On warm Fourth of July evenings, fireworks ignite in the sky over Downtown Paducah, and its residents twirl sparklers along the waterfront and drop anchors from their boats into the Ohio River. With restaurants and buildings that have been around for well over 100 years, this is a place that remembers its roots. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, Downtown Paducah maintains the ambiance of a 19th-century trading port turned railroad community that is now one of Western Kentucky’s most cherished destinations for food and art.
Downtown Paducah is littered with sidewalks murals and artwork.
Downtown Paducah is a beautiful historic area.
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Condos on second stories
The neighborhood has few single-family homes, ranging from a 1950s brick ranch for $170,000 to an 1890 Queen Anne on the edge of the downtown for $180,000. For the most part, downtown residents live in condos and apartments on the upstairs levels of the neighborhood’s historic buildings, mostly built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Businesses often operate on the first level. “A lot of the businesses left the downtown when a mall was built in the 1980s. But now, people are buying and renovating those older buildings,” says Realtor Gerald Watkins, who sells property downtown with Purchase Realty Group. “They are turning the downstairs levels into antique stores, restaurants or what have you, and they are renovating the upstairs levels and turning them into condos.” One-bedroom condos are priced as low as $160,000, and there are several two and three-bedroom condos priced between $260,000 and $310,000. At the high end, a two-bedroom condo can be priced to $400,000.
Downtown Paducah is a melting pot of different home styles.
Ellis Apartments, in Downtown Paducah, is located on South 5th Street.
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Casual and fine dining options
“The downtown is thriving,” says Amina Watkins with the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Paducah has one of the most diverse downtown culinary scenes that I have seen in a small city.” Most dining options line Broadway Street and Kentucky Avenue. Kirchhoff’s is a bakery and deli founded by a Prussian immigrant couple in 1873. It started out serving riverboat travelers, and five generations later, the family continues to prepare artisan bread as well as sandwiches, soups and salads. In fact, private riverboat cruises still pull up at the waterfront and let their passengers off to enjoy dinner at downtown restaurants like Kirchhoff's. Two blocks away, Cynthia’s Ristorante serves California-style Italian cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Candles illuminate the exposed brick walls adorned with the pastoral works of local artists. For a post-meal cocktail, Barrel & Bond is based in an over 150-year-old building and offers more than 1,600 bourbons. Patrons sit back in plush leather-upholstered chairs and enjoy their drinks with charcuterie boards or heavier dishes like burgers and fries. The Downtown Paducah Farmers Market operates along the waterfront every Saturday from April through October, with live music and crafts activities every third Saturday. A Kroger is less than 3 miles west of the neighborhood.
Downtown Paducah is a historic and cultural area in Paducah.
Downtown Paducah can stop in to Cynthia’s Ristorante and ask for the latest bourbon tasting.
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The National Quilt Museum and Maiden Alley Cinema
There’s plenty of entertainment downtown, especially for history buffs. The National Quilt Museum tells Paducah’s textile history and exhibits the works of quiltmakers from across the globe. The Paducah Railroad Museum operates from a former freight house built in 1925. The museum chronicles Paducah’s railroad heritage, which started with its first rail line in 1855 and continues to this day with a transcontinental connection involving three major railroad systems. The downtown’s riverfront flood wall was built after a 1937 flood submerged most of the city. The wall is lined with a sequence of murals illustrating Paducah's history, stretching from its original inhabitants, the Chickasaw tribe, to its early foundations as a trade nexus along the river to its role as a battleground in the Civil War and up to the present day. Along the wall, a 1923 Mikado steam engine stands proudly for all visitors to appreciate. The riverfront hosts the annual BBQ on the River festival, which attracts up to 50,000 visitors yearly with live music and smoked meat. “If you like people, and you like good food, and you like good music, you’ll be right at home in the downtown,” Gerald Watkins says. Downtown is also home to the Carson Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts regular Broadway series as well as touring comedians and musicians in its 1,800-person theater. Cinephiles will swarm to the neon marquee of downtown’s Maiden Alley Cinema, which shows independent and classic films. The McCracken County Public Library is also located downtown and hosts board game nights, yoga classes, story times and book clubs.
Raymond C. Schultz Park and the Paducah Transient Boat Dock
Downtown Paducah overlooks the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers, and both are popular for fishing and watersports. Raymond C. Schultz Park is within walking distance for most residents and overlooks the Ohio River. The park is home to the 340-foot Paducah Transient Boat Dock, where folks can fuel up their boats or make reservations to leave them overnight. Bob Noble Park is about 3 miles from downtown. The 145-acre green space includes tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, as well as walking trails and picnic shelters.
McNabb Elementary, Paducah Middle and Paducah Tilghman High
About 2 miles west of downtown, McNabb Elementary has a C-plus Niche rating. Paducah Middle School is about 3 miles southwest of the neighborhood and has a B-minus Niche rating. Paducah Tilghman High School has a B-plus Niche rating and is less than a mile south of the downtown. The high school offers classes to help students prepare for job fields like health science, automotive engineering, welding, e-commerce and interior design.
Getting around Paducah
“The walkability and accessibility of everything is a big appeal,” Amina Watkins says. All the streets are lined with sidewalks. People can catch the bus on Jefferson Street. Baptist Health Urgent Care is less than 2 miles southwest of the neighborhood. The hospital is home to the Carson-Myre Heart Center, an award-winning cardiac clinic. Interstate 24 takes travelers about 140 miles southeast to Nashville International Airport.
Downtown Paducah is home to the Paducah Railroad Museum and steeped in it's history.
Downtown Paducah is located in Paducah, Kentucky.
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Crime
Downtown Paducah has a 6 out of 10 CAP Index crime score, compared to the national average of 4.
GreatSchools:
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Beautiful & Historic Fourplex Apartment For Sale in Downtown Paducah! Located on the corner of 7th and Kentucky Ave, the Old Courthouse Station features two units with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and two units with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. Each unit is very spacious with approx. 1,000 sq ft living area and each having it's own balcony or covered porch area. Two units are leased at $1,000/month each and two
Condo with elevator & 1 off street parking space located in the Over/Under building. Be a few steps away from amazing food, 2 new spas, fantastic entertainment, the riverfront, festivals & many other amenities! Unit has brand new common area entry off of the elevator. On the interior, there is new wall, trim and door paint by Hernandez! There is also a newer HVAC! Condo Unit 302 faces the
Discover the potential of Units 200 & 300 at Shamrock Flats - a prime package deal in one of downtown’s most iconic historic buildings. Framed out and ready for your vision, these two units come with the condo regime already established and plumbing and electric run to the boundary, making them ideal candidates for stylish downtown condos. Selling together, these units must be finished in tandem
Alexis MarrsKeller Williams Experience Realty Paducah Branch
All apartments are fully furnished and include utilities. Located in the heart of downtown Paducah close to the river, the shops and restaurants of the city. The apartments are a renovation of an 1880s building with modern furnishings and top of the line furnishings and applicances. The building includes elavator access and secured, gated parking. Recognized as the best apartments in Paducah
Vacant lot in Downtown Paducah across from the Columbia Theatre! For sale or Lease @ $1,000/month. Owner states lot is zoned for food trucks. Owner will also work with you regarding running electricity or building on this site. Frontage on Broadway. Plus 10 ft easement to North 6th St. A rare find!
Beautiful apartment in the heart of historic downtown Paducah KY on Market House Square. Over 1800 square ft 2nd story apartment with two off street dedicated parking spots. Front and rear entrances. High ceilings, brick walls, hardwood floors, skylight in kitchen, abundant storage, and lots of character in the details. 2 bedrooms and 1 large bath. Please provide phone number if interested in
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jan Matthews,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
316
Median Age
47
Population under 18
7.9%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$11,363
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$24,000
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78.1%
College Graduates
9.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.4%
% Population in Labor Force
26.1%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
50''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
90°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
52/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
71/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
