Bowling Green, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city
in the state of Kentucky
after Louisville
and Lexington
, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat
of Warren County
and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area
with an estimated 2009 population of 120,595. Bowling Green was founded in 1798 after Robert and George Moore donated an additional 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) to 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) to the Warren County trustee
s. The land surrounded the 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) plot they had donated for the construction of public buildings. Bowling Green was the provisional capital of the Confederate government of Kentucky
. In 2003, Bowling Green with its surrounding communities was designated as a "metropolitan area
".
General Motors
has an assembly plant in Bowling Green in which all Chevrolet Corvette
s have been constructed since 1981 and Cadillac XLR
s were being built there until production ended in the spring of 2009. Other significant businesses in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom
, Houchens Industries
, Holley Performance Products
, and Camping World
. The second largest Kentucky public university, Western Kentucky University
, is situated upon a hill in central Bowling Green. Its athletic teams are called Hilltoppers
. The city is most famous for the eponymous 1967 song, "Bowling Green
", by The Everly Brothers
.
around 1794. In 1798, only two years after Warren County
had been formed, Robert Moore donated 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of land to county trustee
s for the purpose of constructing public buildings. Soon after, he donated an additional 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) to 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) surrounding the original plot. The city of Bowling Green was officially incorporated by the state of Kentucky on March 6, 1798.
The choice of the name Bowling Green
has not been attributed to any single source by historians. Some say at the first county commissioners' meeting in early 1798, the pioneers decided that the new town would be "called and known" by the name of Bolin Green." This name was after the Bowling Green in New York City
, where patriots had pulled down a statue of King George III and used the lead
to make bullets during the American Revolution
. Others say the Virginian settlers may have been honoring Bowling Green, Virginia
. Still others say, Robert Moore kept a "ball alley game" on his residence which guests called bowling on the green. Early records indicate that the city name was also spelled Bowlingreen and Bolin Green.
commerce and the proximity of the Barren River
increased Bowling Green's importance. Canal locks and dam
s on the Barren River made it much more navigable. In 1832, the first portage railway
was made from the river to where the current county courthouse
stands. Mules pulled freight and passengers to and from the city on the tracks.
Despite rapid urbanization of the Bowling Green area in the 1830s, agriculture remained an important part of local life. A visitor to Bowling Green noted the boasting of a tavern proprietor named Benjamin Vance:
In 1859, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
(currently CSX Transportation
) laid railroad through Bowling Green that connected the city with northern and southern markets.
Bowling Green declared itself neutral in the American Civil War
. Because of its prime location and resources, both the Union
and Confederacy
sought control of the city. The majority of residents took the side of the Confederacy. On September 18, 1861, to the delight of the Bowling Green residents, the Confederacy succeeded in occupying Bowling Green under the command of General Simon Bolivar Buckner
. Surrounding hills were fortified to secure any possible military approaches to the valuable river and railroad assets. The provisional Confederate government of Kentucky
chose Bowling Green as its capital in November 1861.
On February 14, 1862, after receiving reports that Fort Henry
on the Tennessee River
and Fort Donelson
on the Cumberland River
had been captured by Union forces, the Confederates ended their occupation of Bowling Green. During their retreat, the Confederates destroyed bridges across the Barren River, the railroad depot and other important buildings. The city was subject to various disruptions and raids throughout the remainder of the war. During the summer of 1864, Union general Stephen G. Burbridge
arrested 22 men in and around Bowling Green on suspicion of treason. This incident and other harsh treatment by federal authorities during the war led to bitterness among Bowling Green residents toward the Union and sympathies with the Confederacy.
After the Civil War, Bowling Green's business district grew considerably. Previously, agriculture had dominated the city's economy. During the 1870s, many of the historic business structures seen today were erected. One of the most important businesses in Bowling Green of this era was Carie Burnam Taylor's dress-making company. By 1906, Taylor employed more than 200 women.
In 1868, the city constructed its first waterworks system. The fourth county courthouse was completed in 1868. The first three were completed in 1798, 1805 and 1813 respectively. In 1889, the first mule-drawn street cars appeared in the city. The first electric street cars began to replace them by 1895.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
founded St. Columbia's Academy in 1862, succeeded by St. Joseph's School in 1911. In 1884, the Southern Normal School, which had been founded in 1875, moved to Bowling Green from the town of Glasgow, Kentucky. Pleasant J. Potter founded a women's college in Bowling Green in 1889. It closed in 1909 and its property sold to the Western Kentucky State Normal School (see below, now known as Western Kentucky University
). Other important schools in this era were Methodist Warren College, Ogden College (which also became a part of Western Kentucky University) and Green River Female College, a boarding school.
and is the second largest public university in the state of Kentucky, having recently grown larger than the University of Louisville.
In 1906, Doctors Lillian H. South
, J. N. McCormack, A.T. McCormack opened St. Joseph Hospital to provide around the clock medical and nursing care to the residents and students in the area.
In 1925, the Kentucky Street Rail Depot was opened. About 27 trains arrived daily at the depot. Local bus lines were also a popular form of travel. By the 1950s, both of these forms of transportation had dramatically declined as highway construction was subsidized by the federal government and the private car became the primary means of travel.
In 1940, a Union Underwear factory was built in Bowling Green and bolstered the city's economy significantly. During the 1960s, the city's population began to surpass that of Ashland
, Paducah
and Newport
.
Downtown streets became a bottle-neck for traffic. In 1949, the U.S. Route 31W
Bypass was opened to alleviate traffic problems but it also drew off business from downtown. The bypass grew to become a business hotspot in Bowling Green. A 1954 advertisement exclaimed, "Your business can grow in the direction Bowling Green is growing -- to the 31-W By-Pass".
By the 1960s, the face of shopping was changing completely from the downtown square to suburban shopping centers. Between May and November 1967, stores in Bowling Green Mall opened for business. Another advertisement said, "One stop shopping. Just park [free], step out and shop. You'll find everything close at hand." Between September 1979 and September 1980, stores in the larger Greenwood Mall
came inline. The city's limits began to stretch toward Interstate 65.
By the late 1960s, Interstate 65
, which runs just to the East of Bowling Green, was completed. The Green River Parkway (now called the William H. Natcher Parkway
), was completed in the 1970s to connect Bowling Green and Owensboro
. These vital transportation arteries attracted many industries to Bowling Green.
In 1981, General Motors
moved its Chevrolet Corvette
assembly plant
from St. Louis, Missouri
to Bowling Green. In the same year, the National Corvette Homecoming
event was created, becoming a large gathering of Corvette owners, car parades and related activities in Bowling Green each year. In 1994 the National Corvette Museum
was constructed near the assembly plant.
In 1997, Bowling Green was designated a Tree City USA
by the National Arbor Day Foundation
.
As of the Spring of 2009, the new Chamber of Commerce, Riverwalk Park, and Circus Square have been completed. The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, a facility for arts and education, broke ground in October 2009. Ground has not yet been broken for the Fountain Square Market.
In 2005 an effort was made to incorporate a Whitewater Park into the downtown Bowling Green riverfront at Weldon Peete Park. Due to the recession funding for the project fell through. However, as of summer 2010 the effort to have the Whitewater Park built is gaining momentum. Talks with public officials are being held and progress is being made. Information about the park can be found at: http://www.trailsrus.com/whitewater/initiative.html & http://www.facebook.com/BGWWP
is 547 feet (166.7 m) above sea level
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²), of which, 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.
(Köppen climate classification
Cfa).
of 2000, there were 49,296 people, 19,277 households, and 10,698 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,392.3 people per square mile (537.5/km²). There were 21,290 housing units at an average density of 601.3 per square mile (232.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.82% White
, 12.71% African American
, 0.23% Native American
, 1.95% Asian
, 0.12% Pacific Islander
, 2.16% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 19,277 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out with 20.2% under 18, 23.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,047, and the median income for a family was $40,320. Males had a median income of $30,244 versus $22,606 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,621. About 15.7% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
General Motors
Manufacturing Plant, Holley Performance Products, Houchens Industries, SCA, Camping World
, and other major industries call Bowling Green home. It has also attracted new industries, such as Bowling Green Metalforming, a division of Magna International
, Inc.; and Halton Company, which chose to expand their worldwide companies into Bowling Green.
Commonwealth Health Corporation, Western Kentucky University
and Warren County Board of Education are the biggest employers for Bowling Green and the surrounding region. Other companies based in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom
/Russell Brands, Eagle Industries, Camping World
, Trace Die Cast, and Houchens Industries
, Inc. The third largest home shopping network ShopNBC
has its warehouse fulfillment center located off Nashville Road. Shopnbc also recently moved a large amount of its Customer Service Call Center Operations to its Bowling Green location. ShopNBC is owned by Value Vision Media with is corporate headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN although the largest part of its day-to-day operations are in Bowling Green making it a very important part of the local economy.
Compared with Elizabethtown and Owensboro MSAs, Bowling Green has experienced the largest post-recession employment gain. From November 2001 to April 2006, total payroll employment increased by 13%. Bowling Green has experienced a 5% increase in manufacturing employment, a 5% increase in professional and business services, and a 6% increase in leisure and hospitality since April 2005.
Bowling Green's high income and job growth combined with a low cost of doing business has led the city to be named to Forbes Magazines 2009 list of the "Best Small Places for Business". In an evaluation of 179 cities across the nation, Forbes ranked Bowling Green 19th in which to do business, finishing ahead of Elizabethtown and Owensboro. The list ranked Bowling Green 34th nationwide for the lowest cost-of-living and 22nd for highest job growth.
In March 2009, the Bowling Green metropolitan area was recognized by Site Selection Magazine as a top economic development community in the United States for communities with populations between 50,000 and 200,000 people. The Bowling Green metro also received the same recognition by Site Selection magazine in 2008.
Depot and housed a technology and early childhood center, as well as traditional library materials; it closed in late 2007. On July 27, 2007, the Warren County Fiscal Court voted to create a county wide taxing district to benefit the public library. The library system, formerly known as the Bowling Green Public Library, became the Warren County Public Library on July 1, 2008.
, is a multi-purpose arena with a seating capacity of 7,500 persons. Built in 1963 and renovated in 2004, the arena has hosted college sports such as basketball and volleyball. The arena has also played host to various traveling rodeos and circuses. In 2006, Diddle hosted the first WWE
event to be held in Bowling Green in over ten years.
Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers football won the Division 1-AA Championship in 2002. WKU's men's basketball team has a storied past and is one of the winningest teams, in both total victories and winning percentage, in the history of Division I college basketball.
Bowling Green has always been a place known for good high school athletics. Most recently the Bowling Green High School Purples Cheer Team won the state Championship known as KAPOS in the Large Co-Ed division. Along with a football team advancing to the 2007 Class AAAAA State Championship and the 2006 and 2005 AAA State Championship. The Greenwood Gators softball team won the 2007 and 2008 State Championship. The Warren Central Dragons boys basketball team took home the 2004 State Championship. The Bowling Green Jr High School won the 2008 and 2009 KYMSA State Championship, as they went undefeated two years straight, with a combined record of 26-0.
The city and surrounding area could be considered an inline/roller hockey hotspot. It is home to the Warren County Inline Hockey League. It also is home to the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers team, which competes in the NCRHA, and has several members in the Bluegrass Hockey League and Central Commonwealth League.
Bowling Green Ballpark
is a new stadium currently in use in Bowling Green. It is primarily used for baseball, for the Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
organization of the Midwest League
. The Hot Rods began play in the spring of 2009 in the South Atlantic League
, transferring to the Midwest League for 2010.
The Kentucky Bisons
of the American Basketball Association were based in Bowling Green, although they played their home games in Owensboro. The Bisons won the 2008 ABA Championship. In 2010, they announced they would suspend operation.
and eight disc golf
courses.
, as designated by Sister Cities International
: Kawanishi
, Hyogo
, Japan
and Florida
were named after Bowling Green, Kentucky.
" by the Everly Brothers. This song was covered by Neko Case in 1997.
- Bowling Green was the site of a railroad station that gave rise to a famous court case, Black and White Taxicab Co. v. Brown and Yellow Taxicab Co.
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. dissented and the case was mentioned and superseded by Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins
, a case famous for its doctrine and pervasiveness in Civil Procedure classes in law schools in the U.S.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in the state of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
after Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Warren County
Warren County, Kentucky
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky, specifically the Pennyroyal Plateau and Western Coal Fields regions. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 113,792 in the 2010 Census. The county seat is Bowling Green...
and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bowling Green metropolitan area
The Bowling Green Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Kentucky, anchored by the city of Bowling Green...
with an estimated 2009 population of 120,595. Bowling Green was founded in 1798 after Robert and George Moore donated an additional 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) to 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) to the Warren County trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s. The land surrounded the 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) plot they had donated for the construction of public buildings. Bowling Green was the provisional capital of the Confederate government of Kentucky
Confederate government of Kentucky
The Confederate government of Kentucky was a shadow government established for the Commonwealth of Kentucky by a self-constituted group of Confederate sympathizers during the American Civil War. The shadow government never replaced the elected government in Frankfort, which had strong Union...
. In 2003, Bowling Green with its surrounding communities was designated as a "metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
".
General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
has an assembly plant in Bowling Green in which all Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
s have been constructed since 1981 and Cadillac XLR
Cadillac XLR
The XLR was a retractable hardtop convertible marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Intended to be Cadillac's flagship sports car, the XLR was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y platform...
s were being built there until production ended in the spring of 2009. Other significant businesses in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
, Houchens Industries
Houchens Industries
Houchens Industries, is an American employee-owned company, in business since 1918 when it began as a small grocery operated by founder Ervin Houchens in rural Barren County, Kentucky. The company is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company runs about 425 grocery and convenience stores...
, Holley Performance Products
Holley Performance Products
Holley Performance Products is an automotive performance company based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Holley, when based in Michigan, was one of the major producers of carburetors, being supplied as standard equipment on many Detroit-built automobiles....
, and Camping World
Camping World
Camping World is an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping. The company is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is privately held. Camping World has 70+ retail/service locations throughout the United States, and also sells...
. The second largest Kentucky public university, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
, is situated upon a hill in central Bowling Green. Its athletic teams are called Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers is the name for all of the men's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for Western Kentucky University. Women's teams are known as Lady Toppers...
. The city is most famous for the eponymous 1967 song, "Bowling Green
Bowling Green (song)
"Bowling Green" is a 1967 single by The Everly Brothers. The song peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 8, 1967. It would be the final time The Everly Brothers would crack the list...
", by The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
.
Settlement and incorporation
The first Europeans credited with having settled the area now known as Bowling Green were Robert Moore, his brother George and General Elijah Covington. The Moore brothers arrived from VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
around 1794. In 1798, only two years after Warren County
Warren County, Kentucky
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky, specifically the Pennyroyal Plateau and Western Coal Fields regions. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 113,792 in the 2010 Census. The county seat is Bowling Green...
had been formed, Robert Moore donated 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of land to county trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s for the purpose of constructing public buildings. Soon after, he donated an additional 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) to 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) surrounding the original plot. The city of Bowling Green was officially incorporated by the state of Kentucky on March 6, 1798.
The choice of the name Bowling Green
Bowling Green
A bowling green is a lawn used for playing the game of bowls.Bowling Green may also refer to:-Places:United States*Bowling Green, Florida*Bowling Green, Indiana*Bowling Green, Kentucky, the largest city in the United States named Bowling Green...
has not been attributed to any single source by historians. Some say at the first county commissioners' meeting in early 1798, the pioneers decided that the new town would be "called and known" by the name of Bolin Green." This name was after the Bowling Green in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where patriots had pulled down a statue of King George III and used the lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
to make bullets during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Others say the Virginian settlers may have been honoring Bowling Green, Virginia
Bowling Green, Virginia
Bowling Green is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 936 at the 2000 census.The county seat of Caroline County since 1803, Bowling Green is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing", the home of the second oldest Masonic Lodge, and the...
. Still others say, Robert Moore kept a "ball alley game" on his residence which guests called bowling on the green. Early records indicate that the city name was also spelled Bowlingreen and Bolin Green.
Nineteenth century
By 1810, Bowling Green had only 154 residents. Growth in steamboatSteamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
commerce and the proximity of the Barren River
Barren River
The Barren River is a river in western Kentucky, USA. It is the largest tributary of the Green River, which drains more of Kentucky than any other river. The Barren River rises in Monroe County and flows into the Green in northeast Warren County....
increased Bowling Green's importance. Canal locks and dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s on the Barren River made it much more navigable. In 1832, the first portage railway
Portage railway
A portage railway is a short and possibly isolated section of railway used to bypass a section of unnavigable river or between two water bodies which are not directly connected...
was made from the river to where the current county courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
stands. Mules pulled freight and passengers to and from the city on the tracks.
Despite rapid urbanization of the Bowling Green area in the 1830s, agriculture remained an important part of local life. A visitor to Bowling Green noted the boasting of a tavern proprietor named Benjamin Vance:
In 1859, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
(currently CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
) laid railroad through Bowling Green that connected the city with northern and southern markets.
Bowling Green declared itself neutral in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Because of its prime location and resources, both the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
sought control of the city. The majority of residents took the side of the Confederacy. On September 18, 1861, to the delight of the Bowling Green residents, the Confederacy succeeded in occupying Bowling Green under the command of General Simon Bolivar Buckner
Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr.
Simon Bolivar Buckner fought in the United States Army in the Mexican–American War and in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He later served as the 30th Governor of Kentucky....
. Surrounding hills were fortified to secure any possible military approaches to the valuable river and railroad assets. The provisional Confederate government of Kentucky
Confederate government of Kentucky
The Confederate government of Kentucky was a shadow government established for the Commonwealth of Kentucky by a self-constituted group of Confederate sympathizers during the American Civil War. The shadow government never replaced the elected government in Frankfort, which had strong Union...
chose Bowling Green as its capital in November 1861.
On February 14, 1862, after receiving reports that Fort Henry
Battle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
on the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
and Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
on the Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
had been captured by Union forces, the Confederates ended their occupation of Bowling Green. During their retreat, the Confederates destroyed bridges across the Barren River, the railroad depot and other important buildings. The city was subject to various disruptions and raids throughout the remainder of the war. During the summer of 1864, Union general Stephen G. Burbridge
Stephen G. Burbridge
-External links:* — Article by Civil War historian/author Bryan S. Bush...
arrested 22 men in and around Bowling Green on suspicion of treason. This incident and other harsh treatment by federal authorities during the war led to bitterness among Bowling Green residents toward the Union and sympathies with the Confederacy.
After the Civil War, Bowling Green's business district grew considerably. Previously, agriculture had dominated the city's economy. During the 1870s, many of the historic business structures seen today were erected. One of the most important businesses in Bowling Green of this era was Carie Burnam Taylor's dress-making company. By 1906, Taylor employed more than 200 women.
In 1868, the city constructed its first waterworks system. The fourth county courthouse was completed in 1868. The first three were completed in 1798, 1805 and 1813 respectively. In 1889, the first mule-drawn street cars appeared in the city. The first electric street cars began to replace them by 1895.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth was founded in 1812 near Bardstown, Kentucky when three young women responded to Bishop John Baptist Mary David's call for assistance in ministering to the needs of the people of the area. Nineteen year old Catherine Spalding was elected its...
founded St. Columbia's Academy in 1862, succeeded by St. Joseph's School in 1911. In 1884, the Southern Normal School, which had been founded in 1875, moved to Bowling Green from the town of Glasgow, Kentucky. Pleasant J. Potter founded a women's college in Bowling Green in 1889. It closed in 1909 and its property sold to the Western Kentucky State Normal School (see below, now known as Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
). Other important schools in this era were Methodist Warren College, Ogden College (which also became a part of Western Kentucky University) and Green River Female College, a boarding school.
Twentieth century
In 1906, Henry Hardin Cherry, the president and owner of Southern Normal School, donated the school to the state as the basis of the Western State Normal School. The school trained teachers for the expanding educational needs of the state. This institution is now known as Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
and is the second largest public university in the state of Kentucky, having recently grown larger than the University of Louisville.
In 1906, Doctors Lillian H. South
Lillian H. South
Lillian Herald South Tye was an American physician from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who specialized in public health. South was a pioneer in her work as a bacteriologist, and she was a trailblazer as a female medical professional who broke prevalent gender barriers for women of her time...
, J. N. McCormack, A.T. McCormack opened St. Joseph Hospital to provide around the clock medical and nursing care to the residents and students in the area.
In 1925, the Kentucky Street Rail Depot was opened. About 27 trains arrived daily at the depot. Local bus lines were also a popular form of travel. By the 1950s, both of these forms of transportation had dramatically declined as highway construction was subsidized by the federal government and the private car became the primary means of travel.
In 1940, a Union Underwear factory was built in Bowling Green and bolstered the city's economy significantly. During the 1960s, the city's population began to surpass that of Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
, Paducah
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
and Newport
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
.
Downtown streets became a bottle-neck for traffic. In 1949, the U.S. Route 31W
U.S. Route 31W
U.S. Route 31W is the westernmost of two parallel routes for U.S. Route 31 from Nashville, Tennessee to Louisville, Kentucky. At one time, it split with U.S...
Bypass was opened to alleviate traffic problems but it also drew off business from downtown. The bypass grew to become a business hotspot in Bowling Green. A 1954 advertisement exclaimed, "Your business can grow in the direction Bowling Green is growing -- to the 31-W By-Pass".
By the 1960s, the face of shopping was changing completely from the downtown square to suburban shopping centers. Between May and November 1967, stores in Bowling Green Mall opened for business. Another advertisement said, "One stop shopping. Just park [free], step out and shop. You'll find everything close at hand." Between September 1979 and September 1980, stores in the larger Greenwood Mall
Greenwood Mall
Greenwood Mall is an enclosed shopping mall serving Bowling Green, Kentucky. Opened in phases between 1979 and 1980, the mall comprises 100 stores, including four anchor stores: Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Macy's and Sears. It also includes a food court, an Old Navy and the first Dunham's Sports in the...
came inline. The city's limits began to stretch toward Interstate 65.
By the late 1960s, Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
, which runs just to the East of Bowling Green, was completed. The Green River Parkway (now called the William H. Natcher Parkway
William H. Natcher Parkway
The Wiliam H. Natcher Green River Parkway is a limited-access freeway from Bowling Green, Kentucky to Owensboro, Kentucky. The Natcher is one of nine highways that are part of Kentucky's parkway system. Conceived as the "Owensboro-Bowling Green Parkway," it was instead named the Green River...
), was completed in the 1970s to connect Bowling Green and Owensboro
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
. These vital transportation arteries attracted many industries to Bowling Green.
In 1981, General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
moved its Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
assembly plant
Bowling Green Assembly Plant
The Bowling Green Assembly Plant is a General Motors automobile factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is a specialized plant assembling GM's Y-body sports cars, the Chevrolet Corvette and formerly the Cadillac XLR....
from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to Bowling Green. In the same year, the National Corvette Homecoming
National Corvette Homecoming
The National Corvette Homecoming is an annual event held in Bowling Green, Kentucky celebrating America's production sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette. First held in 1981, it was created by two Corvette enthusiasts, Tom Hill and Sam Hall, in response to the assembly of Corvettes moving from St...
event was created, becoming a large gathering of Corvette owners, car parades and related activities in Bowling Green each year. In 1994 the National Corvette Museum
National Corvette Museum
The National Corvette Museum showcases the Chevrolet Corvette, an American sports car that has been in production since 1953. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65's Exit 28...
was constructed near the assembly plant.
In 1997, Bowling Green was designated a Tree City USA
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
by the National Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization. The foundation began September 3, 1971 with a mission "to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees". The Foundation is supported by donations, selling trees and merchandise, and by corporate sponsors...
.
Twenty-first century initiatives
In 2002, the city undertook a feasibility study on ways to revitalize downtown Bowling Green area. The Downtown Redevelopment Authority was formed to plan redevelopment. Plans for the project built on Bowling Green's waterfront assets and historic center and streetscape around Fountain Square. It also proposed a new building for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, construction of a Riverwalk Park where downtown borders the Barren River, creation of a new public park called Circus Square, and installation of a new retail area, the Fountain Square Market.As of the Spring of 2009, the new Chamber of Commerce, Riverwalk Park, and Circus Square have been completed. The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, a facility for arts and education, broke ground in October 2009. Ground has not yet been broken for the Fountain Square Market.
In 2005 an effort was made to incorporate a Whitewater Park into the downtown Bowling Green riverfront at Weldon Peete Park. Due to the recession funding for the project fell through. However, as of summer 2010 the effort to have the Whitewater Park built is gaining momentum. Talks with public officials are being held and progress is being made. Information about the park can be found at: http://www.trailsrus.com/whitewater/initiative.html & http://www.facebook.com/BGWWP
Geography
The Bowling Green-Warren County Regional AirportBowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport
Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of Bowling Green, a city in Warren County, Kentucky, United States. This airport is publicly owned by the City of Bowling Green and Warren County. The site was established...
is 547 feet (166.7 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²), of which, 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.
Climate
Bowling Green has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 49,296 people, 19,277 households, and 10,698 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,392.3 people per square mile (537.5/km²). There were 21,290 housing units at an average density of 601.3 per square mile (232.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.82% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 12.71% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.23% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 1.95% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.12% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 2.16% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 19,277 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out with 20.2% under 18, 23.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,047, and the median income for a family was $40,320. Males had a median income of $30,244 versus $22,606 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,621. About 15.7% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Bowling Green is shifting to a more knowledge-based, technology-driven economy. With one major public university and a technical college, Bowling Green serves as an education hub for the South Central Kentucky region. In addition, the city plays an integral part as the leading medical and commercial center.General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Manufacturing Plant, Holley Performance Products, Houchens Industries, SCA, Camping World
Camping World
Camping World is an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping. The company is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is privately held. Camping World has 70+ retail/service locations throughout the United States, and also sells...
, and other major industries call Bowling Green home. It has also attracted new industries, such as Bowling Green Metalforming, a division of Magna International
Magna International
Magna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
, Inc.; and Halton Company, which chose to expand their worldwide companies into Bowling Green.
Commonwealth Health Corporation, Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
and Warren County Board of Education are the biggest employers for Bowling Green and the surrounding region. Other companies based in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
/Russell Brands, Eagle Industries, Camping World
Camping World
Camping World is an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping. The company is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is privately held. Camping World has 70+ retail/service locations throughout the United States, and also sells...
, Trace Die Cast, and Houchens Industries
Houchens Industries
Houchens Industries, is an American employee-owned company, in business since 1918 when it began as a small grocery operated by founder Ervin Houchens in rural Barren County, Kentucky. The company is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company runs about 425 grocery and convenience stores...
, Inc. The third largest home shopping network ShopNBC
ShopNBC
ShopNBC is an American broadcast and cable home shopping network, owned and operated by ValueVision Media, which is in turn 30% owned by GE Equity and NBC Universal...
has its warehouse fulfillment center located off Nashville Road. Shopnbc also recently moved a large amount of its Customer Service Call Center Operations to its Bowling Green location. ShopNBC is owned by Value Vision Media with is corporate headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN although the largest part of its day-to-day operations are in Bowling Green making it a very important part of the local economy.
Compared with Elizabethtown and Owensboro MSAs, Bowling Green has experienced the largest post-recession employment gain. From November 2001 to April 2006, total payroll employment increased by 13%. Bowling Green has experienced a 5% increase in manufacturing employment, a 5% increase in professional and business services, and a 6% increase in leisure and hospitality since April 2005.
Bowling Green's high income and job growth combined with a low cost of doing business has led the city to be named to Forbes Magazines 2009 list of the "Best Small Places for Business". In an evaluation of 179 cities across the nation, Forbes ranked Bowling Green 19th in which to do business, finishing ahead of Elizabethtown and Owensboro. The list ranked Bowling Green 34th nationwide for the lowest cost-of-living and 22nd for highest job growth.
In March 2009, the Bowling Green metropolitan area was recognized by Site Selection Magazine as a top economic development community in the United States for communities with populations between 50,000 and 200,000 people. The Bowling Green metro also received the same recognition by Site Selection magazine in 2008.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top private sector employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier.... |
4,614 |
| 2 | Commonwealth Health Corporation | 1,905 |
| 3 | Fruit of the Loom Fruit of the Loom Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:... |
1,537 |
| 4 | Walmart | 1,026 |
| 5 | Warren County Warren County, Kentucky Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky, specifically the Pennyroyal Plateau and Western Coal Fields regions. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 113,792 in the 2010 Census. The county seat is Bowling Green... Board of Education |
1,015 |
| 6 | Sun Products | 959 |
| 7 | Magna International Magna International Magna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria.... |
750 |
| 8 | Houchens Industries Houchens Industries Houchens Industries, is an American employee-owned company, in business since 1918 when it began as a small grocery operated by founder Ervin Houchens in rural Barren County, Kentucky. The company is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company runs about 425 grocery and convenience stores... |
710 |
| 9 | City of Bowling Green | 635 |
| 10 | Bowling Green Independent Schools | 606 |
Religious schools
- Anchored Christian School - Preschool through 12th grade BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Christian schoolChristian schoolA Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
http://www.anchoredchristian.com - Bowling Green Christian Academy - Preschool through 8th grade non-denominationalNon-denominational ChristianityIn Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
Christian school - Foundation Christian Academy - Preschool through 8th grade Church of ChristChurch of ChristChurches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
Christian school http://www.fcafalcons.com - Holy Trinity Lutheran - Preschool through 6th grade LutheranLutheranismLutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
Christian school http://www.htlsbg.com - Old Union School - Preschool through 12th grade Christian school http://www.oldunionschool.com
- Saint Joseph - Preschool through 8th grade CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
school
Elementary schools
- Alvaton
- Briarwood
- Bristow
- Cumberland Trace
- Dishman-McGinnis
- Lost River
- North Warren Elementary
- Oakland
- Parker Bennett Curry
- Plano Elementary
- Potter Gray
- Rich Pond
- Richardsville
- Rockfield
- T.C. Cherry
- W.R. McNeill
- Warren
- William H. Natcher
Middle and Junior high schools
- Bowling Green Junior High
- Drakes Creek
- Henry F. Moss Middle School
- Warren East Middle School
- South Warren Middle School
High schools
- Bowling Green High
- Greenwood HighGreenwood High School (Kentucky)Greenwood High School is a 4-year high school in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States. It is one of four high schools serving the...
- Warren Central HighWarren Central High School (Kentucky)Warren Central High School is a 4-year high school in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. It is presently one of four high schools serving the system.-History:...
- Warren East High
- South Warren High SchoolSouth Warren High SchoolSouth Warren High School is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is one of four high schools in the Warren County Schools|Warren County School System. The school opened on August 3, 2010. It is co-located in the same building complex as South Warren Middle School...
- Lighthouse Academy High SchoolLighthouse Academy High SchoolLighthouse Academy High School is an alternate school inBowling Green, Kentuckydesigned by the Warren County Public School Systemfor students having difficulty succeeding in their regular or traditional high school setting...
Post-secondary education
- Bowling Green Adult Learning Center
- Bowling Green Technical CollegeBowling Green Technical CollegeBowling Green Technical College , located in Bowling Green, KY, is one of 16 two-year, open-admissions colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System...
- Daymar CollegeDaymar CollegeDaymar College is a for-profit career training school based in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA. Founded in 1963 and operated as Owensboro Business College until 2001, Daymar offers over 35 career tracks in 13 different academic programs...
- Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
Public library
The Warren County Public Library has four permanent locations. The Main Library, which opened in 1956, is in downtown Bowling Green. The Smiths Grove Branch, the system's first branch location, is located in the nearby community of Smiths Grove. The Graham Drive Community Library is a neighborhood branch located in a residential area of the Housing Authority of Bowling Green; it opened for business in late 2007 and replaced the branch formerly located in the Sugar Maple Square Shopping Center. The system's newest location is the Bob Kirby Branch Library, located off Interstate 65 close to Greenwood High School, which opened spring 2008. The Mobile Branch is a 40 feet (12.2 m) bus that travels across Bowling Green and Warren County carrying 6,000 library materials. The Depot Branch, which opened in 2001, was located in the historic, renovated Louisville and Nashville RailroadLouisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
Depot and housed a technology and early childhood center, as well as traditional library materials; it closed in late 2007. On July 27, 2007, the Warren County Fiscal Court voted to create a county wide taxing district to benefit the public library. The library system, formerly known as the Bowling Green Public Library, became the Warren County Public Library on July 1, 2008.
Major highways
-
Interstate 65Interstate 65Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
north to Elizabethtown, Louisville (110 mi), south to Nashville, TN (55 mi) -
William H. Natcher ParkwayWilliam H. Natcher ParkwayThe Wiliam H. Natcher Green River Parkway is a limited-access freeway from Bowling Green, Kentucky to Owensboro, Kentucky. The Natcher is one of nine highways that are part of Kentucky's parkway system. Conceived as the "Owensboro-Bowling Green Parkway," it was instead named the Green River...
north to Owensboro (70 mi) -
U.S. Route 231U.S. Route 231U.S. Route 231 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 31. It currently runs for 912 miles from St. John, Indiana, at U.S. Route 41 to south of U.S. Route 98 in Downtown Panama City, Florida.One of its most notable landmarks is the William H...
north to Morgantown, south to Scottsville -
U.S. Route 31WU.S. Route 31WU.S. Route 31W is the westernmost of two parallel routes for U.S. Route 31 from Nashville, Tennessee to Louisville, Kentucky. At one time, it split with U.S...
north to Park City, south to Franklin -
U.S. Route 68U.S. Route 68U.S. Route 68 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from northwest Ohio to western Kentucky. The highway's western terminus is at U.S. Route 62 in Reidland, Kentucky. Its eastern terminus is at Interstate 75 in Findlay, Ohio...
/ Kentucky State Route 80 west to Russellville, east to Glasgow
Other highways
-
Kentucky State Route 185Kentucky Route 185Kentucky Route 185 is a north–south state highway traversing four counties in south-central Kentucky.-Route description:Route 185 begins at a junction with the cojoined US 68/KY 80 just north of downtown Bowling Green.... -
Kentucky State Route 234Kentucky Route 234Kentucky Route 234 is a 20.033 mile long north–south state highway in southern Kentucky. The southern terminus of the route is at Kentucky Route 101 six miles north of Scottsville. The northern terminus is at U.S... -
Kentucky State Route 242Kentucky Route 242Kentucky Route 242 is a 10.275 mile long east–west state highway located south of the city limits of Bowling Green in rural Warren County, Kentucky. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 68 and Kentucky Route 80 northwest of Rockfield... -
Kentucky State Route 880Kentucky Route 880Kentucky Route 880 is a 3-mile-long east–west state highway that forms a connector between U.S. Route 231 and KY 234 in the city of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The western terminus of the route is at U.S.231 in Bowling Green...
Parks and recreation
The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department administers 895 acres (3.6 km²) of public land for recreational use.Community centers
- F. O. Moxley - Facility includes a game room (billiardsBilliardsCue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
, video games), board gameBoard gameA board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
room, concession standConcession standA concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
, racquetballRacquetballFor other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
/wallyballWallyballWallyball is a fast-paced sport that was created by Bill Dejonghe at The Calabasas Racquetball Club , in 1979 . The idea was an attempt to help bring more business into the club in the summer months The club pro Joe Garcia then took the idea mainstream. However, the sport roots go back to as early...
courts and basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
courts. - Parker-Bennett - Facility has hourly rental rates for meetings, parties and receptions.
Parks
- See Parks in Bowling Green, KentuckyParks in Bowling Green, KentuckyThis is a formatted table of Parks in Bowling Green, Kentucky.Referenced from Parks and Recreation Department of the official Bowling Green website ....
for a formatted table of this data.- 'Basil Griffin - Large pond with migratory birds such as ducks and geese, playground, disc golfDisc golfDisc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
, picnic tables/pavilions, soccer fields, volleyball court. - C. W. Lampkin - BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
fields, outdoor basketball courts, concession stands, grillsGrillingGrilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above or below.Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat quickly and meat that has already been cut into slices...
, picnicPicnicIn contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
pavilions and tables, playgroundPlaygroundA playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
s, soccer field, tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts, volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
courts - Chuck Crume Nature - picnic tables, walking/running trail
- Covington Woods - golf course, baseball field, outdoor basketball court, concession stand, grills, picnic pavilions and tables, playgrounds, tennis courts, volleyball court
- Fort Webb - historic site
- Fountain Square - historic Victorian fountain and city square in Downtown Bowling Green
- 'Basil Griffin - Large pond with migratory birds such as ducks and geese, playground, disc golf
- H. P. Thomas - barbecue grills, picnic tablePicnic tableA picnic table is a modified table with attached benches, designed for eating a meal outdoors .-Uses:...
s, playground, soccer fields, volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
court - Hobson Grove - golfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course, baseball fieldBaseball fieldA baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
s, disc golf course, historic site, picnic tables, concession stands - James Hines - boating, historic site
- Lovers Lane - soccer fields, disc golfDisc golfDisc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
course, picnic pavilion & tables, playgrounds, concession stand - Ogden - playground
- Pedigo - baseball fields, outdoor basketball court, batting cageBatting cageA batting cage is an enclosed cage for baseball players to practice the skill of batting.It is usually made of netting or a chain-link fence and rectangular in shape. A batter stands at one end of the cage, with a pitching machine at the opposing end...
, concession stand, picnic pavilion & tables, playground, volleyball court - Preston Miller - water park/swimming pool, disc golf course, picnic pavilions & tables, playgrounds, swimming pools, volleyball courts, walking/running/running trail, concession stand
- Reservoir Hill - outdoor basketball court, grills, historic site, picnic pavilion & tables, playground, tennis courts, volleyball court
- RiverWalk/Brownfield - historic site, walkingWalkingWalking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
/runningRunningRunning is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
trail
- Roland Bland - skateparkSkateparkA skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...
, outdoor basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
courts, grills, horseshoesHorseshoesHorseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people using four horseshoes and two throwing targets set in a sandbox area. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart...
, picnic pavilion & tables, playgrounds, soccer field, tennis courts, volleyball court - Spero Kereiakes - baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
fields, outdoor basketball court, batting cage, concession stand, disc golf course, grills, picnic pavilions & tables, playgrounds, public gardening plots, soccer fields, tennis courts, volleyball court, walking/running trail - Westside Neighborhood - outdoor basketball court, playground
Swimming centers
- 'Russell Sims Aquatic Center - The largest "water playground" in south-central Kentucky. The center includes zero-depth entry into the water, splash playground, swimming pool, water slides, diving boards and concessions.
- 'Warren County Aquatics Facility - Domed pool facility open year-round. Closed February 2008. New facility opening on Lover's Lane behind Warren County Public School main office. Approximate open date is December.
Museums
- Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science - Unique "hands-on" science museum where visitors can experience the force of a mini-tornado, operate one of the largest interactive transportation exhibits in the country, suspend a body with magic mirrors, and more. Closed SEP 2011
- Kentucky Museum and Library - Home of rich collections and education exhibits on Kentucky history and heritage. Genealogical materials, published works, manuscripts and folk life information.
- National Corvette MuseumNational Corvette MuseumThe National Corvette Museum showcases the Chevrolet Corvette, an American sports car that has been in production since 1953. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65's Exit 28...
- Showcase of America's sports car with more than 75 Corvettes on display, including mint classics, one-of-a-kind prototypes, racetrack champions and more. - Historic Railpark and Train Museum - L & N Depot - Train museum in the original train depot of Bowling Green. Opened after the library moved at the end of 2007. Includes 5 restored historic rail cars.
- Riverview at Hobson GroveRiverview at Hobson GroveRiverview at Hobson Grove, also known as Riverview or as Hobson House, is an historic home with classic Italianate architecture located in western Bowling Green, Kentucky. Restored as representative of the Victorian period, the house played a part in Civil War activities in the area and is the...
- This historic house museum is a classic example of Italianate architecture—arched windows, deep eaves with ornamental brackets, and cupola. Painted ceilings. Began late 1850s, Confederate munitions magazine in winter 1861-62, and completed 1872.
Sports and event venues
E.A. Diddle Arena, located on the campus of Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
, is a multi-purpose arena with a seating capacity of 7,500 persons. Built in 1963 and renovated in 2004, the arena has hosted college sports such as basketball and volleyball. The arena has also played host to various traveling rodeos and circuses. In 2006, Diddle hosted the first WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
event to be held in Bowling Green in over ten years.
Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers football won the Division 1-AA Championship in 2002. WKU's men's basketball team has a storied past and is one of the winningest teams, in both total victories and winning percentage, in the history of Division I college basketball.
Bowling Green has always been a place known for good high school athletics. Most recently the Bowling Green High School Purples Cheer Team won the state Championship known as KAPOS in the Large Co-Ed division. Along with a football team advancing to the 2007 Class AAAAA State Championship and the 2006 and 2005 AAA State Championship. The Greenwood Gators softball team won the 2007 and 2008 State Championship. The Warren Central Dragons boys basketball team took home the 2004 State Championship. The Bowling Green Jr High School won the 2008 and 2009 KYMSA State Championship, as they went undefeated two years straight, with a combined record of 26-0.
The city and surrounding area could be considered an inline/roller hockey hotspot. It is home to the Warren County Inline Hockey League. It also is home to the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers team, which competes in the NCRHA, and has several members in the Bluegrass Hockey League and Central Commonwealth League.
Bowling Green Ballpark
Bowling Green Ballpark
Bowling Green Ballpark is a 4,500-seat stadium in Downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is primarily used for baseball and is home to the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League of minor league baseball. This state-of-the-art stadium opened with Citizens First Opening Night on April 17, 2009...
is a new stadium currently in use in Bowling Green. It is primarily used for baseball, for the Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
Bowling Green Hot Rods
The Bowling Green Hot Rods are a minor league baseball team in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are a Class A team in the Midwest League, and have been a farm team of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006...
organization of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. The Hot Rods began play in the spring of 2009 in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, transferring to the Midwest League for 2010.
The Kentucky Bisons
Kentucky Bisons
The Kentucky Bisons were a basketball team in the American Basketball Association which began play in 2008-09, play in the South Central division. Although the management office for the Bisons is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Bisons actually played their home games at the Owensboro...
of the American Basketball Association were based in Bowling Green, although they played their home games in Owensboro. The Bisons won the 2008 ABA Championship. In 2010, they announced they would suspend operation.
Golf courses
Bowling Green has seven golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and eight disc golf
Disc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
courses.
| Golf | Disc golf |
|---|---|
| Crosswinds | Basil Griffin Park |
| Paul Walker | Hobson Grove Park |
| River View | KOA Kampground Kampgrounds of America Kampgrounds of America is a franchise chain of nearly 470 campgrounds throughout North America based in Billings, Montana, USA. The current CEO of Kampgrounds of America Inc. is James D. Rogers. The President is Pat Hittmeier. - History :... |
| Olde Stone | Lovers Lane Park |
| Bowling Green Country Club | Preston Miller Park |
| Indian Hills | Spero Kereiakes Park |
| Covington Woods | White Park |
| William H. Natcher Elementary |
Other attractions
- Beech Bend ParkBeech Bend ParkBeech Bend Park is an amusement park, campground and automobile race track located in Warren County, Kentucky, USA, just outside the limits of the city of Bowling Green.-History:...
- General Motors Assembly PlantBowling Green Assembly PlantThe Bowling Green Assembly Plant is a General Motors automobile factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is a specialized plant assembling GM's Y-body sports cars, the Chevrolet Corvette and formerly the Cadillac XLR....
- National Corvette HomecomingNational Corvette HomecomingThe National Corvette Homecoming is an annual event held in Bowling Green, Kentucky celebrating America's production sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette. First held in 1981, it was created by two Corvette enthusiasts, Tom Hill and Sam Hall, in response to the assembly of Corvettes moving from St...
- Capitol Arts CenterCapitol Arts CenterThe Capitol Arts Center is a performing arts theatre also featuring two art galleries located at 416 E. Main Street in downtown-Bowling Green on Fountain Square.-History:...
- Cave Spring Caverns
- Eloise B. Houchens Center
- Historic Railpark at the L&N Depot
- Lost River Cave and ValleyLost River CaveLost River Cave, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is home to the only cave boat tour in the state. Lost River Cave is owned jointly by Western Kentucky University and Friends of Lost River, a non-profit organization that works towards preservation of the cave...
- Riverview at Hobson GroveRiverview at Hobson GroveRiverview at Hobson Grove, also known as Riverview or as Hobson House, is an historic home with classic Italianate architecture located in western Bowling Green, Kentucky. Restored as representative of the Victorian period, the house played a part in Civil War activities in the area and is the...
- GADS (Great American Donut Shop)
Print media
- The Amplifier - Southern Kentucky's Arts & Entertainment monthly since 1995
- Bowling Green Daily News
- Buy Local Bowling Green
- College Heights Herald - WKU student newspaper
- The Sporting Times - South-Central Kentucky's first area high school monthly pub.
- Country Peddler
- Soky Happenings - A Guide to What's Happening In and Around Bowling Green KY
Television
- WBKOWBKOWBKO is the ABC-affiliated television station for South Central Kentucky licensed to Bowling Green. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter along KY 185/Richardsville Road in unincorporated Northern Warren County. The station can also be seen on Insight...
ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Channel 13 - WKYU PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
Channel 24 - WNKYWNKYWNKY is the NBC-affiliated television station for South Central Kentucky licensed to Bowling Green. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 from a transmitter on Pilot Knob in Smiths Grove along I-65. The station can also be seen on Insight channel 7 and in high definition...
NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Channel 40 - WKGB PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
/KETKentucky Educational TelevisionKentucky Educational Television, also known as KET: The Kentucky Network, is Kentucky's non-commercial educational public television state network...
Channel 53 - Insight CommunicationsInsight CommunicationsInsight Communications is the 13th largest multiple system operator in the United States with approximately 692,000 customers in the three contiguous states of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio...
(Cable Operator)
Digital Broadcast
- WBKO ABC Channel 13.1 1080i
- WBKO FOX Channel 13.2 480i
- WBKO CW Channel 13.3 480i
- WNKY NBC Channel 40.1 1080i
- WNKY CBS Channel 40.2 480i
- WKYU PBS Channel 24.1 480i
- WKGB PBS Channel 53.1 KET1 480i
- WKGB PBS Channel 53.2 KET2 480i
- WKGB PBS Channel 53.3 KET3 480i
- WKGB PBS Channel 53.4 KET4 480i/1080i PBS HD
- WKGB PBS Channel 53.5 KET5 480i KY House
- WKGB PBS Channel 54.6 KET6 480i KY Senate
Radio
- AM 930 WKCT - News/Talk
- AM 1340 WBGN - The Ticket(Fox Sports Radio)
- AM 1450 WWKU - ESPN Radio
- FM 88.1 WAYFM - WAYFM
- FM 88.9 WKYU - Western Kentucky University Public Radio
- FM 90.7 WCVK - Christian Family Radio
- FM 91.7 WWHR - "Revolution" WKU's student radio station
- FM 93.3 WDNS - Bowling Green's Classic Rock Station
- FM 95.1 WGGC - Country95 - Country
- FM 96.7 WBVR - The Beaver - Country (licensed to Auburn)
- FM 100.7 WKLX - Sam 100.7 - Classic Hits (licensed to Brownsville)
- FM 103.7 WPTQ - The Point - Classic/Active Rock (licensed to Cave City)
- FM 105.3 WOVO - My 1053 - Adult Contemporary (licensed to Glasgow)
- FM 107.1 WUHU - Woohoo - Hot A/C (licensed to Smiths Grove)
County communities
| Allen Springs | Alvaton | Blue Level | Browning | |
| Cavehill Cavehill Cavehill, historically known as Ben Madigan , is a basaltic hill overlooking the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It forms part of the southeastern border of the Antrim Plateau. It is distinguished by its famous 'Napoleon's Nose', a basaltic outcrop which resembles the profile of the famous... |
Drake | |||
| Oakland, Kentucky Oakland, Kentucky Oakland is a city in Warren County, Kentucky, USA. The population was 260 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Petros | Plano | Plum Springs | |
| Richardsville | Rich Pond | Rockfield | Smiths Grove | Woodburn Woodburn, Kentucky Woodburn is a city in Warren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 323 at the 2000 census and 355 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Neighboring cities
| Brownsville Brownsville, Kentucky Brownsville is a city in and the county seat of Edmonson County, Kentucky, United States. The population is 1,000 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Franklin Franklin, Kentucky As of the census of 2000, there were 7,996 people, 3,251 households, and 2,174 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,074.7 people per square mile . There were 3,609 housing units at an average density of 485.1 per square mile... |
Glasgow Glasgow, Kentucky Glasgow is a city in and the county seat of Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 14,200 at the 2000 census. The city is well-known for its annual Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, Barren County was named the number one rural place to live by Progressive Farmer magazine... |
| Morgantown Morgantown, Kentucky Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Butler County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,544 at the 2000 census. The city had a sister city in Tatsuruhama, Ishikawa, Japan, which city is now part of Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan.-History:... |
Russellville Russellville, Kentucky As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile... |
Scottsville Scottsville, Kentucky Scottsville is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 4,327 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Scottsville is located at .... |
Notable residents
- John D. Minton, Jr.John D. Minton, Jr.John D. Minton, Jr. is the current Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court. Minton was elected to the Supreme Court on July 24, 2006 to fill a vacancy created by Justice William S. Cooper, who retired on June 30, 2006. On the retirement of Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert, Minton was elected by...
- Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court - Thomas Lilbourne AndersonThomas Lilbourne AndersonThomas Lilbourne Anderson was a practicing lawyer who served in the United States House of Representatives from Missouri....
- (1808–1885), born in Bowling Green, United States Congressman from MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... - Ben BaileyBen BaileyBenjamin Ray "Ben" Bailey is an American comedian, licensed taxi cab driver, and game show host and executive producer for Discovery Channel's Cash Cab in New York City.-Early life:...
- comedian, host of TV game show Cash CabCash CabCash Cab is a TV game show devised by Adam Wood that originated in the United Kingdom and has been licensed to television networks in numerous other countries... - Sam BushSam BushSam Bush is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.- History :...
- musician - Athena CageAthena CageAthena Cage is an American singer, producer and songwriter, currently based in Bowling Green, Kentucky.-Biography:Athena Cage was born and brought up in Russellville, Kentucky. She was educated at the Western Kentucky University....
- musician - Cage the ElephantCage the ElephantCage the Elephant is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in mid-2006. Since their formation, the band has gained a large following in the US as well as the UK and Canada for their sound and their high-energy live performances. The band released their self-titled debut...
- an indie-rock band - Sleeper AgentSleeper agentA sleeper agent is a spy who is placed in a target country or organization, not to undertake an immediate mission, but rather to act as a potential asset if activated...
- an indie-rock band - Morning TeleportationMorning TeleportationMorning Teleportation are a Psychedelic rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Morning Teleportation formed in 2005 when Bowling Green, KY natives and lifelong friends Travis Goodwin , Tres Coker , and Paul Wilkerson met up with Chicago transplant Tiger Merritt , who had just moved to their...
- a psychedelic rock band - John CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
- film director - Rex ChapmanRex ChapmanRex Everett Chapman is a retired American professional basketball player. Chapman was a college standout at the University of Kentucky and went on to play for four NBA teams through his 12-year career in the league...
- retired American professional basketball player, played for the Kentucky WildcatsKentucky WildcatsThe Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
in college, played professionally for the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Bullets, Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
and the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
. Vice president of player personnel with the Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsThe Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. - Jefferson DavisJefferson DavisJefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
- President of the Confederate States of America - David F. DuncanDavid F. DuncanDavid F. Duncan, Dr. P.H. was born in Kansas City, Missouri on June 26, 1947. He is President of Duncan & Associates, a firm providing consultation on research design and data collection for behavioral and policy studies. He is also Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health...
- epidemiologist and drug policy consultant to President Clinton. - Frances FowlerFrances FowlerFrances Fowler was an American painter, notable as a student of Ella Sophonisba Hergesheimer. The daughter of F.C. and Harriett Herrick, she studied at Vanderbilt University before marrying Edward Fowler, a Columbia, Tennessee judge in 1895. After his death in 1908, she returned to Bowling...
- painter. - FoxholeFoxhole (band)This article is about the band Foxhole. For the method of combat, see Defensive fighting positionFoxhole is a post-rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky.- Members :Derek Holt - BassGreg Leppert - Brass, KeyboardsAdam Moore - GuitarR...
- instrumental post-rock group - Dorothy GriderDorothy GriderDorothy Grider is an American artist, most widely known as an illustrator of children's books.-References:...
- artist and illustrator of children's books - Henry GriderHenry GriderHenry Grider was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He was born in Garrard County, Kentucky. He pursued an academic course, studied law, and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Bowling Green, Kentucky....
a United States Representative from Kentucky. - Mordecai HamMordecai HamMordecai Fowler Ham, Jr. , was an American Independent Baptist evangelist and temperance movement leader. He entered the ministry in 1901 and in 1936 began a radio broadcast reaching into seven southern states...
- Christian evangelistEvangelismEvangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and pastor of the Burton Memorial Baptist Church early in the 20th century - Corey HartCorey Hart (baseball player)Jon Corey Hart, nicknamed "The Wolfman" is an American baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.- High school career :...
- Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
right fielder, 2008 and 2010 MLB All Star - Duncan HinesDuncan HinesDuncan Hines was an American pioneer of restaurant ratings for travelers. He is best known today for the brand of food products that bears his name.-History:...
- food critic and cookbook author - Hillbilly JimHillbilly JimJim Morris , best known to fans as Hillbilly Jim, is an American professional wrestler and disc jockey. He was one of the World Wrestling Federation's most popular wrestlers of the mid-to-late 1980s.-Career:...
- professional wrestler - Larry Jones - founder of Feed The ChildrenFeed The ChildrenFeed The Children founded in 1979 is an international, non-profit relief organization guided by Christian values, whose stated mission is "providing hope and resources for those without life's essentials". In FY 2010, Feed The Children distributed more than 133 million pounds of food and other...
- Ben KeithBen KeithBennett Keith Schaeufele , better known by his stage name Ben Keith, was an American musician and record producer...
- American pedal steel guitarist, solo musician and producer - Paul KilgusPaul KilgusPaul Kilgus , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987–1991 and 1993.-Fast Facts:* Kilgus won a career high 12 games for the Texas Rangers in...
(born February 2, 1962 in Bowling Green, Kentucky), a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987–1991 and 1993. Paul is now the coach for the Bowling Green Junior High baseball team. - Doug MoseleyDoug MoseleyDouglas Dewayne Moseley, known as Doug Moseley , is a retired United Methodist minister and author who served as a Republican member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1974 to 1986...
- retired United Methodist clergyClergyClergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man and member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1974–1987 - Robert ReynoldsRobert Reynolds (American football)Robert Reynolds is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
- retired NFL Titans 2004-2008 - Nappy RootsNappy RootsNappy Roots is an American alternative Southern rap quintet that originated in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1995 and is best known for its hit single "Awnaw."...
- a platinum album selling rap group - Thomas NicholsonThomas NicholsonThomas Nicholson is a health educator and drug policy specialist. He was reportedly included on President Obama's shortlist of candidates for the appointment as the nation's "drug czar" and was endorsed for the position by numerous public health groups. He has coordinated the DRUGNET Study, an...
- Professor at Western Kentucky University. Authority on drug abuse and drug policy who was on the shortlist of candidates to become President Obama's Director of National Drug Control Policy. - Rand PaulRand PaulRandal Howard "Rand" Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party. A member of the Tea Party movement, he describes himself as a "constitutional conservative" and a libertarian...
- ophthalmologist and current Junior U.S. Senator from Kentucky; son of Congressman and two-time Presidential candidate Ron PaulRon PaulRonald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes... - Deborah RenshawDeborah RenshawDeborah Renshaw-Parker is a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver. She currently does not have a ride.-Pre-CTS:...
- NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver - Jody RichardsJody RichardsJody Richards is a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing the 20th District since 1976 and former speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives.-Biography:...
- Former Speaker of the House in Kentucky and current Kentucky State Congressman - Zachary StevensZachary StevensZachary "Zak" Stevens , is best known as the former lead vocalist of the band Savatage. He is also a drummer and has a degree in psychology but is not, as is often reported, a licensed, practicing psychologist....
- vocals Savatage - Lisa SparxxxLisa SparxxxLisa Sparks is a stage name of an American pornographic film actress. Sparks is a world record holder for having had sex with the most partners in one day. She achieved this world gangbang record with 919 men on October 16, 2004 in Warsaw, Poland as part of the Third Annual World Gangbang...
- adult film star - Dr. Janey Thornton - Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture in the Obama admnistration; B.S., WKU
- Chris Turner - former professional baseball player
- Brett GuthrieBrett GuthrieSteven Brett Guthrie is the U.S. Representative for , a Bowling Green-based district, since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Kentucky Senate.-Early life, education, and career:...
- current United States Congressman for the 2nd District - James Magnum Cook Former Model Manager of Playboy Playmate Spencer Scott and Film Producer (IMDB)
Sister city
Bowling Green has two sister citiesTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
: Kawanishi
Kawanishi, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:...
, Hyogo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Legacy
The cities named Bowling Green in OhioBowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
and Florida
Bowling Green, Florida
Bowling Green is a city in Hardee County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,892 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 2,928...
were named after Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Pop culture
- Many songs take their inspiration from Bowling Green, most famously 1967's "Bowling GreenBowling Green (song)
"Bowling Green" is a 1967 single by The Everly Brothers. The song peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 8, 1967. It would be the final time The Everly Brothers would crack the list...
" by the Everly Brothers. This song was covered by Neko Case in 1997.
- Bowling Green was the site of a railroad station that gave rise to a famous court case, Black and White Taxicab Co. v. Brown and Yellow Taxicab Co.
Black and White Taxicab Co. v. Brown and Yellow Taxicab Co.
Black & White Taxicab Co. v. Brown & Yellow Taxicab Co. , 276 U.S. 518 , was a decision by the US Supreme Court in which the Court refused to hold that federal courts sitting in diversity jurisdiction must apply state common law. Ten years later, in Erie Railroad Co. v...
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. dissented and the case was mentioned and superseded by Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins
Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins
Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 , was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court held that federal courts did not have the judicial power to create general federal common law when hearing state law claims under diversity jurisdiction...
, a case famous for its doctrine and pervasiveness in Civil Procedure classes in law schools in the U.S.