Henderson is a city located in Henderson County, along the Ohio River in Western Kentucky. It was called "Red Banks" by the native Americans who originally lived and hunted there because of the reddish clay soil on the banks of the river. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 27,373 and the metropolitan population was 342,815. It is part of the Evansville, Indiana metropolitan area.

The city has been called home by ornithologist, naturalist, and painter John James Audubon as well as blues legend W.C. Handy. For more than 100 years the city has been home to the Southern Cherokee Nation. As of the census of 2000, there were 27,373 people, 11,693 households, and 7,389 families residing in the city. The population density was 706.0/km² (1,829.0/mi²). There were 12,652 housing units at an average density of 326.3/km² (845.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.26% White, 10.53% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.