1796Culture
== 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 ...
1797History
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 governme...
1798Architecture
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".
1849Education
1849) and Bethel Female College (est.
1854History
Since 1854, Hopkinsville has been the site of the Western Kentucky Lunatic Asylum.
1862Military
After Confederate forces retreated to Tennessee, however, Camp Joe Anderson was established by the Union to the northwest of Hopkinsville in 1862.
1864Military
In December 1864, Confederate troops under Gen.
1868Infrastructure
=== Black Patch tobacco ===
The Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad was the first to connect Hopkinsville to surrounding cities in 1868.
1869Government
== Media ==
The Kentucky New Era, founded in 1869, is the daily newspaper for the city and surrounding area.
1877Crime
Greg Buckner, NBA shooting guard
Harry Buckner, baseball pitcher and outfielder in the Negro leagues
Edgar Cayce (1877–1945), an American Christian mystic and psychic
Jerry Clai...
1879History
In 1879, it was purchased by the L&N.
1892Infrastructure
The Ohio Valley Railroad (later purchased by the Illinois Southern) reached the city in 1892, as did the Tennessee Central in 1903.
1896History
The data below was accessed via the WRCC and was collected from 1896 until 2018.
1897Architecture
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.
1903Infrastructure
In 1903, the western division of the Tennessee Central Railway entered Christian County at Edgoten (Edge-of-Tennessee), connecting Clarksville and Hopkinsville.
1904Economy
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 Tobac...
1907History
On December 7, 1907, 250 masked Night Riders seized Hopkinsville's police station and cut off all outside contact.
1914Architecture
The Hopkinsville Carnegie Library was opened in 1914.
1954Economy
WHVO radio began broadcasting in Hopkinsville with the call letters WKOA on September 19, 1954, under the license of Pennyrile Broadcasting Company.
1955History
== See also ==
Kelly–Hopkinsville encounter, a close encounter which occurred in 1955
== References ==
== Further reading ==
Glazier, Jack.
1972Government
Atkins, former mayor of Hopkinsville (1972–1975)
Bird Averitt, former NBA and ABA guard
Ned Breathitt, former governor of Kentucky
John Brim, musician and composer.
1974Architecture
In 1974, the city of Hopkinsville acquired the old Post Office building from the U.S.
1975Government
The Pennyroyal Area Museum was established in October 1975, and opened on July 8, 1976.
1977Education
Created in 1977, the Pennyroyal Arts Council encourages, develops, and promotes the arts appreciation through education, support, service, and presentation.
1983Architecture
It opened as a film cinema but had been a performance venue since 1983, when operations were taken over by the Pennyroyal Arts Council.
1986History
The station's callsigns changed to WYKH on August 1, 1986.
1987History
On December 14, 1987, the station changed its call sign to WQKS.
1990Military
In 1990 the Hopkinsville-Fort Campbell portion was operated by the U.S.
1995History
WQKS was acquired by the station's current owner, Ham Broadcasting, in October 1995.
2000History
The current WHVO callsigns came on May 16, 2000.
2003History
Prior to 2003, the area was officially known as the Clarksville-Hopkinsville Metropolitan Statistical Area and included only Montgomery and Christian counties.
2004History
The inpatient population as of 2004 was 220, from 34 counties in western Kentucky.
2006Disaster
They have gone on with their mischief making, until they have almost ruined the country."
=== Tornadoes ===
On April 2, 2006, an F3 tornado swept through parts of Hopkinsville.
2007Culture
Statistics released in December 2007, by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, show Christian County continues to be a leading crop producer.
2010History
As of the census of 2010, there were 31,577 people, 12,600 households and 14,318 housing units in the city of Hopkinsville.
2017History
During 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) northwe...
2019Economy
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.
2020Culture
=== Top employers ===
According to Hopkinsville's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:
== Arts and culture ==
Hopkinsville is home t...
2021Education
In August 2021, Christian County Public Schools Board voted to consolidate Christian County High School, Hopkinsville High School and two Gateway Academy Campuses into one Colle...
2022Disaster
On January 1, 2022, an EF2 tornado struck Hopkinsville, removing the canopy from a gas station, and destroying the petrol pumps.
2025Architecture
In December 2025, Toyota Boshoku America, a member of the Toyota Group of companies, opened its new $225 million, 354,340-square-foot, smart plant facility, located on 48 acres,...
2026History
Schedule to be operational in late 2026.
2029History
The facility in southern Kentucky, will see investment that allows it to scale up, and create ultra-pure synthetic graphite production at commercial levels by 2029.