Tompkinsville is a rural city known for barbecue and marble champions
While everyday living in Tompkinsville is quiet and easygoing, this old-fashioned rural city is the heart of Monroe County's events and claims to fame — award-winning barbecue recipes and champion marble players. Tompkinsville is home to the Monroe County Marble Club Super Dome, where local amateur and world-class players gather for matches and tournaments. Main Street doubles as the main commercial corridor and an epicenter for community gatherings, from holiday celebrations to local traditions. Overall, the city offers its residents a laid-back place to settle down while preserving its locally loved eccentricities.
Country roads connect cottages, cabins and ranch-style homes
Residential areas line narrow two-way country roads. Lots are generally spacious, with sweeping grass lawns and breathing room between neighbors. A few streets have homes that are closer together, but mature shade trees help maintain some privacy. Ranch-style houses are the most common home design available, but the area also has bungalows, brick cottages and the odd log cabin. Prices typically range between $50,000 and $150,000 based on condition and size, but some properties with more bedrooms can sell in the $200,000s.
Barbecue and Dovie’s burgers are staples of the city’s dining
Barbecue joints like BBQ Barn are common, as Tompkinsville is known for its vinegar-based sauce recipes. "Our barbecues have been featured nationwide," says Lori Brown, a Monroe County native and the Heart of Tompkinsville Foundation's treasurer. The city is also home to Dovie's, an old-school burger diner that cooks its hand-patted patties right in front of customers. "They even have a special secret sauce that they make fresh every day," Brown says. Main Street is the city's central retail corridor. It has nationally recognized chains, like Walmart Supercenter and Dollar Tree, as well as many local restaurants. Shopping options include auto stores, thrift shops, outdoor supplies and supermarkets like Price Less IGA.
For decades, Tompkinsville was a dry city. A 2023 referendum made alcohol sales legal throughout the county, so the city now has two liquor stores.
Monroe on Main highlights seasonal holidays and community traditions
Tompkinsville is the epicenter for many county events. Most are Monroe on Main events, which "celebrate all things Monroe [County], from barbecue to marbles," Brown says. In May, the event is named Derby on Main, commemorating the Kentucky Derby races. June has Farming on Main, featuring a vintage car cruise-in, hay bale throwing contests and a pedal tractor pull. Light Up the Ville is the annual Fourth of July celebration, and the Monroe County Watermelon Festival runs every Labor Day weekend. Events continue through the fall, concluding with Christmas on Main. The festival features a big downtown parade, local vendor sales and gift giveaways.
City parks, historic sites and marble tournaments add local character
On the city's north side, the Monroe County Fairgrounds host the county fair annually. It is also home to the Monroe County Marble Club Super Dome, a weathered barn-style arena where locals have played marbles since 1988. Many world champion marble players started at the Super Dome by playing casual matches and entering tournaments. Other recreation options include Veteran's Ball Park, which offers one large baseball field for practices and games. Tompkinsville City Park has primitive camping sites, fishing areas and lots of tree cover. Nearby, Hidden Hills Country Club is open to the public for golf outings and scrambles. Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site has the oldest freestanding log church in Kentucky, as well as hiking trails, a large playground and picnic areas.
According to First Street, Tompkinville has a major wildfire risk over the next 30 years, as many farmlands and forests surround the city. The area's major risk from heat increases the likelihood of dry brush forming, and a moderate Wind Factor may exacerbate flames once formed.
Monroe County School District schools are inside the city
Students attend Tompkinsville Elementary School, which has an A rating from Niche. Cub Club, an after-school enrichment program, helps support elementary schoolers by offering homework help, academic computer time and exercise. Monroe County Middle and High schools have B-minus scores. All three schools are inside Tompkinsville, meaning some kids can walk or bike to class.
State routes connect to Glasgow and Nashville
Residents are car-dependent. State Routes 375 and 163 are the community's primary throughfares, although most people call them Main Street and the Tompkinsville Bypass. Since all of Tompkinsville's factories closed long ago, Brown says many people commute the 30 miles — or 30 minutes — to Glasgow for work. For travel, drivers head roughly 94 miles southwest to Nashville International Airport. The nearest hospital is Monroe County Medical Center inside the city.
