The courthouse in Madisonville was burned by Confederates led by Gen. Hylan B. Lyon on December 17, 1864, as they passed through western Kentucky.

Farming was the major occupation in Hopkins County for most of the 1800s, with tobacco the leading crop.

Madisonville was home to schools for African Americans including Atkinson Literary and Industrial College.

[10] By the early 1900s, Madisonville was a rail hub, coal mining center, and had a large tobacco market.

The home of Madisonville resident and former Boston Celtics star Frank Ramsey was destroyed in the storm.

Mayor Karen Cunningham ordered a curfew in parts of the city and declared a state of emergency.

The storm was responsible for widespread power outages and damage to homes as well as trees.

Many residents were without power for weeks, and tree limb clean-up took months to complete.

Interstate 69 (formerly the Pennyrile Parkway) passes through the eastern side of the city, with access from exits 111, 114, and 117.

U.S. Route 41 passes through the center of town as Main Street, running generally parallel to I-69.

[8] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

Because of its location near important roadways, Madisonville is a leading manufacturing hub for western Kentucky.

GE Aviation, Jennmar, International Automotive Components Group (IAC), Ahlstrom, Land O' Frost, Carhartt Cutting in Madisonville, Carhartt RCV Distribution in nearby Hanson, Kentucky and other corporations have operations in the area.

RMC, now owned by Baptist Healthcare System and operated as Baptist Health Madisonville is a 410-bed hospital that offers services typically found in larger cities (such as life flight, women's health centers, and a comprehensive cancer center).

In addition to trucking routes, CSX Transportation and Paducah & Louisville Railway run through Madisonville.