Evansville Municipal Airport (Evansville Regional Airport) was originated and financed by a $190,000 Evansville city bond issued in 1928. The bond provided for the purchase of 260 acres of land along U.S. Highway 41 and funded the airport's initial development. Airport construction between the years 1928-1929 included: a small terminal, weather bureau, hangar, transformer building with a light beacon, two 100 foot x 1,200 foot asphalt runways, boundary lights, grading, and drainage work. On October 19,1928, Interstate Airlines established Evansville as a stop for their Chicago-Atlanta and St. Louis-Louisville routes. Capital Air Corporation also initiated daily passenger service at Evansville Municipal Airport in 1928.

Evansville Mayor Herbert Males appointed the first Board of Aviation Commissioners on September 6, 1929. At this time there were thirty aircraft based at the airport. Only fifteen of these aircraft were able to be stored inside of the hangar. The two 100 foot x 1,200 foot runways which were four inches thick cost $30,000 to complete. The official dedication of the Evansville Municipal Airport and it's runways took place on June 16,1930. In October over 25,000 Tri-State residents attended an air show that celebrated the opening of the new Evansville Municipal Airport terminal. Werner J. Genot was named the first Evansville Airport Manager on December 16, 1930.

Century Airlines established passenger service at the Evansville Municipal Airport in 1931.