into submission. On December 7, 1907, 250 masked Night Riders seized Hopkinsville's police station and cut off all outside contact. They pursued tobacco executives who bought tobacco from farmers who were not members of the Dark Tobacco District Planters' Protective Association and city officials who aided them. Three warehouses were burned, one of whose sites became Peace Park. In April of

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1430-901: The L&;N . The Ohio Valley Railroad (later purchased by the Illinois Southern ) reached the city in 1892, as did the Tennessee Central in 1903. The tobacco from the Black Patch region was highly desired in Europe. In 1904, tobacco planters formed the Dark Tobacco District Planters' Protective Association of Kentucky and Tennessee in opposition to a corporate monopoly by the American Tobacco Company (ATC) owned by James B. Duke . The ATC used their monopoly power to reduce

1495-484: The total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 , Hopkinsville was the closest metropolitan area to the point of greatest eclipse, which occurred about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the city center in nearby Cerulean, Kentucky . The opening text of the horror-comedy film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes notes that Hopkinsville was invaded by millions of black birds in 1975. While damage was caused around Hopkinsville,

1560-523: The 1790s. It has been a strong and consistent leader in the production of corn, winter wheat, soybeans, and tobacco. Statistics released in December 2007, by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, show Christian County continues to be a leading crop producer. Christian County ranks: Other key production includes burley tobacco, alfalfa hay, other hay, cattle, and calves and milk production. The county

1625-717: The Live at the Alhambra series, public school performances, the Missoula Children's Theatre, and local art exhibits. [2] The Hopkinsville Art Guild provides exhibition and educational opportunities for visual arts. From the 1930s to the 1960s, Hopkinsville had two stops on the Chitlin' Circuit tour route, The Skylark and The Chesterfield, which featured Black musical performers like Tina Turner , Count Bassie , Chubby Checker , James Brown , Little Richard , and Cab Calloway . Hopkinsville

1690-627: The N&;K acquired from the Crawford family, were to become the Tennessee Central. The lines were reorganized in 1902 and renamed the Tennessee Central Railroad. Several versions of this name were used over a period of some thirty years, until the final name, Tennessee Central Railway, was adopted in 1922. The line expanded slowly and piecemeal to the west and north of Nashville during this period, falling into receivership twice, in 1897 and 1912, on

1755-465: The Southern east of Nashville. Due to unprofitable operations, neither line opted to renew their lease. In 1922, a group of investors led by Paul M. Davis bought the railroad at a bankruptcy sale, thus abolishing the bonded indebtedness. They hired former president Hugh Wright Stanley, who operated the line profitably (except during 1932 and 1933) until 1945. The first diesel-electric locomotive switcher

1820-580: The US 68 bypass. Phase Two extended it to Lover's Lane. Phase Three, completed in late 2010 but not opened until early 2011, extended the parkway to meet I-24. All commercial air traffic for residents and visitors to Hopkinsville use Nashville International Airport . Hopkinsville is served by the Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport , a general aviation airport with one 5,502-foot (1,700 m) runway. Railroad construction and operation in

1885-569: The Western Lunatic Asylum, is an inpatient center for the treatment of mental illness. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The inpatient population as of 2004 was 220, from 34 counties in western Kentucky. Its three facilities employed 650 workers in 2004. Hopkinsville was the headquarters and primary manufacturing facility for Ebonite International , one of the oldest and largest bowling ball manufacturers. Ebonite had

1950-414: The bill's signing into law by Governor Steve Beshear . The new system replaced one in which cities were divided into six classes based on their population at the time of their classification. Before the enactment of House Bill 331, more than 400 classification-related laws affected public safety, alcohol beverage control, revenue options and others. Lexington and Fayette County are completely merged in

2015-632: The birds actually roosted in nearby Fort Campbell . The city is also known for the Kelly–Hopkinsville encounter , "a series of connected incidents of alleged close encounters with supposed extraterrestrial beings ." List of cities in Kentucky Kentucky , a state in the United States , has 418 active cities. The two largest, Louisville and Lexington , are designated "first class" cities. A first class city would normally have

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2080-459: The city and surrounding area. Hopkinsville is part of the Nashville, Tennessee television designated market area (DMA) . From 1983 to 2011, the city had its own local news station, WKAG , initially known in the area as TV-43 then as Source 16. WHVO radio began broadcasting in Hopkinsville with the call letters WKOA on September 19, 1954, under the license of Pennyrile Broadcasting Company. It

2145-441: The city of Hopkinsville. The racial makeup of the city was 62.6% White , 31.9% African American , 0.4% Native American , 1.1% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 3.5% from Hispanic or Latino origin , 61.1% White persons not Hispanic (U.S. Census), and 2.5% from two or more races. There were 12,174 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 18.2% had

2210-405: The country." On April 2, 2006 , an F3 tornado swept through parts of Hopkinsville. In the storm, 200 homes were damaged and 28 people were injured. In addition, structural damage was reported to dozens of other businesses, along with countless trees, power lines, transmission towers and other structures, cutting electricity to the city of Hopkinsville. A gas line was also damaged, causing

2275-577: The face of very tough odds, and played a considerable part in the economic development of its service region. It is still remembered fondly by many people in the small towns it served as "The Route of Personal Service," and is commemorated by a namesake institution, the Tennessee Central Railway Museum , in its former master mechanic's shop, which also was its headquarters in its final years. An unmarked monument exists in today's Interstate 440 loop south of downtown Nashville, which sits on

2340-624: The firm at length was unable to repay the RFC loans and fell into its third and final receivership in 1968. Its assets were sold off. Much of the Nashville beltline south of Nashville had already been sold to the state to build I-440 . The Western Division from the western end of the I-440 right of way in Nashville to Hopkinsville, KY was purchased by the Illinois Central Railroad. The eastern end of

2405-474: The following four fields: Agri-Business of the Year, Farmer of the Year, Distinguished Service, and Friend of Agriculture. The committee also awards scholarships each year to a student who will pursue an agricultural course in college. According to Hopkinsville's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were: Hopkinsville is intersected by US 41 , US 41A , US 68 , US 68 Bypass , and

2470-519: The former L&N owned TC trackage. The N&E once participated in the operation of the Broadway Dinner Train out of Nashville. Today it hosts the WeGo Star commuter rail service between Nashville and Lebanon. In 2000, the Nashville and Western Railroad was formed as subsidiary of the Nashville and Eastern to take over the operation of the old TC from Nashville to Ashland City , which was on

2535-489: The heart of Hopkinsville." Hopkinsville is home to The Alhambra, a 650-seat theatre established in 1928. It opened as a film cinema but had been a performance venue since 1983, when operations were taken over by the Pennyroyal Arts Council. Created in 1977, the Pennyroyal Arts Council encourages, develops, and promotes the arts appreciation through education, support, service, and presentation. Programming includes

2600-625: The late 1860s opened markets for agricultural and industrial products. Railroad service was inaugurated in Hopkinsville on April 8, 1868, by the Evansville, Henderson, & Nashville Railroad . This line was later extended north to Henderson and was acquired by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (now CSX Transportation ) in 1879. The Ohio Valley Railroad , purchased by the Illinois Central Railroad (now Illinois Central Gulf ) in 1897,

2665-427: The latter occasion operating in technical insolvency for ten years. Baxter died in 1904, leaving as his heritage the now completed TC, which was heavily burdened with debt. Although the company was operating "in the black", they were unable to meet their bonded indebtedness, which was incurred from the building of the line. In 1905, the TC was leased for three years to the Illinois Central Railroad west of Nashville and

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2730-513: The line from Harriman to the siding just west of Crossville went to the Southern Railway. The remaining middle portion from Crossville to Nashville went to its old and not at all friendly rival, the Louisville & Nashville. At the end of 1956 TC operated 286 miles of road and 377 miles of track; that year it reported 278 million net revenue ton-miles of freight and 1 million passenger-miles. The Tennessee Central endured for over 80 years in

2795-480: The more established lines. (It was unable to use Nashville 's ornate new Union Station terminal for instance, as that was controlled by the rival Louisville and Nashville Railroad and its subsidiary Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis.) The Tennessee Central linked Knoxville directly, by a link to the Southern Railway 's subsidiary Harriman and Northeastern from Harriman to Knoxville, with Nashville via

2860-510: The next year, John Campbell and Samuel Means laid out the streets for "Christian Court House". The community tried to rename itself "Elizabeth" after the Woods' eldest daughter, but Elizabethtown, Kentucky pre-ëmpted the name, and the Kentucky Assembly established the town in 1804 as "Hopkinsville" after veteran and state representative Samuel Hopkins of Henderson County (later the namesake of Hopkins County as well and despite being in

2925-594: The next year, a tobacco broker in Paducah named W.B. Kennedy wrote to associates in Rotterdam that "Out of all the mischief that has been done the law has not been able to convict and punish the night-riders. They do their mischief in the night, and wear masks, and they have taken a pledge to never tell anybody anything they know, and for this reason it is impossible to get sufficient evidence to convict them. They have gone on with their mischief making, until they have almost ruined

2990-480: The north, Russellville is 35 miles (56 km) to the east, Oak Grove is 15 miles to the south, and Clarksville, Tennessee , is 26 miles (42 km) to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau , Hopkinsville has a total area of 30.8 square miles (79.8 km), of which 30.6 square miles (79.3 km) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km), or 0.44%, is water. Hopkinsville has

3055-590: The old Tennessee Central right-of-way, purchased by the state in the railroad's last years. The trackage between Monterey and Crossville was dismantled by the L&;N in the 1980s, which has proven problematic to recent advocates of the restoration of passenger train service between Nashville and Knoxville. The Nashville and Eastern Railroad was formed to revive operation of the line's freight service to Old Hickory and Lebanon , approximately 30 miles east of Nashville, with occasional runs to points somewhat further east over

3120-467: The past. Area citizens have contributed important roles in the Kentucky tradition from the post revolution era to the present. Historical in scope, the museum attempts to portray the development of the nine county Pennyrile region. Exhibits include the night riders of the Black Patch Tobacco Wars ; Edgar Cayce , famed local clairvoyant; Jefferson Davis ; period room settings; a pioneer bedroom;

3185-541: The portion originally sold to the IC, but later operated by numerous short lines. The Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail extends approximately 14 miles west from Ashland City on the old TC roadbed. Eventually the Dept. of Defense took over the operation of the old TC from Hopkinsville to Fort Campbell . The rest of the TC line between the Trail's end and Fort Campbell has been abandoned. At

3250-410: The pre-2015 scheme according to actual population, about one-third of classifications would have changed. In particular, Lexington would have been classified as a first-class (Class 1) city. Although basic city classification changed in 2015, the old classifications will remain relevant for some time. Because many provisions of state law applied only to cities of certain pre-2015 classes, House Bill 331

3315-550: The prices they paid to farmers; the planters' association aimed to organize a boycott of sales to drive the price back up. Many farmers continued to sell independently or secretly, however, prompting the association to form a "Silent Brigade" to pressure such farmers into compliance. With societal pressure seeming to fail, the Silent Brigade (probably under Dr. David A. Amoss ) organized the Night Riders (not to be confused with

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3380-592: The site of the Western Kentucky Lunatic Asylum . The Civil War generated major divisions in Christian County. Confederate support in Hopkinsville and Christian County was evident in the formation of the "Oak Grove Rangers" and the 28th Kentucky Cavalry. Christian County was the actual birthplace of Jefferson Davis , president of the Confederate States of America , though his birthplace

3445-529: The state are in the home rule class. Click on the double triangles at the top of a column to sort the table by that column.     County seat Since the 2010 census , some cities in Kentucky were disincorporated and did not appear in the next census. Tennessee Central Railway By the 1880s railroads were becoming a mature industry and it was not easy for a new competitor to break in. The firm and its successor companies would struggle for decades with both financial woes and hostility from

3510-411: The town and burned down the Christian County courthouse which was being used at that time by the Union army as a barracks. Another skirmish between Union and Confederate forces took place in the field opposite Western State Hospital near the end of the war. The Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad was the first to connect Hopkinsville to surrounding cities in 1868. In 1879, it was purchased by

3575-488: The trip to Asheville and eastern North Carolina and southeastern South Carolina. Wartime traffic in the early 1940s brightened the financial picture, but after that hard times returned. Despite losses in 1946, a group of investors led by J. L. Armstrong bought out the Davis group. The last of the steam engines were pulled from service in 1952 due to the arrival of four diesel locomotives (along with 200 coal hoppers) financed by

3640-486: The upper floor of restaurant The Mixer in the former Young Hardware space, as well as damaging the city's clock tower and the Woody Winfree Fire and Transportation Museum. Hopkinsville is located south of the center of Christian County at 36°51′17″N 87°29′20″W  /  36.85472°N 87.48889°W  / 36.85472; -87.48889 (36.854712, −87.488872). Madisonville is 35 miles (56 km) to

3705-581: The wrought iron fence. There is also a sunken amphitheater. A group of plaques commemorate the great uprooting and journey, and its devastating effect upon the Cherokee people. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places . The Pennyroyal Area Museum, located in the old post office building downtown, has exhibits on the history of Hopkinsville and the Pennyrile region. The Pennyroyal Area Museum

3770-591: Was 30,683 with a median household income of $ 39,743 and 23% of people living in poverty. Hopkinsville is part of the Clarksville , TN –KY Metropolitan Statistical Area . Clarksville lies approximately 15 miles (24 km) to the south of Hopkinsville. Prior to 2003, the area was officially known as the Clarksville-Hopkinsville Metropolitan Statistical Area and included only Montgomery and Christian counties. In 2003, Hopkinsville

3835-405: Was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 30,419, and the median income for a family was $ 37,598. Males had a median income of $ 30,349 versus $ 21,259 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,796. The 2020 census estimated the population of Hopkinsville

3900-472: Was a middle-of-the-road (MOR format) in the 1970s, and then a big band/oldies format during the mid-1980s. The station's callsigns changed to WYKH on August 1, 1986. On December 14, 1987, the station changed its call sign to WQKS. WQKS was acquired by the station's current owner, Ham Broadcasting, in October 1995. The current WHVO callsigns came on May 16, 2000. The Hoptown Chronicle is a "nonprofit, online news outlet that provides public service journalism from

3965-644: Was a stop along the Trail of Tears , and the National Park System's "Trail of Tears Commemorative Park," along 9th Street on the Little River, commemorates this history. Every September, the Trail of Tears Indian Pow-Wow comes to town to Trail of Tears Park. There is a museum and a burial ground, including two important Cherokee leaders who died during the removal – Fly Smith and Whitepath, along with several large osage orange trees in it and dream catchers hanging from

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4030-469: Was brought to Nashville in 1939 by the TC. The TC had passenger service from Nashville to Harriman, with through service to Knoxville in cooperation with the Southern Railway . In 1936 it had a day and a night train in each direction on the route. The night train served as a section of the Carolina Special , however, passengers would need to switch to other coaches or sleepers at Knoxville to continue

4095-545: Was built from Gracey to Hopkinsville in 1892 and abandoned in the 1980s. In 1903, the western division of the Tennessee Central Railway entered Christian County at Edgoten (Edge-of-Tennessee), connecting Clarksville and Hopkinsville. In 1990 the Hopkinsville-Fort Campbell portion was operated by the U.S. Department of Defense . The Kentucky New Era , founded in 1869, is the daily newspaper for

4160-428: Was explicitly written to address such issues. In certain areas of law, class-based distinctions between cities have been replaced by population-based distinctions. In certain other areas that were more controversial, the pre-2015 status quo is being maintained through a registry of cities that were covered by prior laws. Under the new system, Louisville and Lexington are classified as first class. All other cities in

4225-603: Was removed from the official name as it was no longer considered a principal city. That year, Stewart and Trigg counties were also added to the MSA. The four-county metropolitan area had a population of 232,000 in 2000. A July 1, 2007 estimate placed the population at 261,816. As of 2007, the Clarksville Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 169th largest MSA in the United States. Hopkinsville-Christian County

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