The State of Kentucky - An Introduction to the Bluegrass State from NETSTATE.COM Thoroughbreds grazing on Kentucky bluegrass The Bluegrass State This common nickname for the Kentucky is given because of the vast expanses of Bluegrass across parts of the Commonwealth. Bluegrass is not really blue. It's green. In the spring, however, when seen from a distance, the blue-purple buds of Bluegrass lend a bluish tint to the landscape. The Hemp State Hemp was one of the two most notable crops of Kentucky. This nickname originated based on the importance of this crop to the Commonwealth. The Tobacco State Tobacco, the other notable Kentucky crop is the source of this nickname. At one time, about 2/3 of the national Tobacco crop was produced in Kentucky. The Corn-cracker State This nickname may have originated as a reference to the poorer people living in the mountainous regions of the Commonwealth. Another theory has it that this nickname is derived from a crane that was common in Kentucky. This crane was said to make a "craking" sound and was called a Corn-crake.

Some have proposed that "Corn-cracker" is a corruption of "Corn-crake." The Dark and Bloody Ground State his nickname refers to the Indian battles, between Creek, Shawnee, Chickasaw, Cherokee and other tribes, that took place along the Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee. Some have said that the land was described in this way to Daniel Boone by an Indian Chief. According to The Kentucky Blue Book , "Dragging Canoe, a young Cherokee chief opposed to selling ancestral hunting grounds, warned the whites that they were purchasing a "dark and bloody ground." State Nicknames Hawaii - Maryland Hawaii became officially known as the Aloha State by a 1959 legislative act. Haw. Rev. Stat. 5-7 source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer Idaho In 1863, Congress designated the Idaho Territory with the erroneous understanding that Idaho was a Shoshone word meaning Gem of the Mountains. In spite of the misunderstanding concerning the origin of the name the state continues to be known as the Gem State and the Gem of the Mountains.

source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer Known unofficially as the Prairie State, a fitting nickname for a state that sets aside the third full week in September each year as Illinois Prairie Week to demonstrate the value of preserving and reestablishing native Illinois prairies. source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer Indiana Hoosier State came into general usage in the 1830s. John Finley of Richmond wrote a poem, "The Hoosier's Nest," which was used as the "Carrier's Address" of the Indianapolis Journal, Jan. 1, 1833. It was widely copied throughout the country and even abroad. A few days later, on January 8, 1833, at the Jackson Day dinner at Indianapolis, John W. Davis offered "The Hoosier State of Indiana" as a toast. And in August, former Indiana governor James B. Ray announced that he intended to publish a newspaper, The Hoosier, at Greencastle, Indiana.

The Hawkeye State was first suggested by James G. Edwars as a tribute to indian leader Chief Black Hawk. source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer The nickname Sunflower State calls to mind the wild flowers of the plains of Kansas and the officially recognized state flower. source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer Kentucky 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. 1000+ images about KENTUCKY "The Blue Grass State" on Pinterest | James drury, Tom cruise and Red river gorge Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas KENTUCKY "The Blue Grass State" Kentucky is a state located in the east south central region of the United States.

It is known as the "Bluegrass State" based on the bluegrass found in many of its pastures. It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources, including the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park.It has the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi. It's also home to Kentucky Fried Chicken. The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort and the largest city is Louisville. 66 Pins674 Followers Kentucky: Map, History, Population, Facts, Capitol, Flag, Tree, Geography, Symbols 10 largest cities (2014): Lexington-Fayette , 305,489; Fayette, 286,518 Louisville , 262,764; Bowling Green , 60,600; Owensboro , 58,083; Covington , 40,713; Hopkinsville , 32,966; Richmond , 32,112; Florence, 31,088; Georgetown, 30,271; Elizabethtown , 29,335 Land area: 39,728 sq mi.

(102,896 sq km) Geographic center: In Marion Co., 3 mi. NNW of Lebanon Number of counties: 120 Largest county by population and area: Jefferson, 750,810 (2012); Pike, 787 sq mi. State forests: 5 (35,809 ac.) State parks: 52 2015 resident population: 4,425,092 2010 resident census population (rank): 4,339,367 (26). Male: 2,134,952 (49.2%); Female: 2,204,415 (50.8%).

White: 3,809,537 (87.8%); Black: 337,520 (7.8%); American Indian: 10,120 (0.2%); Asian: 48,930 (1.1%); Other race: 55,551 (1.2%); Two or more races: 75,208 (1.7%); Hispanic/Latino: 132,836 (3.1%). 2010 population 18 and over: 3,315,996; 65 and over: 578,227 (13.3%); median age: 38.1. Map of Kentucky Kentucky was the first region west of the Allegheny Mountains to be settled by American pioneers. James Harrod established the first permanent settlement at Harrodsburg in 1774; the following year Daniel Boone , who had explored the area in 1767, blazed the Wilderness Trail through the Cumberland Gap and founded Boonesboro.

Politically, the Kentucky region was originally part of Virginia, but statehood was gained in 1792. Gen. Anthony Wayne 's victory in 1794 at Fallen Timbers in Ohio marked the end of Native American resistance in the area and secured the Kentucky frontier. As a slaveholding state with a considerable abolitionist population, Kentucky was caught in the middle during the Civil War , supplying both Union and Confederate forces with thousands of troops. Kentucky prides itself on producing some of the nation's best tobacco, horses, and whiskey. Corn, soybeans, wheat, fruit, hogs, cattle, and dairy products are among the agricultural items produced. Among the manufactured items produced in the state are motor vehicles, furniture, aluminum ware, brooms, apparel, lumber products, machinery, textiles, and iron and steel products. Kentucky also produces significant amounts of petroleum, natural gas, fluorspar, clay, and stone. However, coal accounts for 85% of the total mineral income. Louisville is famous for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and the Bluegrass country around Lexington is the home of some of the world's finest race horses. Other attractions are Mammoth Cave , the George S. Patton, Jr.

, Military Museum at Fort Knox, and Old Fort Harrod State Park. In Aug. 2006, Comair Flight 5191 crashed shortly after takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, killing 49 of the 50 people on board. An early 2012 tornado season delivers deadly funnels which kill 24 in Kentucky. See more on Kentucky: The Bluegrass State | State Symbols USA The Bluegrass State Kentucky bluegrass country (Woodford County); photo by David Cornwell on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works). The Bluegrass State Kentucky's nickname is The Bluegrass State, based on the fact that bluegrass is found in many of the lawns and pastures throughout the state (particularly in the northern part of Kentucky - including the metropolitan areas of Lexington and Louisville). "Bluegrass" is the common name for grass of the genus Poa, which is a favored lawn and pasture grass in the eastern United States from Tennessee northward. Bluegrass is actually green - but in the spring bluegrass produces bluish-purple buds that give a rich blue cast to the grass when seen in large fields.

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 Bluegrass Region, which extends into southern Ohio, is characterized by underlying fossiliferous limestone, dolostone, and shale of the Ordovician geological age. Hills are generally rolling, and the soil is highly fertile for growing pasture. The Bluegrass Region is famous for its horse farms and of course the Kentucky Derby (the thoroughbred is the official state horse of Kentucky. However, the area is becoming increasingly developed with residential and commercial properties, particularly around Lexington. Farms are losing ground to this development and are slowly disappearing. This has led the World Monuments Fund to include the Bluegrass Region on its global list of 100 most endangered sites. Kentucky Kentucky State Facts - 50States.com Louisiana Kentucky Facts and Trivia The town of Murray is home to the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Museum located on the campus of Murray State University. The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held horse race in the country. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. The Bluegrass Country around Lexington is home to some of the world's finest racehorses.

Kentucky was a popular hunting ground for the Shawnee and Cherokee Indian nations prior to being settled by white settlers. In 1774 Harrodstown (now Harrodsburg) was established as the first permanent settlement in the Kentucky region. It was named after James Harrod who led a team of area surveyors. The old official state tree was the Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus.) The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the current official state tree. The change was made in 1976. Cheeseburgers were first served in 1934 at Kaolin's restaurant in Louisville. Chevrolet Corvettes are manufactured in Bowling Green. Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave and was first promoted in 1816, making it the second oldest tourist attraction in the United States. Niagara Falls, New York is first. Begun in 1819 the first commercial oil well was on the Cumberland River in McCreary County. The first Miss America from Kentucky is Heather Renee French. She was crowned September 18, 1999.

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant owned and operated by Colonel Sanders is located in Corbin. Kentucky is the state where both Abraham Lincoln, President of the Union, and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, were born. They were born less than one hundred miles and one year apart. Cumberland is the only waterfall in the world to regularly display a Moonbow. It is located just southwest of Corbin. Fleming County is recognized as the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky. Shelby County is recognized as the Saddlebred Capital of Kentucky. The town of Corbin was the birthplace of old time movie star Arthur Lake whose real surname was Silverlake: He played the role of Dagwood in the "Blondie" films of the 1930s and 40s. Lake's parents were trapeze artists billed as The Flying Silverlakes. Christian County is wet while Bourbon County is dry. Barren County has the most fertile land in the state. Thunder Over Louisville is the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival and is the world's largest fireworks display. More than 100 native Kentuckians have been elected governors of other states.

In 1888, "Honest Dick" Tate the state treasurer embezzled $247,000 and fled the state. The song "Happy Birthday to You" was the creation of two Louisville sisters in 1893. Teacher Mary S. Wilson held the first observance of Mother's Day in Henderson in 1887. It was made a national holiday in 1916. The great Man o' War won all of his horse races except one which he lost to a horse named Upset. The first town in the United States to be named for the first president was Washington. It was named in 1780. Pikeville annually leads the nation in per capita consumption of Pepsi-Cola. The first American performance of a Beethoven symphony was in Lexington in 1817. Post-It Notes are manufactured exclusively in Cynthiana. The exact number made annually of these popular notes is a trade secret. Kentucky was the 15th state to join the Union and the first on the western frontier.

Bluegrass is not really blue--its green--but in the spring bluegrass produces bluish purple buds that when seen in large fields give a blue cast to the grass. Today Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State. There is a legend that the inspiration for Stephen Foster's hymn like song "My Old Kentucky Home" was written in 1852 after an unverified trip to visit relatives in Kentucky. Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca are buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. Their son Isaac is buried at Blue Licks Battlefield near Carlisle, where he was killed in the last battle of the Revolutionary War fought in Kentucky. The only monument south of the Ohio River dedicated to Union Soldiers who died in the Civil War is located in Vanceburg. The public saw an electric light for the first time in Louisville. Thomas Edison introduced his incandescent light bulb to crowds at the Southern Exposition in 1883. The radio was invented by a Kentuckian named Nathan B. Stubblefield of Murray in 1892. It was three years before Marconi made his claim to the invention. The first enamel bathtub was made in Louisville in 1856.

In the War of 1812 more than half of all Americans killed in action were Kentuckians. Middlesboro is the only city in the United States built within a meteor crater. Joe Bowen holds the world record for stilt walking endurance. He walked 3,008 miles on stilts between Bowen, Kentucky to Los Angeles, California. The world's largest free-swinging bell known as the World Peace Bell is on permanent display in Newport. High Bridge located near Nicholasville is the highest railroad bridge over navigable water in the United States. Carrie Nation the spokesperson against rum, tobacco, pornography, and corsets was born near Lancaster in Garrard County. The brass plate embedded in the sidewalk at the corner of Limestone and Main Street in downtown Lexington is a memorial marker honoring Smiley Pete. The animal was known as the town dog in Lexington. He died in 1957. Kentucky-born Alben W. Barkley was the oldest United States Vice President when he assumed office in 1949. He was 71 years old. More than $6 billion worth of gold is held in the underground vaults of Fort Knox. This is the largest amount of gold stored anywhere in the world.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington has 82 stained-glass windows including the world's largest hand-blown one. The window measures 24 feet wide by 67 feet high and depicts the Council of Ephesus with 134 life-sized figures. The Lost River Cave and Valley Bowling Green includes a cave with the shortest and deepest underground river in the world. It contains the largest cave opening east of the Mississippi. The swimsuit Mark Spitz wore in the 1972 Olympic games was manufactured in Paris, Kentucky. Frederick Vinson who was born in Louisa is the only Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court known to be born in jail. Pike County the world's largest producer of coal is famous for the Hatfield-McCoy feud, an Appalachian vendetta that lasted from the Civil War to the 1890s. Thanks to: Kentucky Department of Travel, John D.

Dowd, Mandy Paige, DeLores Wiggins, Wayne Shelton, David Grossman, Cleamon Inman, Jody Odonnell Kentucky | history - geography - state, United States | Britannica.com state, United States (2010) 4,339,367; (2016 est.) 4,436,974 Total area (sq mi) "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" State bird Seats in U.S. House of Representatives 6 (of 435) 1Excluding military abroad. 2Species not designated. Kentucky, constituent state of the United States of America. Rivers define Kentucky’s boundaries except on the south, where it shares a border with Tennessee along a nearly straight line of about 425 miles (685 km), and on the southeast, where it shares an irregular, mountainous border with Virginia . Flowing generally northwestward, the Tug and Big Sandy rivers separate Kentucky from West Virginia on the east and northeast. On the north, Kentucky’s boundary follows the Ohio River to the Mississippi , meeting the states of Ohio , Indiana , and Illinois en route.

The Mississippi River then demarcates Kentucky’s short southwestern border with Missouri . The capital, Frankfort , lies between the two major cities— Louisville , which is on the Ohio River, and Lexington . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. A horse farm in Lexington, Ky., U.S. Glen Allison—Stone/Getty Images Kentucky was long the home of various Native American peoples before the arrival of Daniel Boone and other European frontiersmen in 1769. Its name perhaps derives from an Iroquois word for “prairie.” By 1792, when Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state of the union—the first west of the Appalachian Mountains—it had drawn nearly 73,000 settlers. By 1800 this number had grown to roughly 220,000 and included some 40,000 slaves. Kentucky evokes myriad contrasting images: coal mines, bourbon whiskey (named for Bourbon county, where it was developed), mountaineers, moonshiners (distillers of illegal liquor), white-suited colonels and ladies sipping mint juleps on summertime verandas, horse breeding, and the Kentucky Derby .

Kentucky curiously encompasses a mixture of distinct regions and characters. The seemingly endless landscape of white fences, paddocks, tobacco fields, and pastures in the rolling Bluegrass region around Lexington suggests an unhurried and genteel way of life that is more reminiscent of Kentucky’s ties with the antebellum South than it is reflective of the state’s position in the fast-paced economy of an industrialized country. By contrast, northernmost Kentucky, with its predominantly German heritage, its suburban pattern of development, and its orientation toward metropolitan Cincinnati , Ohio, is a reminder of the state’s link to the urban North. Kentucky has always existed in the middle: as a state looking back and ahead, as a crossroads for westward expansion, and as a territory with divided allegiance during the American Civil War (1861–65). Indeed, the Civil War presidents Abraham Lincoln of the Union and Jefferson Davis of the opposing Confederacy both were born in Kentucky. Area 40,408 square miles (104,656 square km). Population (2010) 4,339,367; (2016 est.) 4,436,974.

Land flag of Kentucky In addition to the Mississippi , Ohio , and Big Sandy rivers, which constitute some of Kentucky’s boundaries, the state has seven major drainage basins formed by interior streams: the Licking , Kentucky , Salt , Green , Tradewater, Cumberland , and Tennessee rivers. Eastern Kentucky is drained by the Big Sandy, Cumberland, Licking, and Kentucky rivers and their tributaries. The Cumberland River descends from the plateau of the same name in the 68-foot (20-metre) Cumberland Falls, which is renowned for the occasional occurrence of a lunar rainbow. It flows southwestward into Tennessee before turning to the north and reentering Kentucky at the eastern edge of the Purchase. The main streams of the Kentucky and Licking rivers rise in the Mountain region and flow northwestward; they then meander across the Bluegrass region before joining the Ohio. The Salt River, flowing westward from the Bluegrass region, drains the northern Pennyrile. The longest stream that lies entirely within the state is the Green River . With a source in the Pennyrile, it stretches generally westward for some 370 miles (600 km), bisects the Western Coalfield, and empties into the Ohio River.

In western Kentucky, the western Pennyrile is drained by the Tennessee and the Tradewater rivers, both of which flow northwestward into the Ohio. Licking River at Covington, Ky. Rick Dikeman The Tennessee and Cumberland rivers both have been dammed to form large reservoirs. In south-central Kentucky a dam on the Cumberland has created Lake Cumberland. It is the state’s largest lake, spanning an area of more than 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares). In the southwest the Cumberland has been impounded to form Lake Barkley, which is connected by a canal to Kentucky Lake , which was created by a dam on the Tennessee River. Soils The soils of Kentucky are as diverse as the life they support. The weathered shale-based soil of the Knobs, for instance, is not rich and is easily eroded, making it better adapted to forest growth than to cultivation. By contrast, much of the Purchase is covered by loessial soils and is one of the most fertile sections of Kentucky.

Rich alluvial deposits lie along the rivers, while the rest of the state’s soil derives from the long and gradual breakdown and decay of underlying rock, windblown loess in the western part of the state, and small deposits of glacial till near the Ohio River. The phosphate-rich soils of the Bluegrass region are mostly from limestone of the Ordovician Period (roughly 445 to 490 million years ago); they have supported pasturage for some of the world’s most famous horse farms. Pennyrile soils, developed primarily from Mississippian (from about 320 to 360 million years ago) limestone, are excellent for general farming, as are the loessial and alluvial soils of the western regions. Eastern Kentucky soils, derived primarily from sandstone, are less fertile. Climate Kentucky enjoys a temperate climate and generally plentiful rainfall. The state’s mean annual temperature is between 55 and 60 °F (13 and 16 °C). However, extremes of temperature exceeding 110 °F (43 °C) and dropping below –30 °F (–34 °C) have been recorded occasionally.

In the capital city, average high temperatures in January and February are in the low 40s F (about 6 °C), and average low temperatures are in the low 20s F (about –5 °C); in July and August temperatures usually rise from the low 60s F (about 17 °C) into the mid-80s F (about 30 °C) daily. The yearly growing season lasts about 170 to 210 days, depending on location. Mean annual precipitation is about 45 inches (1,140 mm). Although the fall months (September through November) are often somewhat drier, precipitation is generally well distributed throughout the year. The greatest differences occur between the southern areas, which receive nearly 50 inches (1,300 mm) annually, and the northeast, which may receive only 40 inches (1,000 mm). Thunderstorms are frequent and often cause flooding in eastern Kentucky. Prevailing winds are from the south and southwest, although north and northwest winds often bring the chill of winter. Plant and animal life Kentucky’s climate and distinctive soils combine to create variety in vegetation, animal life, and landscape.

The state was part of the hardwood forest region that once covered the country from the Allegheny Mountains to the western prairies. Most of the state was wooded with stands of yellow poplar, oak, chestnut, sycamore, hickory, and walnut. By the close of the 19th century, however, all but a fraction of the virgin forests had been felled, mostly after the American Civil War . Largely because of reforestation initiatives of the 20th century, Kentucky was able to bring its forest cover back up to about 50 percent by the early 21st century. Blanton Forest and Lilley Cornett Woods, both in southeastern Kentucky, are the state’s only recognized virgin forests. Trees, shrubs, and plants of many kinds still flourish in all parts of the state and range from the native hardwoods and pines on the eastern slopes to the picturesque bald cypresses in the western river marshes to the maples, cedars, ash, and locust found throughout the state.

Rhododendron, laurel, dogwood, redbud, and trillium are prominent among the dozens of types of flowering vegetation that can be found in the Kentucky mountains. Birds and mammals of Kentucky include those native to the South as well as those more commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. Of the numerous hoofed animals that once roamed Kentucky—including bison, elk , and deer—only deer remain in quantity, although elk have been reintroduced. Wolves and panthers have likewise disappeared. Bears are sometimes seen in eastern Kentucky. Among the many small animals found in the state are rabbits, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, opossums, woodchucks, and—in the numerous caves—bats and rodents. The northwest corner of Kentucky lies along one of the world’s great migratory bird routes. More than 200 species of birds frequent this area, while more than 300 species have been found in the state as a whole. Cardinals (the state bird), robins, bluejays, doves, and sparrows are common.

The marshes of the southwestern Kentucky-Tennessee border provide breeding places for such waterfowl as the American egret, great blue heron, and double-crested cormorant. Wild turkeys, a reminder of pioneer days, are increasing in number. Great blue heron (Ardea herodias). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The swift mountain streams, wide rivers, and man-made lakes of Kentucky provide habitats for more than 200 species of fish. The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), the largest member of the pike family and commonly considered a Great Lakes fish, is found in the Licking, Green, and Barren (a tributary of the Green) rivers. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, bluegills, and crappies are common. People Population composition The vast majority of Kentucky’s population is of white European ancestry. Most of the early white settlers of the state were of English or Scotch-Irish descent and came from North Carolina , Virginia , Maryland , and Pennsylvania . The migrations of Daniel Boone —founder of one of the first permanent white settlements in present-day Kentucky—resembled those of many of his countrymen.

Born in Pennsylvania, Boone moved as a youth down the Great Appalachian Valley of Virginia into North Carolina, where he lived until he led new settlers through Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. The best agricultural land was in the Bluegrass region, and this was the first area to be settled. The eastern mountains, the poorest agricultural region, were settled last. Despite the dangers of backwoods warfare in the early days, migration into the Bluegrass country continued. In addition to the Cumberland Gap route, the Mississippi River brought French émigrés upriver from New Orleans , particularly to the Louisville area. During the mid-19th century the Ohio River carried many German settlers and other migrants from New England and the Middle Atlantic states; many settled in northern Kentucky and in other areas near the river. During the first few decades of Kentucky’s statehood, there also was a large black population, mostly slaves of African ancestry, though the proportion decreased after the state legislature abolished the importation of slaves for resale in 1833. Just prior to the American Civil War (1861–65), the Underground Railroad flourished in Kentucky to help transport escaped slaves to free soil, and there was considerable black emigration during and after the war.

The state continued to lose its black population until the mid-20th century, after which the relative size of the community showed little change. In the early 21st century Kentucky’s African American residents were concentrated in the larger urban areas and in the southwest part of the Pennyrile; they accounted for less than one-tenth of the total population. The most prominent of the various indigenous peoples in the Kentucky area at the time of European settlement were the Cherokee , Shawnee , and Chickasaw . In the early 19th century, however, most of the native populations were removed forcibly to other areas, some via the infamous Trail of Tears to reservations in Oklahoma . By the 21st century, Native Americans constituted just a tiny fraction of the population, and there were no federally recognized tribes or reservation lands in the state. Kentucky’s Hispanic and Asian populations remain small but have grown significantly since the late 20th century. Most of the state’s Hispanic residents are of Mexican heritage. Of Kentucky’s Asian residents, those of Chinese and Indian descent predominate. In terms of religious affiliation, Kentucky is primarily Protestant. Baptists are by far the dominant denomination, with Methodists constituting a significant minority.

However, Kentucky also has one of the largest populations of Roman Catholics in the South, concentrated mostly in the central and north-central segments of the state. Settlement patterns From the beginning, Kentucky has been a strongly rural state of small towns and crossroads. In the early 21st century about half of the state’s population remained rural, despite pronounced migration from rural to urban areas in the second half of the 20th century. The three areas that have the largest populations are the cities of Louisville and Lexington and the portion of northern Kentucky that includes Covington and Newport , both situated just opposite Cincinnati on the Ohio River . Together, these three population centres form the points of the so-called “Golden Triangle,” an economic region that is home to more than half of Kentucky’s people. Notable among Kentucky’s smaller cities are Ashland , Bowling Green , Paducah , Owensboro , and Frankfort . Skyline of Louisville, Ky. Kevin R. Morris—Stone/Getty Images Economy Kentucky’s economy—based on manufacturing, trade, mining, agriculture, and tourism and other services—varies by region. The Bluegrass is an affluent region with a large number of manufacturers and numerous amenities.

The Pennyrile is likewise diversified and prosperous, but economic conditions in the Western Coalfield and the Mountain regions fluctuate with the demand for coal. The Purchase relies extensively on agriculture, and periods of drought or depressed crop prices sometimes bring hardship to the region. Although manufacturing is the greatest income producer for the state, eastern Kentucky has little manufacturing activity, and a few other areas have none at all. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Until the mid-20th century, Kentucky was considered an agricultural state. Since that time, other sectors have overtaken agriculture as the primary contributors to the state’s gross product. However, while the number of farms and the acreage devoted to agriculture have declined, average farm size has increased, and more than half of the state is still in farmland. The vast majority of Kentucky’s farms are owned by individuals or families (as opposed to corporations), and almost one-fifth of the state’s total workforce is employed in farm or farm-related jobs. Principal crops include corn (maize), soybeans, hay, and tobacco, although tobacco acreage has been declining since the late 20th century. Much of the tobacco is exported.

Kentucky also is a top producer of horses, mules, broiler chickens, and cattle. The Bluegrass region, with the richest soil, specializes in horses, cattle, and tobacco. The Pennyrile has more diversified farming and produces a variety of crops and livestock , including beef and dairy cattle. The Western Coalfield and the Purchase specialize in corn, soybeans, and tobacco, although some livestock, especially hogs, and smaller acreages of other crops are found. Forestry is important in eastern Kentucky, where most of the land is unsuitable for farming, and in the eastern part of the Pennyrile; the trees cut are mostly hardwoods, primarily oaks. Kentucky has little commercial fishing, but its streams and reservoirs provide excellent opportunities for sport fishing, and they attract numerous tourists. Resources and power Vast reserves of bituminous coal have placed Kentucky among the country’s leading coal producers for many years. Coal is found throughout the Western Coalfield region and the eastern coalfield segment of the Mountain region. The Western Coalfield yields a product that is high in sulfur content and that is used primarily for steam generation of electricity and for domestic needs.

Eastern Kentucky coal is of higher quality and can be used to make coke , a nearly pure form of carbon used in metallurgy. Both underground and surface mining methods are used in Kentucky’s coalfields. The two coalfields and the Pennyrile also have oil and natural gas deposits, although they are not large. The state has a few refineries, for which most of the crude oil is piped up from the Gulf Coast . Deposits of vein minerals are found in Kentucky as well, along with a variety of clays and an abundance of limestone. Almost all of the state’s electricity is supplied by coal-fired plants, which are most densely concentrated in the Western Coalfield. Hydroelectric stations in the southwestern and south-central part of Kentucky provide the bulk of the remaining power. Natural gas, both from a field at the Big Sandy River and from the Gulf Coast, also fuels several plants. Manufacturing Manufacturing is the largest single contributor to Kentucky’s economy, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the state’s gross product. Although widely dispersed, manufacturing is concentrated in the urban areas, especially around Louisville, which supports such industries as automotive assembly, printing and publishing, food processing, and the manufacture of home appliances.

Since the late 20th century, metals-related industries have dominated the sector’s growth; Japanese companies opened more than 150 factories, most of which are located in the central part of the state and produce automobiles and automobile parts. Meanwhile, textiles have remained an important product of the sector, although many textile plants, often located in smaller communities , left the state. Calvert City, near the mouth of the Tennessee River , has a large concentration of chemical and smelting industries. Several cities, including Frankfort and Bardstown , among others, are noted for their distilleries, which supply a major portion of the world’s bourbon, as well as other beverages. Services and labour The services sector generates some two-thirds of Kentucky’s gross product and employs more workers than any other segment of the state’s economy. State and local governments are major employers. Two large military bases, Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, contribute substantially to the economies of the surrounding communities. Retail and wholesale trade also constitutes a significant segment of the services sector. A strong labour union tradition exists in the towns along the Ohio River , and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is influential in the coal regions.

Early struggles between the UMWA and coal operators in eastern Kentucky gave rise to tragic violence. The city and county of Harlan were the site of intense labour wars during the 1920s and ’30s; the name “Bloody Harlan” commemorates that conflict, evoking the working and living conditions that at the time were popularly identified with those of the state as a whole. Numerous ballads recount the history of dispute and death surrounding work in the coal mines. Transportation Interstate highways cross Kentucky from north to south and east to west. They are supplemented by a system of parkways, U.S. highways, and state highways that make travel by automobile or truck relatively easy almost everywhere in the state. Rail lines connect all major cities for movement of freight. Bulky freight is often shipped by river barge over Kentucky’s many miles of navigable waterways. Major airports in northern Kentucky (part of the Greater Cincinnati area) and Louisville offer international and domestic service; the airport in Lexington handles domestic flights, mostly within the eastern half of the United States.

Airplane landing in front of the air traffic control tower at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky … © Anne Kitzman/Shutterstock.com Kentucky - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) American frontiersman Daniel Boone first entered what is now the U.S. state of Kentucky in 1767. At that time, herds of bison roamed the grassy areas, and the forests offered a seemingly unlimited supply of bear, deer, and wild turkey. Two years later he returned with some companions to hunt and trap in this lush, wild country, which he called a "second paradise." Many others had explored the region before Boone, but he eventually blazed the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap and later tried to establish Kentucky as the 14th American colony. Article Contributors Famous Kentuckians - Famous People in Kentucky Famous Kentuckians Famous people in Kentucky include Daniel Boone & Muhammad Ali Famous Kentuckians born or raised, or both, in the Bluegrass State include explorers and legendary pioneers (Daniel Boone); some of the world’s most athletic and influential sports stars (Muhammad Ali), actors (George Clooney), musicians (The Judds), and even some of America’s most significant political figures (Abraham Lincoln).

View the lists of famous people in Kentucky from the categories below: Kentucky Bluegrass Kentucky bluegrass is the most common cool season grass and probably the best known. Kentucky Bluegrass Kentucky bluegrass is the most common cool season grass and probably the best known. Kentucky bluegrass creates a high quality lawn. It has been around for many years and is now available in many different blend formulations. Kentucky bluegrass has a moderate growth pattern and does spread and will fill in bare spots. The grass will go dormant in hot, dry weather as well as during the cold winter months common in North America. It does poorly in extremely shady areas. Not recommended for extremely hot climates and will require supplemental irrigation during hot, dry periods. Bluegrass seed-blends that include perennial ryegrass, produce a tougher wearing lawn. With the addition of creeping red fescue, the lawn will be more tolerate shadier areas. But what actually happens is that for those situations, the Kentucky bluegrass just doesn't fill in as it would normally in a full sun location and the supplemental blends actually fills in. Kentucky bluegrass develops a shallow root system that is not drought tolerant and will go dormant during extreme conditions. If given intermittent watering during prolonged drought conditions, it will come back.

Shade tolerance: poor Maintenance: low Introduced by: colonists that brought it from Europe. Kentucky bluegrass grows 18" - 24" tall if left uncut and is readily identified by its boat-shaped leaf tip. It spreads by rhizomes and tillers and forms a dense sod. New shoots (rhizomes and tillers) are produced primarily in the spring and late summer. Most shoots produced in the spring remain vegetative. Shoots produced in late summer often terminate in an infloresence the following spring. The lifetime of a Kentucky bluegrass shoot that terminates in an infloresence ends soon after the seeds mature. During late spring and summer, the shoots of Kentucky bluegrass grow in an erect, or upright, position; whereas, in early spring and fall they become more decumbent. This pattern of growth is a response to day length rather than temperature. During long days shoots grow upright; during short days they become decumbent. Day length also influences the number of shoots that develop. Significantly more shoots are produced during the short days of early spring than during long summer days.

The length of time between the appearance of new leaves on Kentucky bluegrass ranges from about 10 days in the spring to 22 days in the summer and fall. During winter months few new leaves are produced on Kentucky bluegrass in northern climates. In the transition zone, new leaves and shoots are produced year round. Leaf blades of Kentucky bluegrass remain green for 10 - 12 days during the growing season and the typical shoot has 3 - 4 green leaves at any one time. In comparison, bermudagrass typically has 5 - 7 green leaves per shoot and new leaves appear at 7 - 10 day intervals during the growing season. In the southern United States, Kentucky bluegrass is limited to the transition zone from North Carolina, through much of Tennessee, northern Arkansas to the panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma. In the western states, Kentucky bluegrass is grown only with extensive irrigation. Cultivar Names

Question: The US state of Kentucky is known "the (what) Grass State"?
Answer: Blue