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Facts
Famous Natives
Flag
Gov
History
Land
Landforms
Lat/Long
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Time
Travel Info
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Description
The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home, 'Tis summer, the people are gay; the corn top's ripe and the meadow's in bloom, while the birds make music all the day. Lyrics and music from "My Old Kentucky Home," by Stephen Foster
The French first arrived here in the early 1700s, and like all visitors to follow, they found a fertile, fragrant land, of green hills, mountains, valleys, and mighty rivers.
In the late 1770s, settlers began to arrive for two main reasons: The Ohio River was an easy highway to navigate, but it was Daniel Boone's bravery and exploration of Kentucky, and his subsequent legend, that inspired many journeys, and brought settlers in great numbers.
Farmers were quick to benefit from the state's rich soil, and local tobacco, corn and wheat crops put it into economic overdrive.
Then came the Civil War, and boom turned to bust. After the war the Southern states couldn't afford its farm products, and the marketing of its coal and timber resources lagged across the north.
Eventually, the mining of vast coal deposits, oil and gas production, and natural tourism attributes, put Kentucky back on the economic map.This horse-breeding capital of the world, and site of the Kentucky Derby, is also famed for its Blue Grass, college basketball teams, and Kentucky Bourbon.
Learn more about Kentucky here!
Facts and Figures
Statehood June 1, 1792 (15th)
Capital Frankfort
Currency U.S. Dollar
(conversion rates) here
Kentucky Quarter (new) here
Language English (official)
Largest Cities (by population) Louisville, Lexington, Owensboro, Bowling Green (all cities here)
Lat/Long 38º 19' N, 84º 87' W
Origin of Name Named from the Iroquoian Indian word "Kan-tah-ten", which translates into Land of Tomorrow
Population 4,092,891
(26th)
Population Details (and more)
here
Statewide Business (facts & figures)
here
Flag and Symbols Bird Cardinal
Flag here
Flower Goldenrod
Fish Kentucky Spotted Bass
Gem Freshwater Pearl
Horse Thoroughbred
Mottos "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
Nickname "The Bluegrass State"
Song "My Old Kentucky Home"
State Seal here
Tree Tulip Poplar
Land Statistics Area 40,411 sq miles
(32nd)
(Land) 39,732 sq. miles (Water) 679 sq. miles. Bordering States (7) West Virginia,
Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
Number of Counties (120) map here Largest County (by population) Jefferson, 693,604
Highest Point Black Mtn., 4,145 ft.
Lowest Point Mississippi River, 257 ft.
Length/Width 380 miles/140 miles
Mean Elevation 750 ft.
Geographic Center in Marion
LANDFORMS
The Cumberland (or Appalachian) Plateau dominates the eastern third of Kentucky with assorted hills and mountains, and contains the highest point, Black Mt., at 4,145 ft.
The Bluegrass Region (north-central) is a series of rolling hills and meadows, and famed, of course, for its Blue Grass.
Fossil fuels (coal) are found in the hilly areas of the far-northwest, fronting the Ohio River.
The far western corner includes the swampy lowlands of the Mississippi River flood plain, and the lowest elevations in the state. This area, purchased from the Chickasaw Indians in 1818, is called the Jackson Purchase, and named for Andrew Jackson.
The Mammoth Cave area (central), is a 300-mile-long system of caverns, many yet unexplored.
The Land Between the Lakes recreational area, bordered by Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, is a hilly, forested area of some 170,000 acres.
The state is dominated by the Ohio River, forming its northern borders, and the Cumberland and Tennessee River systems, and their many spin-off lakes.
Other rivers of note include the Kentucky, Licking, and Mississippi, along it's western border with Missouri.
For a closer look at the topography of Kentucky, view this map
Kentucky State Parks here
Landforms of America here
Landforms of North America here
Rivers of North America here
Government Info U.S. President George W. Bush
Kentucky Government web site
Kentucky Legislature web site
Famous Natives People listed are almost always native to the state. We do, on occasion, include those that have lived within a state for most of their adult life. "A mostly random selection" John Adair political leader Muhammad Ali boxer Sherman Armstrong jockey, trainer Alben William Barkley former u.s. vice president Daniel Boone frontiersman, explorer James Bowie pioneer Louis D. Brandeis former u.s. supreme court justice Kit Carson army scout George Clooney actor Rosemary Clooney singer Billy Ray Cyrus singer, songwriter Jefferson Davis president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War Johnny Depp actor Crystal Gayle singer Elizabeth Hardwick author Ashley Judd actress Naomi & Wynona Judd singers Abraham Lincoln former u.s. president Loretta Lynn singer Carry A. Nation social reformer Patricia Neal actress George Reeves actor Diane Sawyer television journalist Phil Simms football player Adlai Stevenson former u.s. vice president Allen Tate poet Hunter Thompson author Frederick M. Vinson former u.s. chief justice Robert P. Warren author Is someone missing?
Submit your famous person here!
USA States
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Maps
Kentucky County Map
here
Kentucky Outline Map here
Kentucky Maps Univ. of Texas here
Kentucky Map Atlas here
Kentucky Highway Map here
Kentucky Historic Map here
Kentucky Precipitation Map here
Kentucky Satellite Map here
Kentucky Topographic Relief Map here
U.S. States & Capitol Cities (a test) here
U.S. MAPS (large selection) here
USA MAP Clip Art (FREE) here
CUSTOM USA MAPS created here
University of Kentucky Recommended Links Kentucky Ancestry/Genealogy web site
Kentucky Colleges & Universities here
Kentucky Civil War History web site
Kentucky Historical Society web site
NEWSPAPERS
Lexington Herald Leader web site
Louisville Courier Journal web site
State of Kentucky web site
U.S. National Park Service web site
Time, Weather and more Area Codes here
Time in Kentucky
here
Climate
The state has, for the most part, a mild climate throughout the year. Summers are very pleasant, but occasional hot and humid days are not uncommon. Winter snows are seldom much of a problem, as they melts quickly.
Summer highs statewide (in July) approach 80 degrees. January is the coldest month, with average highs near 36 degrees.
Statewide annual precipitation averages near 50 inches, with some higher amounts in the southern parts of the state.
For Kentucky precipitation levels, view this map
Current Weather Conditions in:
Timeline of History (1654) Colonel Abram Wood of Virginia arrives to survey the area (1720s) The French claimed almost all of the land, and established trading posts with the assistance of local American Indians (1750) Thomas Walker, a British representative, explores the area (1751) Christopher Gist explores the land fronting the Ohio River (1763) The French and Indian War ends, as the French were defeated by the British (1767) Frontiersman Daniel Boone, along with John Findley, travel into Kentucky across the Cumberland Gap (1774) The first permanent European settlement established at present-day Harrodsburg (1775) Daniel Boone and others build Fort Boonesborough in central Kentucky (1775-1802) The British (and local Indians) attacked local Kentucky settlements during, and after, the Revolutionary War (1792) Kentucky becomes the 15th U.S. State (1799) Mamouth Cave complex discovered (1811) A severe earthquake rattles far-western Kentucky (1811) The first steamboat to travel along the Ohio River arrives to great fanfare, and four years later, a steamboat journeys from New Orleans, Louisiana, all the way to Louisville, and the economic impact of that event changed the state's economy (1818) The western edges of the state are purchased from the Chicasaw Indians, and is referred to as the Jackson Purchase, in honor of Andrew Jackson (1833) Kentucky bans the importation of slaves into the state. It would later reverse itself, and slave traffic increased (1860) The state tried to be neutral during the Civil War, with Kentucky troops joining both the Union Army, and the Confederate gray. Sadly, both armies invaded the state, with costly results to local property, and significant loss of life on both sides of the battle (1875) Louisville is the site of the first Kentucky Derby (1900) Governor William Goebel assassinated by gunman (1905-09) Local farmers - during the Black Patch War - burn barns and fields belonging to big tobacco interests (1937) The U.S. Treasury opens their famous gold depository at Fort Knox. That same year, devastating floods damage Ohio River valleys (1959) Cumberland Gap National Park is dedicated (1969) The Tennessee Valley Authority builds its largest steam generating planet (ever) near Paradise, in Muhlenberg County (1977) A nightclub fire in Southgate kills 164 (1988) Kentucky establishes a statewide lottery (1998) University of Kentucky wins NCAA Basketball Championship, their 2nd national title in three years, and 7th overall Traveler Information Attractions (a few major) the Blue Grass region, Churchill Downs and Louisville, Cumberland Gap National Park, the Lands Between The Lake's National Recreational Area, Lincoln's birthplace near Hodgenville, Mammoth Cave, Shaker Village, and much more. Electricity 110/120V, 60Hz
Times to Travel With numerous statewide attractions, historic points-of-interest, and a gorgeous, stunning countryside in all directions, Kentucky offers a wonderful family vacation destination at anytime of the year.
Churchill Downs here
Cumberland Gap National Park here
Kentucky Tourism here
Kentucky Tourism 800.245.8747
Lexington Visitor Info here
Lincoln's Birthplace National Park here
Louisville Visitor Info here
Mammoth Cave National Park here
Roadside America An online guide to offbeat attractions, and more here
Shaker Village here
U.S. National Park Service web site
Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery web site
Visas United States entry requirements are
ted States entry requirements are the same in all states, with most foreign travelers requiring a visa.
ing a visa.
There are exceptions as Canadian citizens only need proof of that citizenship. Travelers coming to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less from qualified countries may be eligible to visit the U.S. without a visa.
Currently, 26 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei,
ei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Visitors entering on the Visa Waiver Pilot Program cannot work or study while in the U.S. and cannot stay longer than 90 days or change their status to another category.
For the latest information, including required documentation, any interested party should apply at the American Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence.
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