Hopkinsville

Hopkinsville is the county seat of Christian County in southwestern Kentucky and sits at an elevation of 530 feet (161 meters). The town spreads across an area where residential neighborhoods mix with farming land, while the compact center holds courthouse buildings, shops and public offices.

Bartholomew Wood founded the settlement in 1796 on a tract of roughly 1,200 acres and initially called it Christian Court House after the surrounding district. After a brief period as Elizabeth, the place received its current name in 1804 to honor a local landowner and his family.

The name comes from Samuel Hopkins, an early landowner in the area whose family helped shape the settlement's development. Today the center serves as a gathering point for surrounding communities who come regularly for administrative business and shopping.

The streets in the center are laid out in a simple grid and can be explored on foot, while parking is available near the main buildings. Visitors wanting to see the farming surroundings should plan to use a vehicle, as operations are scattered outside town.

A park on the edge of town commemorates the Cherokee who camped here in 1838 during their forced relocation to Oklahoma. The site is visited by descendants and travelers wanting to learn about this chapter of American history.

Location: Christian County

Inception: 1796

Elevation above the sea: 161 m

Website: http://hoptown.org

GPS coordinates: 36.85444,-87.48861

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:01