Editing Paducah, Kentucky

{{redirect|Paducah}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Paducah
| settlement_type    = [[list of Kentucky cities|City]]
| named_for          = the [[Chickasaw]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Tribe]]<ref name=ren/>
| image_skyline      = Broadway - Paducah, Kentucky.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Broadway, Paducah Downtown Commercial District
| image_flag         = Paducah, KY Flag.gif
| image_seal         = Paducah, KY Seal.png
| image_map          = File:McCracken County Kentucky Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Paducah Highlighted 2158836.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Paducah in McCracken County, Kentucky
| pushpin_map        = Kentucky#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = Paducah
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Kentucky|County]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = Kentucky
| subdivision_name2  = [[McCracken County, Kentucky|McCracken]]
| government_type    = [[City Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Paducah, Kentucky|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = George Bray
| leader_title1      = [[City Commissioners]]
| leader_name1       = Sandra Wilson. Raynarldo Henderson, Robert Smith, Dujuan Thomas
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = {{circa|lk=no|1821}}<ref>University of Kentucky. ''Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer'', "[http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/ky-paducah.html Paducah]". Accessed September 24, 2013.</ref>
| established_title2 = Established
| established_date2  = 1830<ref name=sos/>
| established_title3 = Incorporated
| established_date3  = 1838<ref name=sos>Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Paducah, Kentucky". Accessed September 24, 2013.</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 53.74
<!--51.807168 from 2010 Census Geographical Identifiers file-->| area_land_km2      = 52.59
<!--51.539490 from 2010 Census Geographical Identifiers file-->| area_water_km2     = 1.15
<!--0.267678 from 2010 Census Geographical Identifiers file-->| area_total_sq_mi   = 20.75
<!--20.002859-->| area_land_sq_mi    = 20.30
<!--19.899508-->| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.45
<!--0.103351-->| elevation_m        = 104
| elevation_ft       = 341
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|4|20|N|88|37|39|W|region:US-KY_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total   = 27137
| population_metro   = 103481
| population_demonym = Paducahan
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}</ref>
| population_est     = 27205
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_21.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 18, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 1336.60
| population_density_km2 = 516.06
| population_footnotes = 
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = −6
| timezone_DST       = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −5
| postal_code_type   = ZIP Code
| postal_code        = 42001-42002-42003
| area_code          = [[Area codes 270 and 364|270 & 364]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 21-58836
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0500106
| footnotes          = 
| website            = {{URL|paducahky.gov}}
}}
'''Paducah''' ({{IPAc-en|p|ə|ˈ|d|uː|k|ə}} {{respell|pə|DOO|kə}}) is a [[List of cities in Kentucky|home rule-class city]] in the [[Upland South]], and the [[county seat]] of [[McCracken County, Kentucky]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The most populous city in the [[Jackson Purchase]] region, it is located in the [[Southeastern United States]] at the confluence of the [[Tennessee River|Tennessee]] and the [[Ohio River|Ohio]] rivers, halfway between [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], to the northwest and [[Nashville, Tennessee]], to the southeast. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 27,137,<ref name="USCensusEst2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> up from 25,024 in 2010.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> 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 micropolitan area|Paducah metropolitan area]], which includes McCracken, [[Ballard County, Kentucky|Ballard]], [[Carlisle County, Kentucky|Carlisle]] and [[Livingston County, Kentucky|Livingston]] [[list of counties in Kentucky|counties]] in Kentucky and [[Massac County, Illinois|Massac County]] in [[Illinois]].  The total population of the metro area was 103,481 in 2020.  The [[Combined statistical area|Paducah–Mayfield combined statistical area]] had a total population of 140,138.

==History==
===Early history===
[[File:Kentucky - Paducah through St. Matthews - NARA - 23940335 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Paducah in 1933|left]]
{{anchor|Pekin}}
Paducah was first settled as "Pekin" around 1821 by European Americans James and William Pore.<ref name=ren>Rennick, Robert. ''Kentucky Place Names'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lac2FUSj_oC&pg=PA224 p. 224]. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Accessed August 1, 2013.</ref> The town was laid out by explorer and surveyor [[William Clark (explorer)|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.<ref name=ren/> They were known by regional settlers as the ''Padoucas'', from a Spanish transliteration of the [[Kansa language|Kaw]] word ''Pádoka''<ref>Rankin, Robert. ''[http://www.kawnation.com/WebKanza/LangResources/nglshknzdctnry.pdf English to Kanza Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011115616/http://www.kawnation.com/WebKanza/LangResources/nglshknzdctnry.pdf |date=October 11, 2016 }}''. "Comanche" & "Paducah". Accessed September 24, 2013.</ref> or the [[Omaha language|Omaha]] ''Pádoⁿka''.<ref>''Omaha & Ponca Digital Dictionary''. "[http://omahaponca.unl.edu/omaha/view/9907 Pádoⁿka]". September 24, 2013.</ref>

===Incorporation, steamboats and railroads===
[[File:Kentucky. Paducah, wharf scene LCCN2013646142.jpg|thumb|The wharf in Paducah, 1890|left]]
{{anchor|incorporation|steamboats|railroads}}
Paducah was formally established as a town in 1830 and incorporated as a [[list of Ky cities|city]] by the [[Kentucky Assembly|state legislature]] in 1838.<ref name=sos/>  The city charter was drafted by [[Quintus Quincy Quigley]] and H. Clay King in 1856.<ref>{{citation |newspaper=News-Democrat |date=20 Dec 1910 |page=1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-democrat/128022780/ |title=Article clipped from News-Democrat }}</ref>

By this time, steam boats traversed the river system, and its port facilities were important to trade and transportation. In addition, developing railroads began to enter the region. A factory for making red bricks, and a foundry for making rail and locomotive components became the nucleus of a thriving "River and Rail" economy.  Paducah became the site of dry dock facilities for steamboats and towboats, and thus headquarters for many barge companies. Because of its proximity to [[Western Kentucky coalfields|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, Illinois|East St. Louis]] to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] at [[Gulfport, Mississippi]], and [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]. The Illinois Central system also provided east–west links to the [[Burlington Northern Railroad|Burlington Northern]] and the [[Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway]]s (which later merged to become the [[BNSF Railway]]).

In 1924 the Illinois Central Railroad began construction at Paducah of their largest locomotive [[workshop]] in the nation. Over a period of 190 days, a large ravine between Washington and Jones streets was filled with 44,560 carloads of dirt to enlarge the site, sufficient for the construction of 23 buildings. The eleven million dollar project was completed in 1927 as the fourth-largest industrial plant in Kentucky. The railroad became the largest employer in Paducah, having 1,075 employees in 1938.

As [[steam locomotive]]s were replaced through the 1940s and 1950s, the Paducah shops were converted to maintain [[diesel locomotive]]s. A nationally known rebuilding program for aging diesel locomotives from Illinois Central and other railroads began in 1967. The shops became part of the [[Paducah and Louisville Railway]] in 1986. In the early 21st century, they are operated by VMV Paducahbilt.<ref>{{cite book |last=Holland |first=Richard |title =Paducah: Portrait of a River Town |publisher =Image Graphics |date = 1994|location =Paducah |page =39 |isbn =0-89145-625-2}}</ref>

===Civil War===
{{Further|Kentucky in the American Civil War}}
[[File:Fort Anderson. Fort Anderson, Paducah, Kentucky, and the camp of the 6th Illinois Cavalry, April, 1862 - sketched by A.E. Mathews, 31st Regt. O.V.U.S.A. LCCN92508857.jpg|thumb|[[Fort Anderson (Kentucky)|Fort Anderson]] was the site of the [[Battle of Paducah]] in March 1864.|left]]
At the outset of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Kentucky attempted to take a neutral position. However, when a Confederate force occupied Columbus, a [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] force under General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] responded by occupying Paducah. Throughout most of the war, [[Colonel (U.S.)|Col.]] [[Stephen G. Hicks]] was in charge of Paducah, and the town served as a massive supply depot for Federal forces along the Ohio, Mississippi, and Tennessee river systems.

On December 17, 1862, under the terms of [[General Order No. 11 (1862)|General Order No. 11]], US forces required 30 Jewish families to leave their long-established homes. Grant was trying to break up a black market in cotton, in which he assumed Jewish traders were involved due to [[racial stereotyping]] associated with [[anti-Semitic tropes]]. [[Cesar Kaskel]], a prominent local Jewish businessman, dispatched a telegram of complaint to [[list of U.S. presidents|President]] [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln]] and met with him. As there were similar actions taken by other Jewish businessmen and loud complaints by Congress about the treatment of their constituents, Lincoln ordered the policy to be revoked within a few weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Grant and the Jews |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/history/Modern_History/1700-1914/Modern_Anti-Semitism/Grant_Expels_Jews.shtml |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=My Jewish Learning |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarna |first=Jonathan D. |date=2012-03-13 |title=When Gen. Grant Expelled the Jews |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/03/ulysses-s-grant-and-general-orders-no-11-how-the-infamous-order-changed-the-lives-of-jews-in-america.html |access-date=2024-03-22 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}</ref>

On March 25, 1864, [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] Gen. [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] raided Paducah as part of his campaign northward from [[Mississippi]] into Western Tennessee and Kentucky. He intended to re-supply the Confederate forces in the region with recruits, ammunition, medical supplies, horses and mules, and especially to disrupt the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] domination of the regions south of the [[Ohio River]]. Known as the [[Battle of Paducah]], the raid was successful in terms of the re-supply effort and in intimidating the Union, but Forrest returned south. According to his report, "I drove the enemy to their gunboats and fort; and held the city for ten hours, captured many stores and horses; burned sixty bales of cotton, one steamer, and a drydock, bringing out fifty prisoners."<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2rZbIVSUNUgC&pg=PA330 | page = 330 | title = Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest | author = John Allan Wyeth | publisher = Harper & Brothers | year= 1899| isbn = 978-0-7222-9281-5 }}</ref> Much of the fighting took place around [[Fort Anderson (Kentucky)|Fort Anderson]] on the city's west side, in the present-day Lower Town neighborhood; most buildings in the neighborhood postdate the war, as most of the neighborhood was demolished soon after the battle to deny any future raids the advantage of surprise that they had enjoyed during the battle. Among the few houses that were not destroyed is the [[David Yeiser House]], a single-story [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] structure.<ref>Cherry, Robert C.  ''National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Mayor David A. Yeiser House''. [[National Park Service]], 1972-12-27, 9.</ref>

Later having read in the newspapers that 140 fine horses had escaped the raid, Forrest sent Brigadier General Abraham Buford back to Paducah, to get the horses and to keep Union forces busy there while he attacked [[Fort Pillow, Tennessee|Fort Pillow]] in Tennessee. His forces were charged with a massacre of [[United States Colored Troops]] among the Union forces whom they defeated at the fort. On April 14, 1864, Buford's men found the horses hidden in a Paducah foundry, as reported by the newspapers. Buford rejoined Forrest with the spoils, leaving the Union in control of Paducah until the end of the War.

===1937 flood===
[[File:1884 Paducah,Kentucky Flood.jpg|thumb|right|1884 flood]]
[[File:Palmer Hotel after flood - NARA - 279790.jpg|thumb|Downtown Paducah in the aftermath of the 1937 flood]]
{{Main|Ohio River flood of 1937}}
In a far-reaching flood, on January 21, 1937, the [[Ohio River]] at Paducah rose above its {{Convert|50|ft|adj=on}} flood stage, cresting at {{Convert|60.8|ft|m}} on February 2 and receding again to 50 feet on February 15. For nearly three weeks, 27,000 residents were forced to flee or to stay with friends and relatives on higher ground in McCracken or other counties. The [[American Red Cross]] and local churches provided some shelters. Buildings in downtown Paducah still bear historic plaques that define the [[high water mark]]s.

Driven by {{Convert|18|in|mm}} of rainfall in 16 days, along with sheets of swiftly moving ice, the [[Ohio River flood of 1937]] was the worst natural disaster in Paducah's history and elsewhere in the Ohio Valley. The earthen levee was ineffective against this flood. As a result, Congress authorized the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] to build the [[flood wall]] that now protects the city.

===Atomic City===
{{main|Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant}}
In 1950, the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|U.S. Atomic Energy Commission]] selected Paducah as the site for a new [[uranium enrichment]] plant. Construction began in 1951 and the plant opened for operations in 1952. Originally operated by [[Union Carbide]], the plant has changed hands several times. [[Martin Marietta]], its successor company [[Lockheed-Martin]], and now the [[United States Enrichment Corporation]] have operated the plant in turn. The [[United States Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]] (DOE), successor to the AEC, remains the owner. The plant was closed in June 2013<!-- why? -->, and the Department of Energy began the process of decontaminating and shutting down the facilities.

===Quilt City===
On April 25, 1991, the [[National Quilt Museum]] opened in downtown Paducah.<ref name="Nickell">{{cite news |last1=Nickell |first1=Patti |title=Why visit Kentucky's Paducah? Because artists, preservationists and foodies think you should |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/sns-tns-bc-ust-ky-paducah-20181001-story.html |access-date=October 15, 2018 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=October 1, 2008}}</ref> Paducah has been part of the [[Creative Cities Network|UNESCO Creative Cities Network]] in the category of craft and folk art since November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paducahky.gov/news/paducah-unesco-creative-city-crafts-folk-art|title=Paducah, A UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art {{!}} City of Paducah|website=www.paducahky.gov|language=en-us|access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="NPR 2022-04-29">{{Cite news |last=Operele |first=Derek |date=April 29, 2022 |title=QuiltWeek is finally back on in Kentucky |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1095642528/quiltweek-is-finally-back-on-in-kentucky#storytext |access-date=2022-04-30}}</ref> The national quilt show takes place yearly at the Schroeder Expo Center. The American Quilter's Society hosts a week of quilt shows with quilt classes, fabric shops and a variety of vendors. They host a variety of award-winning quilts from across the country. The show features exhibits that include hand pieced and appliqued quilts, Kentucky heritage quilts, and Paducah contest quilts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Quilter's Society- Quilt Week Shows in Paducah, KY |url=https://www.americanquilter.com/quiltweek/paducah-2023/paducah-2023-quilt-exhibits/}}</ref>

===The Heath shooting===
{{main|Heath High School shooting}}
On [[December 1]], [[1997]], 14-year-old Michael Carneal brought five loaded guns to Heath High School and shot a group of fellow students in the school's lobby as they were leaving a prayer group before school. Three students, all girls, were killed and five others were wounded; one of the wounded was left a [[paraplegic]]. Carneal subsequently received a sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 25 years. In 2022, the Kentucky Parole Board denied his bid for parole.<ref>Trevor Ault, Andy Fies, Vera Drymon, and Meredith Deliso, "1997 Kentucky school shooter denied parole," ABC News, September 26, 2022, https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96287&page=1</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|20.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|19.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.10|sqmi|km2}}, comprising 0.52%, is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_G001&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212210253/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_G001&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |title=2010 Demographic Profile Data, Paducah, Kentucky: Geographic Identifiers |work=2010 United States Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

===Climate===
Paducah has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfa'') with four distinct seasons and is located in USDA [[hardiness zone]] 7a.<ref>{{cite web |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |author=United States Department of Agriculture |publisher=[[United States National Arboretum]] |url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html |access-date=February 27, 2015 |author-link=United States Department of Agriculture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303152208/http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Spring-like conditions typically begin in mid-to-late March, summer from mid-to-late-May to late September, with fall in the October–November period. Seasonal extremes in both temperature and precipitation are common during early spring and late fall; [[severe weather]] is also common, with occasional [[tornado]] outbreaks in the region. Winter typically brings a mix of rain, sleet, and snow, with occasional heavy snowfall and icing. The city has a normal January mean temperature of {{convert|34.6|°F|1}} and averages 13&nbsp;days annually with temperatures staying at or below freezing; the first and last freezes of the season on average fall on October 25 and April 8, respectively.<ref name=NOAA /> Summer is typically hazy, hot, and humid with a July daily average of {{convert|78.9|°F|1}} and drought conditions at times. Paducah averages 48 days a year with high temperatures at or above {{convert|90|°F|0}}. Snowfall averages {{convert|8.9|in|cm|0}} per season, contributing to the average annual precipitation of {{convert|50.32|in|sigfig=3}}. Extremes in temperature range from {{convert|108|°F|0}} on July 17, 1942, and [[Summer 2012 North American heat wave|June 29, 2012]], down to {{convert|−15|°F|0}} on [[January 1985 Arctic outbreak|January 20, 1985]]. Paducah is prone to river flooding from the [[Ohio River]], and as of late February 2018, the river had been expected to crest at 49 feet on February 28.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/02/25/paducah-crews-installing-floodgates-rising-ohio-river/|title=Paducah crews installing floodgates from rising Ohio River|date=February 25, 2018|work=WPSD Local 6 – Your News, Weather, & Sports Authority|access-date=February 26, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Paducah, Kentucky ([[Barkley Regional Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 108
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 106
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 77
|year record high F = 108
| Jan avg record high F  = 65.4
| Feb avg record high F  = 70.7
| Mar avg record high F  = 77.9
| Apr avg record high F  = 84.0
| May avg record high F  = 89.6
| Jun avg record high F  = 95.0
| Jul avg record high F  = 96.9
| Aug avg record high F  = 96.4
| Sep avg record high F  = 93.4
| Oct avg record high F  = 86.5
| Nov avg record high F  = 76.0
| Dec avg record high F  = 67.0
| year avg record high F = 98.4
|Jan high F = 44.7
|Feb high F = 49.7
|Mar high F = 59.7
|Apr high F = 70.4
|May high F = 79.1
|Jun high F = 87.1
|Jul high F = 89.9
|Aug high F = 89.5
|Sep high F = 83.2
|Oct high F = 71.8
|Nov high F = 58.5
|Dec high F = 48.3
|year high F = 69.3
|Jan mean F = 36.0
|Feb mean F = 40.1
|Mar mean F = 49.0
|Apr mean F = 59.0
|May mean F = 68.4
|Jun mean F = 76.5
|Jul mean F = 79.7
|Aug mean F = 78.2
|Sep mean F = 71.0
|Oct mean F = 59.7
|Nov mean F = 48.0
|Dec mean F = 39.5
|year mean F = 58.8
|Jan low F = 27.3
|Feb low F = 30.5
|Mar low F = 38.3
|Apr low F = 47.6
|May low F = 57.7
|Jun low F = 66.0
|Jul low F = 69.4
|Aug low F = 66.8
|Sep low F = 58.9
|Oct low F = 47.6
|Nov low F = 37.5
|Dec low F = 30.7
|year low F = 48.2
| Jan avg record low F  = 7.9
| Feb avg record low F  = 11.6
| Mar avg record low F  = 19.1
| Apr avg record low F  = 30.6
| May avg record low F  = 41.6
| Jun avg record low F  = 53.2
| Jul avg record low F  = 58.8
| Aug avg record low F  = 55.7
| Sep avg record low F  = 43.0
| Oct avg record low F  = 30.4
| Nov avg record low F  = 21.0
| Dec avg record low F  = 12.7
| year avg record low F = 4.0
|Jan record low F = −15
|Feb record low F = −14
|Mar record low F = −6
|Apr record low F = 21
|May record low F = 32
|Jun record low F = 44
|Jul record low F = 47
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 34
|Oct record low F = 22
|Nov record low F = −3
|Dec record low F = −10
|year record low F = −15
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.85
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.94
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.64
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.17
|May precipitation inch = 4.87
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.51
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.30
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.11
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.55
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.99
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.09
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.30
|year precipitation inch = 50.32
|Jan snow inch = 2.7
|Feb snow inch = 3.0
|Mar snow inch = 1.1
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 1.8
|year snow inch = 8.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.4
|Feb precipitation days = 9.3
|Mar precipitation days = 11.2
|Apr precipitation days = 11.1
|May precipitation days = 11.5
|Jun precipitation days = 9.4
|Jul precipitation days = 8.7
|Aug precipitation days = 7.6
|Sep precipitation days = 6.9
|Oct precipitation days = 8.0
|Nov precipitation days = 9.5
|Dec precipitation days = 10.2
|year precipitation days = 113.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.3
|Feb snow days = 2.1
|Mar snow days = 0.9
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.3
|Dec snow days = 1.3
|year snow days = 7.0
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pah
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 4, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NOAA KYNG">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00003816&format=pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
| title = Station: Paducah, KY
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| access-date = June 4, 2021}}</ref>
|date=September 2013}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1830 = 105
| 1850 = 2428
| 1860 = 4590
| 1870 = 6866
| 1880 = 8036
| 1890 = 12797
| 1900 = 19446
| 1910 = 22760
| 1920 = 24735
| 1930 = 33541
| 1940 = 33765
| 1950 = 32828
| 1960 = 34479
| 1970 = 31627
| 1980 = 29315
| 1990 = 27256
| 2000 = 26307
| 2010 = 25024
| 2020 = 27137
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 27205
| estref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-21.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date= May 26, 2023}}</ref>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Paducah Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2158836&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-07|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|18,130
|66.81%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|5,968
|21.99%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|87
|0.32%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|273
|1.01%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|11
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,621
|5.97%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,047
|3.86%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 27,137 people, 11,330 households, and 5,561 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR8" /> of 2010, there were 25,024 people, 11,462 households, and 6,071 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,251.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 12,851 housing units at an average density of {{convert|642.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 70.99% [[White American|White]], 23.67% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.02% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islands American|Pacific Islander]], 1.07% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 3.01% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 2.68% of the population.

There were 11,462 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.0% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,220, and the median income for a family was $42,645. Males had a median income of $36,778 versus $27,597 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,430. About 18.1% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 26,307 people, 11,825 households, and 6,645 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,350.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 13,221 housing units at an average density of {{convert|678.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.78% White, 24.15% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 11,825 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,137, and the median income for a family was $34,092. Males had a median income of $32,783 versus $21,901 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,417. About 18.0% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.8% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:Paducah.jpg|thumb|Downtown Paducah]]
[[Dippin' Dots]], the [[Paducah & Louisville Railway]] and several barge companies have their headquarters in Paducah.<ref>"[http://www.dippindots.com/contact/ Dippin' Dots Contact Information]". [[Dippin' Dots]]. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.</ref>

The river continues to be a prominent source of industry for Paducah. Twenty-three barge companies have their operating or corporate headquarters in Paducah. In 2017, the city of Paducah opened a 340-foot transient boat dock that provides space for transient boaters to tie up for a few hours or several nights, increasing tourism in the city.  Amenities include fuel (diesel and marine grade gasoline), water, power pedestals, and a sewer pumpout station (seasonal for water and sewer amenities).

A federal [[National Weather Service]] Forecast Office is based in Paducah, providing weather information to western Kentucky, western Tennessee, southeastern [[Missouri]], southern [[Illinois]], and southwestern [[Indiana]].
[[File:Delta Queen Paducah.jpg|thumb|The Delta Queen in Paducah]]

===Top employers===
According to Paducah's ''2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,'' the top employers in the city were entities in healthcare and education services:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
| Bon Secours Mercy Health, Inc.
|1,445
|-
|2
| Baptist Healthcare Systems
|1,432
|-
|3
|Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.
|969
|-
|4
|Paducah Board of Education
|623
|-
|5
| Baptist Health Medical Group
|410
|-
|6
| City of Paducah
|339
|-
|7
| West Kentucky Community & Technical College
|376
|-
|8
|ViWinTech Window & Door
|370
|-
|9
| Lowes of Paducah #465
|329
|-
|10
|GMRI
|319
|}
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |url=https://citydocs.paducahky.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=354919&dbid=0&repo=City-of-Paducah |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=citydocs.paducahky.gov}}</ref>

Several employers in McCracken County call Paducah home, although their facilities are located outside the city limits. Paducah and McCracken County jointly operate Greater Paducah Economic Development ("GPED"). GPED lists<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Employers {{!}} Greater Paducah Economic Development |url=https://epaducah.com/business/top-employers/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=epaducah.com}}</ref> the top employers in McCracken County, several of which include employers within the City of Paducah limits, and is more reflective of the true top employer situation as perceived by citizens of Paducah, as: 
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!#
!Employer
!Product/service
|-
|1
|Baptist Health Paducah
|Healthcare
|-
|2
|Mercy Health-Lourdes
|Healthcare
|-
|3
|Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership
|Clean-up contractor-gaseous diffusion plant
|-
|4
|James Marine
|Inland marine/barge manufacturing
|-
|5
|McCracken County Public Schools
|K–12 education
|-
|6
|Marquette Transportation
|Marine transportation/HQ
|-
|7
|Walmart
|Retail
|-
|8
|Beltline Electric
|Electrical Contractor
|-
|9
|City of Paducah
|Government
|-
|10
|Computer Services, Inc.
|Bank Processing
|-
|11
|Credit Bureau Systems
|Credit reporting
|-
|12
|Independence Bank
|Banking
|-
|13
|Ingram Barge
|Inland marine
|-
|14
|Lowes
|Retail
|-
|15
|Lynx Services
|Call center
|-
|16
|Paducah Public Schools 
|K-12 education
|}

==Arts and culture==
=== Art ===
==== Murals ====
[[File:Paducah Flood Wall.jpg|thumb|Paducah Flood Wall]]
In 1996, the Paducah Wall to Wall [[mural]] program was begun by the [[Louisiana]] mural artist [[Robert Dafford]] and his team on the floodwall in downtown Paducah.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Paducah Wall to Wall-Paintings of Paducahs Past|page=[https://archive.org/details/paducahwalltowal0000unse/page/5 5]|publisher=Image Graphics Inc.|year=2008|isbn=978-0-9644699-9-0|url=https://archive.org/details/paducahwalltowal0000unse/page/5}}</ref> They have painted more than 50 murals addressing numerous subjects, including [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American history]],<ref name=SIXPANELS>{{Cite news|author=Molly Harper|title=Six panels to conclude 10-year painting project|date=January 22, 2005|work=The Paducah Sun}}</ref> industries such as river [[barge]]s<ref name=SIXPANELS/> and hospitals,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Wind unveils Western Baptist's floodwall mural half-hour early|author=Andrew Parker|work=The Paducah Sun|date=June 13, 2004}}</ref> local African-American heritage,<ref name=WALLTOWALL/> the historic [[Carnegie Library]] on Broadway Street,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Snow-covered library mural a warm memory for backers|author=Jimmy Nesbitt|date=October 31, 2004|work=The Paducah Sun}}</ref> [[Paddle steamer|steamboats]],<ref name=WALLTOWALL>{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutpaducah.com/articles/paducah-wall-wall.html|title=Paducah Wall to Wall-Paducah's History on Floodwall Murals|access-date =March 31, 2010}}</ref> and local labor unions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyafl-cio.org/WKYWorker10-2004.htm |title=The Western Kentucky Worker-Labor floodwall mural dedicated in ceremony |access-date=March 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202065042/http://wkyafl-cio.org/WKYWorker10-2004.htm |archive-date=December 2, 2010 }}</ref>

In May 2003, photographer Jim Roshan documented the painting of the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] mural during the [[America 24/7]] project. One of the images was used in the book ''Kentucky24/7'', published in 2004.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Kentucky 24/7|author1=[[Rick Smolan]]|author2=[[David Elliot Cohen]]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|date=September 27, 2004|page=71|isbn=0-7566-0057-X}}</ref>

By 2008 the mural project was completed and being maintained. Muralist [[Herb Roe]] returned to the city each year to repaint and refurbish the panels.<ref name=SMALLTOWN>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluefrogdesigns.com/clients/paducaharts/200910.html |title=Small Town's Story Transforms Drab Walls into Art |access-date=March 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708073608/http://www.bluefrogdesigns.com/clients/paducaharts/200910.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 }}</ref> Roe is the only muralist associated with the project to have worked on all of the panels.<ref name=KYLIVING>{{cite web|url=http://kentuckyliving.coop/article.asp?articleid=1560&issueid=261|title=Floodwall Murals Color Our Cities|author=Kathy Witt|work=Kentucky Living|access-date=March 24, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162118/http://kentuckyliving.coop/article.asp?articleid=1560&issueid=261|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> Roe added a new mural to the project in the summer of 2010. It shows the 100-year history of the local [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout]] troop, Troop 1.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Muralist to paint 100 years of Paducah Scouts|first=Shelley|last= Byrne|work=The Paducah Sun|date=July 3, 2010|url=http://www.paducahsun.com/local-news/todays-news/426134-muralist-to-paint-100-years-of-paducah-scouts}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Painting begins for mural honoring local boy scouts |first=Michael |last=Vick |date=July 12, 2010 |url=http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Painting-begins-for-mural-honoring-local-boy-scouts--98277999.html |access-date=October 8, 2010 |publisher=[[WPSD-TV]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718121903/http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Painting-begins-for-mural-honoring-local-boy-scouts--98277999.html |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref> Troop 1 is one of only a handful of troops who share their centennial with that of the national scouting organization itself. The dedication for the mural was held on National Scout Sunday, February 6, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://westkentuckystar.com/News/Local---Regional/McCracken-County/Troop-1-Celebrates-100-Years-Today|title=Troop 1 Celebrates 100 Years Today|access-date=February 6, 2011|publisher=West Kentucky Star}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2017, artist Char Downs debuted the newest addition to the Wall to Wall mural program: a series of murals of award-winning quilts on the floodwall facing Park Street. Downs invested nearly 500 hours recreating Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry's historic award-winning quilt Corona II: Solar Eclipse—the first quilt in the series—in her studio in Paducah's Lower Town Arts District.

The Paducah Art Alliance has a program of Artist in Residencies to bring respected artists in to the city. In 2018 British Artist [[Denimu|Ian Berry]] came and put on an exhibition to great acclaim. Ian is famed around the world with his art in denim, and fitted in with the textile art that Paducah is known for.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cityofpaducah.com/people/artists/ian-berry-textile-artist/|title=Ian Berry – Textile Artist – #PartakeInPaducah|date=April 17, 2018|work=Partake in Paducah|access-date=June 29, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paducahartsalliance.com/artist-in-residence/ian-berry/|title=AQS & PAA team up for creative collaboration with "Master of Denim" artist from United Kingdom {{!}} Paducah Arts Alliance|website=www.paducahartsalliance.com|language=en-US|access-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/04/18/artists-work-denim-stands-quilting-crowd/|title=Artist's work with denim stands out in quilting crowd|date=April 18, 2018|work=WPSD Local 6 – Your News, Weather, & Sports Authority|access-date=June 29, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/british-artist-found-his-best-fit-in-denim/article_d60dea11-ca6f-51fd-a12e-77e451a7fba1.html|title=British artist found his best fit in denim|last=Black|first=Laurel|work=The Paducah Sun|access-date=June 29, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==== Lower Town Artist Relocation Program ====
In August 2000, Paducah's Artist Relocation Program was started to offer incentives for artists to relocate to its historic downtown and Lower Town areas. The program has become a national model for using the arts for [[economic development]]. It has received the Governors Award in the Arts, the Distinguished Planning Award from the Kentucky Chapter of the [[American Planning Association]], the [[American Planning Association]]'s National Planning Award, and most recently, the Kentucky League of Cities' Enterprise Cities Award.

Lower Town, home of the Artist Relocation Program, is the oldest neighborhood in Paducah. As retail commerce moved toward the outskirts of the city, efforts were made to preserve the architectural character, and historic [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] structures were restored in the older parts of the city. The artists' housing program contributed to that effort and became a catalyst for revitalizing the downtown area. The Luther F. Carson Center for the Performing Arts was completed in downtown Paducah in 2004.<ref name="LFCC">{{Cite web|title = Luther F Carson Center for the Performing Arts {{!}} History|url = https://thecarsoncenter.org/history|website = thecarsoncenter.org|access-date = December 24, 2015}}</ref>

==== UNESCO Creative City ====
On November 21, 2013, Paducah was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ([[UNESCO]]) as a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.{{r|NPR 2022-04-29}} Arts and cultural initiatives have included the Lower Town Artist Relocation program, the National Quilt Museum, Paducah "Wall to Wall" floodwall murals, and the Paducah School of Art and Design.  Participation in the program has been criticized by local business owners and by Paducah's economic development council due to the financial cost to the city, and because the "UNESCO Creative Cities Network only benefits a small portion of Paducah's economy".<ref>{{cite news | last1 = Capps | first1 = Thomas | last2 = Spissinger | first2 = Mike | date = July 30, 2018 | title = Is UNESCO Membership Worth the Cost for Paducah? | url = https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/07/30/is-unesco-membership-worth-the-cost-for-paducah/ | work = WPSD Local 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1 = Capps | first1 = Thomas | last2 = Jones | first2 = Justin | date = August 1, 2018 | title = Paducah Business Owners, Leaders Weigh in on UNESCO | url = https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/08/01/paducah-business-owners-leaders-weigh-in-on-unesco/ | work = WPSD Local 6}}</ref>

=== Music ===
The Luther F. Carson Center for the Performing Arts was completed in downtown Paducah in 2004.{{r|LFCC}} From Crosby, Stills & Nash to Garrison Keillor, Shanghai Circus to STOMP, the Carson Center hosts touring Broadway productions, well-known entertainers, dramas, dance and popular faith-based and family series.

In September 2004, plans came together to highlight Paducah's [[Roots revival|musical roots]] through the redevelopment of the southern side of downtown. The centerpiece of the effort is the renovation of Maggie Steed's Hotel Metropolitan.[[Paducah, Kentucky#cite note-31|[28]]] Prominent African-American musicians such as [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Duke Ellington]], [[Cab Calloway]], [[Chick Webb]]'s orchestra, [[B.B. King]], [[Bobby "Blue" Bland]], [[Ike and Tina Turner]] and other [[R & B]] and [[blues]] legends have performed here as part of what has become known as the "[[Chitlin' Circuit]]". Supporters want to promote Paducah's role in the history of American music.

Paducah is the birthplace and residence of musicians in various genres. [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]] artists Ray Smith, whose recording of "Rockin' Little Angel" was a hit in 1960, and Stanley Walker, who played guitar for Ray Smith and others, grew up in Paducah. [[Terry Mike Jeffrey]], an Emmy-nominated songwriter, is a resident of Paducah. Nashville, Tennessee–based composer–violinist, [[Mark Evitts]], is also from Paducah. The most prominent mainstream artist is [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], the top-selling [[Contemporary Christian music|Christian]] artist of all time.

Paducah is one of only two cities named in the world-famous song "Hooray for Hollywood", which is used as the opening number for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards (the Oscars). The 1937 song, with music by [[Richard A. Whiting|Richard Whiting]] and lyrics by [[Johnny Mercer]], contains in the second verse: "Hooray for Hollywood! That phony, super Coney, Hollywood. They come from Chilicothes and Padukahs..."

Both cities were misspelled in the original published lyrics, though that may have been the fault of the publishers rather than Mercer. He was noted for his sophistication and the attention to detail he put into his lyrics. The correct spellings are "Chillicothe" and "Paducah".

==Sports==
Paducah was home to professional baseball's minor league Class D [[Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League]] (or KITTY League) Paducah Paddys (1903), Paducah Indians (1904–06, 1910, 1914, 1922–23, 1936–41), Paducah Polecats (1911), [[Paducah Chiefs]] (1912–13, 1951–55), and Paducah Redbirds (1935). The Chiefs competed in the [[Mississippi-Ohio Valley League]] from 1949 to 1950.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The Chiefs played in [[J. Polk Brooks Stadium]] from its opening in 1948 until the [[Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League|KITTY League]] folded after the 1955 season. Since then, the ballpark has served as the home venue for [[Paducah Tilghman High School]] and American Legion Post 31 baseball teams, as well as various special baseball games and tournaments. In recent years, Brooks Stadium hosted the [[Ohio Valley Conference]] baseball tournament (2001–2009) and the [[National Club Baseball Association]] World Series (2015 and 2016).<ref>[http://brooksstadium.com/ Brooks Stadium home page]</ref><ref>[http://ovcsports.com/documents/2016/12/13//baseball.pdf?id=6211 Ohio Valley Conference baseball record book]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.clubbaseball.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/NCBA-History-1.pdf |title=National Club Baseball Association World Series history |access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002643/http://www.clubbaseball.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/NCBA-History-1.pdf |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Brooks Stadium currently is the home field for the Paducah Chiefs of the Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League.<ref>[http://brooksstadium.com/schedule.htm Paducah Chiefs page on Brooks Stadium website]</ref>

In 1969, the [[Paducah Community College]] Indians won the [[NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|National Junior College men's basketball championship]].

The [[Paducah International Raceway]] is a 3/8-mile motorsport racetrack built in 1972.

==Government==
[[File:McCracken County Courthouse KY.JPG|thumb|McCracken County Courthouse]]
Paducah operates under a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of city government. The Paducah Board of Commissioners is made up of the mayor and four commissioners elected [[at-large]] by the citizens on a non-partisan basis. The mayor is elected for a four-year term and commissioners each for a two-year term. The mayor and council select and appoint a [[city manager]] to operate the city.

==Education==
[[Paducah Public Schools]] operates public schools serving most of the City of Paducah. Three K-5 elementary schools, Clark Elementary School, McNabb Elementary School and Morgan Elementary School, serve the city. All district residents are zoned to Paducah Middle School and [[Paducah Tilghman High School]].<ref>"[http://www.paducah.k12.ky.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=101 Our Schools] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721075742/http://www.paducah.k12.ky.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=101 |date=July 21, 2011 }}". [[Paducah Public Schools]]. Retrieved on October 17, 2010.</ref>

Parts of the city and surrounding county are instead served by the [[McCracken County Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.revenue.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/487689F6-F1E9-4A96-BEF9-C0065AE96899/0/McCracken_Paducah_Ind.jpg |title=Paducah Public Schools Boundaries |work=Kentucky Department of Revenue |year=1996 |access-date=May 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003050240/http://www.revenue.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/487689F6-F1E9-4A96-BEF9-C0065AE96899/0/McCracken_Paducah_Ind.jpg |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |url-status=dead  }} Compare with the current city limits of Paducah, available in [http://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/SPRS%20Maps/Paducah_city.pdf this PDF map] from the [[Kentucky Transportation Cabinet]].</ref> Concord Elementary School and Reidland Elementary/Intermediate serve students through the 5th grade; Lone Oak Elementary School and Hendron–Lone Oak Elementary School end at the third grade, with 4th and 5th grade students in those schools' attendance zones attending Lone Oak Intermediate School. Middle school students in those areas may be zoned into Heath, Lone Oak, or Reidland Middle School. The county district began operating a single, consolidated [[McCracken County High School]] on August 9, 2013. The Paducah city district did not participate in this consolidation and Paducah Tilghman High School remains separate.

Paducah is also home to two private school systems, [[St. Mary High School (Paducah, Kentucky)|St. Mary High School]] and Community Christian Academy.

===Higher education===
[[West Kentucky Community and Technical College]] (WKCTC) is a member of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and is a public, two-year, degree-granting institution serving the Western Region of Kentucky. There are approximately 6,200 students enrolled at the college.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu/about/college-at-a-glance/|title=College at a Glance {{!}} WKCTC|website=westkentucky.kctcs.edu|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> WKCTC was rated as one of the top 10 community colleges in the United States by the [[Aspen Institute]] for 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspeninstitute.org/news/press-release/valencia-college-wins-aspen-prize/|title=Florida's Valencia College Named Top US Community College|website=The Aspen Institute|language=en-US|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize-program/2017-aspen-prize-finalists-past-winners/|title=Past Winners and Finalists|website=The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program|language=en-US|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>

There is a Paducah campus of the [[University of Kentucky College of Engineering]] located on the WKCTC campus.

There is also a Paducah campus of [[Murray State University]], which offers approximately 20 bachelor's and master's degree programs. It has a {{convert|43000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} facility located on a {{convert|23|acre|ha|adj=on}} campus adjacent to WKCTC that was opened in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thenews.org/2014/01/17/paducah-regional-campus-opens-lets-first-students-through-doors/|title=Paducah regional campus opens, lets first students through doors|last1=Jeseo|first1=Jared|website=TheNews.org|language=en-US|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>

===Public library===
Paducah has a [[public library|lending library]], the McCracken County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111202017/https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/pages/librarydirectory.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 11, 2019 | title=Kentucky Public Library Directory | publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Media==
===Broadcast===
Paducah is one of three control cities of the Paducah-[[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Girardeau]]-[[Harrisburg, Illinois|Harrisburg]] [[media market]], and is served by all the major network affiliates in the market. Locally, television stations in Paducah include [[NBC]] affiliate [[WPSD-TV]], [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate [[WDKA]] (a sister station to Cape Girardeau-based [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[KBSI (TV)|KBSI]]), and [[Kentucky Educational Television]] satellite station [[WKPD]]. Paducah was also previously home to [[WQWQ-LD]], which served as the area's affiliate of [[The CW]]. That station now operates from Cape Girardeau as the market's [[Telemundo]] affiliate, but still nominally licensed in Paducah.

Six radio stations are located in Paducah; half of the stations are owned by [[Bristol Broadcasting Company]].

===Print===
The main print outlet is the regional daily newspaper ''[[The Paducah Sun]]'', owned by [[Paxton Media Group]], which owns WPSD. The weekly newspapers, the ''West Kentucky News'' and ''The Good Neighbor'', enjoy significant readership.

The bi-monthly magazine ''Paducah Life''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paducahlife.com/|title=Home – Paducah Life|work=paducahlife.com|access-date=December 24, 2015}}</ref> debuted in 1994 and continues publication today. The magazine features articles about life and residents in and around Paducah. ''Purchase Area Family Magazine'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purchasefamilymag.com/|title=Purchase Family Magazine|access-date=December 24, 2015}}</ref> a monthly publication distributed throughout Western Kentucky and Metropolis, Illinois, debuted in 2003. The magazine features a comprehensive calendar of events for the Purchase Area as well as unique articles about events, organizations and activities for families in the region.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
==== Port Authority ====
* The [[Paducah-McCracken County Riverport]] Authority was established in 1964 by the legislative bodies of the County of McCracken and the City of Paducah under an equal ownership agreement. The Riverport Authority is a quasi-government agency that provides essential maritime services for the rural regions of Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri, and Northwestern Tennessee.  The agency specializes in bulk, agricultural, general, and containerized cargoes, and operates [[Foreign-trade zones of the United States|Foreign Trade Zone]] No. 294.  It is the only [[United States Maritime Administration]] Marine Highway Designation on the [[Ohio River]] and the only Marine Highway port on the river that is designated for [[container on barge]] service.  The authority owns the largest flat-top crane in North America.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

====Air service====
[[File:Paducah Airport - NARA - 280811 - Restored.jpg|thumb|Paducah Airport, 1938]]
* [[File:Pictograms-nps-airport.svg|28px]] [[Barkley Regional Airport]] (PAH) serves the area offering regional jet service to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). CLT is ranked among the world's top 10 busiest airports, offering nonstop service to 178 destinations, including 36 international. Barkley Regional Airport is served by one airline, [[Contour Airlines]]. Barkley Regional Airport is concluding a multi-million dollar construction/relocation of its terminal.

====Transit====
The Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) provides fixed-route transit and paratransit service in and around the city.. Fixed-route services operate from Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 7 PM on four routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paducahtransit.com/bus-routes|title=Bus Routes|access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref>

====Roadways====
* [[File:I-24.svg|28px]] [[Interstate 24]] is a four-lane freeway that routes west to St. Louis and east to Nashville. The highway has a business loop that runs through downtown Paducah.
* [[File:I-69 (Future).svg|28px]] [[Interstate 69 in Kentucky|Interstate 69]] is planned to follow the route of the existing [[Purchase Parkway]] to the south and east of Paducah. When completed, it would connect north to Indianapolis and south to Memphis.
* [[File:US 60.svg|28px]] [[U.S. Route 60 in Kentucky|US 60]] is a major east–west highway that runs through the Paducah business district.
* [[File:US 45.svg|28px]] [[U.S. Route 45 in Kentucky|US 45]] enters the city from the north via the [[Irvin S. Cobb Bridge]] from Brookport, Illinois, and runs south down to Mayfield.
* [[File:US 62.svg|28px]] [[U.S. Route 62 in Kentucky|US 62]] connects to [[Cairo, Illinois]], to the west and [[Calvert City, Kentucky|Calvert City]] to the east.
* [[File:US 68.svg|28px]] [[U.S. Route 68|US 68]] connects the [[Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area]], [[Hopkinsville, Kentucky|Hopkinsville]] and [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]] to the east-southeast.

==Notable people <!--Please keep list alphabetized when editing-->==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)|Michael Adams]], Kentucky Secretary of State
* [[Charles "Speedy" Atkins]], an African-American pauper whose body was mummified and occasionally put on display at funeral home until finally being buried 66 years later in 1994
* [[Alben W. Barkley]], 35th Vice President of the United States (during the presidency of [[Harry Truman]])
* [[Isaac Wolfe Bernheim]], distiller and philanthropist, founder of I. W. Harper brand of bourbon whiskey and [[Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest]]
*[[Sara Bradley (chef)|Sara Bradley]], chef<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lunsford |first=Mackensy |date=5 April 2023 |title=English breakfast deviled eggs, more: 3 Easter brunch dishes from Top Chef Sara Bradley |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/dining/2023/04/05/english-breakfast-deviled-eggs-more-3-top-chef-easter-brunch-dishes/70079621007/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=[[The Tennessean]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Susan Bradley-Cox]], USA Triathlete, named USA Triathlon Grand Masters Athlete of the Year in 1997 and 1998 and was selected as Masters Triathlete of the Year by Triathlete magazine in 1997
* [[Fred Burch]], professional songwriter, [[PT-109 (song)|P.T. 109]], [[Tragedy (Thomas Wayne song)|Tragedy]], and many others
* [[William O. Burch]], a decorated naval aviator and triple Navy Cross recipient during who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.
* [[Julian Carroll]], former Governor of Kentucky, member of Kentucky House of Representatives and Kentucky Senate
* [[Sam Champion]], television weatherman and managing editor of [[The Weather Channel]]
* [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], Christian music singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist
* [[Joseph C. Clifton|Joseph "'Jumpin' Joe" Clifton]], Navy officer who served in [[World War II]] and rose to rank of Rear Admiral
* [[Irvin S. Cobb]], author, screenwriter and humorist, anti-Prohibition campaigner
* [[Russ Cochran]], professional golfer on [[Champions Tour]], previously on [[PGA Tour]] and [[Nationwide Tour]]
* [[Jan Crutchfield]], country music singer and songwriter. 
* [[Jerry Crutchfield]], country and pop music producer and songwriter
* [[Vic Dana]], Billboard Top 100 hit recording artist and professional dancer.  Popular hits include "Red Roses for a Blue Lady", "Little Altar Boy", "I Will", "More", "Shangri-La", "I Love You Drops", and "If I Never Knew Your Name".
* [[Pierre DuMaine]], Roman Catholic bishop
* [[Edwin E. Ellis]], U.S. Navy photographer who visually documented [[Antarctica]], inventor, businessman
* [[Mark Evitts]], composer, string-arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist
* [[May Mourning Farris McKinney]], President General of the [[United Daughters of the Confederacy]]
* [[Steve Finley]], former baseball player, two-time All-Star, World Series champion, and five-time [[Gold Glove Award]] winner 
* [[Josh Forrest]], former linebacker for the [[Los Angeles Rams]]
* [[Clarence Gaines|Clarence "Big House" Gaines]], Hall of Fame basketball coach, with a 47-year coaching career at [[Winston-Salem State University]] in [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]]
* [[J. D. Grey]], Southern Baptist clergyman influential in Southern Baptist Convention
* [[Robert H. Grubbs]], Nobel Laureate in Chemistry for work on the organic reaction [[Olefin Metathesis]]
* [[Eddie Haas]], Major League Baseball outfielder, coach, manager and scout
* [[Molly Harper]], author of multiple contemporary and paranormal romance novels, including the Nice Girls vampire series and the Southern Eclectic series
* [[Tim Jaeger]], artist
* [[Robert Karnes]], actor, starred in television series ''[[The Lawless Years]]''
* [[Callie Khouri]], screenwriter, producer and director, won an [[Academy Award]] for Best Screenplay for ''[[Thelma and Louise]]''
*[[Brent Leggs]], African American historical preservationist, founding director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (part of the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]])
* [[Kelley Lovelace]], country music songwriter known primarily for his work with country music artist [[Brad Paisley]]
* [[Fate Marable]], jazz pianist, bandleader, and player of a steam calliope
* [[Jeffrey L. McWaters]], CEO/founder of Amerigroup Corp., Virginia state senator
* [[Matty Matlock]], Dixieland clarinetist, saxophonist, and arranger, replaced [[Benny Goodman]] in the Ben Pollack band doing arrangements and performing on clarinet
* [[Kenny Perry]], golfer on PGA Tour and Champions Tour
* [[Ersa Poston]], civil service and employment opportunity reformer
* [[Boots Randolph]], saxophonist who was a major part of the "Nashville Sound" for most of his professional career, best known for his hit "Yakety Sax", which became [[Benny Hill]]'s signature tune
* [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Trevor "Ricochet" Mann]], professional wrestler in [[AEW]]
* [[Adelaide Day Rollston]], poet and author
* [[Gene Roof]], former Major League Baseball outfielder and coach
* [[Phil Roof]], former Major League Baseball catcher for [[Kansas City Royals|Kansas City]]/[[Oakland Athletics]] and [[Minnesota Twins]], bullpen coach for several MLB teams, and minor league team manager
* [[Phil Maton]], Major League Baseball pitcher for the [[New York Mets]], [[San Diego Padres]],  [[Tampa Bay Rays]], [[Houston Astros]], and [[Cleveland Guardians]]
* [[Jeri Ryan]], actress known for work on the television series ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' and ''[[Boston Public]]''; winner of 1989 [[Miss Illinois]] pageant
* [[John Scopes]], teacher accused for teaching the theory of evolution in the [[Scopes Trial]]
* [[Terry Shumpert]], Major League Baseball utility player for the Kansas City Royals
* [[Roy Skinner]], former [[Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball|Vanderbilt basketball]] coach<ref>Slotnick, Daniel E. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/sports/ncaabasketball/31skinner.html "Roy Skinner, Who Recruited First Black Basketball Player in SEC, Dies at 80"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 30, 2010. Accessed October 31, 2010.</ref>
* [[Ray Smith (rockabilly singer)|Ray Smith]], rockabilly musician<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rockabillyhall.com/SRAB.html#raysmith |title=Rockabilly Hall of Fame: Ray Smith |access-date=March 17, 2017 |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914102039/http://www.rockabillyhall.com/srab.html#raysmith |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Josh Stewart (baseball)|Josh Stewart]], Major League Baseball pitcher for [[Chicago White Sox]] and in Japan for the [[Orix Buffaloes]]
* [[Larry Stewart (singer)|Larry Stewart]], lead singer of country pop band [[Restless Heart]]
* [[Patsy Terrell]], former Kansas state representative
* [[Lloyd Tilghman]], Confederate general who commanded a brigade in the [[Vicksburg Campaign]] and was killed at the [[Battle of Champion Hill]]
* [[Emma Talley]], [[LPGA]] golfer, 2013 [[U.S. Women's Amateur]] champion, [[2015 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship]] champion
* [[Paul Twitchell]], founder of religious movement known as [[Eckankar]]
* [[Marcy Walker]] (also known as Marcy Smith), minister and former actress known for television appearances on daytime soap operas
* [[Robert McDaniel Webb]] (known as Danny), former MLB pitcher with the Chicago White Sox
* [[J.D. Wilkes]], visual artist, musician, author, and amateur filmmaker
* [[Rumer Willis]], actress and daughter of [[Bruce Willis]] and [[Demi Moore]], born in Paducah while her parents were visiting for filming of ''In Country''
* [[George Wilson (safety)|George Wilson]], former football safety for NFL's [[Tennessee Titans]]
{{col div end}}
<!--Please keep list alphabetized when editing-->

==See also==
{{Portal|Kentucky}}
* [[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]
* [[Paducah, Texas]]
* [[WIAR (Kentucky)]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|c=Category:Paducah, Kentucky|n=no|b=no|v=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|voy=Paducah|q=no|wikt=Paducah}}
*{{official website}}

{{Paducah, Kentucky|state=expanded}}
{{McCracken County, Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky}}
{{Kentucky county seats}}
{{KYLargestCities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Paducah, Kentucky| ]]
[[Category:Cities in McCracken County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:County seats in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Kentucky placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Kentucky populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Kentucky populated places on the Tennessee River]]
[[Category:Cities in Kentucky]]