Owensboro is a home rule-class city in and the county seat ofDaviess County, Kentucky, United States. It is the 4th-largest city in the state by population. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about 107 miles (172 km) southwest of Louisville, and is the principal city of the Owensboro metropolitan area. The city's population was 57,265 at the 2010 census, with an estimated population of 58,374 in 2014. The metropolitan population was estimated at 116,506 that same year.
There is evidence of American Indian settlement in the area dating back 12,000 years. Following a series of failed uprisings with British support, however, the last Shawnee were forced to vacate the area before the end of the eighteenth century.
The first European descendant to settle in Owensboro was frontiersman William Smeathers or Smothers in 1797, for whom the riverfront park is named. The settlement was originally known as "Yellow Banks" from the color of the land beside the Ohio River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered at what is today's Owensboro prior to departing on their famous travels. In 1817, Yellow Banks was formally established under the name Owensborough, named after Col. Abraham Owen. In 1893, the spelling of the name was shortened to its current Owensboro.
Well, I lived in a town
Way down south
By the name of Owensboro
And I worked in a mill
With the rest of the "trash"
As we're often called
As you know
Well, we rise up early
In the morning
And we work all day real hard
To buy our little meat and bread
Buy sugar, tea, and lard
Well, our children
Grow up unlearned
With no time to go to school
Almost before they learn to walk
They learn to spin and spoon
Well, the folks in town
They dress so fine
And spend their money free
But they would hardly look
At a factory hand
Who dresses like you or me
Would you let them wear
Their watches fine
Let them wear their gems
And pearly strings
But when that day
Of judgement comes
They'll have to share