Bethel College (Kentucky)

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Bethel College is a defunct college in Kentucky affiliated with the Baptist Church founded in 1854 and closed in 1964. It was a women's college throughout most of its history, though it became co-educational for its final years.

The institution opened as Bethel Female High School with two campuses: one in Russellville and another in Hopkinsville. The Russelville campus changed its name to Bethel Female College four years later in 1858, taking in students continuing with the program. The college changed its name again in 1917; the Russelville campus became Bethel Women's College, and the Hopkinsville campus Bethel Women's Jr. College. In 1951, the college became co-educational and changed its name to simply Bethel College. It closed in 1964, with the Hopkinsville campus razed in 1966.

A number of historical events have interacted with the college. During the Civil War, the Russellville Convention, a meeting to set up a Confederate government of Kentucky in 1861, met at Bethel Female College on its third day. The Hopkinsville campus was used as a hospital during a Black Measles epidemic from 1861-1862. Later, during World War II, the Hopkinsville campus would be closed from 1942-1945 and the rooms rented to Camp Campbell army officers.