KENTUCKY
SYMBOLS
Commonwealth of
Kentucky
Kentucky is one of four states to call itself a
"commonwealth." In 1792 when Kentucky became the 15th state
- the first on the western frontier - both "commonwealth"
and "state" were used. Commonwealth, meaning government
based on the common consent of the people, dates to the time of Oliver
Cromwell's England in the mid-1600s. The other U.S. commonwealths,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were originally British
colonies. Kentucky, once part of Virginia, chose to remain a
commonwealth when it separated from Virginia.
Bluegrass
State
Bluegrass is not really blue - it's green - but in the
spring, bluegrass produces bluish-purple buds that, when seen in large
fields, give a rich blue cast to the grass. Early pioneers found
bluegrass growing on Kentucky's rich limestone soil and traders began
asking for the seed of the "blue grass from Kentucky."
The name stuck and today Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State.
State Seal
The official insignia was authorized in 1792, six months after
Kentucky became a state. The motto is believed to be from "The
Liberty Song," popular during the American Revolution, and a
favorite of Isaac Shelby, Kentucky's first governor.
Kentucky Flag
The state seal imprinted on a field of navy blue was approved by
the General Assembly in 1928. The original flag is displayed in
Frankfort at the Kentucky History Center.
State Flower -
Goldenrod
The golden plumes of this wildflower line Kentucky's roadsides in
the fall. Native to all of Kentucky, 30 of nearly 100 species of this
herb are found here.
State Bird -
Cardinal
The pleasant melodies of this red crested song bird are heard year
round in Kentucky. The male boasts a vivid red plumage; the female is
light brown with red highlights.
State Horse -
Thoroughbred
The first thoroughbred was brought to Lexington in 1779, and a
1789 census showed even more horses than people. Horses are a
multibillion dollar industry in Kentucky. Central Kentucky's bluegrass
region has the world's greatest concentration of thoroughbred breeding
farms. More registered thoroughbred foals are produced here than any
other state - more than 10,000 were foaled in 2000.
State Wild Animal
- Grey Squirrel
State Butterfly -
Viceroy Butterfly
State Fish -
Kentucky Bass
State Gemstone -
Fresh Water Pearl
State Fossil -
Brachiopod
State Song -
"My Old Kentucky Home" Stephen Collins Foster - 1853
State Bluegrass
Song - "Blue Moon of Kentucky" Bill Monroe - copyright 1947
State Tree -
Tulip Tree
Sometimes called the tulip poplar, it is not a poplar at all, but
a member of the magnolia family. It can grow up to 145 feet and live
for 200 years. It blossoms in May with yellow-green flowers resembling
tulips.
CAPITAL
Frankfort, on the Kentucky River in central Kentucky, is
known for one of the most beautiful capitol buildings in the country.
During the Civil War, Frankfort was the only Union capital occupied by
Confederate troops.
ECONOMY
Kentucky's largest industry groups, based on their contribution to
the total state gross product are: manufacturing; services;
government; insurance and real estate; retail trade; transportation
and public utilities; wholesale trade; construction; mining; farming;
and agricultural services, forestry, and fisheries. www.thinkkentucky.com/kyedc/pdfs/kyecotrd.pdf
AGRICULTURE
Kentucky's 91,000 farms average 164 acres. Kentucky ranks high
nationally in the production of numerous crops, including corn, hay,
tobacco, winter wheat and soybeans. Kentucky also ranks highly in
livestock production. Cash receipts from farm marketing in 1999 were
$3.46 billion; the principal contributors were horse and mule sales
(including stud fees), tobacco, cattle and calves, broilers, dairy
products and corn.
www.kyagr.com
MANUFACTURING
In 1999, Kentucky had more than 4,200 manufacturing firms, which
added more than $38 billion to the state's economy. Principal
manufacturing industries by employment figures are: transportation
equipment, industrial machinery, food and kindred products, electronic
equipment, and fabricated metal products.
www.edc.state.ky.us/edis
TOURISM &
TRAVEL
With six national areas, 49 state parks, and hundreds of
recreational, natural, historic, and cultural attractions, Kentucky
abounds in travel opportunities. Tourism and travel is Kentucky's
third largest revenue-producing industry, contributing $8.8 billion to
the state's economy in 2001. Tourism and travel is also the second
largest private employer, providing 168,500 jobs. www.kentuckytourism.com
GEOGRAPHY
Located in the south central United States along the west side of
the Appalachian Mountains, Kentucky ranks 37th in land size, with
39,732 square miles (102,907 square kilometers). The Commonwealth is
bordered by seven states: Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia,
Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois. The Ohio River flows 664 miles
(1,068 kilometers) along the northern and western borders of the
state. Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain in Harlan County,
4,145 feet (1,264 meters) above sea level; its lowest point, the
Mississippi River in Fulton County , 257 feet (78 meters) above sea
level.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Kentucky has more miles of running water than any other state
except Alaska. The numerous rivers and water impoundments provide
1,100 commercially navigable miles (1,770 kilometers). Kentucky has
12.7 million acres of commercial forest land - 50% of the state's land
area. The main species of trees are white oak, red oak, walnut, yellow
poplar, beech, sugar maple, white ash and hickory. Kentucky ranks
third among hardwood producing states. The total value of Kentucky's
mineral production in 1999 was $3.8 billion. Principal minerals and
by-products produced in order of value are coal, crushed stone,
natural gas and petroleum. Kentucky is the nation's third largest coal
producer - 152.4 million tons in 1996.
www.nr.state.ky.us
POPULATION
In 2000, Kentucky's population was 4,041,769. The largest cities
are:
Lexington-Fayette County 260,512;
Louisville (Jefferson County) 256,231 (693,604); Owensboro 54,067;
Bowling Green 49,296; Covington 43,370; Hopkinsville 30,089; Frankfort
27,741; Henderson 27,373; Richmond 27,152; Jeffersontown 26,633; and
Paducah 26,307.
http://cbpa.louisville.edu/ksdc
EDUCATION
Kentucky has 27 senior colleges and universities, 1 junior
college, 14 community colleges and 14 technical colleges, collectively
enrolling nearly 200,000 students. The largest public institutions of
higher learning are the University of Kentucky, the University of
Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky
University. Kentucky also offers higher education on the internet
through Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University.
www.kde.state.ky.us
STATE GOVERNMENT
Kentucky's constitution provides for three branches of state
government:
The Legislative, the Judicial and the Executive.
Legislative
Branch
Kentucky's General Assembly, or Legislature, has two chambers, the
Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate, with 38 members
elected to four-year terms, and the House, with 100 members elected to
two-year terms, meet annually in Frankfort. The session convenes on
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. In even-numbered
years, sessions may not last more than 60 legislative days, and cannot
extend beyond April 15. In odd-numbered years, sessions may not last
more than 30 legislative days, and cannot extend beyond March 30. The
Legislature has the power to enact all laws, subject to constitutional
limitations. Revenue-raising measures must originate in the House; all
other proposed laws may be introduced in either Chamber. The Governor
may call the Legislature into special session to consider specific
matters.
www.lrc.state.ky.us
Judicial Branch
Kentucky's judicial branch is comprised of four levels of courts.
At the county level, District Courts decide the majority of legal
matters in the state; Circuit Courts hear all civil cases involving
more than $4,000. At the state level, the Court of Appeals consider
the appeals from the Circuit Courts in both civil and criminal
matters. The Kentucky Supreme Court reviews all judgments of Circuit
Courts that impose sentences of death, imprisonment of 20 years or
more, and other appeals at its discretion. All judges in Kentucky
courts must be attorneys. District judges are elected to four-year
terms; all others, eight years.
www.kycourts.net
Executive Branch
The Governor is the chief executive of the state and is elected to
serve a four-year term. Other constitutional officers elected to
four-year terms include the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of
State and the Attorney General. All may seek re-election to a second
term. Executive policy is directed through 15 cabinets: Corrections,
Economic Development, Education & Humanities, Families &
Children, Finance & Administration, Health Services, Justice,
Labor, Natural Resources & Environmental Protection, Public
Protection & Regulation, Revenue, Transportation, Tourism
Development, and Workforce Development. The executive branch also
includes a number of independent agencies and regulatory commissions.
http://gov.state.ky.us
KENTUCKY
HISTORY
Modern archaeologists classify Kentucky's prehistoric past into six
cultures which spanned from 13,000 BC to 1,650 AD. These cultures were
the Paleo-Indian culture; the Archaic culture; the Woodland culture;
the Adena culture; the Mississippian culture and the Fort Ancient
culture.
From about 1650 until the arrival of the first white settlers, Shawnee
tribes from north of the Ohio River and the Cherokee and Chickasaw
tribes from south of the Cumberland River fought for control of the
"Great Meadow." During this time, no Indian nation held
possession of the land that would eventually become Kentucky.
Dr. Thomas Walker and Christopher Gist led the first surveying parties
into Kentucky in 1750 and 1751, respectively, but the outbreak of the
French and Indian War in 1754 delayed further exploration of the state
for over a decade.
Daniel Boone visited Kentucky in 1767, and in 1769, with a party of
hunters led by John Finley, he returned to Kentucky for a two-year
exploration of the region.
In 1774, James Harrod constructed the first permanent settlement in
Kentucky at Fort Harrod, the site of present-day Harrodsburg.
Boonesboro was established in 1775, and many other settlements were
created soon after.
The last major Indian raid in Kentucky occurred at the Battle of Blue
Licks in 1782, although small skirmishes and raids would continue
until 1813.
Kentucky was originally declared to be a part of Virginia and was made
a separate county of that state in 1776. Soon after the end of the
American Revolution, a separation movement began in Kentucky. In 1792,
after nine conventions to discuss the separation, Kentucky was made a
separate state and was admitted to the Union as the fifteenth state.
Isaac Shelby was chosen as the first governor. Kentucky's first
constitution was drafted in April and May of that year (the
constitution was rewritten in 1800, and again in 1850 and 1891), and
Frankfort was chosen to be the site of the state capital.
In 1818, the westernmost region of the state was annexed, following
its purchase from the Chicasaw Indians.
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Kentucky was torn apart by
conflicting loyalties. Officially a neutral state, brother often
fought against brother as Kentucky supplied approximately 100,000
troops to the North and 40,000 troops to the South.
Ironically, Kentucky was the birthplace of the Union president,
Abraham Lincoln, and the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis. The
two great men were born in log cabins within one year and 100 miles of
each other.
Kentucky's strategic potential was recognized by both sides in the
conflict, and several bloody engagements and many guerrilla raids
occurred throughout the state. The most violent battle took place near
Perryville in 1862, with a toll of 1,600 dead and 5,400 wounded.
After the Civil war, Kentucky's economy underwent dramatic changes. As
the hemp industry declined, the development of burley tobacco
contributed to a tremendous increase in tobacco production.
The U.S. Treasury Gold Vault was established at Fort Knox in 1936.
During World War II, Kentucky began to shift from an agricultural to
an industrial economy, but it was not until 1970 that the state had
more urban than rural dwellers. Tourism developed into a major
industry, aided by an impressive state park system and new highways
across the state.
KENTUCKY TRADITIONS
Horses
The world knows Kentucky for its bluegrass and horses. It was
because of the "blue grass," nurtured by deep springs and
rich limestone soil, that the first pioneers recognized the area's
horse breeding potential. Kentucky was well on its way to establishing
its reputation as a horse capital long before it became a state. The
first thoroughbred was brought to Lexington in 1779, and a 1789 census
showed even more horses than people.
Thoroughbred
Industry
Horses are a multi-billion dollar industry in Kentucky. Central
Kentucky's bluegrass region has the world's greatest concentration of
thoroughbred breeding farms. More registered thoroughbred foals are
produced here than any other state - more than 9,800 were foaled in
1999.
Bluegrass Music
Bluegrass music got its name and form in the 1940s from Kentuckian
Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. In traditional bluegrass, a banjo
is usually the lead instrument; there is no percussion or electric
amplification. The International Bluegrass Music Museum is located in
Owensboro and Bill Monroe's home can be toured in nearby Rosine.
www.ibma.org
Crafts
The quality of Kentucky handcrafts - traditional, contemporary and
folk art - is recognized around the world. More than 3,000 artisans
produce Kentucky crafts that can be found at craft co-ops and shops
throughout the state. One of the leading craft businesses is Churchill
Weavers located in the "Crafts Capital" of Berea.
www.kycraft.org
Food
Traditional Kentucky favorites are hickory-smoked barbecue,
country ham, beaten biscuits, and a rich, slow-cooked stew called
Burgoo. The Hot Brown was created in the 1920s at Louisville's Brown
Hotel. And Colonel Harland Sanders developed his secret recipe for
chicken in Corbin in 1932.
Fun Facts
-
"Happy Birthday
to You" was the creation of two Louisville sisters in 1893.
-
Christian County is
wet and Bourbon County is dry.
-
Cheeseburgers were
first served in 1934 at Kaelin's in Louisville.
-
The first town in
the U.S. to be named for our first president was Washington,
Kentucky in 1780.
-
The world's longest
cave, Mammoth Cave, was first promoted in 1816, making it the
second oldest tourist attraction in the U.S., preceded only by
Niagara Falls.
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