Did You Know? Part of Kentucky’s Border Lies North of the Ohio River
HENDERSON, KENTUCKY – Most people crossing the Ohio River at Henderson assume they’re entering Indiana right after the bridge. But travelers are often surprised when it takes another mile before signs welcome them to the Hoosier State. That’s because a small strip of land north of the river still belongs to Kentucky — a border quirk that’s puzzled residents and sparked colorful history for more than a century.
A Border Shaped by the River’s Past
The unusual boundary dates back to 1792, when Kentucky became the 15th state. Lawmakers drew the state line at the low water mark on the north side of the Ohio River. At the time, Green River Island sat in the river near Henderson. But after an early 1800s earthquake altered the river’s flow, the northern channel dried up and filled with silt, attaching the island to Indiana’s shoreline.
The resulting tract, about four miles wide and one mile long, became known as “No Man’s Land.” Both Kentucky and Indiana sought tax rights over the property, even on something as minor as fishing licenses. The matter reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 1890, which ruled the land still belonged to Kentucky since the original 1792 boundary held precedent.
Gambling, Nightlife, and Wartime Crowds
In 1922, business leaders saw potential in the disputed land and built a racetrack. That facility, known today as Ellis Park, became a local institution.
By the 1930s and 1940s, the area turned into a hub of nightclubs and backroom gambling. Henderson drew thousands of soldiers from Camp Breckinridge during World War II, who came to dance, drink, and hear live music by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and other big bands.
Local law enforcement often looked the other way — Henderson County’s sheriff even had a stake in one of the clubs — while Evansville police lacked authority to intervene across state lines. The nightlife boom ended in the 1950s after mounting public pressure and an FBI raid that shut down illegal gambling dens.
Ellis Park and the Border Today
Today, Ellis Park remains the only surviving landmark of the old strip, and even it reflects the border’s strange legacy: the racetrack has a Kentucky mailing address but an Indiana area code.
Residents on both sides now view the area as a shared middle ground. “The Henderson people are great. The Evansville people are amazing. You know what, they all come together and I think both of them relish this place as something special,” said Baley Hare, the park’s racing secretary.
Kentucky has another odd border feature at its far western edge: the Kentucky Bend, a small parcel entirely cut off by the Mississippi River that can only be reached by driving through Tennessee.
This quirky stretch of land north of the Ohio River is more than just a cartographic anomaly — it’s a reminder of how history, geography, and human ambition shaped communities in unexpected ways. For more regional history and community stories, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.