Dawson Springs, Kentucky | |
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City | |
Railroad Avenue downtown
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Motto: "A Very Special Place" | |
Location of Dawson Springs, Kentucky |
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Coordinates: 37°10′18″N 87°41′21″W / 37.17167°N 87.68917°WCoordinates: 37°10′18″N 87°41′21″W / 37.17167°N 87.68917°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
Counties | Caldwell, Hopkins |
Area | |
• Total | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) |
• Land | 3.7 sq mi (9.5 km2) |
• Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
Elevation | 420 ft (128 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 2,764 |
• Density | 750/sq mi (289.5/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP code | 42408 |
Area code(s) | 270 & 364 |
FIPS code | 21-20224 |
GNIS feature ID | 0490696 |
Website | dawsonspringsky |
Dawson Springs is a home rule-class city in Hopkins and Caldwell counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 2,764 at the 2010 census. It is the birthplace of former governor Steve L. Beshear.
Originally known as Tradewater Bend, the city was incorporated in 1832 under the name Dawson City by two Menser brothers.
From the late 1800s to the 1930s, Dawson Springs was well known as a spa and resort town. It is still popular as a tourist destination because of the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park and nearby lakes and hiking .
Dawson Springs is located in southwestern Hopkins County at 37°10′18″N 87°41′21″W / 37.17167°N 87.68917°W (37.171799, -87.689190). Its southern and western border is the Tradewater River, which is also the Hopkins/Caldwell County line. A small portion of Dawson Springs extends across the river into Caldwell County.
U.S. Route 62 passes through the center of the city, leading east 14 miles (23 km) to Nortonville and west 12 miles (19 km) to Princeton. Interstate 69, the Western Kentucky Parkway, runs generally parallel to US 62 and touches the northern end of Dawson Springs' city limits, with access from exit 92 (Kentucky Route 109).