National Register of Historic Places

Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District

Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky
Listed
April 29, 1979
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
79003633

About this property

The Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site was first inhabited by the Wood family of Jonesborough, Tennessee. They donated five of their 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) for the creation of a county seat, and in 1799 the site was platted and dubbed Christian Court House. Later in 1799 it was dubbed Elizabeth in honor of the Woods' eldest daughter, but due to the existence of Elizabethtown in Hardin County, in April 1804 the town was named in honor of General Samuel Hopkins. Places in the district that are separately on the National Register include the Confederate Memorial Fountain in Hopkinsville and the Hopkinsville L & N Railroad Depot. The fountain is now located by the Christian County Courthouse. The Depot brought many passengers to spend time in Hopkinsville, as it was the one place along the railroad between Evansville, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee where one could consume alcoholic drinks. Other prominent buildings located in the district are the Pennyroyal Area Museum, the First Presbyterian Church, and the Old Fire House and Clock Tower. The Pennyroyal Area Museum, open since July 8, 1976, is in the historic old Hopkinsville post office, and is funded by the local government. The First Presbyterian Church was used as a hospital for General Nathan Bedford Forrest's men during the winter of 1861–1862; they were hospitalized due to a flu epidemic. The Old Fire House is currently the headquarters of the Christian County Historical Society.

Location

Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky
36.86586, -87.48813

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Confederate Memorial Fountain in Hopkinsville
Civil War
0.1 mi
Grace Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hopkinsville L & N Railroad Depot
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Freeman Chapel C.M.E. Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
Hopkinsville Warehouse Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register?

Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 29, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District?

Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District?

The period of significance for Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District?

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