TOWN TRIVIA

Whitesville was founded in the 1840s and named for Dr. William White, who opened a store and practiced medicine in the community.

Originally known as “Cross Roads,” Whitesville grew rapidly in the 1850s, with several businesses relocating from the village of Boston, along with the post office.  

In 1867, Whitesville was incorporated with a population of 320.  The community had a dry-goods store, a drug store, two saddling shops, two blacksmiths, and two churches – Baptist and Christian.  

Jesse Haynes opened a flour mill, which was later purchased by G.W. Mullen and expanded.  The mill could grind 150 bushels of wheat or corn in ten hours, and it accommodated farmers from both Daviess and Ohio counties.  

Whitesville became an important stop on the Owensboro, Falls of the Rough, and Green River Railroad when it was completed in 1889.  

A disastrous fire broke out on May 8, 1911.  The flames spread throughout the downtown business district, destroying an entire block on Main Street, including the A.P. Brooks store.  

The oil “boom” began in 1925 and lasted about ten years, one of Whitesville’s best economic periods. 

Whitesville lost its passenger train service in 1941, but by that time, Highway 54 was paved and the automobile had become the main means of local travel.  

Whitesville celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 5, 1967.  At that time, the town had a bank, volunteer fire department, public water system, 221 homes, one police officer, four churches, four grocery stores, two restaurants, a hardware store, and a furniture store.  

Today, Whitesville remains a vibrant community, located 15 miles southeast of Owensboro along Highway 54.  It is the second largest town in Daviess County, Kentucky.