Paducah

Paducah is a county seat in Kentucky at the meeting point of the Tennessee River and Ohio River, halfway between St. Louis and Nashville. The city extends across several neighborhoods along the riverfront and features a floodwall that protects the downtown area from rising waters.

William Clark founded the settlement in 1827 and renamed it from Pekin to Paducah, a name connected to the Comanche people known as Padoucas. The Illinois Central Railroad built its largest locomotive workshop in the nation here in 1927, cementing the city's role as a railroad center.

The National Quilt Museum displays textile works that earned the city a place in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for craft and folk art. Visitors can view the exhibitions in a dedicated building devoted entirely to textile craftsmanship.

The painted floodwall along the riverfront is freely accessible at all times and shows regional history through murals. Visitors can walk along the wall and view the artwork at their own pace.

The city's name derives from the French word for the Comanche, even though they never lived in the region. Clark chose the name for its sound and connection to American indigenous history.

Location: McCracken County

Inception: 1821

Elevation above the sea: 104 m

Website: http://paducahky.gov

GPS coordinates: 37.07222,-88.62750

Latest update: December 13, 2025 01:22