Paducah in McCracken County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Strawberry Capital of the World

Paducah the Strawberry Capital Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

1. Paducah the Strawberry Capital Marker

Inscription. In the early 1940's, Paducah-McCracken County was known as the strawberry capital of the world. Schools excused students to pick berries. Entire families were involved in this agricultural event. Freight cars carried thousands of crates of berries were shipped from this region across the country. The climax of the season was the election of a Strawberry Queen and her royal court. They were featured in a grand parade on Broadway. Because of World War II, the final festival was celebrated in June 1941. (From 1939-1941 photographs)

Erected by Sponsored by: The Paducah Bank.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1941.

Location. 37° 5.344′ N, 88° 35.678′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. It is at the intersection of North Water Street and Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north on North Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Paducah KY 42001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Paducah 1937 Flood (here, next to this marker); Illinois Central 2613 (here, next to this marker); Broadway, Paducah's Main Street (a few steps from this marker); The Telephone System

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(a few steps from this marker); 1861 Paducah Chain (a few steps from this marker); Flanking the Statue of Chief Paduke (within shouting distance of this marker); Barkley/Cobb Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire Station #5 at 17th and Broadway (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Also see . . . The Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Mural Project. Renowned artist Robert Dafford and his team of muralists capture Paducah’s rich history in paintings on the city’s floodwall overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. (Submitted on November 16, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Strawberry Capital Marker & Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

2. Strawberry Capital Marker & Mural

The Strawberry Queen image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

3. The Strawberry Queen

The Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Mural Project image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

4. The Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Mural Project

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,055 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 14, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.