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Paducah, KY

Frequently asked questions

Paducah, KY

Paducah is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. The largest city in the Jackson Purchase region, it is located at the confluence of the Tennessee and the Ohio rivers, halfway between St. Louis, Missouri, to the northwest and Nashville, Tennessee, to the southeast. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,137, up from 25,024 during the 2010 U.S. Census. Twenty blocks of the city's downtown have been designated as a historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Paducah is the principal city of the Paducah, KY-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes McCracken, Ballard, Carlisle, and Livingston counties in Kentucky and Massac County in Illinois. The total population of the MSA from the 2020 Census is 103,481. The Paducah-Mayfield, KY-IL Combined Statistical Area has a total population of 140,138.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km²), of which 19.9 square miles (52 km²) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²), comprising 0.52%, is water.

Paducah was first settled as "Pekin" around 1821 by European Americans James and William Pore. The town was laid out by explorer and surveyor William Clark in 1827 and renamed Paducah. Although local lore long connected this name to an eponymous Chickasaw chief "Paduke" and his band of "Paducahs", authorities on the Chickasaw have since said that there was never any chief or tribe of that name, or anything like it. The Chickasaw language does not have related words. Instead, historians believe that Clark named the town for the Comanche people of the western plains. They were known by regional settlers as the Padoucas, from a Spanish transliteration of the Kaw word Pádoka or the Omaha Pádoⁿka.

Just outside the Paducah city limits sits one of the United States' few sites serviced by three railways, an interstate, and a major inland waterway. The site is known as the "Triple Rail Site." This site has 600+ acres (expandable to 1,000 acres) with triple rail service allowing access North, South, East, and West from a single location. It is served by Paducah & Louisville Railway (P&L), CN, and BNSF. The site has river access at the confluence of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers, just miles from the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and Mississippi River. The site is zoned for heavy manufacturing. The City of Paducah and its partners are seeking economic development of the site.

Paducah focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Paducah Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Seva Fitness Academy, The GYM, and Paducah Athletic Center. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Paducah, such as Albert Jones Park and Schultz Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Paducah, KY are The National Quilt Museum, Fort Massac State Park, and Purple Toad Winery.

Population: 27,137 (2020). ZIP Code: 42001. Area code(s): 270. Elevation: 341 ft (104 m). Area: 20.0 square miles (52 km²).

FAQs

What is special about Paducah, KY?

Paducah became the site of dry dock facilities for steamboats and towboats, and thus headquarters for many barge companies. Because of its proximity to coalfields further to the east in Kentucky and north in Illinois, Paducah also became an important railway hub for the Illinois Central Railroad. This was the primary north-south railway connecting the industrial cities of Chicago and East St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico at Gulfport, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Is Paducah, KY a good place to live?

Paducah is in McCracken County and is one of the best places to live in Kentucky. Living in Paducah offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Paducah, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals and retirees live in Paducah and residents tend to lean conservative. 

Is it expensive to live in Paducah, KY?

The cost of living in Paducah, KY is 1% higher than the state average and 6% lower than the national average. Paducah, KY housing is 17% cheaper than the U.S. average, while utilities are about 11% pricier. When it comes to necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 7% less in Paducah, KY than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% less.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Paducah

Paducah Parks and Recreation Department 

Seva Fitness Academy

The GYM 

Paducah Athletic Center

Albert Jones Park 

Schultz Park

The National Quilt Museum

Fort Massac State Park

Purple Toad Winery

Niche

Rent Cafe

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