About Bowling Green
Join the Hilltopper Family and make Bowling Green your home
A thriving university town with a progressive population helps drive Bowling Green’s appeal to future Hilltoppers for school and work. As the third largest city in Kentucky and the dining and shopping destination for a dozen surrounding counties, Bowling Green has a wide variety of local restaurants, small businesses, and unique entertainment. Bowling Green is located just 60 miles north of Nashville and 110 miles south of Louisville. At the same time, the getaways around us do not supersede the experience of living in Bowling Green and exploring all the city and county have to offer.
BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY
Bowling Green is bustling with a diverse economy and community, schools, versatile housing, and a low crime rate. First-class attractions that tell our stories, natural wonders that inspire exploration, and neighboring and historic communities that invite you in, are all right here.
Bowling Green features two public school systems, Bowling Green Independent School District and Warren County Public Schools. Private schools are also available. Western Kentucky University is known for its nationally ranked Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science for high school juniors and seniors. Plus, our Center for Gifted Studies offers countless opportunities for youth to learn through weekend and summer programming.
Our area is governed by the mayor and Bowling Green City Commission with county officials in the office of Warren County Judge-Executive. In addition, Bowling Green and WKU have police departments who actively engage in the community, WKU Police, Bowling Green Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
We are a university that embraces diversity in one of the most diverse communities in Kentucky. As home to a refugee resettlement center in Kentucky, individuals from at least six different regions of the world call Bowling Green home. Our community celebrates its rich African-American history with the African American Museum being part of WKU’s campus and maintaining awareness of local organizations in addition to the Black Faculty and Staff Association. Our Hispanic/Latinx faculty and staff also participate through a variety of activities and community groups. Learn more in our FAQs.
Visit Bowling Green
The Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has information on things to do, events, restaurants, and hotels.
GET CONNECTED WHEN YOU MOVE
EXPERIENCE LIFE IN BOWLING GREEN
What sets the South Central Kentucky region apart as a great place to live? It is our outstanding quality of life, cultural diversity, beautiful scenery, and low cost-of-living. Bowling Green, ranked by MONEY Magazine as The 2018 Best Place to Live in Kentucky, is located within a day’s travel of nearly 60% of the United States and offers amenities often found in larger cities.
Bowling Green provides countless resources for individuals and families who seek opportunities for recreation and developing a healthy lifestyle. WKU’s Campus Recreation and Wellness houses a 14,000 square foot fitness center with the Preston Health & Activities Center. The Center offers fitness classes, personal training, and indoor swimming. Intramural sports and other outdoor programs are offered. For those wanting health and wellness activities off-campus, several gyms operate Bowling Green in addition to the local greenways and parks that provide space for walking, running, soccer, basketball, and more.
Residents and local communities visit Bowling Green for its arts and entertainment. The SKyPAC is the largest performing arts program in the region. In addition, Bowling Green features The National Corvette Museum, Lost River Cave and Valley, Bowling Green Ballpark - Home of the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Beech Bend Amusement Park and Raceway, and Mammoth Cave National Park (nearby). Learn more about what Bowling Green has to offer at visitbgky.com.
Bowling Green is home to many world-renowned businesses and industries including the GM Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom World Headquarters, and Bowling Green Transit Park. The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce provides resources for businesses looking to start or move to Bowling Green. They also provide networking opportunities at events throughout the month. Western Kentucky University celebrates a long-standing partnership with the Bowling Green Chamber.
Family-Friendly Activites
Much of Bowling Green’s activities are family-friendly. From concerts in the park to sporting events and performing arts, entertainment venues and cultural events provide options for the entire family. During the summer, the community hosts countless camps and sports leagues for youth and adults. Take a tour on the Bowling Green Trolley Tours. Plus, the Warren County Public Library offers educational programs for the entire family. Additionally, the region is home to numerous museums, historic sites, natural wonders, art venues, and more that are educational for all ages.
On any given day in Bowling Green, families enjoy their neighborhood communities and faith-based communities as well. Worship centers across the area provide space for residents to practice Christianity, Muslim, Hinduism, and Buddism. Where worship centers are not available, communities of people still openly practice their faith together.
Enjoying Individual Activities
Individual activities in Bowling Green echo that shared in the family-friendly section. One of the benefits of our city size is the opportunities to connect with new people, join organizations, and/or enjoy some time designed just for you.
Those new to Bowling Green can join groups based on your interest through Bowling
Green Parks & Recreation. Individuals can learn new topics at Warren County Public
Library and Community Education. Additionally, civic groups provide opportunities
to stay engaged.
When relocating to Bowling Green for work or school, ask your WKU contacts for lists of organizations that you can join to meet and connect with new people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of public transportation do you have?
The Community Action of Southern Kentucky (CASOKY) provides public transportation through the GO BG Transit system. It provides routes to reach multiple destinations within the Bowling Green city limits. Learn More.
How do the school systems operate?
The Bowling Green Independent School District and Warren County Public School system generally implement an academic calendar for the months of August-May. BGISD schools serve K-5 grade in elementary, 6-8 for junior high school, and 9-12 grade for high school. WCPS serves K-6 for elementary, 7-8 for middle school, and 9-12 for high school.
What are some things to do in Bowling Green?
There are multiple ways to learn about events and activities taking place in Bowling Green. At Western Kentucky University, we maintain a WKU Events calendar that exists on our website and the iWKU app. There you will find student, departmental, and university events. We also share events on the @wkuevents Instagram. Off-campus, the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and SOKY Happenings provide a calendar and list of things to do throughout the year.
How can I get more involved with or learn more about the Black community, history, and culture in Bowling Green?
Prospective students can learn about the Black community at WKU by exploring the Diversity website and cultural programs hosted through the African American Studies Program and Intercultural Student Engagement Center. Black faculty and staff can join the Black Faculty and Staff Association. You can learn about African American history at the African American Museum - Bowling Green Area, an independent nonprofit located on WKU’s campus or visiting the George Washington Carver Center. A list of predominantly Black organizations, businesses, and activities can also be found through local organizations such as the BG/WC NAACP.
How can I get more involved with or learn more about the Hispanic/Latinx community, history, and culture in Bowling Green?
At WKU, students, faculty, and staff join together to coordinate activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage. Some of those events are provided on the Intercultural Student Engagement Center website. The student group HOLAS, which stands for Hilltopper Organization for Latin American Students also creates a space for students who identify as Hispanic/Latinx or would like like to get involved. Off-campus, community members stay connected through groups like the Amigos Resource Network.
Yes. There are multiple locations to purchase locally grown food. In addition to the grocery stores, the SOKY Marketplace and Community Farmer’s Market provide produce from local farmers. Local restaurants are known for serving locally grown and raised food.
There are also many farms, orchards, and gardens throughout the area that are open to visitors.
How can I get more involved with or learn more about the LGBTQA+ community and organization in Bowling Green?
Prospective students can learn more about the LGBTQA+ community at the WKU PRIDE Center located in the Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) and by exploring the WKU Diversity website and participating in campus events. THE PRIDE Center is a welcoming space for students and serves as a meeting place for the Queer Student Union. WKU also hosts an annual Lavender Graduation and a campus-community PRIDE festival every October. WKU employees can join Topper PRIDE and become involved in community activism through the BG Fairness Alliance.
What are some off-campus employment options for those in my household?
If you relocate to Bowling Green with an individual looking for work off-campus, you can utilize the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, Bowling Green Daily News, WBKO, and WNKY for job postings.
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