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EspañolBOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY
(Redirected from Bowling Green, KY)
'Bowling Green' is the fourth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kentucky after Louisville, Lexington and Owensboro, with an estimated population in 2006 of 53,112. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of and is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated population of 110,990 (2005). Bowling Green was founded in 1798 after Robert and George Moore donated 30-40 acres to the Warren County trustees. The land surrounded the 2-acre plot they had previously donated for the construction of public buildings. In 2003, Bowling Green and its surrounding communities were designated as a metropolitan area.
General Motors has an assembly plant in Bowling Green in which all Chevrolet Corvettes and Cadillac XLRs have been constructed since 1981 and 2003 respectively. Other significant businesses in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom, Holley Performance Products, and Camping World. The third largest Kentucky public university, Western Kentucky University, is situated upon a hill in central Bowling Green, thus its athletes are called ''Hilltoppers''.
The first men credited with having settled the area now known as Bowling Green were Robert Moore, his brother George Moore and General Elijah Covington. The Moore brothers arrived from Virginia around 1794. In 1798, only two years after Warren County had been formed, Robert Moore donated two acres of land to county trustees for the purpose of constructing public buildings. Soon after, he donated 30-40 more acres surrounding the original plot. The city of Bowling Green was officially incorporated by the state of Kentucky on March 6, 1798.
The origination of the name ''Bowling Green'' has not been definitely pinned to a 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. Other say the Virginian settlers could 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''.[1] Early records indicate that the city name was also spelled ''Bowlingreen'' and ''Bolin Green''.
By 1810, Bowling Green had only 154 residents. However, the increasing use of the steamboat for commerce and the proximity of the Barren River increased Bowling Green's importance. Canal locks and dams on the Barren River made it much more navigable. In 1832, the first portage railway was made from the river to the 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 tenet of working life. A visitor to Bowling Green noted the boasting of a tavern proprietor by the name of Benjamin Vance:
:''"[Vance] says that he has seen a turnip this fall that measures thirty-two inches around, and has a beet that weighs sixteen pounds and a half;... that corn in this country grows so fast that if you look at it the next, it has grown a foot higher; that the little hickory twigs growing in the barrens have roots as large as his legs..."''
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. However, because of its prime location and resources, both the Union and Confederacy sought control of the city. The majority of residents wished that the Union would succeed in preserving the country. On September 18, 1861, the Confederacy invaded and occupied 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 Confederate government of Kentucky chose Bowling Green as its capital in November, 1861. ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'', , , , The University Press of Kentucky, 1992, 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 treatments by federal authorities during the war led to bitterness among Bowling Green residents toward the Union and symphathies with the Confederacy. These feelings have endured to some degree to this day.
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, over 200 women were employed by Taylor.
In 1868, the first waterworks system was constructed for the city. In 1889, the first mule-drawn street cars appeared in the city. The first electric street cars began to replace them by 1895. The fourth county courthouse was completed in 1868. The first three were completed in 1798, 1805 and 1813 respectively.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth founded St. Columbia's Academy in 1862 which was 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. 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. Pleasant J. Potter founded a women's college in Bowling Green in 1889. It was later closed in 1909 and its property sold to the Western Kentucky State Normal School (now known as Western Kentucky University). Other important schools in this era were Methodist Warren College, Ogden College (which became a part of Western Kentucky University) and Green River Female College (a boarding school).
The Western Kentucky State Normal School was founded in central Bowling Green in 1906. This institution is now known as Western Kentucky University and is the third largest public university in the state of Kentucky.
In 1925, the Kentucky Street Rail Depot was opened. Around 27 trains would come through the depot on a daily basis. Local bus lines were also a popular form of travel. By the 1950s, both of these forms of transportation had dramatically declined as the family 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.
Consequently, downtown streets became a bottle-neck for traffic. Traffic was constantly congested. In 1949, the U.S. Route 31W Bypass was opened to alleviate traffic problems. 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. In 1964, the Bowling Green Mall was opened. Another advertisement said, ''"One stop shopping. Just park [free], step out and shop. You'll find everything close at hand."'' A larger facility, the Greenwood Mall, opened in 1979 as the city's limits began to stretch toward the interstate.
By the late 1960s, Interstate 65, which runs straight through Bowling Green, was completed. The Green River Parkway (currently the William H. Natcher Parkway), which connects Bowling Green and Owensboro, was completed in the 1970s. These vital transportation arteries attracted many industries to Bowling Green.
In 1981, General Motors moved its Chevrolet Corvette assembly plant to Bowling Green from St. Louis, Missouri. In the same year, the National Corvette Homecoming event was created, becoming a large gathering of Corvettes and related activities in Bowling Green each year. The National Corvette Museum was constructed near the assembly plant in 1994.
In 1997, Bowling Green became a Tree City USA sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Bowling Green is located at (36.981657, -86.444423) at 547 feet above sea level at the airport.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 92.1 km² (35.6 mi²). 91.7 km² (35.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.45%) is water.
The climate of Bowling Green is classified as Humid Subtropical.
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,296 people, 19,277 households, and 10,698 families residing in the city. The population density was 537.5/km² (1,392.3/mi²). There were 21,290 housing units at an average density of 232.1/km² (601.3/mi²). 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. Hispanic or Latino 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 the age of 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 years of age 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.
Bowling Green is increasingly 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 in the region as the leading medical and commercial center.
General Motors Corvette Plant, Holley Performance Products, Pan-Oston, Camping World, SCA, and many other major industries call Bowling Green home, while industries from around the world continue to relocate to Bowling Green. Recently, Bowling Green Metalforming, a division of Magna International, Inc., and Halton Company 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 top employers include General Motors Corvette Plant, Fruit of the Loom, Eagle Industries, DESA Heating, Weyerhauser, Trace Die Cast, Bowling Green Metalforming and Houchens Industries, Inc.
Thanks, in part, to the continued investment of our existing industry base, the Bowling Green area’s economy is the second fastest growing in the state. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal income in the Bowling Green MSA grew at an estimated 6.0 percent in 2005.
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 percent. 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 Magazine's list of the "Best Small Places for Business". In an evaluation of 179 cities across the nation, Forbes ranks Bowling Green 14th in which to do business, finishing ahead of Elizabethtown and Owensboro. The list ranks Bowling Green 11th nationwide for the lowest cost-of-living and 36th for highest job growth.
:''Refer to external links for respective education websites.
★ 'Anchored Christian School' - Preschool through 12th grade Baptist Christian school[1]
★ 'Bowling Green Christian Academy' - Preschool through 8th grade non-denominational Christian school
★ 'Foundational Christian Academy' - Preschool through 6th grade Church of Christ Christian school
★ 'Holy Trinity Lutheran' - Preschool through 6th grade Lutheran Christian school
★ 'Old Union School' - Preschool through 12th grade Christian school [2]
★ 'Saint Joseph' - Preschool through 8th grade Catholic school
★ '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'
★ 'Bowling Green Junior High'
★ 'Drakes Creek'
★ 'Henry Moss'
★ 'Warren East'
★ Bowling Green High
★ Eleventh Street Alternative
★ Greenwood High
★ Warren Central High
★ Warren East High
★ Lighthouse Academy High School
★ Bowling Green Adult Learning Center
★ Bowling Green Technical College
★ Draughons Junior College
★ Western Kentucky University
The Bowling Green Public Library has five branches.
The main branch, opened in 1956, is in downtown Bowling Green. The "depot" branch, opened in 2001, is located in the historic, renovated Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot and houses a technology and early childhood center, as well as ordinary library materials. The mobile branch is a 40-foot bus that travels across Bowling Green carrying 6,000 library materials. The Sugar Maple and Smiths Grove branches hold more library materials in other locations. The Smith Grove branch has been slated to close because of budget concerns.
★ Interstate 65 north to Elizabethtown, Louisville (110 mi), south to Nashville, TN (55 mi)
★ William H. Natcher Parkway north to Owensboro (70 mi)
★ U.S. Route 231 north to Morgantown, south to Scottsville
★ U.S. Route 31W north to Park City, south to Franklin
★ U.S. Route 68 / Kentucky State Route 80 west to Russellville, east to Glasgow
★ Kentucky State Route 185
★ Kentucky State Route 234
★ Kentucky State Route 240
★ Kentucky State Route 242
★ Kentucky State Route 880
The 'Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department' administers 895 acres of public land for recreational use.
★ 'F. O. Moxley' - Facility includes a game room (billiards, video games), board game room, concession stand, racquetball/wallyball courts and basketball courts.
★ 'Parker-Bennett' - Facility has hourly rental rates for meetings, parties and receptions.
★ 'Bowling Green Fitness Center' - Offers monthly rates for access to individual fitness instructors, a weight room, cardiovascular equipment, locker rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, a gymnasium, aerobics, racquetball and wallyball.
★ 'Total Fitness Connection' - Has two locations. Offers monthly rates for access to individual fitness instructors, a weight room, cardiovascular equipment, locker rooms, indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, outdoor basketball court, child care services. Aerobics, water aerobics and physical therapy services are available.
:''See Parks in Bowling Green, Kentucky for a formatted table of this data.''
★ 'Basil Griffin' - Large pond with migratory birds such as ducks and geese, playground, disc golf, picnic tables/pavilions, soccer fields, volleyball court.
★ 'C. W. Lampkin' - Baseball fields, outdoor basketball courts, concession stands, grills, picnic pavilions and tables, playgrounds, soccer field, tennis courts, volleyball 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 city square in Downtown Bowling Green
★ 'H. P. Thomas' - grills, picnic tables, playground, soccer fields, volleyball court
★ 'Hobson Grove' - golf course, baseball fields, disc golf course, historic site, picnic tables, concession stands
★ 'James Hines' - boating, historic site
★ 'Lovers Lane' - soccer fields, disc golf course, picnic pavilion and tables, playgrounds, concession stand
★ 'Ogden' - playground
★ 'Pedigo' - baseball fields, outdoor basketball court, batting cage, concession stand, picnic pavilion and tables, playground, volleyball court
★ 'Preston Miller' - water park/swimming pool, disc golf course, picnic pavilions and tables, playgrounds, swimming pools, volleyball courts, walking/running/running trail, concession stand
★ 'Reservoir Hill' - outdoor basketball court, grills, historic site, picnic pavilion and tables, playground, tennis courts, volleyball court
★ 'RiverWalk/Brownfield' - historic site, walking/running trail
★ 'Roland Bland' - outdoor basketball courts, grills, horseshoes, picnic pavilion and tables, playgrounds, soccer field, tennis courts, volleyball court
★ 'Spero Kereiakes' - baseball fields, outdoor basketball court, batting cage, concession stand, disc golf course, grills, picnic pavilions and tables, playgrounds, public gardening plots, soccer fields, tennis courts, volleyball court, walking/running trail
★ 'Westside Neighborhood' - outdoor basketball court, playground
★ '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.
★ 'Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science' - Unique "hands-on" science museum where you can experience the force of a mini-tornado, operate one of the largest interactive transportation exhibits in the country, suspend your body with magic mirrors and more.
★ '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. Duncan Hines exhibit come Summer 2007.
★ 'National Corvette Museum' - Showcase to America's sports car with over 75 Corvettes on display, including mint classics, one-of-a-kind prototypes, racetrack champions and more.
E.A. Diddle Arena, located on the campus of Western Kentucky University, 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.
Bowling Green has seven golf and eight disc golf courses.
★ Beech Bend
★ General Motors Assembly Plant
★ National Corvette Homecoming
★ Capitol Arts Center
★ Cave Spring Caverns
★ Eloise B. Houchens Center
★ Historic Railpark at the L&N Depot
★ Lost River Cave and Valley
★ Riverview at Hobson Grove
★ The Pit
:''Refer to external links for respective media websites.''
★ Soky Happenings - A Guide to What's Happening In and Around Bowling Green KY
★ The Weekly Buzz
★ Amplifier
★ Bowling Green's Park City Daily News
★ College Heights Herald[3]
★ Country Peddler
★ WBKO ABC Channel 13
★ WKYU PBS Channel 24
★ WNKY NBC Channel 40
★ WKGB PBS/KET Channel 53
★ WBKO ABC Channel 13.1 1080i
★ WBKO FOX Channel 13.2 480i
★ WBKO WB 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
★ AM 930 WKCT News/Talk
★ AM 1340 WBGN The Ticket
★ 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 The Country Leader
★ FM 96.7 WBVR The Beaver
★ FM 101.1 WUBT Bowling Green's Rap and Hip-Hop station
★ FM 103.7 WPTQ The Point, Southern Kentucky's Rock Station
★ FM 105.3 WOVO Oldies
★ FM 107.1 WUHU All Hit
In addition to all of the other media, the town has been used in music videos, movies and television shows throughout the years. In Halloween and The movie The Fog (Original) mention of locations and streets are very apparent to residents of Bowling Green. Director John Carpenter grew up here and has placed many references to Bowling Green within his motion pictures.
There was a spoof of Halloween titled Hauntedween that was filmed on location in Bowling Green and many media arts type consider this a prime location still with it only be about 55 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee.
★ Thomas Lilbourne Anderson - (1808-1885), born in Bowling Green, United States Congressman from Missouri[2]
★ John Carpenter - film director
★ Jefferson Davis - President of Confederate States of America
★ Henry Grider was a United States Representative from Kentucky.
★ Duncan Hines - food critic
★ Deborah Renshaw - NASCAR driver
★ Brian Rose (racing driver) - NASCAR driver
★ members of Nappy Roots - hip-hop group
★ Michael Sprouse - visual artist
★ Sam Bush - musician
★ Athena Cage - musician
★ Larry Jones - Founder of Feed The Children
★ Hillbilly Jim - Professional Wrestler
★ Jody Richards Speaker of the House in Kentucky
★ Brian Walker - Owner/Partner Walk With John Entertainment
Bowling Green has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
★ Kawanishi, Hyogo, Japan
★ The cities named ''Bowling Green'' in Ohio and Florida were named after Bowling Green, Kentucky.
★ Warren County, Kentucky
★ Bowling Green Assembly Plant
★ National Corvette Homecoming
★ National Corvette Museum
★ Western Kentucky University
1. ''Encyclopedia of Kentucky'', , , , Somerset Publishers, 1987,
2. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896, , , , Marquis Who's Who, ,
★ Official City website
★ Bowling Green Tourism website
★ Virtual Bowling Green
★ Downtown Bowling Green, KY
★ Historic Railpark At The L&N Depot
★ National Corvette Homecoming
★ Official City website
★ Bowling Green Parks & Recreation
★ Bowling Green Police Deptartment
★ Bowling Green Fire Deptartment
★ City-County Planning Commission of Warren County
★ Bowling Green Christian Academy
★ Bowling Green City Schools
★ Bowling Green Public Library
★ Bowling Green Technical College
★ Draughons Junior College
★ Foundational Christian Academy
★ Holy Trinity Lutheran School
★ Old Union School
★ Saint Joseph School
★ Warren County Public Schools
★ Western Kentucky University
★ The Weekly Buzz
★ Amplifier
★ Bowling Green's Park City Daily News
★ Clip-It Shopper
★ Country Peddler
★ Soky Happenings
★ WBKO ABC
★ WKYU PBS
★ WNKY NBC
★ WKGB PBS/KET
★ AM 930 WKCT News/Talk
★ AM 1340 WBGN The Ticket
★ FM 88.9 WKYU Western Kentucky University Public Radio
★ FM 90.7 WCVK Christian Family Radio
★ FM 91.7 WWHR WKU's Student Radio Station - Revolution
★ FM 93.3 WDNS Bowling Green's Classic Rock Station
★ FM 95.1 WGGC Country
★ FM 96.7 WBVR The Beaver
★ FM 103.7 WPTQ The Point, Southern Kentucky's Rock Station
★ FM 107.1 WUHU All Hit
Neighboring fast food restaurants in Bowling Green, of which the city has many.
The B.G.M.U. Water Tower atop Reservoir Hill is a local landmark visible from many parts of Bowling Green.
'Bowling Green' is the fourth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kentucky after Louisville, Lexington and Owensboro, with an estimated population in 2006 of 53,112. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of and is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated population of 110,990 (2005). Bowling Green was founded in 1798 after Robert and George Moore donated 30-40 acres to the Warren County trustees. The land surrounded the 2-acre plot they had previously donated for the construction of public buildings. In 2003, Bowling Green and its surrounding communities were designated as a metropolitan area.
General Motors has an assembly plant in Bowling Green in which all Chevrolet Corvettes and Cadillac XLRs have been constructed since 1981 and 2003 respectively. Other significant businesses in Bowling Green include Fruit of the Loom, Holley Performance Products, and Camping World. The third largest Kentucky public university, Western Kentucky University, is situated upon a hill in central Bowling Green, thus its athletes are called ''Hilltoppers''.
History
Settlement and incorporation
The first men credited with having settled the area now known as Bowling Green were Robert Moore, his brother George Moore and General Elijah Covington. The Moore brothers arrived from Virginia around 1794. In 1798, only two years after Warren County had been formed, Robert Moore donated two acres of land to county trustees for the purpose of constructing public buildings. Soon after, he donated 30-40 more acres surrounding the original plot. The city of Bowling Green was officially incorporated by the state of Kentucky on March 6, 1798.
The origination of the name ''Bowling Green'' has not been definitely pinned to a 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. Other say the Virginian settlers could 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''.[1] Early records indicate that the city name was also spelled ''Bowlingreen'' and ''Bolin Green''.
The nineteenth century
By 1810, Bowling Green had only 154 residents. However, the increasing use of the steamboat for commerce and the proximity of the Barren River increased Bowling Green's importance. Canal locks and dams on the Barren River made it much more navigable. In 1832, the first portage railway was made from the river to the 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 tenet of working life. A visitor to Bowling Green noted the boasting of a tavern proprietor by the name of Benjamin Vance:
:''"[Vance] says that he has seen a turnip this fall that measures thirty-two inches around, and has a beet that weighs sixteen pounds and a half;... that corn in this country grows so fast that if you look at it the next, it has grown a foot higher; that the little hickory twigs growing in the barrens have roots as large as his legs..."''
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. However, because of its prime location and resources, both the Union and Confederacy sought control of the city. The majority of residents wished that the Union would succeed in preserving the country. On September 18, 1861, the Confederacy invaded and occupied 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 Confederate government of Kentucky chose Bowling Green as its capital in November, 1861. ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'', , , , The University Press of Kentucky, 1992, 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 treatments by federal authorities during the war led to bitterness among Bowling Green residents toward the Union and symphathies with the Confederacy. These feelings have endured to some degree to this day.
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, over 200 women were employed by Taylor.
In 1868, the first waterworks system was constructed for the city. In 1889, the first mule-drawn street cars appeared in the city. The first electric street cars began to replace them by 1895. The fourth county courthouse was completed in 1868. The first three were completed in 1798, 1805 and 1813 respectively.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth founded St. Columbia's Academy in 1862 which was 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. 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. Pleasant J. Potter founded a women's college in Bowling Green in 1889. It was later closed in 1909 and its property sold to the Western Kentucky State Normal School (now known as Western Kentucky University). Other important schools in this era were Methodist Warren College, Ogden College (which became a part of Western Kentucky University) and Green River Female College (a boarding school).
The twentieth century
The Western Kentucky State Normal School was founded in central Bowling Green in 1906. This institution is now known as Western Kentucky University and is the third largest public university in the state of Kentucky.
In 1925, the Kentucky Street Rail Depot was opened. Around 27 trains would come through the depot on a daily basis. Local bus lines were also a popular form of travel. By the 1950s, both of these forms of transportation had dramatically declined as the family 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.
Consequently, downtown streets became a bottle-neck for traffic. Traffic was constantly congested. In 1949, the U.S. Route 31W Bypass was opened to alleviate traffic problems. 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. In 1964, the Bowling Green Mall was opened. Another advertisement said, ''"One stop shopping. Just park [free], step out and shop. You'll find everything close at hand."'' A larger facility, the Greenwood Mall, opened in 1979 as the city's limits began to stretch toward the interstate.
By the late 1960s, Interstate 65, which runs straight through Bowling Green, was completed. The Green River Parkway (currently the William H. Natcher Parkway), which connects Bowling Green and Owensboro, was completed in the 1970s. These vital transportation arteries attracted many industries to Bowling Green.
In 1981, General Motors moved its Chevrolet Corvette assembly plant to Bowling Green from St. Louis, Missouri. In the same year, the National Corvette Homecoming event was created, becoming a large gathering of Corvettes and related activities in Bowling Green each year. The National Corvette Museum was constructed near the assembly plant in 1994.
In 1997, Bowling Green became a Tree City USA sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Geography and climate
Bowling Green is located at (36.981657, -86.444423) at 547 feet above sea level at the airport.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 92.1 km² (35.6 mi²). 91.7 km² (35.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.45%) is water.
The climate of Bowling Green is classified as Humid Subtropical.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,296 people, 19,277 households, and 10,698 families residing in the city. The population density was 537.5/km² (1,392.3/mi²). There were 21,290 housing units at an average density of 232.1/km² (601.3/mi²). 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. Hispanic or Latino 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 the age of 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 years of age 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.
Economy
Bowling Green is increasingly 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 in the region as the leading medical and commercial center.
General Motors Corvette Plant, Holley Performance Products, Pan-Oston, Camping World, SCA, and many other major industries call Bowling Green home, while industries from around the world continue to relocate to Bowling Green. Recently, Bowling Green Metalforming, a division of Magna International, Inc., and Halton Company 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 top employers include General Motors Corvette Plant, Fruit of the Loom, Eagle Industries, DESA Heating, Weyerhauser, Trace Die Cast, Bowling Green Metalforming and Houchens Industries, Inc.
The Medical Center at Bowling Green, flagship hospital of Commonwealth Health Corporation.
Thanks, in part, to the continued investment of our existing industry base, the Bowling Green area’s economy is the second fastest growing in the state. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal income in the Bowling Green MSA grew at an estimated 6.0 percent in 2005.
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 percent. 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 Magazine's list of the "Best Small Places for Business". In an evaluation of 179 cities across the nation, Forbes ranks Bowling Green 14th in which to do business, finishing ahead of Elizabethtown and Owensboro. The list ranks Bowling Green 11th nationwide for the lowest cost-of-living and 36th for highest job growth.
Education
:''Refer to external links for respective education websites.
Primary and secondary education
Religious schools
★ 'Anchored Christian School' - Preschool through 12th grade Baptist Christian school[1]
★ 'Bowling Green Christian Academy' - Preschool through 8th grade non-denominational Christian school
★ 'Foundational Christian Academy' - Preschool through 6th grade Church of Christ Christian school
★ 'Holy Trinity Lutheran' - Preschool through 6th grade Lutheran Christian school
★ 'Old Union School' - Preschool through 12th grade Christian school [2]
★ 'Saint Joseph' - Preschool through 8th grade Catholic 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/Junior high schools
★ 'Bowling Green Junior High'
★ 'Drakes Creek'
★ 'Henry Moss'
★ 'Warren East'
High schools
★ Bowling Green High
★ Eleventh Street Alternative
★ Greenwood High
★ Warren Central High
★ Warren East High
★ Lighthouse Academy High School
A view of the campus of Western Kentucky University.
Post-secondary education
★ Bowling Green Adult Learning Center
★ Bowling Green Technical College
★ Draughons Junior College
★ Western Kentucky University
The historic L&N Train Depot.
Public library
The Bowling Green Public Library has five branches.
The main branch, opened in 1956, is in downtown Bowling Green. The "depot" branch, opened in 2001, is located in the historic, renovated Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot and houses a technology and early childhood center, as well as ordinary library materials. The mobile branch is a 40-foot bus that travels across Bowling Green carrying 6,000 library materials. The Sugar Maple and Smiths Grove branches hold more library materials in other locations. The Smith Grove branch has been slated to close because of budget concerns.
Transportation
Major highways
★ Interstate 65 north to Elizabethtown, Louisville (110 mi), south to Nashville, TN (55 mi)
★ William H. Natcher Parkway north to Owensboro (70 mi)
★ U.S. Route 231 north to Morgantown, south to Scottsville
★ U.S. Route 31W north to Park City, south to Franklin
★ U.S. Route 68 / Kentucky State Route 80 west to Russellville, east to Glasgow
Other highways
★ Kentucky State Route 185
★ Kentucky State Route 234
★ Kentucky State Route 240
★ Kentucky State Route 242
★ Kentucky State Route 880
Attractions
Parks and recreation
The 'Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department' administers 895 acres of public land for recreational use.
Community centers
★ 'F. O. Moxley' - Facility includes a game room (billiards, video games), board game room, concession stand, racquetball/wallyball courts and basketball courts.
★ 'Parker-Bennett' - Facility has hourly rental rates for meetings, parties and receptions.
Fitness centers
★ 'Bowling Green Fitness Center' - Offers monthly rates for access to individual fitness instructors, a weight room, cardiovascular equipment, locker rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, a gymnasium, aerobics, racquetball and wallyball.
★ 'Total Fitness Connection' - Has two locations. Offers monthly rates for access to individual fitness instructors, a weight room, cardiovascular equipment, locker rooms, indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, outdoor basketball court, child care services. Aerobics, water aerobics and physical therapy services are available.
Parks
:''See Parks in Bowling Green, Kentucky for a formatted table of this data.''
★ 'Basil Griffin' - Large pond with migratory birds such as ducks and geese, playground, disc golf, picnic tables/pavilions, soccer fields, volleyball court.
★ 'C. W. Lampkin' - Baseball fields, outdoor basketball courts, concession stands, grills, picnic pavilions and tables, playgrounds, soccer field, tennis courts, volleyball 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 city square in Downtown Bowling Green
★ 'H. P. Thomas' - grills, picnic tables, playground, soccer fields, volleyball court
★ 'Hobson Grove' - golf course, baseball fields, disc golf course, historic site, picnic tables, concession stands
★ 'James Hines' - boating, historic site
★ 'Lovers Lane' - soccer fields, disc golf course, picnic pavilion and tables, playgrounds, concession stand
★ 'Ogden' - playground
★ 'Pedigo' - baseball fields, outdoor basketball court, batting cage, concession stand, picnic pavilion and tables, playground, volleyball court
★ 'Preston Miller' - water park/swimming pool, disc golf course, picnic pavilions and tables, playgrounds, swimming pools, volleyball courts, walking/running/running trail, concession stand
★ 'Reservoir Hill' - outdoor basketball court, grills, historic site, picnic pavilion and tables, playground, tennis courts, volleyball court
★ 'RiverWalk/Brownfield' - historic site, walking/running trail
★ 'Roland Bland' - outdoor basketball courts, grills, horseshoes, picnic pavilion and tables, playgrounds, soccer field, tennis courts, volleyball court
★ 'Spero Kereiakes' - baseball fields, outdoor basketball court, batting cage, concession stand, disc golf course, grills, picnic pavilions and 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.
Museums
★ 'Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science' - Unique "hands-on" science museum where you can experience the force of a mini-tornado, operate one of the largest interactive transportation exhibits in the country, suspend your body with magic mirrors and more.
★ '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. Duncan Hines exhibit come Summer 2007.
The Kentucky Mueseum is located on the campus of Western Kentucky University.
★ 'National Corvette Museum' - Showcase to America's sports car with over 75 Corvettes on display, including mint classics, one-of-a-kind prototypes, racetrack champions and more.
Sports and event venues
E.A. Diddle Arena, located on the campus of Western Kentucky University, 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.
Golf courses
Lovers Lane Park disc golf course. Bowling Green has eight such courses.
Bowling Green has seven golf and eight disc golf courses.
| Golf | Disc golf |
|---|---|
| Crosswinds | Basil Griffin Park |
| Paul Walker | Hobson Grove Park |
| River View | KOA Kampground |
| 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
Capitol Arts Center in downtown Bowling Green, KY.
★ Beech Bend
★ General Motors Assembly Plant
★ National Corvette Homecoming
★ Capitol Arts Center
★ Cave Spring Caverns
★ Eloise B. Houchens Center
★ Historic Railpark at the L&N Depot
★ Lost River Cave and Valley
★ Riverview at Hobson Grove
★ The Pit
Media
:''Refer to external links for respective media websites.''
Print media
★ Soky Happenings - A Guide to What's Happening In and Around Bowling Green KY
★ The Weekly Buzz
★ Amplifier
★ Bowling Green's Park City Daily News
★ College Heights Herald[3]
★ Country Peddler
Television
★ WBKO ABC Channel 13
★ WKYU PBS Channel 24
★ WNKY NBC Channel 40
★ WKGB PBS/KET Channel 53
Digital Broadcast
★ WBKO ABC Channel 13.1 1080i
★ WBKO FOX Channel 13.2 480i
★ WBKO WB 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
★ 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 The Country Leader
★ FM 96.7 WBVR The Beaver
★ FM 101.1 WUBT Bowling Green's Rap and Hip-Hop station
★ FM 103.7 WPTQ The Point, Southern Kentucky's Rock Station
★ FM 105.3 WOVO Oldies
★ FM 107.1 WUHU All Hit
In addition to all of the other media, the town has been used in music videos, movies and television shows throughout the years. In Halloween and The movie The Fog (Original) mention of locations and streets are very apparent to residents of Bowling Green. Director John Carpenter grew up here and has placed many references to Bowling Green within his motion pictures.
There was a spoof of Halloween titled Hauntedween that was filmed on location in Bowling Green and many media arts type consider this a prime location still with it only be about 55 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee.
Nearby cities and communities
County communities
| Allen Springs | Alvaton | Blue Level | Browning | |
| Cavehill | Drake | Oakland | Petros | Richardsville |
| Plum Springs | Rockfield | Smiths Grove | Woodburn | Rich Pond |
Neighboring cities
| Brownsville | Franklin | Glasgow |
| Morgantown | Russellville | Scottsville |
Famous residents
★ Thomas Lilbourne Anderson - (1808-1885), born in Bowling Green, United States Congressman from Missouri[2]
★ John Carpenter - film director
★ Jefferson Davis - President of Confederate States of America
★ Henry Grider was a United States Representative from Kentucky.
★ Duncan Hines - food critic
★ Deborah Renshaw - NASCAR driver
★ Brian Rose (racing driver) - NASCAR driver
★ members of Nappy Roots - hip-hop group
★ Michael Sprouse - visual artist
★ Sam Bush - musician
★ Athena Cage - musician
★ Larry Jones - Founder of Feed The Children
★ Hillbilly Jim - Professional Wrestler
★ Jody Richards Speaker of the House in Kentucky
★ Brian Walker - Owner/Partner Walk With John Entertainment
Sister City
Bowling Green has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
★ Kawanishi, Hyogo, Japan
Trivia
★ The cities named ''Bowling Green'' in Ohio and Florida were named after Bowling Green, Kentucky.
See also
★ Warren County, Kentucky
★ Bowling Green Assembly Plant
★ National Corvette Homecoming
★ National Corvette Museum
★ Western Kentucky University
References
1. ''Encyclopedia of Kentucky'', , , , Somerset Publishers, 1987,
2. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896, , , , Marquis Who's Who, ,
External links
★ Official City website
★ Bowling Green Tourism website
★ Virtual Bowling Green
★ Downtown Bowling Green, KY
★ Historic Railpark At The L&N Depot
★ National Corvette Homecoming
Government
★ Official City website
★ Bowling Green Parks & Recreation
★ Bowling Green Police Deptartment
★ Bowling Green Fire Deptartment
★ City-County Planning Commission of Warren County
Education
★ Bowling Green Christian Academy
★ Bowling Green City Schools
★ Bowling Green Public Library
★ Bowling Green Technical College
★ Draughons Junior College
★ Foundational Christian Academy
★ Holy Trinity Lutheran School
★ Old Union School
★ Saint Joseph School
★ Warren County Public Schools
★ Western Kentucky University
Media
Print media
★ The Weekly Buzz
★ Amplifier
★ Bowling Green's Park City Daily News
★ Clip-It Shopper
★ Country Peddler
★ Soky Happenings
Television
★ WBKO ABC
★ WKYU PBS
★ WNKY NBC
★ WKGB PBS/KET
Radio
★ AM 930 WKCT News/Talk
★ AM 1340 WBGN The Ticket
★ FM 88.9 WKYU Western Kentucky University Public Radio
★ FM 90.7 WCVK Christian Family Radio
★ FM 91.7 WWHR WKU's Student Radio Station - Revolution
★ FM 93.3 WDNS Bowling Green's Classic Rock Station
★ FM 95.1 WGGC Country
★ FM 96.7 WBVR The Beaver
★ FM 103.7 WPTQ The Point, Southern Kentucky's Rock Station
★ FM 107.1 WUHU All Hit
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