History :

McCracken County was originally part of Hickman County, but as population growth occurred, the territory was divided into Hickman, Graves, Calloway, and McCracken Counties. McCracken County was formed on January 15, 1825 and was named after Captain Virgil McCracken, who was killed at the Battle of the River Raisin during the War of 1812. In 1832, Paducah became the county seat of McCracken County.

Paducah, originally known as Pekin, was settled around 1815. Settlers were attracted to the community due to its location at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. The community was inhabited by a mix of Native Americans and Europeans who lived harmoniously, trading goods and services.

In 1827, William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Mississippi-Missouri River region, arrived in Pekin with a title deed to the land, which was issued by the United States Suprem