Bowling Green Kentucky

Bowling Green is located in Warren County on the edges of the Western Coal Fields and the Pennyroyal regions. The Topography is known as Karst, for the bedrock of limestone that forms caves and sinkholes when rainwater filters through the topsoil and picks ups carbon-dioxide which becomes carbonic acid. This acid erodes the limestone forming caves, and erodes the supporting bedrock away causing sink holes that appear in as little as a day. Originally named Bolin Green when founded in 1798. The name was altered when the Post Office was built 1n1802.

In November 1861Bowling Green was named the Capital of the Confederate State of Kentucky, even though Kentucky took a neutral stand in the war. The title was short lived as Bowling Green fell to Union troops in February of 1862. The Union used the site to enlist slaves into the Union Army.

The town enjoyed moderate growth through the mid 20th century. Bowling Green has seven historic area on the National Register of historic places. In 1925 the Louisville and Nashville Railroad built it’s most beautiful rail depot in Bowling Green. The Exterior built of Local Limestone still stands today, and hosts private tours and events and railroad history events.

Bowling Green today is comprised of about 50,000 residents. Bowling Green is governed by a City Manager system today, and run in a business like manor. The town even has a mission statement:
"The city of Bowling Green is committed to strengthening our vibrant community by focusing on Quality of Life, service delivery fiscal responsibility, public safety, neighborhood revitalization, visionary leadership, and economic development."

There are both natural and man made attractions to see in Bowling Green. Lost River Cave is a great example of the caves in the region, and is open walking and boating tours.

Man made attractions like Fountain Square, and the Corvette Museum are local tourist attractions The corvette museum broke ground on June 2nd, 1990 and opened in 1994 as a 68,000 square foot monument to the only car made exclusively in Bowling Green. The Chevrolet Corvette. It is located 1/4 mile from the Corvette Factory where the first car off the line on June 1, 1981 was a beige 1981 Corvette.

Bowling Green has about 2,500 hotel rooms, and plenty of good restaurants, and gets good drive up business by being the only major city between Louisville, and Nashville where you can legally purchase alcoholic beverages.

Author Ron Stemple
Copyright 2006, Ron Dowell