Owensboro, Kentucky

Owensboro, the seat of Daviess county, was laid out in 1816 and named for Colonel Abraham Owen. Located on the Ohio River, the area was known as Yellow Banks by 1776 with settlers arriving by 1798. The name Rossboro or Rossborough, for Virginian David Ross, was proposed for the town, but this was rejected by the Kentucky legislature.

The Yellow Banks post office opened in 1806, became Owensborough in 1816, and Owensboro in 1893.

Owensboro has been incorporated since 1850.

The population in 2020 was 60,205.

Owensboro is the home of Brescia University (established in Saint Joseph in 1861), Kentucky Wesleyan College (established in Millersburg in 1860), and Owensboro Community and Technical College.

Owensboro was the site of the Ohio River Lock and Dam 46. The upstream dam 45 was at Addison and the downstream dam 47 was at Scuffletown.

MORE INFORMATION

• Daviess County Fiscal Court
• Daviess County Public Library
• Daviess County Public School District
• Diocese of Owensboro
• Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce
• Green River Whiskey
• Green River District Health Department
• Messenger-Inquirer
• Owensboro, City of
• Owensboro City Guide
• Owensboro Convention Center
• Owensboro Health
• Owensboro Municipal Utilities
• Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
• Owensboro Museum of Science and History
• Owensboro Public Schools
• Owensboro-Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport
• Owensboro Times
• Western Kentucky Botanical Garden

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© 2023 David C. Elbon