History

In 1780, the first white settlers came, via the Ohio River, to what is now Daviess County. Early settlers included Joseph Blackford and William Smeathers. Smeathers came in 1798 and built his cabin on a site near the river, which is now St. Elizabeth Street in Owensboro. From this dwelling constructed by Smeathers, the first settlement began. The city was originally called "Yellow Banks" in reference to the color of the soil along the banks of the Ohio River and was selected as the county seat when the county was formed in 1815.

Daviess County, the 58th county to be formed in Kentucky, was named in honor of Colonel Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, a distinguished lawyer and soldier. In 1817, the city's name was changed to Owensborough (later changed to Owensboro) in honor of Colonel Abraham Owen.