Owensboro, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Owensboro, Kentucky
City
Corner of West 3rd and St. Ann Streets in Owensboro
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  BBQ Capital of the World
Motto(s):  "Progress 1817"
Location of Owensboro in Daviess County, Kentucky.
Owensboro, Kentucky Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Owensboro, Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Daviess
Settled (as Yellow Banks)	1797
Established (as Owensborough)	1817
Incorporated	1850
Area
• City	22.10 sq mi (57.24 km2)
• Land	20.65 sq mi (53.49 km2)
• Water	1.45 sq mi (3.76 km2)  6.47%
Elevation	394 ft (120 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	60,183
• Estimate  (2022)	60,037
• Density	2,914.15/sq mi (1,125.16/km2)
• Metro	116,506
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	42301-42304
Area code(s)	270 & 364
FIPS code	21-58620
GNIS feature ID	0500082
Highways

Owensboro is a city in Kentucky, United States. It is the county seat of Daviess County, Kentucky. Owensboro is the fourth-largest city in Kentucky by population.

The city is located on U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 165. It's about 107 miles (172 km) southwest of Louisville. In 2020, about 60,183 people lived in Owensboro. The larger area around the city has about 116,506 people.

History of Owensboro

People have lived in the Owensboro area for a very long time. Evidence shows that Native American groups were here as far back as 12,000 years ago. The Shawnee people lived here until the late 1700s.

The first European settler was William Smeathers in 1797. The town was first called "Yellow Banks" because of the color of the land by the Ohio River. In 1817, the town was officially named Owensborough. It was named after Col. Abraham Owen. In 1893, the spelling was changed to its current name, Owensboro.

Many companies that make spirits have been in Owensboro. The Glenmore Distillery Company is still open today. Another company, Green River Distilling Company, started in 1885 and is also still making products.

In 1936, Owensboro was the site of the last public execution in the United States. A female sheriff, Florence Shoemaker Thompson, was in charge. This event led the state of Kentucky to stop public executions soon after.

After World War II, Owensboro grew a lot. New building projects helped turn it into a modern city. Famous actor Johnny Depp is from an old family in Kentucky that helped with some of these projects.

Owensboro's Industries and Factories

Dudley Morton Memorial at the American Legion Hall

Owensboro has been home to many important factories. Pinkerton Tobacco used to make chewing tobacco here. Swedish Match still makes a product called America's Best Chew nearby.

The Owensboro Wagon Company started in 1884. It became one of the biggest wagon makers in the country. Their wagons were known for being very good quality.

Frederick A. Ames started a company in 1887 to fix horse-drawn carriages. In 1910, his company, Ames Motor Car Company, began making its own cars. Later, they made replacement parts for the popular Ford Model T. In 1922, the company changed again and started making furniture.

The Kentucky Electrical Lamp Company began making light bulbs in 1899. This company later became part of General Electric. The light bulbs from the Owensboro plant were used for the first night game in Major League Baseball history in 1935.

In 1932, John G. Barnard started the Modern Welding Company. It began in a small building near the Ohio River. Today, this company is one of the largest suppliers of steel storage tanks in the country. It also has welding supply stores.

Texas Gas Transmission Corporation was formed in 1948. It made its main office in Owensboro. This company helps transport natural gas.

Geography and Climate

Military memorial on the riverfront

Owensboro is located on a bend in the Ohio River. It is about 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Evansville, Indiana.

The city covers about 22.10 square miles (57.24 km2). Most of this area is land, but about 1.45 square miles (3.76 km2) is water.

Weather in Owensboro

Owensboro has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually moderately cold. Temperatures can change a lot during the winter. Summers are more steady.

The area can have severe weather, including tornadoes. One strong tornado hit the city in 1952.

People of Owensboro

In 2010, there were 58,083 people living in Owensboro. There were 23,380 households. About 23.7% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.29 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 23.7% were under 18. About 16.3% were 65 or older. The average age was 37 years.

Owensboro Metropolitan Area

The Owensboro Metropolitan Area includes Daviess, Hancock, and McLean counties.

Economy and Jobs

Owensboro has many different types of jobs. Here are some of the top employers in the city as of 2023:

Arts and Culture

Owensboro was named an All-America City in 2013. This award recognizes cities for their community efforts. Owensboro is also known as the "Barbecue Capital of the world."

Religion in Owensboro

Owensboro is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro. This covers a large part of western Kentucky. Many different Christian churches are in the area. Owensboro also has Temple Adath Israel, which is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.

Music Scene

Owensboro is home to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This museum celebrates the history of Bluegrass music. It also has the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Many music events are held here all year.

Fun Events

Owensboro BBQ Festival, 2008

• The city holds its International Bar-B-Q Festival every May.
• "ROMP" (River of Music Party) is a popular bluegrass music festival. It attracts thousands of visitors each year.
• "Friday After 5" is a free outdoor concert series. It happens on the downtown riverfront during the summer.
• The "Owensboro PumpkinFest" is held in September. It has food, crafts, rides, and games.
• The Owensboro Multicultural Festival celebrates different cultures each year.

Places to Visit

• Ben Hawes Golf Course and Park
• Daviess County Public Library
• Owensboro Bridge
• International Bluegrass Music Museum
• The largest sassafras tree (near the library)
• Owensboro Museum of Science and History
• RiverPark Center
• Smothers Park
• Temple Adath Israel
• Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
• William H. Natcher Bridge

Sports in Owensboro

The Owensboro Oilers baseball team plays in the Ohio Valley League. Many high school athletes from Owensboro have gone on to play college and professional sports.

Education in Owensboro

Owensboro has several school systems. These include the Owensboro Public Schools, Daviess County Public Schools, and Catholic schools.

The city also has colleges:

• Brescia University (a Catholic university)
• Kentucky Wesleyan College (a private college)
• Owensboro Community and Technical College (a public community college)
• A campus of Daymar College
• A regional campus of Western Kentucky University

The University of Louisville has a research center in Owensboro. They study how to make a human papilloma virus vaccine from tobacco plants.

Owensboro has a public library called the Daviess County Public Library.

Getting Around Owensboro

Owensboro Bridge and the Indiana riverbank as seen from Smothers Park in downtown Owensboro

Major roads serving Owensboro include I-165, US 60, and US 431.

The Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport offers commercial flights.

The Owensboro Transit System (OTS) provides bus service. The Green River Intra-County Transit System (GRITS) helps people with disabilities get around.

Famous People from Owensboro

Sister Cities

Owensboro has two sister cities:

• Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic
• Nisshin, Aichi, Japan

See also

In Spanish: Owensboro para niños