Owensboro

Owensboro is the fourth-largest city in Kentucky by population and the county seat of Daviess County. It is located in western Kentucky on the Ohio River at the confluence with the Green River, serving as a regional hub for commerce and transportation. The city has about 60,000 residents.

Founded in 1797, Owensboro was named for Colonel Abraham Owen, a Revolutionary War veteran. It grew as a river-port and commercial center, developing its civic institutions and services to accommodate trade along the Ohio River and inland routes.

Economy and education are anchored by health care, manufacturing, and services, with a mix of small and mid-sized employers. Higher education in Owensboro includes Brescia University, a Catholic liberal arts college, Kentucky Wesleyan College, a private liberal arts college, and an Owensboro campus of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Culturally, Owensboro is known for its barbecue tradition and hosts the International Bar-B-Q Festival, a point of regional pride. The Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn is a well-known restaurant associated with the city’s barbecue heritage. The city also features cultural attractions such as the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art and a riverfront park system that includes Smothers Park along the Ohio River.

Transportation options include the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB), providing commercial service, and road connections linking Owensboro with Evansville and other Kentucky communities. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters, shaping the region’s outdoor and agricultural activities.