Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 30,089 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Christian County. Hopkinsville was settled in 1796 by Bartholomew and Martha Ann Wood, a couple from Jonesborough, Tennessee. The Wood family established a permanent settlement in the vicinity of present-day West Seventh and Bethel Streets, near what would become known as the Old Rock Spring. Wood staked a claim, based on his service in the Revolutionary War, on 1,200 acres (5 km²) of land. He built a second cabin on what is now the northeast corner of Ninth and Virginia streets and a few years later built a home southeast of Fourteenth and Campbell streets, where he died in 1827. Wood's settlement soon attracted other settlers, and a pioneer village emerged.

Hopkinsville is located in Christian County at 36°51′17″N, 87°29′20″W (36.854712, -87.488872). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 62.3 km² (24.0 mi²). 62.2 km² (24.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.04% is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 30,089 people, 12,174 households, and 8,120 families residing in the city of Hopkinsville. The population density was 483.5/km² (1,252.4/mi²). There were 13,260 housing units at an average density of 213.1/km² (551.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.05% White, 30.91% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.