Latitude and Longitude:  37.77N and 87.11W. Owensboro is the 4th largest city in Kentucky with over 50,000 people and is located in Daviess County which is in the northwest part of the state.

Climate and Weather: Just like with all areas near or along the Ohio River in the state of Illinois, Indiana, or Kentucky, Owensboro has an Ohio River Valley version of a Humid Subtropical Climate. It features hot and humid summers similar to most of the Southeastern USA, but features variable winters that can sometimes become quite cold or are relatively mild depending on the year. Average snowfall is about 11 inches a year but that can vary from less than 1 inch of snow to over 30 inches snow depending on the winter. Severe weather including flooding and tornadoes can also occur. A EF-3 tornado occurred in January of 2000 that dealt over $65 million dollars of damage and caused several injuries as it moved through town. Another EF-3 tornado impacted the city in 2007. https://www.weather.gov/media/pah/Top10Events/2000/January3.pdf <– This is a link that shows what the tornado damage was like in Owensboro on that day. River flooding is also a concern with flooding along the Ohio River and backflooding along Panther Creek occurring when heavy rain has fallen in the Ohio River Valley region.

Geology:  Owensboro, contains river sediments from when the Ohio River and other smaller tributaries such as the Panther Creek flood. These sediments mostly include mud but can also include sand and other larger sized particles. Beneath these sediments are the Pennsylvanian aged rocks which consist of a mix of sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and coal for the most part. Therefore Daviess County is considered part of the Western Kentucky Coalfields region and is one of the two major coalfields that occur in the Bluegrass State.

History: Owensboro was founded by William Smeathers in 1797 in which he built a cabin on the south bank of the Ohio River. Due to currents of the Ohio River, the flatboats would drift to the location of present-day Owensboro which was named Yellow Banks originally due to the yellow coloring of the soil near the river bank. There was a decision to rename the area Owensboro and Daviess County both after war heroes that fought in the battle of Tippecanoe. Owensboro is also the birthplace of famous actor Johnny Depp.

Barbecue and Bourbon: Owensboro is associated with two things that Kentucky is known for and that is Barbecue and Bourbon. Owensboro and the surrounding area is a big agriculture area so as farmers were making a living with corn they realized that it can be used to form Bourbon. There were 18 distilleries in Daviess County in the 19th century making Bourbon. During the second week of May, Owensboro, hosts the International Barbecue Festival with local churches and organizations forming teams in order to compete for who has the best Barbecue. Each team has its own recipe and is judged. There are rewards for the best burgoo, mutton, and chicken. The catholic teams are known to host picnics during the summer and early fall to showcase their barbecue. Moonlite Bar B-Q in town has even made their local recipe for Presidents. https://visitowensboro.com/explore-owensboro/history/ <– This link was helpful for this section and the history section.

Bluegrass:  Nearby Rosine, Kentucky in Ohio County is considering to the founding town for Bluegrass music. Bluegrass Music was influenced by folk, string band, gospel, country, and black laborer music. Bill Monroe the founder of Bluegrass music used acoustic instruments and strong and distinctive vocal harmonies which became hallmarks for that style of music. The city of Owensboro showcases its history with Bluegrass music by hosting the ROMP festival which features Bluegrass, Americana, and Folk bands hosted at Yellow Creek Park. The city of Owensboro also houses the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum which showcases the musicians, instruments, and other historical facts about Bluegrass Music. http://bluegrassheritage.org/history-of-bluegrass-music/

Owensboro Today: Today, Owensboro is a good example of a large twin with a thriving riverfront, some interesting history, and enough amenities to keep the townsfolk occupied. If you are interested in Bluegrass Music, food, and festivals then Owensboro would be a good time to visit especially for their bluegrass and barbecue festivals. There are a few bridge crossings that allow for access to Indiana. Only 20 minutes away in Indiana is Holiday World a very highly rated theme and water park. US Highway 60 connects Owensboro to Paducah and Louisville and is a scenic highway. I hope you all enjoyed this highlighted community episode.