Kentucky city with small-town charm and unique stories
Roswell, New Mexico, might be what first springs to mind when it comes to UFO conspiracies in America, but Hopkinsville, Kentucky, has its own infamous story about an alleged run-in with extraterrestrial life. In 1955, several people in the area told authorities about their encounter with what they claimed were small aliens. Local opinions on the event differ — and the military labeled the reported incident a hoax — but the area does proudly add the case to its quirky culture and history.
Science fiction tales aside, this city located more than an hour from Nashville offers a quieter setting away from the hustle and bustle of Tennessee’s state capital. Hopkinsville also exudes small-town charm through its historic downtown, which some say seems like a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting due to the seasonal holiday lighting and decor and the many mom-and-pop boutiques. “I just like the smallness of Hopkinsville. It’s just small enough to where you know a lot of people here, but then again … you can go to Clarksville, and you’re only an hour away from Nashville and can come right back home and enjoy the small-town life,” says Kristina Dunaway, the owner of Stella’s Soap Co in downtown Hopkinsville.
Hopkinsville is known as the Batter capital of the world.
Mom and Pop shops dot the city scape of Hopkinsville.
Hopkinsville is located close to Fort Campbell.
Hopkinsville is home to a variety of house styles.
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Market with far greater affordability than larger regional neighbors
Ranch-style homes comprise much of Hopkinsville’s housing and most sit on lots ranging from a quarter-of-an-acre to an acre in size. The city’s south end features denser communities where the homes blend rambler, Cape Cod and Traditional designs. Prospective buyers will also find Craftsmen design influences around town.
Single-family homes in Hopkinsville vary in price, depending on factors like size and acreage, and most cost between about $100,000 and $340,000. Many home's footprints start at about 1,000 square feet and can reach over 3,000 square feet. Hopkinsville’s median list price of approximately $230,000 is nearly $100,000 below that of regional neighbor Clarksville and $300,000 below Nashville’s.
Hopkinsville is home to Craftsman style houses.
Two Story brick homes can be found in Hopkinsville.
Ranch homes can be found all over Hopkinsville.
Modern new homes are popping up in Hopkinsville.
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Brunch, cocktails and boutique shopping in downtown Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville’s downtown has several buildings from around the turn of the 20th century and these vintage spaces house both new and long-time staples. Spots like The Mixer serves everything from baked goods like muffins and chocolate croissants to brunch, cocktails and whiskeys. The Crusty Pig opened in 2024 and introduced artisan pizzas to downtown. The Milkweed Health and Harmony Emporium carries holistic products, while the Book and Bottle Shop — also opened in 2024 — draws wine lovers and bookworms.
Those looking for classic American breakfasts and comfort foods visit the S & J cafe, and while there, they might also want to stop by the Giant Pink Elephant landmark. The commercial area around Fort Campbell Boulevard is also home to several chain brands like Walmart.
Fresh hot pizza can be found at the Crusty Pig.
Milkweed Health and Harmony Emporium offers goods from local artisans.
You can enjoy a book at the Book & Bottle Shop in Hopkinsville.
The Local Irish Pub + Kitchen serves fresh Shepards Pie to all who visit.
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The Alhambra Theatre and Museums of Historic Hopkinsville
Located amid downtown shops and eateries, the historic Alhambra Theatre puts on stage productions and live music performances throughout the year. The venue still shows some films, too. With its colorful, retro marquee, the theater once earned national recognition for its design and practicality. The Museums of Historic Hopkinsville - Christian County is hard to miss with its more than century-old Neoclassical architecture. The museum maintains exhibits and collections on various subjects, including local African-American history and the Black Patch War, a series of early 20th century conflicts that involved the region’s dark-fired tobacco farmers. The museum also makes tongue-in-cheek references to 1955’s alleged extraterrestrial event through small wooden cutouts of aliens subtly placed throughout its space.
“There’s been a lot of effort put in the past couple of decades to bring businesses back downtown and kind of shift some changes over time,” says Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville. “I would say downtown Hopkinsville has a lot of energy right now — a lot of good energy — and a lot of new stuff.”
The Alhambra Theater was renovated in 1983.
The Museum of Historic Hopkinsville has collections of objects from all over Hopkinsville.
The Alhambra Theater was originally opened in 1928.
The Museums of Hopkinsville are located inside the old LaFayette Post Office.
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Nature walks, multi-sport complexes and poolside fun
The city stays active through its park spaces, natural areas, golf courses and multi-sports complexes. Ruff Park provides a laidback green space with a playground and sports fields; the 40-acre Jeffers Bend Recreation Area draws nature lovers for its woodlands and 3 miles of trails; and the Cherokee Trail of Tears Commemorative Park nearby features historic exhibits.
The Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex Hopkinsville — or simply the Hopkinsville Sportsplex — is ideal for local athletes. A 54,000-square-foot facility, the Sportsplex boasts multiple basketball and volleyball courts, an indoor soccer field and even a practice space for avid archers. The Tie Breaker Park’s amenities include softball fields and an aquatic center with waterpark-like slides.
Jeffers Bend has several miles of hiking to enjoy.
Planters Sportsplex is a great place to visit to play indoor sports.
Tie Breaker Park has a large outdoor water park for locals to enjoy.
Ruff Park makes for a great place to play Pickle Ball.
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Christian County schools' career-oriented learning
The Christian County Public Schools district serves the city and gets a C-plus rating from Niche. The city’s flagship Hopkinsville High School gets a B-minus from Niche and the site also ranks the high school among the 50 best public college prep schools in the state of Kentucky. The district is also home to the Gateway Academy of Innovation and Technology, which focuses on technical education and career-oriented learning.
The city’s private schools include the University Heights Academy, which gets an A-minus from Niche and serves students from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
Gateway Academy of Technology and Innovation is a technical center in Hopkinsville.
University Heights Academy is a private school located in Hopkinsville.
University Heights Academy has sports fields for students to use.
Hopkinsville High School had a population of 962 as of 2024.
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Jennie Stuart Health community hospital and the new Toyota Boshoku plant
Jennie Stuart Health employs over 1,000 people, making it one of the area’s largest employers. The nonprofit operation runs the community hospital near downtown Hopkinsville, as well as several other facilities around the city and throughout Christian County. Walmart also runs a distribution center in town that employs nearly 900 people. The nearby Toyota Boshoku plant, which recently opened, provided an additional 150 jobs to the city.
The latest 2023 census estimate shows Hopkinsville as home to just under 31,000 people.
The Hopkinsville Transit system provides bus routes to those in need of alternative transportation. However, many residents here drive to commute throughout the region. Fort Campbell Boulevard leads toward the military base of the same name and Clarksville, Tennessee, both just over 20 miles south of Hopkinsville. While Interstate 24 takes folks to Nashville, about 72 miles south. Although the city owns the Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport, most utilize the Nashville International Airport for commercial flights.
Important to know
With a similar climate to neighboring Middle Tennessee, Hopkinsville has four true seasons and a slightly higher average annual temperature than the rest of the country. The city experiences warm, humid summers and mild winters with light snowfall. The Hopkinsville area can also experience tornadoes, a few of which passed through the region in May 2024, leading to millions of dollars in damages. Hopkinsville’s crime rates are roughly double those of Kentucky’s. However, the city’s violent crime rate is almost on par with Clarksville’s.
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