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Hopkinsville, Kentucky

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"Hopkinsville" redirects here. For the community in Ohio, see Hopkinsville, Ohio.
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
City
Hopkinsville First Presbyterian Church
Hopkinsville First Presbyterian Church
Location in the state of Kentucky
Location in the state of Kentucky
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyChristian
Established1804[1]
Incorporated1853[1]
Named forState representative Samuel Hopkins
Government
 • MayorCarter Hendricks (R)
Area
 • Total
30.8 sq mi (79.8 km2)
 • Land30.7 sq mi (79.4 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation
528 ft (161 m)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total
32,966
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
42240
Area code(s)270 & 364
FIPS code21-37918
GNIS feature ID0494550
Websitewww.hopkinsvilleky.us

Hopkinsville is a home rule-class city[2] in and the county seat of Christian County, Kentucky, United States.[3] The population at the 2010 census was 31,577.[4]

History

Early years

The area of present-day Hopkinsville was initially claimed in 1796 by Bartholomew Wood as part of a 1,200-acre (5 km2) grant for his service in the American Revolution. He and his wife Martha Ann moved from Jonesborough, Tennessee, first to 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 m2) 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; 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 another town in Hardin County preëmpted 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).[5][6]

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).[5]

Civil War

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 then the birthplace of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, though his birthplace 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 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.

Hopkinsville changed hands at least half a dozen times, being occupied in turn by Confederate and Union forces. In December 1864, Confederate troops under Gen. Hylan B. Lyon captured the town and burned the Christian County courthouse, then being used 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.

Black Patch tobacco

Main article: History of commercial tobacco in the United States

The Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad was the first to connect the city in 1868. In 1879, it was purchased by 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.[5]

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.[7] The ATC used their monopoly power to reduce 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 the Ku Klux Klan) to terrorize farmers into submission.

On December 7, 1907, 250 masked Night Riders seized Hopkinsville's police station and cut 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.[citation needed] In April of 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 the country."[citation needed]

2006 tornado

On April 2, 2006, an F3 tornado swept through parts of Hopkinsville. In the storm, 200 homes were damaged and 28 people were injured.[8] 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 a gas leak.

Geography

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).[9] Madisonville is 35 miles (56 km) to the north, Russellville is 35 miles (56 km) to the east, 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 km2), of which 30.6 square miles (79.3 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.44%, is water.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1810131—
18301,263—
18401,58125.2%
18602,289—
18703,13637.0%
18804,22934.9%
18905,83337.9%
19007,28024.8%
19109,41929.4%
19209,6962.9%
193010,74610.8%
194011,7249.1%
195012,5266.8%
196019,46555.4%
197021,3959.9%
198027,31827.7%
199029,8099.1%
200030,0890.9%
201031,5774.9%
2015 (est.)32,205[10]2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census of 2010, there were 31,577 people, 12,600 households and 14,318 housing units in 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.[12]

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 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 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. About 13.6% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

Clarksville MSA

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.[13] In 2003, Hopkinsville was removed from the official name as it was no longer considered a principal city.[14] 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.[15] As of 2007, the Clarksville Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 169th largest MSA in the United States.

Industry

Hopkinsville-Christian County 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.[16]

There are nine Japanese companies (wholly owned or joint ventures) in Hopkinsville, as well as one German, Spanish, Canadian and Italian.

Hopkinsville is the headquarters and primary manufacturing facility for Ebonite International, one of the oldest and largest bowling ball manufacturers. Ebonite has a broad market share as they own several well-known brand names including Hammer Bowling, Dyno-Thane, Columbia 300, Track International, and Robby's. Hopkinsville produces 60 percent of the world's bowling balls.[17]

The Western State Hospital, established in 1854 as 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.[18]

Agribusiness

Hopkinsville-Christian County has strong agricultural roots dating back to the settlements in 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:

  • #1 crops for cash receipts
  • #1 winter wheat
  • #2 corn
  • #3 dark fired tobacco
  • #4 soybeans

Other key production includes burley tobacco, alfalfa hay, other hay, cattle, and calves and milk production. The county is the second largest in area in Kentucky at 722 square miles (1,870 km2) and has an estimated 1,150 farms with over 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) of farmland, with 230,000 acres (930 km2) in cropland. The average size farm is 267 acres (1.08 km2).

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 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 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.

Top employers

According to Hopkinsville's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[19] the top employers in the city were:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Walmart 875
2 Jennie Stuart Medical Center 850
3 Western State Hospital 776
4 Metalsa 480
5 Martinrea 438
6 Toyoda Gosei 330
7 Hopkinsville Community College 290
8 Douglas Autotech 471
9 Ebonite International 225
10 T. RAD 218

Transportation

Road

Hopkinsville is intersected by US 41, US 41A, US 68, US 68 Bypass, and the 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 to Interstate 24 in southern Christian County near Fort Campbell. Construction was completed in three phases. Phase One took the parkway to the US 68 bypass. Phase Two extend it to Lover's Lane. Phase Three, completed in late 2010 but not opened until early 2011, extended the parkway to meet I-24.

Air

All commercial air traffic for residents and visitors to Hopkinsville use Nashville International Airport. Hopkinsville is served by the Hopkinsville-Christian County Regional Airport, a general aviation airport with one 5,502-foot (1,700 m) runway.

Rail

Railroad construction and operation in 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, 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.

Media

The Kentucky New Era, founded in 1869, is the daily newspaper for the city and surrounding area. Source 16 Television was the former local low-power television station. Hopkinsville no longer has a local television station.

Hopkinsville is part of the Nashville, TN television market.

Attractions and points of interest

Hopkinsville was a stop along the Trail of Tears, and a 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 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.[20] 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 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 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; 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 the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, Hopkinsville will be the closest metropolitan area to the expected point of greatest eclipse, which will occur about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the city center.

In the opening of the horror-comedy film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes it incorrectly states that the town was besieged by millions of birds in 1975, recalling the classic horror film The Birds.

The city is also known for the Kelly–Hopkinsville encounter, "a series of connected incidents of alleged close encounters with supposed extraterrestrial beings."[citation needed]

Sports

In 2012 the Ohio Valley League added the Hoptown Hoppers. They are named after the former Hoppers who played in the K.I.T. league until the mid-1970s.

Notable people

Public schools

Hopkinsville is part of the Christian County Public School system.[21] There are ten elementary schools serving preschoolers through fifth graders, three middle schools serving sixth through eighth graders, and two high schools serving ninth through twelfth graders located within the Christian County limits as follows:

The 2015-2016 school year will see redistricting and school closures due to budgeting issues. North Drive Middle School will be converted to an elementary school, and Lacy Elementary School; Holiday Elementary School; and Belmont Elementary School will shut their doors. Pembroke Elementary School will undergo extensive renovations and additions to aid in absorbing students displaced by school closures. This school year will also see grade reconfiguration, with sixth grade shifting from middle schools to elementary schools.

Private schools

There are three private schools in Hopkinsville:

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hopkinsville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Hopkinsville, Kentucky". Accessed 30 Jul 2013.
  2. ^ "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hopkinsville city, Kentucky". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Dictionary of Places: Hopkinsville". Encyclopedia of Kentucky. New York, New York: Somerset Publishers. 1987. ISBN 0-403-09981-1.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 160.
  7. ^ Gregory, Rick. "The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture".
  8. ^ National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office. "Top 10 Weather Headlines of 2006". Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. "State & County QuickFacts". Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Components, 1999" (TXT). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 1999-06-30. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  14. ^ "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Components, 2003" (TXT). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2003-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  15. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (CBSA-EST2007-01)". 2007 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2008-03-27. Archived from the original (CSV) on 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  16. ^ "Hopkinsville-Christian County EDC Business Services". hopkinsvilleindustry.com.
  17. ^ Hickland, Ron. "Ron Hickland designs bowling balls at Ebonite International". diversitycareers.com. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  18. ^ [1] Bigham, Karen, "Western State Hospital," Kentucky New Era, April 5, 2004. Retrieved May 23, 2012
  19. ^ City of Hopkinsville CAFR Archived April 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Timothy Griffey. "Trail of Tears". trailoftears.org.
  21. ^ "Christian County Public Schools". Christian.k12.ky.us. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  22. ^ "Climate Summary for Hopkinsville, Kentucky". Weatherbase.

Further reading

  • Glazier, Jack. Been Coming Through Some Hard Times: Race, History, and Memory in Western Kentucky (University of Tennessee Press; 2013) 304 pages; Combines history and ethnography in a study of Hopkinsville
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