81-485: 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
162-490: 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
243-475: 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
324-634: 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
405-456: 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
486-487: 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;
567-470: 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
648-411: 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
729-769: A hit in the Dutch charts in the late 1960s with "Ridin' on the L&;N" (a cover from the Dan Burley / Lionel Hampton composition from 1946). This composition also was covered by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers . The L&N is also mentioned in the Lost Dog Street Band song “Last Train”, written by Benjamin Tod , from their 2024 album Survived . In 1926 the L&N turned over approximately 137 acres to
810-565: A manner that earned it the nickname, "The Old Reliable". Growth of the railroad continued until its purchase and the tumultuous rail consolidations of the 1980s which led to continual successors. By the end of 1970, L&N operated 6,063 miles (9,757 km) of road on 10,051 miles (16,176 km) of track, not including the Carrollton Railroad. In 1971 the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad , successor to
891-561: 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
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#1732765285931972-411: 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
1053-460: 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
1134-609: A portion of the Lebanon Branch. The museum owns the following L&N equipment: K2A Light Pacific 4-6-2 No. 152, a steam locomotive; heavyweight coaches Nos. 2572 and 2554; an observation car; heavyweight combine No. 1603; combine coach No. 665; sleeper the Pearl River , the Pullman heavyweight 10 section sleeper-lounge Mt. Broderick which was assigned to the L&N but owned and operated by Pullman; several baggage cars;
1215-508: A steam-powered crane; and E-6 diesel locomotive No. 770. All of the last seven pieces of equipment listed need restoration. The Historic Railpark and Train Museum owns or operates several pieces of L&N equipment, including an E-8 diesel locomotive, a Railway Post Office car, dining car No. 2799, a sleeping car, an observation car, along with a Jim Crow combine in need of major overhaul. Several other museums own L&N equipment, including
1296-672: 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
1377-472: 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
1458-555: 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
1539-452: 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
1620-737: 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
1701-771: The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad , purchased the remainder of the L&N shares it did not already own, and the company became a subsidiary. By 1982, the Seaboard Coast Line had absorbed the Louisville & Nashville Railroad entirely. Then in 1986, the Seaboard System merged with the C&;O and B&O (known as the Chessie System ) and the combined company became CSX Transportation (CSX), which now owns and operates all of
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#17327652859311782-700: The Georgian north of Nashville. (The Official Guide of the Railroads, February 1952) The railroad also hosted other named trains, including: The L&N was one of few railroads to discontinue a passenger train that was en route. On January 9, 1969, as soon as a judge lifted the injunction preventing its discontinuance, the L&N discontinued its southbound Humming Bird at Birmingham, in mid-run from Cincinnati to New Orleans. The 14 passengers continuing south did so by bus. There are several preservation organizations of L&N equipment and L&N lines, such as
1863-527: 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
1944-753: The Kentucky Railway Museum , The Historic Railpark and Train Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky , and the L&N Historical Society. The city of Atlanta, Georgia , is home to the General and the Texas , two 4-4-0 locomotives originally built for the Western and Atlantic Railroad , which was later leased to L&N predecessor Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis. The lease of the W&;A
2025-581: 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
2106-553: The L&;N , was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States . Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of the great success stories of American business. Operating under one name continuously for 132 years, it survived civil war and economic depression and several waves of social and technological change. Under Milton H. Smith , president of
2187-902: 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
2268-580: The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis was finally fully merged. In the 1960s, acquisitions in Illinois allowed a long-sought entry into the premier railroad nexus of Chicago , and some of the battered remains of the old rival, the Tennessee Central, were sold to the L&N as well. In 1971 the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad , successor to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad , purchased
2349-641: The SS Pensacola , the SS August Belmont , and the SS E. O. Saltmarsh . The venture ended with the sale of the Pensacola in 1906 and the selling off of the remaining assets in 1915. The World Wars placed heavy demand on the L&N. Its widespread and robust network coped well with the demands of war transport and production, and the resulting profits harked back to the boost it had received from
2430-446: The model railroading hobby. The L&N Railroad is mentioned by country music pioneer Jimmie Rodgers in his "Blue Yodel #7". It is also the subject of the 2003 Rhonda Vincent bluegrass song "Kentucky Borderline", as well as " The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore " by Jean Ritchie and individually performed by Michelle Shocked , Johnny Cash , Billy Bragg & Joe Henry , and Kathy Mattea . Dutch blues/rock band The Bintangs had
2511-491: 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,
Hopkinsville, Kentucky - Misplaced Pages Continue
2592-537: 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
2673-688: The Civil War, different parts of the network were pressed into service by both armies at various times, and considerable damage from wear, battle, and sabotage occurred. (For example, during the Battle of Lebanon in July 1863, the company's depot in Lebanon, Kentucky , was used as a stronghold by outnumbered Union troops). However, the company benefited from being based in Kentucky, a southern border state that initially had competing Unionist and Confederate state governments, but with Bowling Green (the latter's capital) and Nashville falling to Union forces within
2754-667: The Civil War. In the postwar period, the line shifted gradually to diesel power, and the new streamlined engines pulled some of the most elegant passenger trains of the last great age of passenger rail, such as the Dixie Flyer , the Humming Bird , and the Pan-American . Though well past its 100th anniversary, the line was still growing. The railroad retired its last steam locomotive, a J-4 class 2-8-2 Mikado #1882, from active service on January 28, 1957. Also in that year,
2835-641: The Kentucky State Park Commission, making possible the creation of the state's Natural Bridge State Park . The Humming Bird and Pan-American , both from Cincinnati to New Orleans and Memphis, were two of the L&N's most popular passenger trains that ran entirely on its own lines. However, the Humming Bird later added a Chicago to New Orleans section in conjunction with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad utilizing
2916-476: The L&N to its rival Atlantic Coast Line Railroad , but that company did not attempt to control L&N operations, and for many decades there were no consequences of this change. The L&N also attempted an expansion into foreign trade, through investments into the Export Coal Company, and the creation of a wholly owned subsidiary the "Gulf Transit Company" in 1895. This operated three ships,
2997-739: 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
3078-399: The Seaboard System merged into the C&O / B&O combined system known as the Chessie System . The combined company became CSX Transportation (CSX), which now owns and operates all of the former Louisville and Nashville lines, except for some routes abandoned or sold off. Several historical groups and publications devoted to the line exist, and L&N equipment is well represented in
3159-598: 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
3240-587: 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
3321-468: The basic ingredients of steel production. The arrival of L&N transport and investment capital helped create a great industrial city and the South's first postwar urban success story. The railroad's access to good coal enabled it to claim for a few years starting in 1940 the nation's longest unrefuelled run, about 490 miles (790 km) from Louisville to Montgomery, Alabama . In the Gilded Age of
Hopkinsville, Kentucky - Misplaced Pages Continue
3402-414: 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
3483-647: 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
3564-408: 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
3645-441: 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
3726-604: The city. The new shops featured a central, 920-foot long transfer table that connected the main buildings. From that year until the 1920s, the South Louisville Shop built many of its own locomotives as well as repairing them. The shops in Decatur, Alabama were used to build most of the system's freight cars. The only other significant shops were located in Howell, Indiana , built in 1889. Since all locomotives of
3807-457: The company for 30 years, the L&N grew from a road with less than three hundred miles (480 km) of track to a 6,000-mile (9,700 km) system serving fourteen states. As one of the premier Southern railroads , the L&N extended its reach far beyond its namesake cities, stretching to St. Louis , Memphis , Atlanta , and New Orleans . The railroad was economically strong throughout its lifetime, operating freight and passenger trains in
3888-405: 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
3969-474: The eastern U.S. as part of the observance of the Civil War Centennial, including a visit to the 1964 New York World's Fair . Between 1966 and 1971, a legal battle ensued between the railroad and the city of Chattanooga as the former had planned to send the engine to Georgia, while the latter claimed to be the owners of the engine. After the dispute was settled, the engine was formally presented to
4050-579: The firm began an expansion that never really stopped. Within 30 years the network reached from Ohio and Missouri to Louisiana and Florida . By 1884, the firm had such importance that it was included in the Dow Jones Transportation Average , the first American stock market index . It was such a large customer of the Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works , the country's second-largest locomotive maker, that in 1879
4131-536: The firm presented L&N with a free locomotive as a thank-you bonus. Beginning in 1858 and continuing throughout its history, the primary repair shops for rolling stock were located in Louisville , Kentucky. The first shops were acquired from the Kentucky Locomotive Works in 1858. However, this location could not be expanded, so a new tract of land was purchased in 1904 at the south side of
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#17327652859314212-498: The first year of the war, remaining in their hands for the war's duration. The company profited from Northern haulage contracts for troops and supplies, paid in sound Federal greenbacks , as opposed to the rapidly depreciating Confederate dollars . After the war, other railroads in the South were devastated to the point of collapse, and the general economic depression meant that labor and materials to repair its roads could be had fairly cheaply. Buoyed by these fortunate circumstances,
4293-478: 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
4374-439: The former Louisville and Nashville lines. Its first line extended barely south of Louisville, Kentucky , and it took until 1859 to span the 180-odd miles (290 km) to its second namesake city of Nashville . There were about 250 miles (400 km) of track in the system by the outbreak of the Civil War, and its strategic location, spanning the Union / Confederate lines, made it of great interest to both governments. During
4455-499: 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
4536-590: 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,
4617-511: The late 19th century there were no such things as anti-trust or fair-competition laws and very little financial regulation . Business was a keen and mean affair, and the L&N was a formidable competitor. It would exclude upstarts like the Tennessee Central Railway Company from critical infrastructure like urban stations. Where that wasn't possible, as with the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway (which
4698-518: 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
4779-604: 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
4860-411: 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
4941-401: 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;
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#17327652859315022-410: 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
5103-438: 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
5184-404: The railroad industry consolidated, the Seaboard Coast Line absorbed the Louisville & Nashville Railroad entirely. The merged company was known as "SCL/L&N", " Family Lines ", and was depicted as such on the railroad's rolling stock. During the next few years several smaller acquisitions resulted in the creation of the Seaboard System Railroad . Yet more consolidation was ahead, and in 1986,
5265-588: The remainder of the L&N shares it did not already own, and the company became a subsidiary. Prior to the purchase, the L&N, like other railroads, had curtailed passenger service in response to dwindling ridership. Amtrak , the government-formed passenger railway service, took over the few remaining L&N passenger trains in 1971. In 1979, amid great lamentations in the press, the last passenger service over L&N rails ceased when Amtrak discontinued The Floridian , which had connected Louisville with Nashville and continued to Florida via Birmingham. By 1982, as
5346-399: 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
5427-400: 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. Louisville and Nashville Railroad The Louisville and Nashville Railroad ( reporting mark LN ), commonly called
5508-500: The state of Georgia in 1971. The engine currently resides at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia , while the Texas is currently at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina undergoing restoration for inclusion into an addition to house it and the cyclorama painting of the battle of Atlanta. The Texas should return to Georgia in late 2016. The Kentucky Railway Museum consists of many pieces of L&N equipment, as well as
5589-472: The time were steam-powered, many railroads had favored coal as their engines' fuel source after wood-burning models were found unsatisfactory. The L&N guaranteed not only its own fuel sources but a steady revenue stream by pushing its lines into the difficult but coal-rich terrain of eastern Kentucky , and also well into northern Alabama . There the small town of Birmingham had recently been founded amidst undeveloped deposits of coal, iron ore and limestone,
5670-411: 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
5751-425: 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
5832-599: 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
5913-617: 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
5994-405: 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
6075-472: 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
6156-715: 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
6237-567: 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
6318-428: 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
6399-499: Was older than the L&N), it simply used its financial muscle—in 1880 it acquired a controlling interest in its chief competitor. A public outcry convinced the L&N directors that there were limits to their power. They discreetly continued the NC&;StL as a separate subsidiary, but now working with, instead of in competition with, the L&N. Ironically, in 1902 financial speculations by financier J.P. Morgan delivered control of
6480-649: Was passed to, and renewed by, L&N and its successors. The General and the Texas became famous for being participants in The Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War. The General had been placed on display in the railroad's Union Depot in Chattanooga in 1901. In 1957, the L&N removed the engine and restored it to operating condition. The engine pulled the railroad's wooden center-door Jim Crow combine coach No. 665 as it traveled throughout
6561-629: 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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