Hopkins County, Kentucky

Hopkins County
Hopkins County Courthouse in Madisonville
Hopkins County Courthouse in Madisonville
Map of Kentucky highlighting Hopkins County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°19′N 87°32′W / 37.31°N 87.54°W / 37.31; -87.54
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1806
Named forSamuel Hopkins
SeatMadisonville
Largest cityMadisonville
Area
 • Total554 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Land542 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total45,423
 • Estimate 
(2023)
44,929 Decrease
 • Density82/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitehopkinscounty.ky.gov

Hopkins County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,423.[1] Its county seat is Madisonville.[2] Hopkins County was created December 9, 1806, from Henderson County. It was named for General Samuel Hopkins, an officer in both the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812, and later a Kentucky legislator and U.S. Congressman.[3]

The Madisonville, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Hopkins County.

The topography ranges from flatlands along the broad river valleys of the Pond River, Tradewater River, and Green River, to hilly and rolling land in the southern and central parts of the county. Coal mines operate in the southern part of Hopkins County and agriculture is a mainstay in the northern part. Major crops are soybeans, corn, and tobacco. Along with coal, resources include oil and natural gas.

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Hopkins County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 22, 2014.