Kentucky

Kentucky (US), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It 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 capital is Frankfort, and its largest city is Louisville.

Kentucky became a state on June 1, 1792, as the fifteenth state to join the United States. It is called the "Bluegrass State" because of the Kentucky bluegrass that grows there. This grass is important for raising thoroughbred horses.

The state has rich soil, especially in central and western areas. This helped grow large farms, including ones that grew tobacco. Kentucky is also known for its caves, including the world's longest known cave system in Mammoth Cave National Park. The state is famous for its culture, including horse racing, bourbon, bluegrass music, and Southern cuisine.

Etymology

Before 1769, areas in what was then Virginia were called "Kentucky (or Kentucke) country". The name comes from the Kentucky River, which flows into the Ohio River.

We are not sure why it is called Kentucky. Some believe the name comes from an Iroquoian word meaning "meadow" or "prairie". Others think it may have come from a Shawnee phrase meaning "Land of Our Fathers". Many similar languages use a word for "land" in this name.

History

Main article: History of Kentucky

Native American settlement

People have lived in Kentucky for about 9,500 years. Early groups hunted and gathered food using stone tools. Over time, they began to farm, growing corn, beans, and squash. By around 900 CE, two main cultures lived there: the Mississippian culture in the west and central areas, and the Fort Ancient culture in the east. The Mississippian people built large earthwork mounds for ceremonies, while the Fort Ancient people did not. Both groups farmed and took care of their land.

By the 1600s, many tribes lived in Kentucky, but after conflicts known as the Beaver Wars, most left the area. Some tribes, like the Kispoko, merged with others such as the Shawnee.

Early explorations: the discovery of Kentucky

Europeans may have first seen Kentucky as early as 1671, but no one is certain when they first walked there. French explorers traveled through the area, but detailed records are scarce. Notable early explorers included Batts and Fallam in 1671 and Needham and Arthur in 1673. Later, Thomas Walker and Christopher Gist surveyed the land in 1750 and 1751.

European settlement: The Treaty of Fort Stanwix 1768

As more settlers arrived, conflicts arose with Native Americans over land. In 1774, James Harrod founded Harrod’s Town, now Harrodsburg, which became Kentucky’s first permanent European settlement. It was later followed by other settlements like Boone’s Station and Lexington. Daniel Boone was famous for his expeditions through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky.

Kentucky County and the Cherokee-American wars

In 1776, Kentucky became its own county under Virginia. Over time, it grew.

Statehood

Kentucky was divided into new counties over the years. Residents wanted to become a state, and after Virginia agreed, Congress approved Kentucky’s statehood on February 4, 1791. Kentucky officially joined the United States as the fifteenth state on June 1, 1792, with Isaac Shelby as its first governor.

Post-colonial plantation economy

In the Bluegrass region and western Kentucky, many families grew tobacco and hemp on large farms. They used enslaved people to work on these farms.

The Civil War

Kentucky was a divided state during the Civil War. Although it officially stayed neutral, some areas supported the Confederacy. However, this government only controlled small parts of the state and was mostly driven out by Union forces. Many people in Kentucky had family members on both sides of the war.

Reconstruction and the New South

In 1900, Governor William Goebel was injured by an attacker while walking to the State Capitol. He died from his injuries and became the only governor of a U.S. state to be killed while in office.

In the early 1900s, tobacco farmers in western Kentucky faced unfair prices from big tobacco companies. Some farmers formed a group called the Night Riders, who took action against those who sold tobacco at low prices. The governor called in the Kentucky National Guard to restore peace.

Geography

See also: Coal mining in Kentucky

Kentucky is in the Upland South. Much of eastern Kentucky is part of Appalachia.

Kentucky touches seven states. West Virginia is to the northeast, Virginia is to the east, Tennessee is to the south, Missouri is to the west, Illinois is to the northwest, and Indiana and Ohio are to the north. Only Missouri and Tennessee touch more states.

Kentucky’s northern border is the Ohio River, and its western border is the Mississippi River. The official border is based on where the rivers were in 1792 when Kentucky became a state. For example, travelers on U.S. 41 from Henderson will enter Kentucky for about two miles after crossing the Ohio River. Ellis Park, a famous racetrack, is in this small part of Kentucky. There is also a small, separate part of Kentucky called Kentucky Bend, surrounded by Missouri and Tennessee. It has only 18 people and can only be reached by traveling through Tennessee.

The area near Kentucky Bend was the center of the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes. However, Kentucky Bend exists because of a mapping mistake.

Regions

Kentucky has five main regions. The Cumberland Plateau in the east is rich in coal. The north-central Bluegrass region holds the major cities and the capital. The south-central and western Pennyroyal Plateau is divided into three parts. The Western Coal Field and the far-western Jackson Purchase are also regions.

The Bluegrass region is split into the Inner Bluegrass around Lexington and the Outer Bluegrass to the north. The Outer Bluegrass includes the Eden Shale Hills with steep, narrow hills. The flat land along the Ohio River and the area south and east of Pine Mountain are also special regions.

Climate

Most of Kentucky has a humid subtropical climate, but the southeast has an oceanic climate. Summer temperatures usually reach about 87 °F, while winter lows can drop to 23 °F. The average rainfall is 46 inches a year, and Kentucky has four distinct seasons. The highest temperature ever recorded was 114 °F in Greensburg in 1930, and the lowest was −37 °F in Shelbyville in 1994. Kentucky rarely gets as cold as far northern states or as hot as the Deep South.

The climate changes across the state. Northern areas are cooler, and Somerset gets more rain than Covington. Winter days below freezing range from about sixty in the southwest to over a hundred in the far north and east.

Lakes and rivers

See also: List of lakes in Kentucky, List of rivers of Kentucky, and List of dams and reservoirs in Kentucky

Kentucky has lots of water, with the second-most navigable miles in the U.S. after Alaska. The state is bordered by the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and the Big Sandy River and Tug Fork to the east. Important inner rivers include the Kentucky River, Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Green River, and Licking River.

Kentucky has few natural lakes but many artificial lakes. It has the largest artificial lakes east of the Mississippi in both water volume (Lake Cumberland) and surface area (Kentucky Lake). Kentucky Lake has 2,064 miles of shoreline and is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority system.

Kentucky’s 90,000 miles of streams make it one of the most complex stream systems in the country.

Natural environment and conservation

Kentucky has many different habitats and species found only there. The Bluegrass region once had open woodlands with thickets of river cane, a type of bamboo. Human activities have changed Kentucky’s natural environment.

Kentucky has many parks and forests, including one national park, two National Recreation Areas, two National Historic Parks, two national forests, two National Wildlife Refuges, 45 state parks, state forest land, and wildlife management areas.

Kentucky has helped bring back animals that had disappeared. In 1997, elk were brought back to eastern Kentucky after being gone for over 150 years. Wild turkeys were also brought back in the 1950s after nearly disappearing.

Natural attractions

• Cumberland Gap, an important mountain pass in early American history.
• Cumberland Falls, where a “moonbow” can sometimes be seen.
• Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest known cave system.
• Red River Gorge Geological Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
• Land Between the Lakes, a National Recreation Area.
• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Whitley City.
• Black Mountain, Kentucky’s highest point.
• Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve, with rare plants and a 60-foot waterfall.
• Jefferson Memorial Forest near Louisville, the largest city-run forest in the U.S.
• Lake Cumberland, with 1,255 miles of shoreline.
• Natural Bridge in Slade, Kentucky.
• Breaks Interstate Park in Pike County, Kentucky, known as the “Grand Canyon of the South.”
• Blanton Forest in Harlan County, the state’s largest old-growth forest.

Administrative divisions

Counties

See also: List of counties in Kentucky and Fiscal Court

Kentucky is split into 120 counties. The biggest county is Pike County, and the most crowded is Jefferson County, where Louisville is located.

Each county has its own leaders, including a County Judge/Executive and a Fiscal Court that helps make rules.

Consolidated city-county governments

Kentucky’s two biggest counties, Jefferson and Fayette, share leaders with their main cities. This means Louisville-Jefferson County and Lexington-Fayette work together under one leader.

Major cities

See also: List of cities in Kentucky

Metro Louisville is the biggest city, with about 1.3 million people. Lexington is the second biggest, with around 324,000 people. Other important cities are Bowling Green, Ashland, Somerset, London, and Corbin.

The areas around Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky hold most of the state’s people. These places are called the Golden Triangle because they form a triangle and help the state grow.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Kentucky

The United States Census Bureau said Kentucky had 4,505,836 people in 2020. This was more than in the 2010 United States census.

In 2016, Kentucky had about 4,436,974 people. This was a bit more than the year before and more than in 2010. People moved into the state from other places and more babies were born than people who died. Immigration added 40,051 people from other countries. By 2015, about 149,016 people in Kentucky were born in other countries. Mexico, India, Cuba, China, and Guatemala were the most common countries.

Kentucky’s population has grown every ten years since records began. For much of the 1900s, many people left the state, but cities grew a little.

Kentucky’s center of population is in Washington County, near Willisburg.

In 2021, the average life expectancy in Kentucky was 72.5 years.

Race and ancestry

Kentucky’s largest ancestry group in 2013 was American. Before 1980, the largest groups were English, Irish, and German. In cities like Jefferson, Oldham, Fayette, Boone, Kenton, and Campbell, German ancestry is most common. Many people also have Scotch-Irish or English heritage.

In the 2000 census, about 20,000 people said they were Native American. Kentucky has no federally recognized tribes or state-recognized tribes.

African Americans were 25% of Kentucky’s population before the Civil War, but now they are about 8%. Most live in cities like Jefferson County and Louisville.

Hispanic and Asian populations have grown. Most Hispanic people are of Mexican ancestry. Asian people are mainly of Chinese and Indian heritage. There are also Vietnamese people in Lexington and Louisville.

Language

In 2000, 96% of Kentuckians aged five and older spoke only English at home. In the mountains, people speak with a South Midland accent, while most areas have a Southern accent. Some words are different: earthworms are called redworms, green beans are snap beans, and a young man might carry his girlfriend to a party.

Spanish is the second-most spoken language in Kentucky.

Religion

Kentucky, in the Bible Belt, is mainly Christian. Surveys in 2010 showed:

• 48% had no religious affiliation
• 42% were Protestant Christian
• 8.3% were Catholic
• 0.74% were Latter-day Saints
• 0.60% followed other religions

The state has important religious schools, like the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore. Louisville has the Cathedral of the Assumption, an old Catholic cathedral. The city has Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu communities.

Kentucky started the Festival of Faiths in 1996, the first annual interfaith celebration in the United States. The Answers in Genesis group, known for its Creation Museum, is based in Petersburg, Kentucky.

Economy

See also: Economy of Louisville, Kentucky; Economy of Lexington, Kentucky; and Kentucky locations by per capita income

In 2025, Kentucky’s value of goods and services was $306.8 billion. The average income for each person was $60,673. Small businesses were most of the state’s businesses and employed many workers. As of May 2025, the unemployment rate was 5%.

Kentucky has a long history of farming. It was home to the first commercial winery in the United States, started in Jessamine County in 1799. The soil in the Bluegrass region is great for growing grass that horses love, so it is a top area for raising horses.

Kentucky is also known for farming tobacco, goats, and beef cattle. The state’s economy includes making cars, producing energy, and medical services.

Kentucky is very good at making cars and trucks.

Kentucky used to produce a lot of coal, but less now since the 1980s.

As of 2010, much of the electricity in the U.S. came from coal mined in Kentucky and uranium processed at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. In August 2025, General Matter signed a lease to update the plant for new nuclear energy technology. In January 2026, General Matter got a big contract to make American uranium for nuclear power.

Kentucky makes most of the world’s bourbon whiskey. The state has many bourbon factories. In 2019, Kentucky had more than fifty places where bourbon is made.

Kentucky sold a lot of goods and services to many countries in 2012.

Fort Knox, home to a big store of United States gold, is located between Louisville and Elizabethtown. In May 2010, a large office for managing Army personnel opened at Fort Knox. It brings together offices from Virginia, Indiana and Missouri.

Construction is underway for a new medical center for veterans in Louisville, set to open in late 2026. This will serve many veterans from Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Since 2020, many big companies have announced plans to grow in Kentucky.

Taxation

Tax is collected by the Kentucky Department of Revenue. Kentucky has a flat 4% individual income tax rate. The sales tax rate in Kentucky is 6%.

Kentucky has a system of property tax. All property is taxed, but at different rates. Property taxes used to be the main source of revenue, but now they are a smaller part of the state’s yearly income.

In 2023, Kentucky began allowing sports betting, both in person and online. The state taxes sports betting at different rates for in-person and online bets. In the first two months, the state collected millions in taxes from sports betting.

Tourism

See also: Kentucky Bourbon Trail and List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area

Tourism is growing in Kentucky. In 2019, it added a lot to the state’s economy. Popular attractions include horse racing, especially the Kentucky Derby, tours of bourbon factories along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Louisville Urban Bourbon Trail, and natural wonders like Mammoth Cave National Park, Lake Cumberland, and Red River Gorge. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is a big draw for car fans. The Waterfront Botanical Gardens near Downtown Louisville is a beautiful urban garden. The Big Four Bridge over the Ohio River is visited by many people each year.

Kentucky also has places of interest for history and faith, like the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.

In 2002, the governor introduced a slogan to highlight southern hospitality. In 2004, a new campaign was launched.

Horse industry

See also: Horse racing in the United States

Kentucky is famous for horse racing. Churchill Downs in Louisville, home of the Derby, can hold many people. It hosts many events each year. Keeneland Race Course in Lexington holds big racing events and has a large auction where people buy young horses. The Kentucky Horse Park in Georgetown holds many events, including international horse competitions, and offers rides from April to October.

Education

Main articles: Education in Kentucky and History of education in Kentucky

See also: List of colleges and universities in Kentucky, List of high schools in Kentucky, and List of school districts in Kentucky

Kentucky has eight public universities where students can study for four years. Two of these are major research schools: the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The other six universities focus on special areas, like forestry or caves, but offer many of the same courses.

The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville have the highest standards for entering students. Other schools also have special programs that are well known, such as Western Kentucky University's journalism program or Morehead State University offering one of the few space science degrees. The University of Kentucky also provides agriculture services in every county.

Kentucky also has sixteen public colleges where students can complete two years of study. These are managed by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Transylvania University, located in Lexington, was founded in 1780 and is the oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains.

There are many public schools in Kentucky, with 173 school districts and over 1,200 schools serving around 650,000 students. In the past, Kentucky made changes to improve its schools after a court decision. More changes are still needed today.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Kentucky

Kentucky has many ways to travel, including roads, railways, airports, and water routes.

Roads and bridges

Kentucky has six major Interstate highways (I-24, I-64, I-65, I-69, I-71, and I-75). Some roads used to charge a fee, called a toll, but that stopped in 2006. In 2007, the speed limit on some roads was raised to 70 miles per hour.

A big project is building a new bridge over the Ohio River. This will help cars going between Cincinnati and Covington travel faster. Work is expected to start in 2026. Another bridge project connects Evansville, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky, with construction starting in 2027.

Rails

See also: List of Kentucky railroads

Amtrak trains stop in several Kentucky towns, including Ashland, South Portsmouth, Maysville, and Fulton. There are also many railways used for moving goods, especially coal.

Bardstown has a fun train ride where passengers enjoy a meal while traveling on an old railway. Kentucky also has long paths for people to walk or bike where old railways used to be.

Air

See also: List of airports in Kentucky

Kentucky's biggest airports are Louisville International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and Blue Grass Airport in Lexington. These airports help connect Kentucky to many places around the world.

Water

Kentucky is next to two big rivers, the Ohio and the Mississippi, which have always been important for moving goods. Today, many boats carry coal and other items along these rivers. Louisville was an important place for steamships a long time ago.

Law and government

Further information: Government of Kentucky

Kentucky is one of four U.S. states called a commonwealth. This name shows that the state cares for all its people. Kentucky was first called the "State of Kentucky" when it joined the United States.

Kentucky is special because it holds elections for state jobs in years that are not even numbers. These elections happen every four years, before Presidential elections. For example, Kentucky had gubernatorial elections in 2015, 2019, and 2023.

Executive branch

The governor leads the executive branch and is both head of state and head of government. The lieutenant governor helps the governor and takes over if the governor cannot serve. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together for four years. The current governor is Andy Beshear, and the lieutenant governor is Jacqueline Coleman. They are both from the Democratic Party.

The executive branch has many departments, each led by a secretary. These departments include General Government, Transportation, Economic Development, Finance and Administration, Tourism, Arts, and Heritage, Education and Workforce Development, Health and Family Services, Justice and Public Safety, Personnel, Labor, Energy and Environment, and Public Protection.

Legislative branch

Kentucky's legislative branch is called the Kentucky General Assembly and has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 38 members and is led by the president of the Senate. The House of Representatives has 100 members and is led by the speaker of the House. In 2016, the Republican Party won control of the House for the first time since 1922 and now has majorities in both parts of the legislature.

Judicial branch

The judicial branch is called the Kentucky Court of Justice. It includes District Courts, Circuit Courts, specialty courts, the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and the Kentucky Supreme Court. The chief justice of the Supreme Court leads this branch. Justices on Kentucky's state courts are chosen by the people in elections, unlike federal judges who are usually appointed.

Federal representation

Kentucky has two U.S. senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, both Republicans. The state has six congressional districts, represented by a mix of Republican and Democratic members. Kentucky has two United States district courts: the Eastern District, with its main court in Lexington, and the Western District, with its main court in Louisville. Appeals from these courts are heard by the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Law

Kentucky's laws are found in the Kentucky Revised Statutes, created in 1942. These laws are enforced by local police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers. Some officers must complete special training in Richmond, Kentucky.

Politics

Since the late 1990s, Kentucky has mostly supported Republican candidates for federal offices and, more recently, for state offices as well. Historically, Kentucky supported the Democratic Party from 1860 through the 1990s and was considered a swing state for presidential elections for much of the 20th century.

In recent years, Kentucky has become a strong Republican state in presidential elections, supporting Republican candidates by large margins since 2000. However, voters in many areas still elect Democratic candidates for state and local offices.

Kentucky has some of the strictest rules for voters in the United States.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Kentucky

See also: Theater in Kentucky; Performing arts in Louisville, Kentucky; and List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area

Kentucky has a rich culture that is part of the Southern tradition, with influences from Appalachia. The state is famous for making bourbon and whiskey, growing tobacco, and hosting horse racing and college basketball.

During the 1800s, many people from Germany moved to Kentucky. Today, Kentucky also has strong ties to people from Scotland, England, and Ireland.

Kentucky has changed over time to treat everyone more fairly. Today, Kentucky celebrates many holidays, including a special day for horses called the Kentucky Derby, which has fun events before the big race.

Louisville hosts many cultural events, such as the Kentucky State Fair and the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. Bowling Green is home to the National Corvette Museum, and Owensboro is known for its International Bar-B-Q Festival.

Old Louisville, a historic area with beautiful old houses, holds the St. James Court Art Show, one of the largest outdoor art shows in the country. Other towns celebrate their unique traditions.

Music

Main article: Music of Kentucky

See also: Category:Musicians from Kentucky

Renfro Valley, Kentucky is known as “Kentucky’s Country Music Capital.” It is home to the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center. The Renfro Valley Barn Dance started in 1939 and has featured many famous country musicians.

Kentucky has produced many well-known musicians in many genres. The state is especially famous for Bluegrass music, with legends like Bill Monroe born there.

The state also has strong ties to jazz, blues, and rock and roll. Famous musicians from Kentucky include Steven Curtis Chapman, the Everly Brothers, Merle Travis, Loretta Lynn, and many others.

Literature

Kentucky has a rich literary history. The state has produced many famous writers and books.

Famous authors from Kentucky include Thomas Merton, and Hunter S. Thompson. More recent writers include Wendell Berry, Silas House, and Barbara Kingsolver.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Kentucky

Kentucky’s food is part of traditional Southern cooking. One famous dish is the Hot Brown.

Western Kentucky is known for its barbecue, and Central Kentucky is famous for Beer Cheese. Harland Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Kentucky

Kentucky is home to several sports teams, including minor league baseball teams like the Louisville Bats and Bowling Green Hot Rods. College sports are very popular, especially basketball. The Kentucky Wildcats, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, and Louisville Cardinals are known for their strong basketball programs.

The Kentucky Derby is a famous horse race held every year in Louisville.

Kentucky colonel

Being named a Kentucky colonel is a special honor given by the state of Kentucky. The Governor awards this title to people who have done great work for their community or the state. Kentucky colonels serve as goodwill ambassadors for Kentucky.