Kentucky
Kentucky (US: /kənˈtʌki/ ⓘ kən-TUK-ee, UK: /kɛn-/ ken-), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Kentucky borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, and Missouri to the west. Its northern border is defined by the Ohio River. Its capital is Frankfort and its largest city is Louisville. As of 2020, the population was approximately 4.5 million.
Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth of Kentucky | |
| Nickname: The Bluegrass State | |
| Motto(s): United we stand, divided we fall Deo gratiam habeamus (Let us be grateful to God) | |
| Anthem: My Old Kentucky Home | |
Map of the United States with Kentucky highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Part of Virginia (District of Kentucky) |
| Admitted to the Union | June 1, 1792 (15th) |
| Capital | Frankfort |
| Largest city | Louisville |
| Largest county or equivalent | Jefferson |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Louisville |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Andy Beshear (D) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Jacqueline Coleman (D) |
| Legislature | Kentucky General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Representatives |
| Judiciary | Kentucky Supreme Court |
| U.S. senators | Mitch McConnell (R) Rand Paul (R) |
| U.S. House delegation | 5 Republicans 1 Democrat (list) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40,408 sq mi (104,656 km2) |
| • Land | 39,486 sq mi (102,269 km2) |
| • Water | 921 sq mi (2,387 km2) 2.2% |
| • Rank | 37th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 397 mi (640 km) |
| • Width | 187 mi (302 km) |
| Elevation | 750 ft (230 m) |
| Highest elevation | 4,145 ft (1,265 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 250 ft (78 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 4,505,836 |
| • Rank | 26th |
| • Density | 114/sq mi (44/km2) |
| • Rank | 23rd |
| • Median household income | $52,295 |
| • Income rank | 44th |
| Demonym | Kentuckian |
| Language | |
| • Official language | English |
| Time zones | |
| eastern half | UTC−05:00 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| western half | UTC−06:00 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | KY |
| ISO 3166 code | US-KY |
| Traditional abbreviation | Ky |
| Latitude | 36° 30′ N to 39° 09′ N |
| Longitude | 81° 58′ W to 89° 34′ W |
| Website | kentucky |
| List of state symbols | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Kentucky Unbridled Spirit |
| Living insignia | |
| Bird | Cardinal |
| Butterfly | Viceroy butterfly |
| Fish | Kentucky spotted bass |
| Flower | Goldenrod |
| Horse breed | Thoroughbred |
| Insect | Western honeybee |
| Tree | Tulip poplar |
| Wildlife animal | Gray squirrel |
| Inanimate insignia | |
| Beverage | |
| Dance | Clogging |
| Food | Blackberry |
| Fossil | Brachiopod |
| Gemstone | Freshwater pearl |
| Mineral | Coal |
| Rock | Kentucky agate |
| Soil | Crider Soil Series |
| Other | Chevrolet Corvette (state sports car) |
| State route marker | |
| State quarter | |
Released in 2001 | |
| Lists of United States state symbols | |
Kentucky was admitted into the Union as the 15th state on June 1, 1792, splitting from Virginia in the process. It is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on Kentucky bluegrass, a species of green grass introduced by European settlers for the purpose of grazing in pastures, which has supported the thoroughbred horse industry in the center of the state.
Historically, Kentucky had excellent farming conditions, which led to the development of large tobacco plantations similar to those in Virginia and North Carolina in the central and western parts of the state that utilized enslaved labor during the Antebellum South and Civil War periods. Kentucky ranks fifth nationally in goat farming, eight in beef cattle production, and 14th in corn production. While Kentucky has been a long-standing major center for the tobacco industry, the state's economy has diversified in multiple non-agricultural sectors, including auto manufacturing, energy fuel production, and medical facilities. The state ranks 4th among US states in the number of automobiles and trucks assembled. Kentucky is one of several states considered a part of the Upland South.
The state is home to the world's longest cave system in Mammoth Cave National Park, the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States, and the two largest artificial lakes east of the Mississippi River. Cultural aspects of Kentucky include horse racing, bourbon, moonshine, coal, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, automobile manufacturing, tobacco, southern cuisine, barbecue, bluegrass music, college basketball, Louisville Slugger baseball bats, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the Kentucky Colonel.