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Henderson, Kentucky

Henderson is a home rule-class city along the Ohio River and the county seat of Henderson County, Kentucky, United States.
Population 27,981

Top Events in Henderson History

1
1500History
The population of most settlements of this culture had dispersed or were experiencing severe social and environmental stress by 1500.
2
1792History
On November 16, 1792, resident Robert Simpson wrote to Alexander D.
3
1797History
Later, in 1797, Captain Young of Mercer County, Kentucky and the "Exterminators", a group of regulators under his leadership swiftly and violently drove out the remaining outlaw...
4
1799Crime
The shooting is the worst in the history of Henderson County in terms of casualties, surpassing triple homicides occurring in 1799 and 1955.
5
1801Government
=== 19th century === A post office was established in the town in 1801; the city was formally incorporated on January 21, 1840.
6
1887Government
Metzger's Tavern is the oldest continuously operating tavern in Kentucky, founded in 1887.
7
1901History
The "great sleet" of 1901 fell for three weeks in February.
8
1908Disaster
"Horses had to have special shoes to keep their footing on local roads." In 1908 the Henderson area had high temperatures and a drought, which markedly reduced the flow of the O...
9
1914History
On June 20, 1914, Henderson was hit by a "baby cyclone".
10
1926Culture
Annual barbecues have been a Henderson tradition dating as far back as the one started on Sunday, July 18, 1926, in Atkinson Park by the Henderson Freight Station employees.

Latest News from Kentucky

Kentucky Legislature Approves Bible Class Public Schools
FRANKFORT, Ky. — On March 11, 2016, the Kentucky legislature gave the green light to a bill that would let public schools offer …

Historical Timeline

1500History
The population of most settlements of this culture had dispersed or were experiencing severe social and environmental stress by 1500.
1792History
On November 16, 1792, resident Robert Simpson wrote to Alexander D.
1797History
Later, in 1797, Captain Young of Mercer County, Kentucky and the "Exterminators", a group of regulators under his leadership swiftly and violently drove out the remaining outlaw...
1799Crime
The shooting is the worst in the history of Henderson County in terms of casualties, surpassing triple homicides occurring in 1799 and 1955.
1801Government
=== 19th century === A post office was established in the town in 1801; the city was formally incorporated on January 21, 1840.
1887Government
Metzger's Tavern is the oldest continuously operating tavern in Kentucky, founded in 1887.
1901History
The "great sleet" of 1901 fell for three weeks in February.
1908Disaster
"Horses had to have special shoes to keep their footing on local roads." In 1908 the Henderson area had high temperatures and a drought, which markedly reduced the flow of the O...
1914History
On June 20, 1914, Henderson was hit by a "baby cyclone".
1926Culture
Annual barbecues have been a Henderson tradition dating as far back as the one started on Sunday, July 18, 1926, in Atkinson Park by the Henderson Freight Station employees.
1937Disaster
In 1937, 21 inches (530 mm) of precipitation fell in 18 days over the Ohio River watershed, resulting in the Ohio River flood of 1937 and extensive damage.
1941History
Workers of the Writer's Project of the Works Projects Administration in the State of Kentucky (1941).
1957Culture
== Infrastructure == === Transportation === The Henderson Area Rapid Transit (HART) was created in 1957 as a publicly owned mass transit system, of which all citizens who live...
1984Military
The last tobacco facility, the Soaper Tobacco Warehouse on Pennell Street, closed in 1984.
1991History
==== Film locations ==== Some scenes from A League of Their Own, directed by Penny Marshall, were filmed in Henderson in 1991, including all of the scenes in and around the hous...
1995History
The horse betting scene in Traveller starring Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg and Julianna Margulies was filmed at Ellis Park in 1995.
2000History
== Demographics == As of the census of 2000, there were 27,373 people, 11,693 households, and 7,389 families residing in the city.
2004Economy
Henderson County is also one of the state's leading coal producers, with over 2.8 million tons produced in 2004.
2008Crime
=== 21st century === A workplace shooting occurred at an Atlantis Plastics factory in Henderson on June 25, 2008.
2010Culture
It is Henderson's oldest on-going music festival and marked its 25th continuous year in 2010.

Did You Know?

1
Henderson is located in the state of Kentucky.
2
Henderson has a population of 27,981 residents.
3
The population was 29,781 at the 2020 U.S.

Famous People from Henderson, Kentucky

HK
Husband E. Kimmel
Military Officer · Born Feb 26, 1882 · Died May 14, 1968 (age 86)
SB
Steve Bardo
Basketball Player · Born Apr 5, 1968 · Age 57
JB
John J. Becker
Composer, Pianist · Born Jan 22, 1886 · Died Jan 21, 1961 (age 74)

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