Hopkins

Formed December 2, 1806 (47^th county)

Hopkins County (45,422), Madisonville (19,548)                

The front columns make the red brick Neo-Classical courthouse erected in 1937.  The courthouse is on a square at Court, Union, Center, and Main streets.  Main Street is United States Highway 41 Alternate in the city.  Lawrence Casner provided the designs.  A Justice Center was added in 2012.  The building has a working clock and the grounds have veteran memorials.  A classy 1892 courthouse preceded the current one also in Madisonville, the only county seat.  Hopkins County was formed from Henderson County on December 2, 1806 as the 47^th county.  Congressman Samuel Hopkins provided the inspiration for the county name.  He is also the namesake of the county seat of Christian County.  Madisonville is named for President James Madison as is Madison County.  Hopkins County was the birthplace of 2 Kentucky Governors, Ruby Laffoon and Steven L. Beshear. 

Hopkins County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 7 Magistrates.  Two Circuit Court Judges, Two District Court Judges, and One Family Court Judge serve Hopkins County.  The county is sited in western Kentucky.  Owensboro, Kentucky is northeast and Bowling Green, Kentucky is southeast of the county.  The county center is 5.1 miles West-Southwest of Madisonville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by McLean, Muhlenberg, Christian, Caldwell, and Webster counties. 

The area of the county is 551 square miles.  It is 9 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 23 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 82.4 persons per square mile making it 45 out of 120 in the state.  Hopkins County has 59.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 41 goes north to south in the county from Webster County to Christian County.  United States Highway 41 Alternate comes from Webster County and terminates.  United States Highway 62 travels east to west from Muhlenberg County to Caldwell County.  The county is diamond shaped.  Madisonville is located slightly east of center in the county.  Madisonville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 43.0% of the county population.  This county is in the Madisonville Micropolitan Statistical Area.