View source for Kentucky

{{short description|State of the United States of America}}
{{about|the Commonwealth of Kentucky|the river|Kentucky River|other uses}}
{{inadequate lead|date=March 2021}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. state
| name = Kentucky 
| official_name = Commonwealth of Kentucky
| image_flag = Flag of Kentucky.svg
| flag_link = Flag of Kentucky
| image_seal = Seal_of_Kentucky.svg
| image_map = Kentucky in United States.svg 
| nickname = Bluegrass State
| Former = Part of [[Virginia]] (District of Kentucky)
| population_demonym = Kentuckian
| motto = ''[[United we stand, divided we fall]]''<br />''Deo gratiam habeamus''<br />(Let us be grateful to God)
| anthem = [[My Old Kentucky Home]]
| seat = [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]]
| OfficialLang = English<ref name="kysym">{{cite web |title=Kentucky State Symbols |publisher=Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives |url = http://kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070703084450/http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2007 |access-date=November 29, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| LargestCity = [[Louisville,Kentucky|Louisville]]
| LargestMetro = [[Louisville metropolitan area]] <!--The majority of the Cincinnati/NKY population lies in Ohio.-->
| Governor = {{nowrap|[[Andy Beshear]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])}}
| Lieutenant Governor = {{nowrap|[[Jacqueline Coleman]] (D)}}
| Legislature = [[Kentucky General Assembly]]
| Upperhouse = [[Kentucky Senate|Senate]]
| Lowerhouse = [[Kentucky House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| Judiciary = [[Kentucky Supreme Court]]
| Senators = {{nowrap|[[Mitch McConnell]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])}}<br />{{nowrap|[[Rand Paul]] (R)}}
| Representative = 5 Republicans<br />1 Democrat
| postal_code = KY
| TradAbbreviation = Ky
| area_rank = 37th
| area_total_sq_mi = 40,407
| area_total_km2 = 104,656
| area_land_sq_mi = 39,486
| area_land_km2 = 102,269
| area_water_sq_mi = 921
| area_water_km2 = 2,387
| area_water_percent = 2.2
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_rank = 26th
| 2010Pop = 4,509,342<ref name="Census2020">{{cite web |title=2020 Census Apportionment Results |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html |website=census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426210008/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_density_rank = 21st
||MedianHouseholdIncome = $52,295<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/median-annual-income/?currentTimeframe=0|website=The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation|title=Median Annual Household Income|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>
| IncomeRank = 44th
| 2000DensityUS = 110
| 2000Density = 42.5
| AdmittanceOrder = 15th
| AdmittanceDate = June 1, 1792

| timezone1 = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|Eastern]]
| utc_offset1 = −05:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −04:00
| timezone1_location = eastern half

| timezone2 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central]]
| utc_offset2 = −06:00
| timezone2_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
| utc_offset2_DST = −05:00
| timezone2_location = western half

| Latitude = 36° 30′ N to 39° 09′ N
| Longitude = 81° 58′ W to 89° 34′ W
| width_mi = 185
| width_km = 298
| length_mi = 395
| length_km = 636
| elevation_max_point = [[Black Mountain (Kentucky)|Black Mountain]]<ref name=USGS>{{cite web |url = http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |title = Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |year=2001 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111015012701/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=October 15, 2011 }}</ref>{{NoteTag|Elevation adjusted to [[North American Vertical Datum of 1988]].|name=NAVD88}}
| elevation_max_ft = 4,145
| elevation_max_m = 1265
| elevation_ft = 750
| elevation_m = 230
| elevation_min_point = [[Mississippi River]] at {{nobreak|[[Kentucky Bend]]}}<ref name="USGS" />{{NoteTag|name=NAVD88}}
| elevation_min_ft = 250
| elevation_min_m = 78
| iso_code = US-KY
| website = Kentucky.gov
}}
{{Infobox U.S. state symbols
|Name= Kentucky
|Flag = Flag of Kentucky.svg
|Seal = Seal of Kentucky.svg
 |Bird= [[Northern cardinal|Cardinal]]
 |Butterfly= [[Viceroy butterfly]]
 |Wildlife animal = [[Eastern gray squirrel|Gray squirrel]]
 |Horse = [[Thoroughbred]]
 |Fish= [[Spotted bass|Kentucky spotted bass]]
 |Flower= [[Solidago gigantea|Goldenrod]]
 |Insect= [[Western honeybee]]
 |Tree= [[Liriodendron tulipifera|Tulip poplar]]
 |Beverage= [[Milk]]
 |Dance= [[Clogging]]
 |Food= [[Blackberry]]
 |Fossil= [[Brachiopod]]
 |Gemstone= [[Pearl|Freshwater pearl]]
 |Mineral= [[Coal]]
 |Rock= [[Agate|Kentucky agate]]
 |Slogan= Kentucky Unbridled Spirit
 |Soil= [[Crider Soil Series]]
 |Other= [[Chevrolet Corvette]] (state sports car)
 |Route Marker= Elongated circle 3.svg
 |Quarter= 2001 KY Proof.png
 |QuarterReleaseDate= 2001
}}

'''Kentucky''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Kentucky.ogg|US|k|ə|n|ˈ|t|ʌ|k|i}} {{respell|kən|TUK|ee}}, {{IPAc-en|UK|k|ɛ|n|-}} {{respell|ken|-}}),<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref> officially the '''Commonwealth of Kentucky''', is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Upland South]] region of the [[United States]], bordered by [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]], and [[Ohio]] to the north; [[West Virginia]] and [[Virginia]] to the east; [[Tennessee]] to the south; and [[Missouri]] to the west. The [[bluegrass region]] in the central part of the commonwealth contains the commonwealth's capital, [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]], as well as its two largest cities, [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] and [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]. Together they comprise more than 20% of the commonwealth's population. Kentucky is the [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|37th most extensive]] and the [[List of U.S. states and territories by population|26th most populous]] of the [[List of U.S. states|50 United States]].

Kentucky was admitted into the Union as the 15th state on June 1, 1792, splitting from [[Virginia]] in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pr51st.com/kentucky/|title=How Kentucky Became a State|date=August 8, 2014|website=Puerto Rico 51st|language=en-US|access-date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> It is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on [[Kentucky bluegrass]], a species of grass found in many of its pastures, which has supported the thoroughbred horse industry in the center of the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/kentucky/state-nickname/bluegrass-state|title=The Bluegrass State {{!}} State Symbols USA|website=statesymbolsusa.org|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> It is home to the world's longest cave system: [[Mammoth Cave National Park]], as well as the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the [[contiguous United States]] and the two largest man-made lakes east of the [[Mississippi River]]. The state is also known for [[horse racing]], [[bourbon whiskey|bourbon]], [[moonshine]], [[coal]], [[My Old Kentucky Home State Park|"My Old Kentucky Home"]] historic state park, [[automobile manufacturing]], [[tobacco]], [[bluegrass music]], [[college basketball]], [[Hillerich & Bradsby|Louisville Slugger]] [[baseball bat]]s, [[KFC|Kentucky Fried Chicken]], and the [[Kentucky colonel]].
[[File:My Old Kentucky Home Mansion.png|thumb|My Old Kentucky Home, a well-known historic mansion for which Kentucky's state song, "[[My Old Kentucky Home]]", was written in 1852 by [[Stephen Foster]]]]
[[File:Country road in Kentucky.jpg|thumb|Narrow country roads bounded by stone and wood plank fences are a feature in the Kentucky [[Bluegrass region]]]]

==Etymology==

In 1776 the counties of [[Virginia]] beyond the [[Appalachian Mountains]] became known to European Americans as [[Kentucky County, Virginia|Kentucky County]],<ref name="About Kentucky">{{cite web| title=About Kentucky| publisher=Ezilon Search| url=http://search.ezilon.com/about-kentucky.html| access-date=November 29, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110134726/http://search.ezilon.com/about-kentucky.html| archive-date=November 10, 2006| url-status=dead}}</ref> named for the [[Kentucky River]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uky.edu/WaterResources/KCEWM/PDF/History%20of%20the%20Kentucky%20River.pdf|title=Kentucky River Development: The Commonwealth's Waterways|last=Johnson and Parrish}}</ref> The precise etymology of the name is uncertain,<ref>{{OEtymD|Kentucky|access-date=February 25, 2007}}
{{cite web |url=http://0-dictionary.oed.com.clicnet4.clic.edu/cgi/entry/50126019 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5QmSe2SRR?url=http://0-dictionary.oed.com.clicnet4.clic.edu/cgi/entry/50126019 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2007 |title=Kentucky |access-date=February 25, 2007 |website=[[Oxford English Dictionary]] }}</ref> but likely based on an [[Iroquoian languages|Iroquoian]] name meaning "(on) the meadow" or "(on) the prairie"<ref name="Mithun">Mithun, Marianne. 1999. ''Languages of Native North America''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pg. 312</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761554924/Kentucky.html |title=Kentucky |access-date=February 25, 2007 |encyclopedia=Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030052538/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761554924/Kentucky.html |archive-date=October 30, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (cf. [[Mohawk language|Mohawk]] ''kenhtà:ke'', [[Seneca language|Seneca]] ''gëdá'geh'' ([[Phoneme|phonemic]] {{IPA|/kẽtaʔkeh/}}), "at the field").<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8uvs6Qw3pEC&pg=PA250 | title=Native American Place Names of Indiana | publisher=University of Illinois Press | author=McCafferty, Michael | year=2008 | page=250| isbn=9780252032684 }}</ref>

Others have suggested the term ''Kenta Aki'', which could have come from an [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian language]] and was possibly derived from [[Shawnee]]. Folk etymology translates this as "Land of Our Fathers". The closest approximation in another Algonquian language, [[Ojibwe]], translates as "Land of Our In-Laws", thus making a fairer English translation "The Land of Those Who Became Our Fathers".<ref>Nichols, John & Nyholm, Earl. ''Concise Dictionary of Minnesota Ojibwe'', 1994.</ref> In any case, the word ''aki'' means "land" in most Algonquian languages. Some also theorize that the name Kentucky may be a corruption of the word Catawba, in reference to the [[Catawba people|Catawba]] people who inhabited Kentucky.

==Geography==

{{See also|List of counties in Kentucky|Coal mining in Kentucky}}
[[File:Map of Kentucky NA (cropped).png|thumb|A map of Kentucky]]

Kentucky is situated in the [[Upland South]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary |publisher= [[Merriam–Webster]] |year= 2003 |edition= 11th |isbn= 978-0-87779-809-5 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=O78rzaI2XmUC&pg=RA1-PA1562 |page= 1562 |author= ed. in chief Frederick C. Mish |access-date= January 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The North American Midwest: A Regional Geography|url=https://archive.org/details/northamericanmid0000garl|url-access=registration|publisher=Wiley Publishers |location=New York |year=1955}}</ref> A significant portion of eastern Kentucky is part of [[Appalachia]].

Kentucky borders seven states, from the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and the [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]]. [[West Virginia]] lies to the northeast, [[Virginia]] to the east, [[Tennessee]] to the south, [[Missouri]] to the west, [[Illinois]] to the northwest, and [[Indiana]] and [[Ohio]] to the north. Only Missouri and Tennessee, both of which border eight states, touch more.

Kentucky's northern border is formed by the [[Ohio River]] and its western border by the [[Mississippi River]]; however, the official border is based on the courses of the rivers as they existed when Kentucky became a state in 1792. For instance, northbound travelers on [[U.S. Route 41 in Kentucky|U.S. 41]] from Henderson, after crossing the Ohio River, will be in Kentucky for about {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}}. [[Ellis Park Racecourse|Ellis Park]], a thoroughbred racetrack, is located in this small piece of Kentucky. Waterworks Road is part of the only land border between Indiana and Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=%5B1300-1699%5D+Waterworks+Rd&city=Evansville&state=IN&zipcode=47713 |title=Map of <nowiki>[</nowiki>1494–1557<nowiki>]</nowiki> Waterworks Rd Evansville, IN |access-date=January 1, 2009}}</ref>

Kentucky has a non-contiguous part known as [[Kentucky Bend]], at the far west corner of the state. It exists as an [[exclave]] surrounded completely by [[Missouri]] and [[Tennessee]], and is included in the boundaries of [[Fulton County, Kentucky|Fulton County]]. Road access to this small part of Kentucky on the Mississippi River (populated by 18 people {{as of|2010|lc=y}})<ref>{{cite journal |author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= October 1, 2013 |title= Exclaves |journal= Virginia Quarterly Review |volume= 89 |issue= 4 |pages= 22–23 |issn= 0042-675X }}</ref> requires a trip through Tennessee.

The epicenter of the [[1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes]] was near this area, causing the Mississippi River to flow backwards in some places. Though the series of quakes changed the area geologically and affected the small number of inhabitants of the area at the time, the Kentucky Bend is the result of a surveying error, not the New Madrid earthquake.<ref>{{cite web | title=Life on the Mississippi | publisher=[[Kentucky Educational Television]] | date=January 28, 2002 | url=http://www.ket.org/kentuckylife/800s/kylife804.html | access-date=November 29, 2006 | archive-date=February 13, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213074544/http://www.ket.org/kentuckylife/800s/kylife804.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Regions===

[[File:KYphysiography.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Kentucky's regions (click on image for color-coding information)]]

Kentucky can be divided into five primary regions: the [[Cumberland Plateau]] in the east, which contains much of the historic coal mines; the north-central [[Bluegrass region]], where the major cities and the capital are located; the south-central and western [[Pennyroyal Plateau]] (also known as the Pennyrile or Mississippi Plateau); the [[Western Coal Fields]]; and the far-west [[Jackson Purchase]].

The Bluegrass region is commonly divided into two regions, the Inner Bluegrass encircling {{convert|90|mi|km}} around [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], and the Outer Bluegrass that contains most of the northern portion of the state, above the [[Knobs region|Knobs]]. Much of the outer Bluegrass is in the [[Eden Shale Hills]] area, made up of short, steep, and very narrow hills.

===Climate===

Located within the southeastern interior portion of North America, Kentucky has a climate that is best described as a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen: ''Cfa''), only small higher areas of the southeast of the state has an [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'') influenced by the [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachians]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Peterson|first=Adam|title=English: Köppen climate types of the United States|date=August 18, 2016|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_50_states_K%C3%B6ppen.svg|access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> Temperatures in Kentucky usually range from daytime summer highs of {{convert|87|°F}} to the winter low of {{convert|23|°F}}. The average precipitation is {{convert|46|in}} a year.<ref>{{cite web| title=The Geography of Kentucky – Climate |date=June 15, 2006 |publisher=NetState.com | url=http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/ky_geography.htm | access-date=November 29, 2006}}</ref> Kentucky has four distinct seasons, with substantial variations in the severity of summer and winter.<ref>{{cite book |title=''Encyclopedia of Kentucky'' |chapter=Geographical Configuration |publisher=Somerset Publishers |location=New York |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-403-09981-8 }}</ref> The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|114|F|C}} at [[Greensburg, Kentucky|Greensburg]] on July 28, 1930, while the lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|-37|F|C}} at [[Shelbyville, Kentucky|Shelbyville]] on [[1994 North American cold wave|January 19, 1994]]. The state rarely experiences the extreme cold of far northern states, nor the high heat of the states in the [[Deep South]]. Temperatures seldom drop below 0 degrees or rise above 100 degrees. Rain and snowfall totals about 45 inches per year.

The climate varies markedly within the state. The northern parts tend to be about five degrees cooler than those in the western parts of the state. [[Somerset, Kentucky|Somerset]] in the south-central part receives ten more inches of rain per year than, for instance, [[Covington, Kentucky|Covington]] to the north. Average temperatures for the entire Commonwealth range from the low 30s in January to the high 70s in mid-July. The annual average temperature varies from {{convert|55|to|60|°F}}: of {{convert|55|°F}} in the far north as an average annual temperature and of {{convert|60|°F}} in the extreme southwest.<ref>Klotter, James C. and Freda C. (2015). ''Faces of Kentucky''. University Press of Kentucky. Page 53. {{ISBN|9780813160528}}.</ref><ref>[[AV2 by Weigl]]. (2008). ''Discover America: Kentucky: The Bluegrass State''. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Page 8. {{ISBN|9781593397630}}.</ref>

In general, Kentucky has relatively hot, [[humid]], rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Mean maximum temperatures in July vary from {{convert|83|to|90|°F}}; the mean minimum July temperatures are {{convert|61|to|69|°F}}. In January the mean maximum temperatures range from {{convert|36|to|44|°F}}; the mean minimum temperatures range from {{convert|19|to|26|°F}}. Temperature means vary with northern and far-eastern mountain regions averaging five degrees cooler year-round, compared to the relatively warmer areas of the southern and western regions of the state. Precipitation also varies north to south with the north averaging of {{convert|38|to|40|in}}, and the south averaging of {{convert|50|in}}. Days per year below the freezing point vary from about sixty days in the southwest to more than a hundred days in the far-north and far-east.<ref>Jones, Ronald (2005). ''Plant Life of Kentucky: An Illustrated Guide to the Vascular Flora''. University Press of Kentucky. Page 11. {{ISBN|9780813123318}}.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center; font-size:120%; background:#e8eafa;"|Monthly average high and low temperatures for various Kentucky cities ( °F)
|-
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black; height:17px;"| City
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Jan
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Feb
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Mar
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Apr
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| May
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Jun
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Jul
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Aug
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Sep
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Oct
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Nov
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:Black;"| Dec
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/lexington-climate|title=Lexington, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:Black; height:16px;"| Lexington
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 40.9/24.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 45.5/27.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 55.3/35.4
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 65.7/44.7
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 74.3/54.2
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 82.8/62.7
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 86.1/66.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 85.6/65.2
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 78.8/57.6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 67.5/46.6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 55.4/37.2
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 43.9/28
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/louisville-climate|title=Louisville, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| Louisville
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 43/26.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 47.8/29.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 57.9/37.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 68.8/47.3
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 77.1/57
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 85.3/66
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 88.7/69.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 88.3/68.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 81.5/60.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 70.1/48.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 57.9/39.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 45.8/30
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/owensboro-climate|title=Owensboro, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:Black; height:16px;"| Owensboro
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 41.2/23.2
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 46.6/26.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 58.3/36.7
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 69.3/45.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 78.1/54.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 86.4/62.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 89.2/66.6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 88.2/64.4
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 82.4/58.3
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 71.6/45.7
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 58.1/37.4
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 45.9/28.2
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/paducah-climate|title=Paducah, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| Paducah
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 43.4/25.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 48.9/29.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 59/37.7
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 69.4/46.6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 78/56.3
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 86.2/64.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 89.3/68.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 89/66.1
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 82.1/57.8
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 71/46.7
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 58.4/37.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 46.3/28.6
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/pikeville-climate|title=Pikeville, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:Black; height:16px;"| Pikeville
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 44/23
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 50/25
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 60/32
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 69/39
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 77/49
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 84/58
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 87/63
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 86/62
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 80/56
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 71/42
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 60/33
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:Black;"| 49/26
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/ashland-climate|title=Ashland, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| Ashland
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 42/19
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 47/21
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 57/29
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 68/37
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 77/47
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 84/56
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 88/61
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 87/59
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 80/52
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 69/40
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 57/31
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 46/23
|-<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/kentucky-usa/bowling-green-climate|title=Bowling Green, KY – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|first=Yu Media Group|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Atlas}}</ref>
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:Black; height:16px;"| Bowling Green
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 45/26.4
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 50/29.6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 59.8/37
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 69.7/45.6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 77.8/55
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 86.1/63.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 89.4/67.9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 88.9/66.1
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 82.1/58
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 71.2/46.3
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 59.4/37.5
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:Black;"| 47.9/29.2
|}

====Climate change====

{{Excerpt|Climate change in Kentucky}}

====Natural disasters====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Deadliest weather events in Kentucky history
! Date
! Death Toll
! Affected Regions
|-
| [[March 1890 middle Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak]] || March 27, 1890 || 200+ || Louisville, W KY
|-
| [[Gradyville flood]] || June 7, 1907 || 20 || Gradyville
|-
| [[May–June 1917 tornado outbreak sequence]] || May 27, 1917 || 66 || Fulton area
|-
| [[Early-May 1933 tornado outbreak sequence]] || May 9, 1933 Tornado || 38 || South Central KY
|-
| [[Ohio River flood of 1937]] || Early 1937 || unknown || Statewide
|-
| [[1974 Super Outbreak|April 3, 1974 tornado outbreak]] || April 3, 1974 || 72 || Statewide
|-
| March 1, 1997 Flooding || Early March 1997 || 18 || Statewide
|-
| [[Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2004]]<ref>{{cite web|author= John Denman |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/lmk/climate/2004_review.pdf |title=2004 in Review for Central Kentucky and South-Central Indiana |publisher=weather.gov |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>|| May 30, 2004 || 0 || [[Jefferson County, KY]]
|-
| [[December 21–24, 2004 North American winter storm]]<ref>{{cite web|author= US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service |url=https://www.weather.gov/lmk/22dec2004_winterstorm |title=December 22, 2004 Snow Storm |publisher=weather.gov |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>|| December 21–24, 2004 || unknown || Statewide
|-
| Widespread Flash Flooding<ref>{{cite web|author= US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/pah/Top10Events/2006/September22Flood.pdf |title=September 2006 was the wettest September on record at some locations |publisher=weather.gov |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>|| September 22–23, 2006 || 6 || Statewide
|-
| [[January 2009 North American ice storm]]<ref>{{cite web|author= US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service |url=https://www.weather.gov/lmk/jan_2009_ice_and_snow |title=Ice and Snow Storm of January 28–29, 2009 |publisher=weather.gov |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>|| January 26–28, 2009 || 35 || Statewide
|-
| [[2009 Kentuckiana Flash Flood]]<ref>{{cite web|author= US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service |url=https://www.weather.gov/lmk/august_4_2009_flash_flood |title=Flash Flood of August 4, 2009 |publisher=weather.gov |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref>|| August 4, 2009 || 36 || [[Kentuckiana]]
|-
| [[Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012]] || March 2, 2012 || 22 || Statewide
|}

===Lakes and rivers===

{{See also|List of lakes in Kentucky|List of rivers of Kentucky|List of dams and reservoirs in Kentucky}}
[[File:Wolf Creek Dam and Lake Cumberland, KY.jpg|thumb|[[Lake Cumberland]] is the largest artificial American lake east of the [[Mississippi River]] by volume.]]

Kentucky has more navigable miles of water than any other state in the union, other than Alaska.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corbin, Kentucky: A Fisherman's Paradise |publisher=Corbin, Kentucky Economic Development |url=http://www.corbinkentucky.us/fishing.htm |access-date=November 29, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626140323/http://corbinkentucky.us/fishing.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2006 }}</ref>

Kentucky is the only U.S. state to have a continuous border of rivers running along three of its sides{{snd}}the [[Mississippi River]] to the west, the [[Ohio River]] to the north, and the [[Big Sandy River (Ohio River)|Big Sandy River]] and [[Tug Fork]] to the east.<ref name="kye-rivers">{{cite book |editor=Kleber, John E. |others=Associate editors: [[Thomas D. Clark]], [[Lowell H. Harrison]], and [[James C. Klotter]] |title=''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'' |year=1992 |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=[[Lexington, Kentucky]] |isbn=978-0-8131-1772-0 |chapter=Rivers |page=774 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcceBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA774 |access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> Its major internal rivers include the [[Kentucky River]], [[Tennessee River]], [[Cumberland River]], [[Green River (Kentucky)|Green River]] and [[Licking River (Kentucky)|Licking River]].

Though it has only three major natural lakes,<ref name="kye-lakes">{{cite book |editor=Kleber, John E. |others=Associate editors: [[Thomas D. Clark]], [[Lowell H. Harrison]], and [[James C. Klotter]] |title=''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'' |year=1992 |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=[[Lexington, Kentucky]] |isbn=978-0-8131-1772-0 |chapter=Lakes|page=531|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcceBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA531|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> Kentucky is home to many [[artificial lake]]s. Kentucky has both the largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi in water volume ([[Lake Cumberland]]) and surface area ([[Kentucky Lake]]). Kentucky Lake's {{convert|2064|mi|km}} of shoreline, {{convert|160300|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of water surface, and {{Convert|4,008,000|acre-ft|e9m3|lk=on|sigfig=2|abbr=off|sp=us}} of flood storage are the most of any lake in the [[Tennessee Valley Authority|TVA]] system.<ref>Tennessee Valley Authority, ''The Kentucky Project: A Comprehensive Report on the Planning, Design, Construction, and Initial Operations of the Kentucky Project'', Technical Report No. 13 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1951), pp. 1–12, 68, 115–116, 509.</ref>

Kentucky's {{convert|90000|mi|km|-4}} of streams provides one of the most expansive and complex stream systems in the nation.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Ia7Rga26OkC&pg=PA39 | title=You Live Where?: Interesting and Unusual Facts about where We Live | publisher=iUniverse | author=Thompson, George E. | year=2009 | page=39| isbn=9781440134210}}</ref>

===Natural environment and conservation===

[[File:WaterfrontPkDwnt.jpg|thumb|Once an industrial wasteland, Louisville's reclaimed waterfront now features thousands of trees and miles of walking trails.]]

Kentucky has an expansive park system, which includes one national park, two National Recreation Areas, two National Historic Parks, two [[United States National Forest|national forests]], two National Wildlife Refuges, 45 [[state park]]s, {{convert|37896|acre|km2|0}} of state forest, and 82 [[wildlife management area]]s.

Kentucky has been part of two of the most successful wildlife reintroduction projects in United States history. In the winter of 1997, the [[Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources]] began to re-stock [[elk]] in the state's eastern counties, which had been extinct from the area for over 150 years. {{as of|2009}}, the herd had reached the project goal of 10,000 animals, making it the largest herd east of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://fw.ky.gov/elkinfo.asp?lid=1653&NavPath=C117C147C301C547 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926064155/http://fw.ky.gov/elkinfo.asp?lid=1653&NavPath=C117C147C301C547 |archive-date=September 26, 2006 |title=Elk Restoration Update and Hunting Information |publisher=Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources |access-date=December 9, 2006 }}</ref>

The state also stocked [[wild turkey]]s in the 1950s. There were reported to be fewer than 900 at one point. Once nearly extinct here, wild turkeys thrive throughout today's Kentucky.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pearce|first=Tom|title=Once nearly extinct, turkeys gobbling throughout state |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1696&dat=19940327&id=T_4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=6989,2846713&hl=en |access-date=May 15, 2016 |work=Bowling Green Daily News |date=March 27, 1994}}</ref> Hunters officially reported a record 29,006 birds taken during the 23-day season in spring 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://fw.ky.gov/app/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=542 |title=Hunters Take Record Number of Spring Turkey |website=Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Service |access-date=January 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117104812/http://fw.ky.gov/app/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=542 |archive-date=January 17, 2013 }}</ref>

In 1991 the Land Between the Lakes partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Red Wolf Recovery Program, a captive breeding program.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 6, 2015|title=Wolf Week Spotlight: The Endangered Red Wolf|url=https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/wolf-week-spotlight-the-endangered-red-wolf/|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=Land Between the Lakes|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Natural attractions===

[[File:Half Moon, Kentucky.JPG|thumb|[[Red River Gorge]] is one of Kentucky's most visited places.]]
[[File:Otter Creek Park 2.jpg|thumb|Forest at [[Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area]], Meade County, Kentucky]]
* [[Cumberland Gap]], chief passageway through the [[Appalachian Mountains]] in early American history.
* [[Cumberland Falls]], the only place in the Western Hemisphere where a "[[moonbow]]" may be regularly seen, due to the spray of the falls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cumberland Falls State Resort Park |date=October 19, 2005 |
publisher=Kentucky Department of Parks |url = http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/cf/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061005015537/http://parks.ky.gov/resortparks/cf/ |archive-date=October 5, 2006 |access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Mammoth Cave National Park]], featuring the world's longest known cave system.<ref>{{cite web | title=Mammoth Cave National Park |date=October 12, 2006 | publisher=National Park Service | url = http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm | access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Red River Gorge]] Geological Area, part of the [[Daniel Boone National Forest]].
* [[Land Between the Lakes]], a [[National Recreation Area]] managed by the [[United States Forest Service]].
* [[Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area]] near [[Whitley City, Kentucky|Whitley City]].
* [[Black Mountain (Kentucky)|Black Mountain]], state's highest point.<ref name="usgs">{{cite web | title=Science in Your Backyard: Kentucky | publisher=United States Geological Survey | url=http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=KY | access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref> Runs along the south ridge of Pine Mountain in Letcher County, Kentucky. The highest point located in Harlan County.
* [[Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve]], {{convert|2639|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} state nature preserve on southern slope of Pine Mountain in [[Letcher County, Kentucky|Letcher County]]. Includes one of the largest concentrations of rare and endangered species in the state,<ref>{{cite web| title=Bad Branch State Nature Preserve | publisher=Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission | url=http://www.naturepreserves.ky.gov/stewardship/badbranch.htm | access-date=November 29, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061024022402/http://www.naturepreserves.ky.gov/stewardship/badbranch.htm| archive-date = October 24, 2006}}</ref> as well as a {{convert|60|ft|m|0|adj=on}} waterfall and a Kentucky Wild River.{{clarify|reason=What does 'a Kentucky Wild River' mean?|date=June 2014}}
* [[Jefferson Memorial Forest]], located in the southern fringes of [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] in the [[Knobs region]], the largest municipally run forest in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | title=Jefferson Memorial Forest | url=http://www.louisvilleky.gov/metroparks/parks/jeffersonmemorialforest/ | access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Lake Cumberland]], {{convert|1255|mi|km|0}} of shoreline located in South Central Kentucky.
* [[Natural Bridge State Resort Park|Natural Bridge]], located in [[Slade, Kentucky]] [[Powell County, Kentucky|Powell County]].
* [[Breaks Interstate Park]], located in southeastern [[Pike County, Kentucky]] and Southwestern [[Virginia]]. The Breaks is commonly known as the "Grand Canyon of the South".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/virginia/grand-canyon-of-virginia/|title=The Grand Canyon of the South Is Right Here in Virginia And It's Breathtaking|newspaper=OnlyInYourState|access-date=February 16, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==

{{Main|History of Kentucky}}
[[File:LincolnBirthplaceJBM82908.jpg|thumb|[[Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park|Abraham Lincoln Birthplace]] near [[Hodgenville, Kentucky|Hodgenville]]]]

===Native American settlement===

It is not known exactly when the first humans arrived in what is now Kentucky. Based on the evidence in other regions, humans were likely living in Kentucky prior to 10,000 BCE, but "archaeological evidence of their occupation has yet to be documented".<ref name=Pollack>{{cite report|last1=Pollack |first1=David |first2=M. May |last2=Stottman |title=Archaeological Investigation of the State Monument, Frankfort, Kentucky |date=August 2005 |publisher=Kentucky Archaeological Survey |volume=KAS Report No. 104 |url=http://heritage.ky.gov/nr/rdonlyres/2d6096f9-a3b5-48e2-85cb-e04a99eca539/0/statemonument.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413194143/http://heritage.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2D6096F9-A3B5-48E2-85CB-E04A99ECA539/0/StateMonument.pdf |archive-date=April 13, 2015 }}</ref> Around 1800 BCE, a gradual transition began from a hunter-gatherer economy to agriculturalism. Around 900 CE, a [[Mississippian culture]] took root in western and central Kentucky; by contrast, a [[Fort Ancient culture]] appeared in eastern Kentucky. While the two had many similarities, the distinctive ceremonial earthwork mounds constructed in the former's centers were not part of the culture of the latter.

In about the 10th century, the Kentucky native people's variety of corn became highly productive, supplanting the [[Eastern Agricultural Complex]], and replaced it with a maize-based agriculture in the [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian era]]. French explorers in the 17th century documented numerous tribes living in Kentucky until the [[Beaver Wars]] in the 1670s; however, by the time that European colonial explorers and settlers began entering Kentucky in greater numbers in the mid-18th century, there were no major Native American settlements in the region.

As of the 16th century, the area known as Kentucky was home to tribes from five different culture groups{{snd}}Iroquoian, Sioux, Algonquian, Muskogean and Yuchi. Around the Bluestone River was the Siouan [[Tutelo]]. North of the Tennessee River was the [[Yuchi]] and south of it was the [[Cherokee]]. Much of the interior of the state was controlled by the Algonquian [[Kispoko|Cisca]];<ref>louis, franquelin, jean baptiste. "Franquelin's map of Louisiana.". LOC.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2017.</ref> the confluence region of the Mississippi and Ohio was home to the [[Chickasaw]]. During a period known as the [[Beaver Wars]], 1640–1680, another Algonquian tribe called the Maumee, or [[Mascouten]] was chased out of southern Michigan.<ref>"EARLY INDIAN MIGRATION IN OHIO". GenealogyTrails.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.</ref> The vast majority of them moved to Kentucky, pushing the Kispoko east and war broke out with the Tutelo that pushed them deeper into Appalachia, where they merged with the [[Saponi]] and Moneton. The Maumee were closely related to the Miami of Indiana. Later, the Kispoko merged with the Shawnee (who broke off from the Powhatan on the east coast) and the Thawikila of Ohio to form the larger [[Shawnee]] nation which inhabited the Ohio River Valley into the 19th century.

The Shawnee from the northeast and Cherokee from the south also sent parties into the area regularly for hunting.

===Beaver Wars===

===European settlement===

{{Main|French and Indian War|Indian Reserve (1763)|Colony of Virginia|Kentucky County, Virginia}}

In 1774 James Harrod founded the first permanent European settlement in Kentucky at the site of present-day Harrodsburg.

===County of Kentucky and statehood===
{{See also|History of slavery in Kentucky}}

On Dec. 31, 1776, by an act of the [[Virginia General Assembly]], the portion of [[Fincastle County]] west of the Appalachians extending to the Mississippi River, previously known as Kentucky (or Kentucke) territory, was split off into its own county of [[Kentucky County, Virginia|Kentucky]]. Harrod's Town (Oldtown as it was known at the time) was named the county seat. The county was subdivided into [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson]], [[Lincoln County, Kentucky|Lincoln]] and [[Fayette County, Kentucky|Fayette]] Counties in 1780, but continued to be administered as the District of Kentucky even as new counties were split off.

On several occasions the region's residents petitioned the General Assembly and the [[Congress of the Confederation|Confederation Congress]] for separation from Virginia and [[U.S. state|statehood]]. Ten constitutional conventions were held in [[Danville, Kentucky|Danville]] between 1784 and 1792.
One petition, which had Virginia's assent, came before the Confederation Congress in early July 1788. Unfortunately, its consideration came up a day after word of [[New Hampshire]]'s all-important ninth [[Article Seven of the United States Constitution|ratification]] of the proposed [[United States Constitution|Constitution]], thus establishing it as the new framework of governance for the United States. In light of this development, Congress thought that it would be "unadvisable" to admit Kentucky into the Union, as it could do so "under the Articles of Confederation" only, but not "under the Constitution", and so declined to take action.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kesavan|first1=Vasan|title=When Did the Articles of Confederation Cease to Be Law|journal=Notre Dame Law Review|date=December 1, 2002|volume=78|issue=1|pages=70–71|url=http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndlr/vol78/iss1/3|access-date=October 31, 2015}}</ref>

On December 18, 1789, Virginia again gave its consent to Kentucky statehood. The [[United States Congress]] gave its approval on February 4, 1791.<ref>{{USStat|1|189}}</ref> (This occurred two weeks before Congress approved [[Vermont]]'s petition for statehood.<ref>{{USStat|1|191}}</ref>) Kentucky officially became the fifteenth state in the Union on June 1, 1792. [[Isaac Shelby]], a military veteran from Virginia, was elected its first Governor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution Square State Historic Site |publisher=Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.danville-ky.com/attractions2.php?category=History%20and%20Museums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011230008/http://danville-ky.com/attractions2.php?category=History%20and%20Museums |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=November 29, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Cherokee-American Wars===
A 1790 U.S. government report states that 1,500{{nbs}}Kentucky settlers had been killed by Native Americans since the end of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite book|author=James, James Alton|title=The Life of George Rogers Clark|location= Chicago|publisher= [[University of Chicago Press]]|year= 1928|isbn=978-0-404-03549-5}}</ref> As more settlers entered the area, warfare broke out with the Native Americans over their traditional hunting grounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merceronline.com/Native/native01.htm |title=The Presence |publisher=Mercer County Online |access-date=November 29, 2006 |website=History of Native Americans in Central Kentucky }}</ref>

===19th century===
{{Main|Ordinance of Secession|Border states (American Civil War)|Kentucky in the American Civil War}}
{{See also|Hatfield-McCoy feud}}
[[File:U.S. Marine Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky.jpg|thumb|Designed by the [[Washington Monument]]'s architect [[Robert Mills (architect)|Robert Mills]] in 1845, the [[United States Marine Hospital of Louisville|U.S. Marine Hospital]] in Louisville is considered the best extant [[Antebellum architecture|antebellum]] hospital in the country.]]

Central Kentucky, the bluegrass region, was the area of the state with the most [[History of slavery in Kentucky|slave owners]]. [[Planter (American South)|Planters]] cultivated [[tobacco]] and hemp (see [[Hemp in Kentucky]]) and were noted for their quality [[livestock]]. During the 19th century, Kentucky slaveholders began to sell unneeded slaves to the [[Deep South]], with Louisville becoming a major slave market and departure [[port]] for slaves being transported downriver.

[[Kentucky in the American Civil War|Kentucky was one of]] the [[Border states (American Civil War)|border states]] during the [[American Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Border States in the Civil War | date=February 15, 2002 | publisher=CivilWarHome.com | url=http://www.civilwarhome.com/borderstates.htm | access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref> Although frequently described as never having [[Secession|seceded]], representatives from 68 of 110 counties met at [[Russellville, Kentucky|Russellville]] calling themselves the "Convention of the People of Kentucky" and passed an [[Ordinance of Secession]] on November 20, 1861.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ordinances of Secession | publisher=Historical Text Archive | url=http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?action=read&artid=170 | access-date=November 29, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123052735/http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?action=read&artid=170 | archive-date=November 23, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> They established a [[Confederate government of Kentucky]] with its capital in [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Civil War Sites – Bowling Green, KY | publisher=WMTH Corporation | url=http://www.trailsrus.com/monuments/reg3/bowling_green.html | access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref>

Though Kentucky was represented by the central star on the [[Confederate battle flag]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ngeorgia.com/history/flagsofga.html |title=A Concise History of the Flags of the Confederate States of America and the Sovereign State of Georgia |access-date=November 29, 2006 |last=Irby, Jr. |first=Richard E. |website=About North Georgia |publisher=Golden Ink |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109093731/http://ngeorgia.com/history/flagsofga.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> it remained officially "neutral" throughout the war due to the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] sympathies of a majority of the Commonwealth's citizens. Some 21st-century Kentuckians observe [[Confederate Memorial Day]] on [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] leader [[Jefferson Davis]]' birthday, June 3, and participate in Confederate battle re-enactments.<ref>{{cite web | title=KRS 2.110 Public Holidays | publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] | url=http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/002-00/110.PDF | access-date=November 29, 2006 }}</ref><ref>Tony Hiss, ''Confederates in the Attic''</ref> Both Davis and U.S. president [[Abraham Lincoln]] were born in Kentucky. John C. Breckinridge, the 14th and youngest-ever Vice President was born in Lexington, Kentucky at Cabell's Dale Farm.

On January 30, 1900, Governor [[William Goebel]], flanked by two bodyguards, was mortally wounded by an [[assassination|assassin]] while walking to the State Capitol in downtown Frankfort. Goebel was contesting the [[Kentucky gubernatorial election, 1899|Kentucky gubernatorial election of 1899]], which [[William S. Taylor (Kentucky politician)|William S. Taylor]] was initially believed to have won. For several months, [[J. C. W. Beckham]], Goebel's running mate, and Taylor fought over who was the legal governor until the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] ruled in May in favor of Beckham. After fleeing to [[Indiana]], Taylor was indicted as a co-conspirator in Goebel's [[assassination]]. Goebel is the only governor of a U.S. state to have been assassinated while in office.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Old State Capitol |publisher=[[Kentucky Historical Society]] |url=http://history.ky.gov/sub.php?pageid=23&sectionid=8 |access-date=September 9, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827133601/http://history.ky.gov/sub.php?pageid=23&sectionid=8 |archive-date=August 27, 2007 }}</ref>

===20th century===

[[File:William Goebel statue.png|thumb|upright|Statue of William Goebel in Frankfort]]

The [[Black Patch Tobacco Wars]], a vigilante action, occurred in Western Kentucky in the early 20th century. As a result of the [[tobacco industry]] monopoly, tobacco farmers in the area were forced to sell their crops at prices that were too low. Many local farmers and activists united in a refusal to sell their crops to the major tobacco companies.

An Association meeting occurred in downtown [[Guthrie, Kentucky|Guthrie]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wkms.org/post/understanding-black-patch-tobacco-war-west-kentucky-and-tennessee#stream/0|title=Understanding the Black Patch Tobacco War of West Kentucky and Tennessee|publisher=[[WKMS]]|last1=Lochte|first1=Kate|last2=Markgraf|first2=Matt|date=September 22, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2016}}</ref> where a vigilante wing of "Night Riders", formed. The riders terrorized farmers who sold their tobacco at the low prices demanded by the tobacco corporations. They burned several tobacco warehouses throughout the area, stretching as far west as [[Hopkinsville, Kentucky|Hopkinsville]] to [[Princeton, Kentucky|Princeton]]. In the later period of their operation, they were known to physically assault farmers who broke the boycott. Governor [[Augustus E. Willson]] declared [[martial law]] and deployed the [[Kentucky National Guard]] to end the wars.

On October 15, 1959, a [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]] carrying two [[nuclear weapon]]s collided in midair with a KC-135 tanker near [[Hardinsburg, Kentucky]]. One of the nuclear bombs was damaged by fire but both weapons were recovered.<ref>[http://www.ksla.com/story/8708856/listing-of-b-52-crashes-since-1957 Listing of B-52 crashes since 1957], ''KSLA News, Channel 12''</ref>

==Law and government==

{{Further|List of governors of Kentucky|Kentucky Senate|Kentucky House of Representatives}}

Kentucky is one of four [[U.S. state]]s to officially use the term ''[[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|commonwealth]].'' The term was used for Kentucky as it had also been used by Virginia, from which Kentucky was created. The term has no particular significance in its meaning and was chosen to emphasize the distinction from the status of royal colonies as a place governed for the general welfare of the populace.<ref>[http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/kentucky.html The Commonwealth of Kentucky], Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer, [[University of Kentucky]] website.</ref> Kentucky was originally styled as the "State of Kentucky" in the act admitting it to the union since that is how it was referred to in Kentucky's first constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/1st-congress.php|title=Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America|author=United States Congress|website=Statutes at Large: 1st Congress|date=September 2014|page=189|access-date=June 4, 2017}}</ref>

The commonwealth term was used in citizen petitions submitted between 1786 and 1792 for the creation of the state.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} It was also used in the title of a history of the state that was published in 1834 and was used in various places within that book in references to Virginia and Kentucky.<ref>Butler, Mann, ''[https://archive.org/details/historyofcommonw00butl A History of the Commonwealth of Kentucky]'', Wilcox, Dickerman & Co., 1834.</ref> The other three states officially called "commonwealths" are [[Massachusetts]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Virginia]]. [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]] are also formally commonwealths.

Kentucky is one of only five states that elect their state officials in odd-numbered years (the others being [[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], [[New Jersey]], and [[Virginia]]). Kentucky holds elections for these offices every four years in the years preceding Presidential election years. Thus, Kentucky held gubernatorial elections in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

===Executive branch===

[[File:KY Governors Mansion.png|thumb|right|upright=1.35|The governor's mansion in [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]]]]

The executive branch is headed by the [[Governor of Kentucky|governor]] who serves as both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]]. The [[Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky|lieutenant governor]] may or may not have executive authority depending on whether the person is a member of the Governor's [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]]. Under the current [[Kentucky Constitution]], the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of the governor only if the governor is incapacitated. (Before 1992 the lieutenant governor assumed power any time the governor was out of the state.) The governor and lieutenant governor usually run on a single ticket (also per a 1992 constitutional amendment) and are elected to four-year terms. The current governor is [[Andy Beshear]], and the lieutenant governor is [[Jacqueline Coleman]]. Both are [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/357f0e6196414923acee9ee7aebdf8b8|title=Beshear set for 'next chapter' as Bevin concedes in Kentucky|date=November 14, 2019|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/matt-bevin-concedes-defeat-in-kentucky-governors-race/2019/11/14/42fc0ea7-2d26-4f87-9856-07f6c701ad7b_video.html|title=Matt Bevin concedes defeat in Kentucky governor's race|website=Washington Post}}</ref>

The executive branch is organized into the following "cabinets", each headed by a secretary who is also a member of the governor's cabinet:<ref>{{cite web|title=Organizational Charts|work=Kentucky Personnel|publisher=Kentucky Personnel Cabinet|access-date=December 23, 2020|url=https://personnel.ky.gov/Pages/OrgCharts.aspx}}</ref>

* [[Kentucky General Government Cabinet|General Government Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Transportation Cabinet|Transportation Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development|Cabinet for Economic Development]]
* [[Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet|Finance and Administration Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet|Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet|Education and Workforce Development Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services|Cabinet for Health and Family Services]]
* [[Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet|Justice and Public Safety Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Personnel Cabinet|Personnel Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Labor Cabinet|Labor Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet|Energy and Environment Cabinet]]
* [[Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet|Public Protection Cabinet]]

The cabinet system was introduced in 1972 by Governor [[Wendell Ford]] to consolidate hundreds of government entities that reported directly to the governor's office.<ref>{{cite book|title=Kentucky Government, Politics, and Public Policy|editor1-first=James C.|editor1-last=Clinger|editor2-first=Michael W.|editor2-last=Hail|location=Lexington, Kentucky|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|date=October 8, 2013|page=70|isbn=978-0-8131-4315-6|quote=By 1972 Governor Wendell Ford found himself in a situation similar to that of Governor [[Happy Chandler|Chandler]] thirty-six years earlier. At this time the executive branch had grown to over 60 departments and agencies and 210 boards and commissions falling under the jurisdiction of the governor. Governor Ford issued a reorganization report creating six cabinet departments and a framework for an executive branch that would be more manageable and accountable. As of 2012, this has grown to eleven cabinet departments with three additional cabinet-rank members under the office of Governor [[Steve Beshear|Beshear]]. Each cabinet agency is headed by a secretary who serves at the will of the governor.}}</ref>

Other elected constitutional offices include the [[Secretary of State of Kentucky|Secretary of State]], [[Attorney General of Kentucky|Attorney General]], Auditor of Public Accounts, [[Kentucky State Treasurer|State Treasurer]] and Commissioner of Agriculture. Currently, Republican [[Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)|Michael G. Adams]] serves as the Secretary of State. The commonwealth's chief prosecutor, law enforcement officer, and law officer is the Attorney General, currently Republican [[Daniel Cameron (Kentucky politician)|Daniel Cameron]]. The Auditor of Public Accounts is Republican [[Mike Harmon (politician)|Mike Harmon]]. Republican [[Allison Ball]] is the current Treasurer. Republican [[Ryan Quarles]] is the current Commissioner of Agriculture.

===Legislative branch===

[[File:U.S. Route 60 Frankfort, KY (23892062134).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.6|The [[Kentucky State Capitol]] building in [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]]]]

Kentucky's legislative branch consists of a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] body known as the [[Kentucky General Assembly]].

The [[Kentucky Senate|Senate]] is considered the [[upper house]]. It has 38 members and is led by the [[President of the Senate]], currently [[Robert Stivers]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]).

The [[Kentucky House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] has 100 members, and is led by the Speaker of the House, currently [[David Osborne]] of the Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wlky.com/article/kentucky-house-speaker-jeff-hoover-resigns-as-speaker-of-the-house/13304171|title=Representative Jeff Hoover resigns as Speaker of the House|last=Shaw|first=Courtney|date=November 6, 2017|work=WLKY|access-date=September 22, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In November 2016, Republicans won control of the House for the first time since 1922, and currently have supermajorities in both the House and Senate.<ref name="Hoover">{{cite web|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/34171035/jeff-hoover-becomes-kentuckys-first-republican-house-speaker-in-96-years|title=Jeff Hoover becomes Kentucky's first Republican House Speaker in 96 years|last=Boyd|first=Gordon|date=January 3, 2017|publisher=[[WAVE (TV)|WAVE]]|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Judicial branch===

The judicial branch of Kentucky is called the Kentucky Court of Justice<ref>{{cite web|url=http://courts.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx|title=Kentucky Court of Justice – Home|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> and comprises courts of [[limited jurisdiction]] called District Courts; courts of general jurisdiction called [[Kentucky Circuit Courts|Circuit Courts]]; specialty courts such as Drug Court<ref>{{cite web|url=http://courts.ky.gov/courtprograms/drugcourt/Pages/default.aspx|title=Adult Drug Court – Kentucky Drug Court: Saving Costs, Saving Lives|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> and Family Court;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://courts.ky.gov/courts/familycourt/Pages/default.aspx|title=Family Court|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> an intermediate appellate court, the [[Kentucky Court of Appeals]]; and a court of last resort, the [[Kentucky Supreme Court]].

The Kentucky Court of Justice is headed by the [[Chief Justice]] of the Commonwealth. The chief justice is appointed by, and is an elected member of, the Supreme Court of Kentucky. The current chief justice is [[John D. Minton Jr.]]

Unlike federal judges, who are usually appointed, justices serving on Kentucky state courts are chosen by the state's populace in non-partisan elections.

===Federal representation===

[[File:KY-districts-108.JPG|thumb|right|upright=2.05|A map showing Kentucky's six [[Kentucky Congressional Districts|congressional districts]]]]

Kentucky's two [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]] are [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]] [[Mitch McConnell]] and [[Rand Paul]], both Republicans. The state is divided into six [[Kentucky Congressional Districts|Congressional Districts]], represented by Republicans [[James Comer (politician)|James Comer]] ([[Kentucky's 1st congressional district|1st]]), [[Brett Guthrie]] ([[Kentucky's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]), [[Thomas Massie]] ([[Kentucky's 4th congressional district|4th]]), [[Hal Rogers]] ([[Kentucky's 5th congressional district|5th]]) and [[Andy Barr (American politician)|Andy Barr]] ([[Kentucky's 6th congressional district|6th]]) and Democrat [[John Yarmuth]] ([[Kentucky's 3rd congressional district|3rd]]).

In the federal judiciary, Kentucky is served by two [[United States district court]]s: the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky|Eastern District of Kentucky]], with its primary seat in Lexington, and the [[United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky|Western District of Kentucky]], with its primary seat in Louisville. Appeals are heard in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit]], based in [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]].

===Law===

[[File:Kentucky schild.jpg|thumb|State sign, [[Interstate 65]]]]

Kentucky's body of laws, known as the [[Kentucky Revised Statutes]] (KRS), were enacted in 1942 to better organize and clarify the whole of Kentucky law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lrc.ky.gov/statrev/revoff.htm |title=Reviser of Statutes Office – History and Functions |publisher=Kentucky Legislative Research Commission |access-date=December 27, 2006}}</ref> The statutes are enforced by local [[police]], [[Sheriffs in the United States|sheriffs]] and deputy sheriffs, and [[constable]]s and deputy constables. Unless they have completed a [[police academy]] elsewhere, these officers are required to complete Police Officer Professional Standards (POPS) training at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Center on the campus of [[Eastern Kentucky University]] in [[Richmond, Kentucky|Richmond]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docjt.jus.state.ky.us/history.html |title=History of the DOCJT |publisher=Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice |access-date=December 27, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323200601/http://docjt.jus.state.ky.us/history.html |archive-date=March 23, 2006 }}</ref> Additionally, in 1948, the [[Kentucky General Assembly]] established the [[Kentucky State Police]], making it the 38th state to create a force whose jurisdiction extends throughout the given state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/history.htm |title=History of the Kentucky State Police |publisher=Kentucky State Police |access-date=December 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206002358/http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/history.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kentucky is one of the [[Capital punishment in the United States|32 states in the United States]] that sanctions the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]] for certain murders defined as heinous. Those convicted of capital crimes after March 31, 1998 are always executed by [[lethal injection]]; those convicted on or before this date may opt for the [[electric chair]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/methods-execution#state |title=Authorized Methods of Execution by State |publisher=Death Penalty Information Center |access-date=December 28, 2006}}</ref> Only [[List of people executed in Kentucky|three people]] have been executed in Kentucky since the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] re-instituted the practice in 1976. The most notable execution in Kentucky was that of [[Rainey Bethea]] on August 14, 1936. Bethea was publicly hanged in [[Owensboro, Kentucky|Owensboro]] for the [[rape]] and murder of Lischia Edwards.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kypost.com/2001/jun/11/bethea061101.html |title=The Last Public Execution in America |work=[[The Kentucky Post]]|last=Long |first=Paul A. |date=June 11, 2001 |access-date=December 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117233210/http://www.kypost.com/2001/jun/11/bethea061101.html |archive-date=January 17, 2006}}</ref> Irregularities with the execution led to this becoming the last public execution in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/apr/010430.execution.html |title=The Last Public Execution in America |publisher=[[NPR]] |last=Montagne |first=Renee |date=May 1, 2001 |access-date=December 27, 2006}}</ref>

Kentucky has been on the front lines of the debate over displaying the [[Ten Commandments]] on public property. In the 2005 case of ''[[McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky]]'', the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] upheld the decision of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals]] that a display of the [[Ten Commandments]] in the [[Whitley City, Kentucky|Whitley City]] courthouse of [[McCreary County, Kentucky|McCreary County]] was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-1693.ZS.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616194116/http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-1693.ZS.html |archive-date=June 16, 2009 |title=''McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky'' |publisher=[[Cornell University]] Law School |access-date=December 27, 2006}}</ref> Later that year, Judge [[Richard Fred Suhrheinrich]], writing for the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals]] in the case of ''[[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]] of Kentucky v. [[Mercer County, Kentucky|Mercer County]]'', wrote that a display including the [[Mayflower Compact]], the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], the [[Ten Commandments]], the [[Magna Carta]], ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]'', and the [[In God We Trust|national motto]] could be erected in the [[Mercer County, Kentucky|Mercer County]] courthouse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/05a0477p-06.pdf |title=Text of decision in ''ACLU of Kentucky v. Mercer County'' |access-date=December 27, 2006}}</ref>

Kentucky has also been known to have unusually high political candidacy age laws, especially compared to surrounding states. The origin of this is unknown, but it has been suggested{{by whom|date=May 2014}} it has to do with the commonwealth tradition.

A 2008 study found that Kentucky's Supreme Court to be the least influential high court in the nation with its decisions rarely being followed by other states.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/us/11bar.html | work=The New York Times | first=Adam | last=Liptak | title=Around the U.S., High Courts Follow California's Lead | date=March 11, 2008}}</ref>

===Politics===

{{Further|Political party strength in Kentucky}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; margin:2em; font-size:90%;"
|+ '''Presidential elections results'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=21&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|title=Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Kentucky|publisher=US Election Atlas|access-date=December 31, 2009|author=Leip, David}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightpink;"
!Year
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''62.09%'''''1,326,646 ''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|36.15% ''772,474''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''62.54%''' ''1,202,942''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|32.69% ''628,834''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''60.49%''' ''1,087,190''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|37.80% ''679,370''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''57.37%''' ''1,048,462''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|41.15% ''751,985''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''59.55%''' ''1,069,439''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|39.69% ''712,733''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''56.50%''' ''872,492''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|41.37% ''638,898''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|44.88% ''623,283''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|'''45.84%''' ''636,614''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|41.34% ''617,178''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|'''44.55%''' ''665,104''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''55.52%''' ''734,281''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|43.88% ''580,368''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''60.04%''' ''822,782''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|39.37% ''539,589''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''49.07%''' ''635,274''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|47.61% ''616,417''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|45.57% ''531,852''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|'''52.75%''' ''615,717''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''63.37%''' ''676,446''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|34.77% ''371,159''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''43.79%''' ''462,411''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|37.65% ''397,541''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|35.65% ''372,977''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|'''64.01%''' ''669,659''
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#fff3f3;"|'''53.59%''' ''602,607''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0ff;"|46.41% ''521,855''
|}
[[File:United States presidential election in Kentucky, 2016.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|[[Treemap]] of the popular vote by county, 2016 presidential election]]

Where politics are concerned, Kentucky historically has been very competitive. It leaned toward the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] since 1860, when the Whig Party dissolved and was considered among the Democratic Solid South, excepting three occasions when it went for the Republican candidate. The southeastern section had aligned with the Union during the war and tended to support Republican candidates.

In a reversal of the demographics of party alignment in the post-Civil War nineteenth century, in the 21st century, state Democrats include liberal whites, African Americans, and other minorities. As of March 2020, 48.42% of the state's voters were officially registered as Democrats, and 42.75% were registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], who tend to be conservative whites. Some 8.83% were registered with some other [[political party]] or as Independents.<ref name="kypartyreg">{{cite web|url=https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Pages/Registration-Statistics.aspx|title=Election Statistics Registration Statistics|website=elect.ky.gov|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref> Despite this, a majority of the state's voters have generally elected Republican candidates for federal office since around the turn of the 21st century.

From 1964 through 2004, Kentucky voted for the eventual winner of the election for President of the United States; however, in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 election]] the state lost its [[bellwether]] status. Republican [[John McCain]] won Kentucky, but he lost the national popular and electoral vote to Democrat [[Barack Obama]] (McCain carried Kentucky 57% to 41%). 116 of Kentucky's 120 counties supported former [[Massachusetts]] Governor [[Mitt Romney]] in the 2012 election while he lost to Barack Obama nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/president/kentucky/|title=2012 Kentucky Presidential Results|website=POLITICO|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/map/#/President/2012/|title=2012 Election Results Map by State – Live Voting Updates|last=POLITICO|website=POLITICO|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref>

Voters in the Commonwealth supported the previous three Democratic candidates elected to the White House in the late 20th century, all from Southern states: [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] ([[Texas]]) in 1964, [[Jimmy Carter]] ([[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]) in 1976, and [[Bill Clinton]] ([[Arkansas]]) in 1992 and 1996. In 21st-century presidential elections, the state has become a Republican stronghold, supporting that party's presidential candidates by double-digit margins from 2000 through 2016. At the same time, voters have continued to elect Democratic candidates to state and local offices in many jurisdictions.

Kentucky is one of the most [[Anti-abortion movements|pro-life]] states in the United States. A 2014 poll done by [[Pew Research Center]] found that 57% of Kentucky's population thought that [[abortion]] should be illegal in all/most cases, while only 36% thought that abortion should be legal in all/most cases.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics|url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/compare/views-about-abortion/by/state/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|language=en-US}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2020<ref name="kypartyreg" />
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of voters
! Percentage
|-
{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1,680,046
| style="text-align:center;"| 48.42%
|-
{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1,483,086
| style="text-align:center;"| 42.75%
|-
{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| Other
| style="text-align:center;"| 306,276
| style="text-align:center;"| 8.83%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 3,469,408
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}

==Demographics==

{{Main|Demographics of Kentucky}}
[[File:Kentucky population map.png|thumb|upright=1.6|Kentucky Population Density Map]]
{{US Census population
|1790= 73677
|1800= 220955
|1810= 406511
|1820= 564317
|1830= 687917
|1840= 779828
|1850= 982405
|1860= 1155684
|1870= 1321011
|1880= 1648690
|1890= 1858635
|1900= 2147174
|1910= 2289905
|1920= 2416630
|1930= 2614589
|1940= 2845627
|1950= 2944806
|1960= 3038156
|1970= 3218706
|1980= 3660777
|1990= 3685296
|2000= 4041769
|2010= 4339367
|2020= 4505836
|align-fn=center
|footnote=Sources: 1790–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukcc.uky.edu/census/21.txt |title=Kentucky population |access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref><br />1910–2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Population Change Data (1910–2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429012609/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |date=April 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}

The [[United States Census Bureau]] estimates that the population of Kentucky was 4,467,673 on July 1, 2019, a 2.96% increase since the [[2010 United States Census]].<ref name="PopEstUS">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ky,US/PST045218|title=QuickFacts Kentucky; UNITED STATES|website=2018 Population Estimates|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division|date=February 21, 2019|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref>

As of July 1, 2016, Kentucky had an estimated population of 4,436,974, which is an increase of 12,363 from the prior year and an increase of 97,607, or 2.2%, since the year 2010. This includes a [[Population growth|natural increase]] since the last census of 73,541 people (that is 346,968 births minus 273,427 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 26,135 people into the state. [[Immigration to the United States|Immigration]] from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 40,051 people, and migration within the country produced a net decrease of 13,916 people. {{as of|2015}}, Kentucky's population included about 149,016 foreign-born persons (3.4%). In 2016 the population density of the state was 110 people per square mile (42.5/km<sup>2</sup>).<ref name="PopEstUS"/>

Kentucky's population has grown during every decade since records have been kept. But during most decades of the 20th century there was also net out-migration from Kentucky. Since 1900, rural Kentucky counties have had a net loss of more than a million people to migration, while urban areas have experienced a slight net gain.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.kltprc.net/books/exploring/Chpt_3.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090327130302/http://www.kltprc.net/books/exploring/Chpt_3.htm| archive-date = March 27, 2009 | title = Migration in Kentucky: Will the Circle Be Unbroken?| access-date = April 30, 2007| last = Price| first = Michael| website = Exploring the Frontier of the Future: How Kentucky Will Live, Learn and Work| publisher = University of Louisville| pages = 5–10}}</ref>

Kentucky's [[center of population]] is in [[Washington County, Kentucky|Washington County]], in the city of [[Willisburg, Kentucky|Willisburg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt |format=TXT |title=Population and Population Centers by State: 2000 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 27, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223204810/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt |archive-date=February 23, 2010 }}</ref>

===Race and ancestry===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.0em; border:none;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#ccf;"|Race/Ethnicity ([[#CITEREF2010CensusQuickFacts|2010]])
|-
|White, non-Hispanic
|align=right|86.3%
|-
|Black or African American
|align=right|7.8%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
|align=right|3.1%
|-
|Asian
|align=right|1.1%
|-
|American Indian or Alaska Native
|align=right|0.2%
|-
|Pacific Islander
|align=right|0.1%
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
|+ '''Kentucky racial breakdown of population'''
|-
! Racial composition !! 1990<ref>{{cite web|author1=Campbell Gibson and Kay Jung |title=Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |website=census.gov |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141224151538/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |date=September 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref>!! 2000<ref>{{cite web|last1=Office|first1=US Census Bureau Public Information|title=Census 2000 data for Kentucky|url=https://www.census.gov/census2000/states/ky.html|website=www.census.gov|access-date=January 14, 2017|language=EN-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118074958/http://www.census.gov/census2000/states/ky.html|archive-date=January 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=2010 Census Data|website=Census.gov|access-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref>
!2015 (Est.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/21,00|title=Population estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015)|website=www.census.gov|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[White American|White]] || 92.0% || 90.1% || 87.8%
|88.1%
|-
| [[African American|Black]] || 7.1% || 7.3% || 7.8%
|8.3%
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] || 0.5% || 0.7% || 1.1%
|1.4%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and<br />[[Alaska Natives|Alaska Native]] || 0.2% || 0.2% || 0.2%
|0.3%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiian]] and<br />[[Pacific Islands American|other Pacific Islander]] || – || – || 0.1%
|0.1%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Other race]] || 0.2% || 0.6% || 1.3%
| –
|-
| [[Multiracial American|Two or more races]] || – || 1.0% || 1.7%
|1.8%
|}

According to U.S. Census Bureau official statistics, the largest ancestry in 2013 was [[American ethnicity|American]] totalling 20.2%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=U.S. Census website |author=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS) |website=census.gov }}</ref> In 1980, before the status of ethnic American was an available option on the official census, the largest claimed ancestries in the commonwealth were [[English American|English]] (49.6%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (26.3%), and [[German American|German]] (24.2%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/files/pc80-s1-10/tab03.pdf|title=Ancestry of the Population by State: 1980 – Table 3|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&pg=PA57&dq=Sharing+the+dream:+white+males+in+multicultural+America++english+ancestry&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America] By Dominic J. Pulera.</ref><ref>Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', ''Demography'', Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.</ref><ref>Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', ''Social Science Research'', Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44–6.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first1=Stanley |last1=Lieberson |name-list-style=amp |first2=Mary C. |last2=Waters |title=Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites |journal=Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |volume=487 |issue=79 |year=1986 |pages=82–86 |doi=10.1177/0002716286487001004 |s2cid=60711423 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_5YR_B04001 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212214531/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_5YR_B04001 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |title=American FactFinder |publisher=U.S. Census |access-date=August 7, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP3|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212210601/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP3|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=American FactFinder |publisher=U.S. Census |access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> In the state's most urban counties of [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson]], [[Oldham County, Kentucky|Oldham]], [[Lexington, Kentucky|Fayette]], [[Boone County, Kentucky|Boone]], [[Kenton County, Kentucky|Kenton]], and [[Campbell County, Kentucky|Campbell]], German is the largest reported ancestry. Americans of [[Scots-Irish American|Scots-Irish]] and [[English American|English]] stock are present throughout the entire state. Many residents claim Irish ancestry because of known "Scots-Irish" among their ancestors, who immigrated from Ireland, where their ancestors had moved for a period from Scotland during the plantation period.

As of the 1980s, the only counties in the United States where over half of the population cited "[[English American|English]]" as their only ancestry group were in the hills of eastern Kentucky (virtually every county in this region had a majority of residents identifying as exclusively English in ancestry).<ref name="Eugene James Turner 1988">James Paul Allen and Eugene James Turner, ''We the People: An Atlas of America's Ethnic Diversity'' (Macmillan, 1988), 41.</ref>

The [[Ridgetop Shawnee]] organized in the early 21st century as a non-profit to gain structure for their community and increase awareness of Native Americans in Kentucky. In the 2000 census, some 20,000 people in the state identified as Native American (0.49%). In June 2011, Jerry "2 Feather" Thornton, a [[Cherokee]], led a team in the Voyage of Native American Awareness 2011 canoe journey, to begin on the Green River in [[Rochester, Kentucky]] and travel through to the Ohio River at [[Henderson, Kentucky|Henderson]].<ref>[http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/a-canoe-voyage-to-increase-cultural-understanding-24554 Vincent Schilling, "A Canoe Voyage to Increase Cultural Understanding"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117104801/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/a-canoe-voyage-to-increase-cultural-understanding-24554 |date=January 17, 2013 }}, ''Indian Country Today'', May 19, 2011, accessed January 16, 2012</ref>

African Americans, who were mostly enslaved at the time, made up 25% of Kentucky's population before the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]; they were held and worked primarily in the central [[Bluegrass region]], an area of hemp and tobacco cultivation, as well as raising blooded livestock. The number of African Americans living in Kentucky declined during the 20th century. Many migrated during the early part of the century to the industrial North and Midwest during the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] for jobs and the chance to leave the segregated, oppressive societies. Today, less than 9% of the state's total population is African-American.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

The state's African-American population is highly urbanized and 52% of them live in the Louisville metropolitan area; 44.2% of them reside in [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson County]]. The county's population is 20% African American.<!--year?--> Other areas with high concentrations, besides Christian and Fulton counties and the Bluegrass region, are the cities of [[Paducah, Kentucky|Paducah]] and [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]. Some mining communities in far Southeastern Kentucky have populations that are between five and 10 percent African-American.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

===Language===

In 2000 96.1% of all residents five years old and older spoke only [[American English|English]] at home, a decrease from 97.5% in 1990.<ref name="city-data.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/states/Kentucky-Languages.html|title=Kentucky – Languages|website=city-data.com|access-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Ky-butler.ogg|thumb|Pronunciation of "Butler County, Kentucky" by Dorothy Murphy, lifelong resident of [[Central City, Kentucky]]]]

Speech patterns in the state generally reflect the first settlers' Virginia and Kentucky backgrounds. South Midland features are best preserved in the mountains, but some common to Midland and Southern are widespread.<ref name="city-data.com"/> After a vowel, the /r/ may be weak or missing. For instance, ''Coop'' has the vowel of ''put'', but the root rhymes with ''boot''. In southern Kentucky, earthworms are called ''redworms'', a burlap bag is known as a ''tow sack'' or the ''Southern grass sack'', and green beans are called ''snap beans''. In Kentucky English, a young man may ''carry'', not escort, his girlfriend to a party.<ref name="city-data.com"/>

[[Spanish language|Spanish]] is the second-most-spoken language in Kentucky, after English.<ref name="city-data.com"/>

===Religion===

{{See also|Religion in Louisville, Kentucky}}
[[File:CollegeoftheBible-LexKY.JPG|thumb|[[Lexington Theological Seminary]] (then College of the Bible), 1904]]
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Kentucky (2014)<ref name="pew2014">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/|title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics |work=Pew Research Center}}</ref>
|titlebar=
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|Protestant|DarkViolet|65}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|No religion]]|black|22}}
{{bar percent|Catholic|DodgerBlue|10}}
{{bar percent|Other faith|green|2}}
}}
{{as of|2010}}, the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] (ARDA)<ref name="www.thearda.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/21/rcms2010_21_state_adh_2010.asp |title=The Association of Religion Data Archives &#124; State Membership Report |publisher=www.thearda.com |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113203617/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/21/rcms2010_21_state_adh_2010.asp |archive-date=January 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> reported the following groupings of Kentucky's 4,339,367 residents:
* 48% not affiliated with any religious group, 2,101,653 persons
* 42% [[Protestant Christian]], 1,819,860 adherents
** 33% [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Protestant]], 1,448,947 adherents (23% within the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], 1,004,407 adherents)
** 7.1% [[Mainline Protestant]], 305,955 adherents (4.4% in the [[United Methodist Church]], 189,596 adherents)
** 1.5% [[Black Protestant]], 64,958 adherents
* 8.3% [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholic Church]], 359,783 adherents
* 0.74% [[Latter-day Saints]], 31,991 adherents
* 0.60% other religions, 26,080 adherents (0.26% [[Muslim]], 0.16% [[Judaism]], 0.06% [[Buddhism]], 0.01% [[Hindu]], other [[Christianity|Christian]], etc.)

Kentucky is home to several seminaries. [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] is the principal seminary for the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]. Louisville is also the home of the [[Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary]], an institution of the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]]. Lexington has one seminary, [[Lexington Theological Seminary]] (affiliated with the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]]). The Baptist Seminary of Kentucky is located on the campus of [[Georgetown College]] in Georgetown. [[Asbury Theological Seminary]], a multi-denominational seminary in the [[Methodism|Methodist]] tradition, is located in nearby [[Wilmore, Kentucky|Wilmore]].

In addition to seminaries, there are several colleges affiliated with denominations:
* In Louisville, [[Bellarmine University]] and [[Spalding University]] are affiliated with the [[Catholic Church in the United States|Roman Catholic Church]].
* In [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], [[Transylvania University]] is affiliated with the [[Disciples of Christ]].
* In [[Owensboro, Kentucky|Owensboro]], [[Kentucky Wesleyan College]] is associated with the [[United Methodist Church]], and [[Brescia University]] is associated with the Roman Catholic Church.
* In Pikeville, the [[University of Pikeville]] is affiliated with the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]].
* In Wilmore, [[Asbury University]] (a separate institution from the seminary) is associated with the [[Christian College Consortium]].
* The [[Baptist]] denomination is associated with several colleges:
** [[University of the Cumberlands]], in [[Williamsburg, Kentucky|Williamsburg]]
** [[Campbellsville University]], in [[Campbellsville, Kentucky|Campbellsville]]
** [[Georgetown College (Kentucky)|Georgetown College]], in [[Georgetown, Kentucky|Georgetown]]
** [[Clear Creek Baptist Bible College]], in [[Pineville, Kentucky]]
* [[Grayson, Kentucky|Grayson]] in [[Carter County, Kentucky|Carter County]] is home to [[Kentucky Christian University]] which is affiliated with the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.
*The [[Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani]] is located in [[Bardstown, Kentucky]]. Author [[Thomas Merton]], known as a social activist, worked to reconcile Christianity with other major religions, had converted to Catholicism as a young man, and became a Trappist monk; he lived and worked here from 1941 until his death in 1968.

Louisville is home to the [[Cathedral of the Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky)|Cathedral of the Assumption]], the third-oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States. The city also holds the headquarters of the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] and their printing press. Reflecting late 19th, 20th and 21st-century immigration from different countries, Louisville also has [[Jew]]ish, [[Muslim]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Muslims in Louisville|url=http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_101_150/muslims_in_louisville.htm|access-date=December 7, 2011|publisher=Irfi.org}}</ref> and [[Hindu]] communities.

In 1996 the [[Center for Interfaith Relations]] established the Festival of Faiths, the first and oldest annual interfaith festival to be held in the United States.<ref>Scanlon, Leslie. “Festival to Showcase Religious Diversity.” ''The Courier-Journal'', November 14, 1996, p. 1</ref>

The Christian creationist apologetics group, [[Answers in Genesis]], along with its [[Creation Museum]], is headquartered in [[Petersburg, Boone County, Kentucky|Petersburg, Kentucky]].

==Economy==

{{See also|Economy of Louisville, Kentucky|Economy of Lexington, Kentucky|Kentucky locations by per capita income}}
[[File:2012 Toyota Camry SE -- 02-29-2012.JPG|thumb|right|The best selling car in the United States, the [[Toyota Camry]], is manufactured in [[Georgetown, Kentucky]].]]
[[File:Ford F-150 XL SuperCrew -- 03-10-2010.jpg|thumb|right|The best selling truck in the United States, the [[Ford F-Series]], is manufactured in [[Louisville, Kentucky]].]]

Early in its history, Kentucky gained recognition for its excellent farming conditions. It was the site of the first commercial [[winery]] in the United States (started in present-day [[Jessamine County, Kentucky|Jessamine County]] in 1799) and due to the high calcium content of the soil in the Bluegrass region quickly became a major horse breeding (and later racing) area. Today Kentucky ranks 5th nationally in goat farming, 8th in [[beef cattle]] production,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bamabeef.org/NewStateandCountyrankings05.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060504170140/http://www.bamabeef.org/NewStateandCountyrankings05.htm| archive-date = May 4, 2006| title = 2007 Rankings of States and Counties
| access-date = May 1, 2007| publisher = bamabeef.org}}</ref> and 14th in corn production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/EM453/docs/em453_Corn_Production_Det_Answers.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605025350/http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/EM453/docs/em453_Corn_Production_Det_Answers.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2007 |title=Corn Production Detective |publisher=National Council on Economic Education |access-date=May 3, 2007}}</ref> Kentucky has also been a long-standing major center of the tobacco industry{{snd}}both as a center of business and tobacco farming.

Today Kentucky's economy has expanded to importance in non-agricultural terms as well, especially in auto manufacturing, energy fuel production, and medical facilities.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Are Kentucky Farmers Prepared for Farm-Related Emergencies?|journal = Journal of Agromedicine|volume = 24|issue=1|pages = 9–14|last=Hunt|first=Matthew|date=2019|doi=10.1080/1059924x.2018.1536571|pmid = 30317936|s2cid = 52977999}}</ref>

Kentucky ranks 4th among U.S. states in the number of automobiles and trucks assembled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tradeandindustrydev.com/region/kentucky/kentucky-in-middle-auto-alley-429 |title=Kentucky &#124; Trade and Industry Development |publisher=Tradeandindustrydev.com |access-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref> The [[Chevrolet Corvette]], [[Cadillac XLR]] (2004–2009), [[Ford Escape]], [[Ford Super Duty]] trucks, [[Ford Expedition]], [[Lincoln Navigator]], [[Toyota Camry]],<ref name=YearInKyBusiness/> [[Toyota Avalon]],<ref name=YearInKyBusiness/> [[Toyota Camry Solara|Toyota Solara]], [[Toyota Venza]],<ref name=YearInKyBusiness/> and [[Lexus ES 350]]<ref name=YearInKyBusiness/> are assembled in Kentucky.

Kentucky has historically been a major coal producer, but the coal industry has been in decline since the 1980s, and the number of people employed in the coal industry there dropped by more than half between 2011 and 2015.<ref name=YearInKyBusiness/>

{{as of|2010}}, 24% of electricity produced in the U.S. depended on either enriched uranium rods coming from the [[Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant]] (the only domestic site of low-grade uranium enrichment),{{Update inline|date=May 2021|reason=closed in 2013}} or from the 107,336 tons of coal extracted from the state's two coal fields (which combined produce 4% percent of the electricity in the United States).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geology.utah.gov/emp/energydata/statistics/coal2.0/pdf/T2.7.pdf |title=Utah Geological Survey – U.S. Coal Production by State, 1994–2009 |access-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103115412/http://geology.utah.gov/emp/energydata/statistics/coal2.0/pdf/T2.7.pdf |archive-date=November 3, 2010 }}</ref>

Kentucky produces 95% of the world's supply of [[bourbon whiskey]], and the number of barrels of bourbon being aged in Kentucky (more than 5.7{{nbs}}million) exceeds the state's population.<ref name=YearInKyBusiness>{{cite news| first=Tom |last=Eblin |url=http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/tom-eblen/article51795000.html |title=Year in Kentucky business saw Toyota expand, bourbon boom, coal decline |newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |date=December 27, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="APBourbon">Associated Press, [http://www.seattletimes.com/business/bourbon-tennessee-whiskey-sales-soar-in-us-exports-top-1b/ Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey Sales Up in US; Exports Top $1B] (February 3, 2015).</ref> Bourbon has been a growing market{{snd}}with production of Kentucky bourbon rising 170 percent between 1999 and 2015.<ref name=YearInKyBusiness/> In 2019 the state had more than fifty distilleries for bourbon production.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.columbusmonthly.com/entertainmentlife/20190319/best-driving-vacations-kentucky-bourbon-trail?template=ampart|title=Best Driving Vacations: Kentucky Bourbon Trail|date=March 19, 2019}}</ref>

Kentucky exports reached a record $22.1{{nbs}}billion in 2012, with products and services going to 199 countries.<ref>{{cite web|last=Snchez |first=Francisco J. |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/15/2558257/ky-one-of-fastest-growing-states.html |title=Ky. one of fastest-growing states in exporting products &#124; Op-Ed |publisher=Kentucky.com |date=March 15, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state, new business investment in Kentucky in 2012 totaled nearly $2.7{{nbs}}billion, with the creation of more than 14,000 new jobs. One such investment was L'Oréal in Northern Kentucky, which added 200 jobs on top of the 280 already in existing facilities in Florence and Walton.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-15/maker-of-hair-care-products-to-expand-in-kentucky |title=Maker of hair care products to expand in Kentucky |magazine=Businessweek |access-date=July 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603095042/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-15/maker-of-hair-care-products-to-expand-in-kentucky |archive-date=June 3, 2013 }}</ref>

[[Fort Knox]], a [[United States Army]] post best known as the site of the [[United States Bullion Depository]], which is used to house a large portion of the United States official [[gold reserves]], is located in Kentucky between Louisville and [[Elizabethtown, Kentucky|Elizabethtown]]. In May 2010, the [[United States Army Human Resources Command|Army Human Resource Center of Excellence]], the largest office building in the state at nearly {{convert|900000|sqft}} opened at Fort Knox. The complex employs nearly 4,300 soldiers and civilians.<ref>{{cite news|author=Business First|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2010/05/24/daily42.html |title=Human resource center opens at Fort Knox |publisher=Louisville.bizjournals.com |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref>

Kentucky contains two of the twenty [[List of U.S. federal prisons|U.S. Federal Penitentiaries]]: [[USP Big Sandy]] (in the east in [[Martin County, Kentucky|Martin County]] near [[Inez, Kentucky|Inez]]) and [[USP McCreary]] (in the south in [[McCreary County, Kentucky|McCreary County]] in the [[Daniel Boone National Forest]]).

The total gross state product for 2019 Q1 was $213.313{{nbs}}billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bea.gov/system/files/2019-07/qgdpstate0719.pdf|title=Table 3. Current-Dollar Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State and Region, 2018:Q1-2019:Q1|access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref> Its per capita income was $25,888 in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/KY/INC110217|title=QuickFacts Kentucky|access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref> An organization called the [[Institute for Truth in Accounting]] estimated that the state government's debts exceeded its available assets by $26,300 per taxpayer {{as of|2011|lc=y}}, ranking the state as having the 5th highest such debt burden in the nation.<ref name="The Institute for Truth in Accounting">{{cite web|url=http://www.statedatalab.org/state_data_and_comparisons/detail/kentucky|title=State Data Lab "Snapshot by the Numbers: Kentucky|date=January 2013|access-date=April 3, 2013}}</ref>

As of March 2021, the state's unemployment rate is 5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI/PressRelease/ED67F961-BA97-450E-82FC-490D33D7C146|title= Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Releases March 2021 Unemployment Report|access-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506181835/https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI/PressRelease/ED67F961-BA97-450E-82FC-490D33D7C146|archive-date=6 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014 Kentucky was found to be the most affordable U.S. state in which to live.<ref>{{cite web|author=CNBC |url= https://www.cnbc.com/2014/06/24/americas-cheapest-states-to-live-in-2014.html?slide=11 |title=America's cheapest states to live in 2014 |publisher= CNBC.com |access-date=November 19, 2015}}</ref>

===Taxation===

Tax is collected by the [[Kentucky Department of Revenue]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://revenue.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx|title=Welcome – Department of Revenue|website=revenue.ky.gov}}</ref>

There are six [[income tax]] brackets, ranging from 2% to 6% of personal income.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_statetaxrate_KY.html| title = Kentucky Income Tax Rates| access-date = May 1, 2007| publisher = salary. com| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610140752/http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_statetaxrate_KY.html| archive-date = June 10, 2007| url-status = dead}}</ref> The sales tax rate in Kentucky is 6%.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://revenue.ky.gov/business/salesanduse.htm
 |title=Sales & Use Tax
 |access-date=May 1, 2007
|publisher=Kentucky Department of Revenue
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420210040/http://www.revenue.ky.gov/business/salesanduse.htm
 |archive-date=April 20, 2007
}}</ref>

Kentucky has a broadly based classified [[property tax]] system. All classes of property, unless exempted by the Constitution, are taxed by the state, although at widely varying rates.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://revenue.ky.gov/business/proptax.htm| title = Property Tax| access-date = May 1, 2007| publisher = Kentucky Department of Revenue| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070403180310/http://revenue.ky.gov/business/proptax.htm| archive-date = April 3, 2007}}</ref> Many of these classes are exempted from taxation by local government. Of the classes that are subject to local taxation, three have special rates set by the [[Kentucky General Assembly|General Assembly]], one by the [[Kentucky Supreme Court]] and the remaining classes are subject to the full local rate, which includes the tax rate set by the local taxing bodies plus all voted levies. Real property is assessed on 100% of the fair market value and property taxes are due by December 31. Once the primary source of state and local government revenue, property taxes now account for only about 6% of the Kentucky's annual General Fund revenues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bankrate.com/yho/itax/edit/state/profiles/state_tax_Ky.asp |title=State Taxes – Kentucky – Overview |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=bankrate.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408040707/http://www.bankrate.com/yho/itax/edit/state/profiles/state_tax_Ky.asp |archive-date=April 8, 2007 |url-status=dead }}
</ref>

Until January 1, 2006, Kentucky imposed a tax on intangible personal property held by a taxpayer on January{{nbs}}1 of each year. The Kentucky intangible tax was repealed under House Bill 272.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/05rs/HB272.htm| title = Text of the House Bill 272| access-date = August 10, 2007
| publisher = State of Kentucky}}</ref> Intangible property consisted of any property or investment that represents evidence of value or the right to value. Some types of intangible property included: bonds, notes, retail [[repurchase agreement]]s, accounts receivable, trusts, enforceable contracts sale of real estate (land contracts), money in hand, money in [[safe deposit box]]es, annuities, interests in estates, loans to stockholders, and commercial paper.

===Government-promoted slogans===

In December 2002, the Kentucky governor [[Paul E. Patton|Paul Patton]] unveiled the state slogan "It's that friendly",<ref name="nbcnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8598104/ns/us_news-weird_news/t/kentucky-frowns-smiley-license-plates/#.UXW--KJwiIQ |title=Kentucky frowns on smiley license plates |publisher=NBC News |date=July 16, 2005 |access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> in hope of drawing more people into the state based on the idea of [[southern hospitality]]. This campaign was neither a failure nor a success.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} Though it was meant to embrace southern values, many Kentuckians rejected the slogan as cheesy and ineffective.<ref name="nbcnews.com"/> It was quickly seen that the slogan did not encourage tourism as much as initially hoped for. So government decided to create a different slogan to embrace Kentucky as a whole while also encouraging more people to visit the Bluegrass.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kentucky.gov/Pages/unbridledspirit.aspx |title=Unbridled Spirit→Information |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=State of Kentucky |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601090945/http://kentucky.gov/Pages/unbridledspirit.aspx |archive-date=June 1, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2004, then Governor [[Ernie Fletcher]] launched a comprehensive [[brand]]ing campaign with the hope of making the state's $12–14{{nbs}}million advertising budget more effective.<ref>{{cite web|title = Branding campaign puts Kentucky in step with national trend – Louisville – Louisville Business First|url = http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2004/12/06/story3.html|website = Louisville Business First|access-date = November 27, 2015}}</ref> The resulting "Unbridled Spirit" brand was the result of a $500,000 contract with New West, a Kentucky-based public relations advertising and marketing firm, to develop a viable brand and tag line.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/02/business/02addes.html?_r=0 | work=The New York Times | title='Unbridled Spirit' Wins Kentucky Slogan Vote | date=December 2, 2004}}</ref> The Fletcher administration aggressively marketed the brand in both the public and private sectors. Since that time, the "Welcome to Kentucky" signs at border areas have an "Unbridled Spirit" symbol on them.

===Tourism===

{{See also|Kentucky Bourbon Trail}}
[[File:Ark Encounter 006.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Ark Encounter]] in [[Williamstown, KY]]]]

Tourism has become an increasingly important part of the Kentucky economy. In 2019 tourism grew to $7.6{{nbs}}billion in economic impact. Key attractions include [[horse racing]] with events like [[the Kentucky Derby]] and the [[Keeneland]] Fall and Spring Meets, [[Kentucky Bourbon Trail|bourbon]] distillery tours and natural attractions such as the state's many lakes and parks to include [[Mammoth Cave]], [[Lake Cumberland State Resort Park|Lake Cumberland]] and [[Red River Gorge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lanereport.com/116031/2019/08/kentucky-tourism-announces-increased-visitor-growth-and-spending-in-2018/|title=Kentucky Tourism says visitor spending rose to $7.6 billion in 2018 – Lane Report &#124; Kentucky Business & Economic News}}</ref>

The state also has several religious destinations such as the [[Creation Museum]] and [[Ark Encounter]] of [[Answers in Genesis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Itinerary: Northern Kentucky Biblical Wonders |url=https://www.kentuckytourism.com/culture/spirituality/spiritual-itineraries/northern-kentucky-biblical-wonders |access-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Answers in Genesis|url=https://answersingenesis.org/ |access-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref>

====The Horse Industry====

{{See also|Horse racing in the United States}}
[[File:KL Spring Running.jpg|thumb|Spring running of [[Keeneland Race Course|Keeneland]] in [[Lexington, KY]]]]

Horse Racing has long been associated with Kentucky. [[Churchill Downs]], the home of the Derby, is a large venue with a capacity exceeding 165,000.<ref>http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/211485/second-highest-derby-attendance-handle</ref> The track hosts multiple events throughout the year and is a significant draw to the city of Louisville. [[Keeneland Race Course]], in Lexington, hosts two major meets, the Spring and Fall running. Beyond hosting races Keeneland also hosts a significant horse auction drawing buyers from around the world. In 2019 $360{{nbs}}million was spent on the September Yearling sale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-biggest-horse-sale-keeneland-kentucky-photos-2019-10|title=What it's like going to the 'Super Bowl of horse sales,' where royals and millionaires bid on horses they hope might be the next Kentucky Derby winner|first=Katie|last=Warren|website=Business Insider}}</ref> The [[Kentucky Horse Park]] in [[Georgetown, Kentucky|Georgetown]] hosts multiple events throughout the year, including international equestrian competitions and also offers horseback riding from April to October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kyhorsepark.com/|title=Home|website=Kentucky Horse Park}}</ref>

==Transportation==

{{Main|Transportation in Kentucky}}
[[File:Kentucky Route 80 in Pulaski County.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|At {{convert|484|mi|km}} long, [[Kentucky Route 80]] is the longest route in Kentucky, pictured here west of [[Somerset, Kentucky|Somerset]].]]

===Roads===

{{See also|List of Kentucky State Highways}}

Kentucky is served by six major [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate highways]] ([[Interstate 24 in Kentucky|I-24]], [[Interstate 64 in Kentucky|I-64]], [[Interstate 65 in Kentucky|I-65]], [[Interstate 69 in Kentucky|I-69]], [[Interstate 71 in Kentucky|I-71]], and [[Interstate 75 in Kentucky|I-75]]), seven [[:Category:Kentucky parkway system|parkways]], and six bypasses and spurs ([[Interstate 165 (Kentucky)|I-165]], [[Interstate 169 (Kentucky)|I-169]], [[Interstate 264 (Kentucky)|I-264]], [[Interstate 265|I-265]], [[Interstate 275 (Ohio–Indiana–Kentucky)|I-275]], and [[Interstate 471|I-471]]). The parkways were originally [[toll road]]s, but on November 22, 2006, Governor [[Ernie Fletcher]] ended the toll charges on the [[William H. Natcher Parkway]] and the [[Audubon Parkway]], the last two parkways in Kentucky to charge tolls for access.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kctcs.net/todaysnews/index.cfm?tn_date=2006-09-28#6693 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008233115/http://www.kctcs.net/todaysnews/index.cfm?tn_date=2006-09-28#6693 |archive-date=October 8, 2006 |title=Fletcher:Tolls to end November 22 |access-date=May 1, 2007 |last=Stinnett |first=Chuck}}</ref> The related [[Toll house|toll booths]] have been demolished.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/nov/22/onlookers-cheer-booth-destruction-at-ceremony/| title = Onlookers Cheer Booth Destruction at Ceremony| access-date = August 10, 2007| last = Stinnett| first = Chuck| date = November 22, 2006| publisher = Courier Press}}</ref>

Ending the tolls some seven months ahead of schedule was generally agreed to have been a positive economic development for transportation in Kentucky. In June 2007, a law went into effect raising the speed limit on rural portions of Kentucky Interstates and parkways from {{convert|65|to|70|mph}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20070626/NEWS01/706260437|newspaper=[[Courier-Journal]]|title=Many new laws go on books today|author=Steitzer, Stephanie|date=June 26, 2007}}</ref>

Road tunnels include the interstate [[Cumberland Gap Tunnel]] and the rural [[Nada Tunnel]].

===Rails===

{{See also|List of Kentucky railroads}}
[[File:High Bridge in Kentucky.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|[[High Bridge of Kentucky|High Bridge]] over the [[Kentucky River]] was the tallest rail bridge in the world when it was completed in 1877.]]

[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to [[Ashland, Kentucky|Ashland]], [[South Shore, Kentucky|South Portsmouth]], [[Maysville, Kentucky|Maysville]] and [[Fulton, Kentucky|Fulton]]. The ''[[Cardinal (train)|Cardinal]]'' (trains 50 and 51) is the line that offers Amtrak service to Ashland, South Shore, Maysville and South Portsmouth. The ''[[City of New Orleans (train)|City of New Orleans]]'' (trains 58 and 59) serve Fulton. The [[Northern Kentucky]] area is served by the ''Cardinal'' at [[Cincinnati Union Terminal]]. The terminal is just across the [[Ohio River]] in [[Cincinnati]].

[[Norfolk Southern Railway]] passes through the Central and Southern parts of the Commonwealth, via its [[Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Texas Pacific]] (CNO&TP) subsidiary. The line originates in [[Cincinnati]] and terminates 338 miles south in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]].

{{as of|2004}}, there were approximately {{convert|2640|mi}} of railways in Kentucky, with about 65% of those being operated by [[CSX Transportation]]. [[Bituminous coal|Coal]] was by far the most common cargo, accounting for 76% of cargo loaded and 61% of cargo delivered.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aar.org/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx|format=PDF |title=Railroad Service in Kentucky |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=Association of American Railroads |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117104804/https://www.aar.org/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=January 17, 2013}} Also, Norfolk Southern's main north-south line runs through central and southern Kentucky, starting in Cincinnati. Formerly the CNO&TP subsidiary of Southern Railway, it is NS's most profitable line.
</ref>

[[Bardstown, Kentucky|Bardstown]] features a [[tourist attraction]] known as ''My Old Kentucky Dinner Train''. Run along a {{convert|20|mi|km|-1|adj=on}} stretch of rail purchased from [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] in 1987, guests are served a four-course meal as they make a two-and-a-half-hour round-trip between Bardstown and Limestone Springs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/visitorsguide/stories/071100_dinnertrain.html|title=On the Right Track – Kentucky Dinner Train serves up railroad nostalgia |access-date=May 1, 2007 |last=Knight |first=Andy |newspaper=Cincinnati.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410021419/http://www.cincinnati.com/visitorsguide/stories/071100_dinnertrain.html |archive-date=April 10, 2007}}
</ref> The [[Kentucky Railway Museum]] is located in nearby [[New Haven, Kentucky|New Haven]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kyrail.org/ |title= Kentucky Railway Museum|access-date=May 1, 2007}}</ref>

Other areas in Kentucky are reclaiming old railways in [[rail trail]] projects. One such project is Louisville's [[Big Four Bridge]]. When the bridge's Indiana approach ramps opened in 2014, completing the pedestrian connection across the Ohio River, the Big Four Bridge [[rail trail]] became the second-longest pedestrian-only bridge in the world.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Courier-Journal|title=Bridges money may be shifted|last=Shafer|first=Sheldon|date=March 5, 2007}}</ref> The longest pedestrian-only bridge is also found in Kentucky{{snd}}the [[Newport Southbank Bridge]], popularly known as the "Purple People Bridge", connecting [[Newport, Kentucky|Newport]] to [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/04/20/loc_purplebridge20.html |title= Meet the Purple People Bridge|access-date=May 1, 2007 |last= Crowley|first= Patrick|date=April 23, 2003 |newspaper= Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref>

===Air===

{{See also|List of airports in Kentucky}}

Kentucky's primary airports include [[Louisville International Airport]] (Standiford Field (SDF)) of [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]] (CVG) of [[Cincinnati]]/[[Covington, Kentucky|Covington]], and [[Blue Grass Airport]] (LEX) in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]. Louisville International Airport is home to [[United Parcel Service|UPS]]'s [[Worldport (UPS air hub)|Worldport]], its international air-sorting hub.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flylouisville.com/about-the-airport/ |title=Fast Facts |access-date=September 11, 2007 |publisher=Louisville International Airport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920170324/https://www.flylouisville.com/about-the-airport/ |archive-date=September 20, 2012 }}</ref> Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the largest airport in the state, and is a focus city for passenger airline [[Delta Air Lines]] and headquarters of its [[Delta Private Jets]]. The airport is one of [[DHL Aviation]]'s three super-hubs, serving destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, making it the 7th busiest airport in the U.S. and 36th in the world based on passenger and cargo operations.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} CVG is also a focus city for [[Frontier Airlines]] and is the largest O&D airport and base for [[Allegiant Air]], along with home to a maintenance for [[American Airlines]] subsidiary [[PSA Airlines]] and [[Delta Air Lines]] subsidiary [[Endeavor Air]]. There are also a number of regional airports scattered across the state.

On August 27, 2006, Blue Grass Airport was the site of a crash that killed 47 passengers and 2{{nbs}}crew members aboard a [[Bombardier CRJ]] designated [[Comair Flight 191]], or Delta Air Lines Flight 5191, sometimes mistakenly identified by the press as Comair Flight 5191.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/special_packages/crash/15378422.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105013158/http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/special_packages/crash/15378422.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2006 |title=Crash Kills 49 |date=November 5, 2006 |access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref> The lone survivor was the flight's [[First Officer (civil aviation)|first officer]], James Polehinke, who doctors determined to be brain damaged and unable to recall the crash at all.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/03/national/main2059120.shtml |title=Comair Crash Survivor Leaves Hospital |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=CBS | date=October 3, 2006}}</ref>
[[File:Barge hauling coal, Louisville and Portland Canal.jpg|thumb|A barge hauling coal in the [[Louisville and Portland Canal]], the only manmade section of the [[Ohio River]]]]

===Water===

As the state is bounded by two of the largest rivers in North America, water transportation has historically played a major role in Kentucky's economy. Louisville was a major port for steamships in the nineteenth century. Today, most barge traffic on Kentucky waterways consists of coal that is shipped from both the Eastern and Western Coalfields, about half of which is used locally to power many power plants located directly off the [[Ohio River]], with the rest being exported to other countries, most notably Japan.

Many of the largest ports in the United States are located in or adjacent to Kentucky, including:
* [[Port of Huntington-Tristate|Huntington-Tristate]] (includes [[Ashland, Kentucky]]), largest [[inland port]] and 7th largest overall
* Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky, 5th largest inland port and 43rd overall
* Louisville-Southern Indiana, 7th largest inland port and 55th overall

As a state, Kentucky ranks 10th overall in port tonnage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/inlandport03f.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825064009/http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/inlandport03f.pdf |archive-date=August 25, 2009 |title=Top 20 Inland U.S. Ports for 2003 |access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/portton01.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502153836/http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/portton01.htm |archive-date=May 2, 2010 |title=CY 2001 Tonnage for Selected U.S. Ports by Port Tons |date=May 2, 2010 |access-date=December 7, 2011}}</ref>

The only natural obstacle along the entire length of the Ohio River is the [[Falls of the Ohio]], located just west of [[Downtown Louisville]].

==Subdivisions and settlements==
===Counties===

{{See also|List of counties in Kentucky|Fiscal Court}}

Kentucky is subdivided into 120 [[county (United States)|counties]], the largest being [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike County]] at {{convert|787.6|sqmi|km2}}, and the most populous being [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson County]] (which [[Consolidated city–county|coincides with]] the [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville Metro]] [[Louisville Metro Council|governmental area]]) with 741,096 residents {{as of|2010|lc=y}}.<ref>[http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/kentucky-counties.html Kentucky Counties], University of Kentucky</ref>

County government, under the [[Kentucky Constitution]] of 1891, is vested in the [[County Judge/Executive]], (formerly called the County Judge) who serves as the [[Executive (government)|executive]] head of the county, and a [[legislature]] called a [[Fiscal Court]]. Despite the unusual name, the Fiscal Court no longer has [[judiciary|judicial]] functions.

===Consolidated city-county governments===

Kentucky's two most populous counties, Jefferson and Fayette, have their [[Consolidated city-county|governments consolidated with the governments of their largest cities]]. ''Louisville-Jefferson County Government'' ([[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville Metro]]) and ''Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government'' ([[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington Metro]]) are unique in that their city councils and county Fiscal Court structures have been merged into a single entity with a single [[mayor|chief executive]], the [[Louisville Metro Mayor|Metro Mayor]] and Urban County Mayor, respectively. Although the counties still exist as subdivisions of the state, in reference the names Louisville and Lexington are used to refer to the entire area coextensive with the former cities and counties. Somewhat incongruously, when entering Lexington-Fayette the highway signs read "Fayette County" while most signs leading into Louisville-Jefferson simply read "Welcome to Louisville Metro".

===Major cities===

{{See also|List of cities in Kentucky}}
{{Largest cities
| name = Largest cities
| country = Kentucky
| stat_ref = Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biggestuscities.com/ky|title=Biggest US Cities By Population – Kentucky – 2017 Populations|date=February 21, 2019|publisher=City Population|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| class = nav
| div_name =
| div_link = Counties of Kentucky{{!}}County
| city_1 = Louisville, Kentucky{{!}}Louisville
| div_1 = Jefferson County, Kentucky{{!}}Jefferson
| pop_1 = 623,349
| img_1 = Louisville Skyline.jpg
| city_2 = Lexington, Kentucky{{!}}Lexington
| div_2 = Fayette County, Kentucky{{!}}Fayette
| pop_2 = 321,959
| img_2 = LexingtonDowntown.JPG
| city_3 = Bowling Green, Kentucky{{!}}Bowling Green
| div_3 = Warren County, Kentucky{{!}}Warren
| pop_3 = 67,067
| img_3 = Shops_along_Fountain_Square_in_Bowling_Green,_Kentucky_2008.JPG
| city_4 = Owensboro, Kentucky{{!}}Owensboro
| div_4 = Daviess County, Kentucky{{!}}Daviess
| pop_4 = 59,404
| img_4 = Owensboro2ndStAnn.JPG
| city_5 = Covington, Kentucky{{!}}Covington
| div_5 = Kenton County, Kentucky{{!}}Kenton
| pop_5 = 40,455
| img_5 =
| city_6 = Richmond, Kentucky{{!}}Richmond
| div_6 = Madison County, Kentucky{{!}}Madison
| pop_6 = 35,397
| img_6 =
| city_7 = Georgetown, Kentucky{{!}}Georgetown
| div_7 = Scott County, Kentucky{{!}}Scott
| pop_7 = 33,660
| img_7 =
| city_8 = Florence, Kentucky{{!}}Florence
| div_8 = Boone County, Kentucky{{!}}Boone
| pop_8 = 32,305
| img_8 =
| city_9 = Hopkinsville, Kentucky{{!}}Hopkinsville
| div_9 = Christian County, Kentucky{{!}}Christian
| pop_9 = 30,789
| img_9 =
| city_10 = Nicholasville, Kentucky{{!}}Nicholasville
| div_10 = Jessamine County, Kentucky{{!}}Jessamine
| pop_10 = 30,553
| img_10 =
}}

The [[Louisville metropolitan area|Metro Louisville]] government area has a 2018 population of 1,298,990. Under [[United States Census Bureau]] methodology, the population of Louisville was 623,867. The latter figure is the population of the so-called [[Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance), Kentucky|"balance"]]{{snd}}the parts of Jefferson County that were either unincorporated or within the City of Louisville before the formation of the merged government in 2003. In 2018 the [[Louisville metropolitan area|Louisville Combined Statistical Area]] (CSA) had a population of 1,569,112; including 1,209,191 in Kentucky, which means more than 25% of the state's population now lives in the Louisville CSA. Since 2000, over one-third of the state's population growth has occurred in the Louisville CSA. In addition, the top 28 wealthiest places in Kentucky are in Jefferson County and seven of the 15 wealthiest counties in the state are located in the Louisville CSA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ksdc.louisville.edu/|title=Kentucky State Data Center|publisher=Ksdc.louisville.edu|access-date=August 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828171408/http://www.ksdc.louisville.edu/|archive-date=August 28, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Nonspecific|date=March 2017}}

The second-largest city is Lexington with a 2018 census population of 323,780, its metro had a population of 516,697, and its [[Lexington–Fayette–Frankfort–Richmond, KY Combined Statistical Area|CSA]], which includes the [[Frankfort, Kentucky micropolitan area|Frankfort]] and [[Richmond–Berea micropolitan area|Richmond]] statistical areas, having a population of 746,310. The [[Northern Kentucky]] area, which comprises the seven Kentucky counties in the [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky metropolitan area]], had a population of 447,457 in 2018. The metropolitan areas of Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky have a combined population of 2,402,958 {{as of|2018|lc=y}}, which is 54% of the state's total population on only about 19% of the state's land. This area is often referred to as the Golden triangle as it contains a majority of the state's wealth, population, population growth, and economic growth, it is also where most of the state's largest cities by population are located. It is referred to as the Golden triangle as the metro areas of Lexington, Louisville, and Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati outline a triangle shape. Interstates I-71, I-75, and I-64 form the triangle shape. Additionally, all counties in Kentucky that are part of an MSA or CSA have a total population of 2,970,694, which is 67% of the state's population.

{{as of|2017}} [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]] had a population of 67,067, making it the third most populous city in the state. The [[Bowling Green metropolitan area]] had an estimated population of 174,835; and the [[combined statistical area]] it shares with [[Glasgow, Kentucky|Glasgow]] has an estimated population of 228,743.

The two other fast-growing urban areas in Kentucky are the [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]] area and the "Tri-Cities Region" of southeastern Kentucky, comprising [[Somerset, Kentucky|Somerset]], [[London, Kentucky|London]] and [[Corbin, Kentucky|Corbin]].

Although only one town in the "Tri-Cities" (Somerset) currently has more than 12,000 people, the area has been experiencing heightened population and job growth since the 1990s. Growth has been especially rapid in Laurel County, which outgrew areas such as Scott and Jessamine counties around Lexington or Shelby and Nelson Counties around Louisville. London significantly grew in population in the 2000s, from 5,692 in 2000 to 7,993 in 2010. London also landed a [[Walmart|Wal-Mart]] distribution center in 1997, bringing thousands of jobs to the community.

In northeast Kentucky, the greater [[Ashland, Kentucky|Ashland]] area is an important transportation, manufacturing, and medical center. [[Iron and steel industry|Iron]] and [[petroleum]] production, as well as the transport of coal by rail and [[barge]], have been historical pillars of the region's economy. Due to a decline in the area's industrial base, Ashland has seen a sizable reduction in its population since 1990; however, the population of the area has since stabilized with the medical service industry taking a greater role in the local economy. The Ashland area, including the counties of [[Boyd County, Kentucky|Boyd]] and [[Greenup County, Kentucky|Greenup]], is part of the [[Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. More than 21,000 of those people ({{as of|2010|lc=y}}) reside within the city limits of Ashland.

The largest county in Kentucky by area is [[Pike County, Kentucky|Pike]], which contains [[Pikeville, Kentucky|Pikeville]] and suburb [[Coal Run Village, Kentucky|Coal Run Village]]. The county and surrounding area is the most populated region in the state that is not part of a [[United States Micropolitan Statistical Area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]] or a [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] containing nearly 200,000 people in five counties: [[Floyd County, Kentucky|Floyd County]], [[Martin County, Kentucky|Martin County]], [[Letcher County, Kentucky|Letcher County]], and neighboring [[Mingo County, West Virginia]]. Pike County contains slightly more than 68,000 people.

Only three U.S. states have capitals with smaller populations than Kentucky's [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]] (pop. 25,527): [[Augusta, Maine]] (pop. 18,560), [[Pierre, South Dakota]] (pop. 13,876), and [[Montpelier, Vermont]] (pop. 8,035).

==Education==

{{Main| Education in Kentucky}}
{{See also|Education Reform in Kentucky|List of colleges and universities in Kentucky|List of high schools in Kentucky|List of school districts in Kentucky}}
[[File:William T. Young Library.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|[[William T. Young Library]] at the [[University of Kentucky]], Kentucky's [[Flagship#University|flagship]] university.]]
[[File:Speed Engineering School, Louisville, Kentucky (1067).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|The [[J. B. Speed School of Engineering|J.B. Speed School of Engineering]] at the [[University of Louisville]], Kentucky's urban research university.]]

Kentucky maintains eight public four-year universities. There are two general tiers: major research institutions (the [[University of Kentucky]] and the [[University of Louisville]]) and regional universities, which encompass the remaining six schools. The regional schools have specific target counties that many of their programs are targeted towards (such as Forestry at [[Eastern Kentucky University]] or Cave Management at [[Western Kentucky University]]), however, most of their curriculum varies little from any other public university.

The University of Kentucky (UK) and the University of Louisville (UofL) have the highest academic rankings and admissions standards although the regional schools aren't without their national recognized departments{{snd}}examples being Western Kentucky University's nationally ranked Journalism Department or [[Morehead State University]] offering one of the nation's only Space Science degrees. UK is the flagship and land grant of the system and has agriculture extension services in every county. The two research schools split duties related to the medical field, UK handles all medical outreach programs in the eastern half of the state while UofL does all medical outreach in the state's western half.

The state's sixteen public two-year colleges have been governed by the [[Kentucky Community and Technical College System]] since the passage of the Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, commonly referred to as House Bill 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lrc.ky.gov/recarch/97ss/HB1/bill.doc |title=Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=State of Kentucky }}

</ref> Before the passage of House Bill 1, most of these colleges were under the control of the [[University of Kentucky]].

[[Transylvania University]], a liberal arts university located in Lexington, was founded in 1780 as the oldest university west of the [[Allegheny Mountains]].

[[Berea College]], located at the extreme southern edge of the Bluegrass below the Cumberland Plateau, was the first coeducational college in the [[Southern United States|South]] to admit both black and white students, doing so from its very establishment in 1855.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diversityweb.org/digest/vol10no1/mendel.cfm |title=Berea College:Learning, Labor, and Service |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=Diversity Web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705210337/http://www.diversityweb.org/digest/vol10no1/mendel.cfm |archive-date=July 5, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This policy was successfully challenged in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]] in the case of ''[[Berea College v. Kentucky]]'' in 1908.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brownat50.org/brownCases/PreBrownCases/BereavKty1908.html |title=Berea College v. Kentucky |publisher=Brownat50.org |access-date=December 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227013611/http://www.brownat50.org/brownCases/PreBrownCases/BereavKty1908.html |archive-date=December 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This decision effectively segregated Berea until the landmark ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' in 1954.

There are 173 school districts and 1,233 public schools in Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kde.state.ky.us/KDE/About+Schools+and+Districts/Kentuckys+Schools+and+Districts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302123424/http://www.kde.state.ky.us/KDE/About%2BSchools%2Band%2BDistricts/Kentuckys%2BSchools%2Band%2BDistricts/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2007 |title=Kentucky's Schools and Districts |publisher=Kentucky Department of Education |access-date=June 6, 2012 }}</ref> For the 2010 to 2011 school year, there were approximately 647,827 students enrolled in public school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kde.state.ky.us/KDE/HomePageRepository/News+Room/Kentucky+Education+Facts.htm |title=Kentucky Education Facts |publisher=Kentucky Department of Education |access-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420022820/http://www.kde.state.ky.us/KDE/HomePageRepository/News%20Room/Kentucky%20Education%20Facts.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2012 }}</ref>

Kentucky has been the site of much educational reform over the past two decades. In 1989 the [[Kentucky Supreme Court]] ruled the state's education system was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED327352&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&objectId=0900000b8004b71c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011234758/http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED327352&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&objectId=0900000b8004b71c |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |title=A Guide to the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 |access-date=May 1, 2007 |publisher=Education Resources Information Center}}[Abstract of A Guide to the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 – provided by Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)]</ref> The response of the [[Kentucky General Assembly|General Assembly]] was passage of the [[Kentucky Education Reform Act]] (KERA) the following year. Years later, Kentucky has shown progress, but most agree that further reform is needed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kltprc.net/foresight/Chpt_37.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207091202/http://www.kltprc.net/foresight/Chpt_37.htm |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |title=Education Reform and Equitable Excellence: The Kentucky Experiment |access-date=May 1, 2007 |last=Roeder |first=Phillip}}</ref>

The [[2018 West Virginia teachers' strike|West Virginia]] teachers' strike in 2018 inspired [[2018–19 education workers' strikes in the United States|teachers in other states]], including Kentucky, to take similar action.<ref>{{cite news |title=At least 4 Kentucky school districts close amid protests |url=https://www.apnews.com/3622dc9b61204787a5b5f3da24e409e1 |work=Associated Press |date=March 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Culture==

{{Main|Culture of Kentucky}}
{{See also|Theater in Kentucky|Performing arts in Louisville, Kentucky|List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area}}
[[File:Buffalo trace distillery.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Buffalo Trace Distillery]]]]

Although Kentucky's [[culture]] is generally considered to be [[Southern culture|Southern]], it is unique in that it is also influenced by the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and [[Appalachia|Southern Appalachia]] in certain areas of the state. The state is known for [[Bourbon whiskey|bourbon]] and [[whiskey]] distilling, [[tobacco]], [[horse racing]], and [[college basketball]]. Kentucky is more similar to the [[Upland South]] in terms of ancestry that is predominantly American.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040920132346/http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2004 |title=Ancestry 2000: Census 2000 Brief |author=Brittingham, Angela & de la Cruz, G. Patricia |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 28, 2007 |date=June 2004 }}</ref>

Nevertheless, during the 19th century, Kentucky did receive a substantial number of German immigrants, who settled mostly in the Midwest, along the Ohio River primarily in Louisville, Covington and Newport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kygermanscw.yolasite.com/the-story.php |title=Kentucky's German Americans in the Civil War |publisher=Kygermanscw.yolasite.com |access-date=July 2, 2010}}</ref> Only Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia have higher German ancestry percentages than Kentucky among Census-defined Southern states, although Kentucky's percentage is closer to Arkansas and Virginia's than the previously named state's percentages. [[Scottish American]]s, [[English American]]s and [[Scotch-Irish American]]s have heavily influenced Kentucky culture, and are present in every part of the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/maps/map.asp?state=101&variable=494 |title=2000 Census: Percent Reporting Any German Ancestry |access-date=July 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234406/http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/maps/map.asp?state=101&variable=494 |archive-date=September 26, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of the 1980s the only counties in the United States where more than half the population cited "English" as their only ancestry group were all in the hills of eastern Kentucky (and made up virtually every county in this region).<ref name="Eugene James Turner 1988"/>

Kentucky was a [[slave state]], and black people once comprised over one-quarter of its population; however, it lacked the [[cotton]] [[plantations in the American South|plantation]] system and never had the same high percentage of African Americans as most other slave states. While less than 8% of the total population is black, Kentucky has a relatively significant rural African American population in the Central and Western areas of the state.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://srdc.msstate.edu/poverty/ppts/cromartie.ppt| title = High Poverty in the Rural U.S. and South: Progress and Persistence in the 1990s| access-date=June 28, 2007| author = Beale, Calvin| date = July 21, 2004| format = PowerPoint| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070626232430/http://srdc.msstate.edu/poverty/ppts/cromartie.ppt| archive-date = June 26, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://srdc.msstate.edu/poverty/ppts/womack.ppt |title=The American Black Belt Region: A Forgotten Place |access-date=June 28, 2007 |author=Womack, Veronica L. |date=July 23, 2004 |format=PowerPoint |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626232429/http://srdc.msstate.edu/poverty/ppts/womack.ppt |archive-date=June 26, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bowdoin.edu/~prael/branch/ex1/m4-black-belt.jpg| title = Identifying the "Black Belt" of Cash-Crop Production| access-date = June 28, 2007| author = Unknown| format = JPEG Image| publisher = Bowdoin College| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070628062351/http://www.bowdoin.edu/~prael/branch/ex1/m4-black-belt.jpg| archive-date = June 28, 2007| url-status = dead}}</ref>

Kentucky adopted the [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow]] system of [[racial segregation]] in most public spheres after the Civil War. Louisville's 1914 ordinance for residential racial segregation was [[Buchanan v. Warley|struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1917]]. However, in 1908 Kentucky enacted the [[Day Law]], "An Act to Prohibit White and Colored Persons from Attending the Same School", which [[Berea College]] [[Berea College v. Kentucky|unsuccessfully challenged at the US Supreme Court in 1908]]; in 1948, [[Lyman T. Johnson]] filed suit for admission to the [[University of Kentucky]]; as a result in the summer of 1949, nearly thirty African American students entered UK graduate and professional programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/145|title=Desegregation of UK – ExploreKYHistory|website=ExploreKYHistory}}</ref> Kentucky integrated its schools after the 1954 ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' verdict, later adopting the first state civil rights act in the South in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kentucky OK's Rights Bill; 1st in South
|quote=Kentucky yesterday became the first state south of the [[Mason-Dixon line]] to adopt a civil rights measure. With only one dissenting vote, the state Senate approval a bill outlawing racial discrimination in public accommodations and employment that is stronger than the federal act of 1964. It sailed through the House 76 to 12 last week. A milder bill had failed to get out of committee in 1964{{nbs}}... Governor [[Edward T. Breathitt]] said he would sign the measure tomorrow at the base of [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s status in the capitol rotunda.
|date=January 26, 1966
|author=Chicago Tribune
|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1966/01/26/page/8/article/kentucky-oks-rights-bill-1st-in-south
|author-link=Chicago Tribune
}}</ref>
[[File:Werne's Row 4th and Hill, Old Louisville.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.15|[[Old Louisville]] is the largest Victorian Historic neighborhood in the United States.]]

The biggest day in American horse racing, the [[Kentucky Derby]], is preceded by the two-week [[Kentucky Derby Festival|Derby Festival]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kdf.org/ |title=Derby Festival Home Page |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> in Louisville. The Derby Festival features many events, including Thunder Over Louisville, the Pegasus Parade, the Great Steamboat Race, Fest-a-Ville, the Chow Wagon, BalloonFest, BourbonVille, and many others leading up to the big race.

Louisville also plays host to the [[Kentucky State Fair]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kystatefair.org/ |title=Kentucky State Fair |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> and the [[Kentucky Shakespeare Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kyshakespeare.com/ |title=Kentucky Shakespeare Festival Home Page |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]], the state's third-largest city and home to the [[Bowling Green Assembly Plant|only assembly plant in the world]] that manufactures the [[Chevrolet Corvette]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bg.ky.net/Corvette/newera.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227111243/http://bg.ky.net/Corvette/newera.htm |archive-date=December 27, 2007 |title=National Corvette Museum press release |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> opened the [[National Corvette Museum]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ |title=National Corvette Museum Home Page |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> The fourth-largest city, [[Owensboro, Kentucky|Owensboro]], gives credence to its nickname of "Barbecue Capital of the World" by hosting the annual [[International Bar-B-Q Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbqfest.com/ |title=Home Page of the International Barbecue Festival |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref>

[[Old Louisville]], the largest [[historic preservation]] district in the United States featuring [[Victorian architecture]] and the third largest overall,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/southeast/ky_stories/0305/09lvgetaway.html |title=Stately Mansions Grace Old Louisville |publisher=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]] |access-date=December 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422111720/http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/southeast/ky_stories/0305/09lvgetaway.html |archive-date=April 22, 2006 }}</ref> hosts the [[St. James Court Art Show]], the largest outdoor art show in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stjamescourtartshow.com/ |title=St. James Court Art Show Home Page |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> The neighborhood was also home to the [[Southern Exposition]] (1883–1887), which featured the first public display of [[Thomas Edison]]'s [[light bulb]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6AD56B4B-7551-4E34-AE5B-E067472C503E/0/October_2004.pdf |title=The Heart Line |publisher=Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service |access-date=December 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926112913/https://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6AD56B4B-7551-4E34-AE5B-E067472C503E/0/October_2004.pdf |archive-date=September 26, 2006 }}</ref> and was the setting of [[Alice Hegan Rice]]'s novel, ''[[Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldlouisville.com/literature/ |title=Old Louisville and Literature |access-date=December 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061224022716/http://www.oldlouisville.com/Literature/ |archive-date=December 24, 2006 }}</ref>

[[Hodgenville, Kentucky|Hodgenville]], the birthplace of [[Abraham Lincoln]], hosts the annual Lincoln Days Celebration, and also hosted the kick-off for the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration in February 2008. [[Bardstown, Kentucky|Bardstown]] celebrates its heritage as a major bourbon-producing region with the [[Kentucky Bourbon Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kybourbonfestival.com/ |title=Kentucky Bourbon Festival Home Page |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> [[Glasgow, Kentucky|Glasgow]] mimics [[Glasgow]], Scotland by hosting the [[Glasgow Highland Games]], its own version of the [[Highland Games]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glasgowhighlandgames.com/ |title=Glasgow, Kentucky Highland Games Home Page |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> and [[Sturgis, Kentucky|Sturgis]] hosts "Little Sturgis", a mini version of [[Sturgis, South Dakota]]'s annual [[Sturgis Motorcycle Rally]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.littlesturgisrally.net/ |title=Little Sturgis Rally Home Page |access-date=December 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061223053331/http://littlesturgisrally.net/ |archive-date=December 23, 2006 }}</ref>

[[Winchester, Kentucky|Winchester]] celebrates an original Kentucky creation, [[Beer cheese (spread)|Beer Cheese]], with its [[Beer Cheese Festival]] held annually in June.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beercheesefestival.com/bcf/|title=HOME|website=Beer Cheese Festival}}</ref> Beer Cheese was developed in [[Clark County, Kentucky|Clark County]] at some point in the 1940s along the Kentucky River.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPl2CQAAQBAJ&q=origins+of+beer+cheese&pg=PT134 |title=A Culinary History of Kentucky: Burgoo, Beer Cheese and Goetta|isbn=9781625847478|last1=Young-Brown|first1=Fiona|date=April 1, 2014}}</ref>

The residents of tiny [[Benton, Kentucky|Benton]] pay tribute to their favorite tuber, the [[sweet potato]], by hosting [[Tater Day]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/ky/tater_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061227214402/http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/ky/tater_1 |archive-date=December 27, 2006 |title=Tater Day Festival A Local Legacy |access-date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> Residents of [[Clarkson, Kentucky|Clarkson]] in [[Grayson County, Kentucky|Grayson County]] celebrate their city's ties to the honey industry by celebrating the Clarkson Honeyfest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.honeyfest.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513044539/http://www.honeyfest.com/ |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |title=Clarkson Honeyfest home page |access-date=May 12, 2007}}</ref> The Clarkson Honeyfest is held the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in September, and is the "Official State Honey Festival of Kentucky".

===Music===

{{Main|Music of Kentucky}}
{{See also|Category:Musicians from Kentucky}}

[[Renfro Valley, Kentucky]] is home to Renfro Valley Entertainment Center and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and is known as "Kentucky's Country Music Capital", a designation given it by the Kentucky State Legislature in the late 1980s. The Renfro Valley Barn Dance was where Renfro Valley's musical heritage began, in 1939, and influential country music luminaries like [[Red Foley]], [[Homer &&nbsp;Jethro]], [[Lily May Ledford]] &{{nbs}}the Original [[Coon Creek Girls]], Martha Carson and many others have performed as regular members of the shows there over the years. The [[Renfro Valley Gatherin']] is today America's second-oldest continually broadcast radio program of any kind. It is broadcast on local radio station [[WRVK]] and a syndicated network of nearly 200 other stations across the United States and Canada every week.
[[File:U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|The [[U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum]] in [[Paintsville, Kentucky|Paintsville]] provides background on the country music artists from Eastern Kentucky.]]

[[Contemporary Christian music]] star [[Steven Curtis Chapman]] is a [[Paducah, Kentucky|Paducah]] native, and [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]rs [[The Everly Brothers]] are closely connected with [[Muhlenberg County, Kentucky|Muhlenberg County]], where older brother Don was born. [[Merle Travis]], Country &{{nbs}}Western artist known for both his signature "[[Travis picking]]" guitar playing style, as well as his hit song "[[Sixteen Tons]]", was also born in [[Muhlenberg County]]. Kentucky was also home to [[Mildred Hill|Mildred]] and [[Patty Hill]], the [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] sisters credited with composing the tune to the ditty [[Happy Birthday to You]] in 1893; [[Loretta Lynn]] ([[Johnson County, Kentucky|Johnson County]]), [[Brian Littrell]] and [[Kevin Richardson (musician)|Kevin Richardson]] of the [[Backstreet Boys]], and [[Billy Ray Cyrus]] ([[Flatwoods, Kentucky|Flatwoods]]).

However, its depth lies in its signature sound{{snd}}[[Bluegrass music]]. [[Bill Monroe]], "The Father of Bluegrass", was born in the small [[Ohio County, Kentucky|Ohio County]] town of [[Rosine, Kentucky|Rosine]], while [[Ricky Skaggs]], [[Keith Whitley]], [[David "Stringbean" Akeman]], [[Grandpa Jones|Louis Marshall "Grandpa" Jones]], Sonny and [[Bobby Osborne]], and [[Sam Bush]] (who has been compared to Monroe) all hail from Kentucky. The [[Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum]] is located in [[Owensboro, Kentucky|Owensboro]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluegrasshall.org/general/home.php |title=Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum |access-date=November 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502142523/http://www.bluegrasshall.org/ |archive-date=May 2, 2009  }}</ref> while the annual [[Festival of the Bluegrass]] is held in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.festivalofthebluegrass.com/ |title=Festival of the Bluegrass Home Page |access-date=November 30, 2006}}</ref>

Kentucky is also home to famed [[jazz]] musician and pioneer, [[Lionel Hampton]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Voce |first=Steve |title=Obituary: Lionel Hampton |work=[[The Independent]] |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020902/ai_n12639955/pg_5 |date=September 2, 2002 |access-date=June 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730173629/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020902/ai_n12639955/pg_5 |archive-date=July 30, 2013 }}</ref> [[Blues]] legend [[W. C. Handy]] and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer [[Wilson Pickett]] also spent considerable time in Kentucky. The R&B group [[Midnight Star (band)|Midnight Star]] and Hip-Hop group [[Nappy Roots]] were both formed in Kentucky, as were country acts [[The Kentucky Headhunters]], [[Montgomery Gentry]] and [[Halfway to Hazard]], [[The Judds]], as well as [[GMA Music Awards|Dove Award]]-winning Christian groups [[Audio Adrenaline]] (rock) and [[Bride (band)|Bride]] (metal). Heavy Rock band [[Black Stone Cherry]] hails from rural Edmonton. Rock band [[My Morning Jacket]] with lead singer and guitarist [[Jim James]] originated out of Louisville, as well as bands [[Wax Fang]], [[White Reaper]], [[Tantric (band)|Tantric]]. Rock bands [[Cage the Elephant]], [[Sleeper Agent (band)|Sleeper Agent]], and [[Morning Teleportation]] are also from Bowling Green. The bluegrass groups Driftwood and Kentucky Rain, along with [[Nick Lachey]] of the pop band [[98 Degrees]] are also from Kentucky. [[King Crimson]] guitarist [[Adrian Belew]] is from [[Covington, Kentucky|Covington]]. [[Post rock]] band [[Slint]] also hails from Louisville. Noted singer and actress [[Rosemary Clooney]] was a native of [[Maysville, Kentucky|Maysville]], her legacy being celebrated at the annual music festival bearing her name. Noted songwriter and actor [[Bonnie "Prince" Billy|Will Oldham]] is from Louisville.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Shteamer|first1=Hank|date=September 27, 2018|title=Will Oldham: My Life in 15 Songs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/will-oldham-my-life-in-15-songs-723480/|access-date=June 2, 2020|website=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> More recently in the limelight are country artists [[Chris Stapleton]], [[Sturgill Simpson]], [[Tyler Childers]], and [[Chris Knight (musician)|Chris Knight]].

In eastern Kentucky, [[old-time music]] carries on the tradition of ancient ballads and reels developed in historical Appalachia.

===Literature===

{{Main|Kentucky literature}}

Kentucky has played a major role in Southern and American literature, producing works that often celebrate the working class, rural life, nature, and explore issues of class, extractive economy, and family. Major works from the state include ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'' (1852) by [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]], widely seen as one of the impetuses for the American Civil War; ''The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come'' (1908) by [[John Fox Jr.]], which was the first novel to sell a million copies in the United States; ''[[All the King's Men]]'' by [[Robert Penn Warren]] (1946), rated as the 36th best [[Modern Library 100 Best Novels|English-language novel of the 20th century]]; ''The Dollmaker'' (1954) by [[Harriette Simpson Arnow|Harriette Arnow]]; ''[[Night Comes to the Cumberlands]]'' (1962) by [[Harry Caudill]], which contributed to initiating the U.S. Government's [[War on poverty]], and others.

Author [[Thomas Merton]] lived most of his life and wrote most of his books{{snd}}including ''[[The Seven Storey Mountain]]'' (1948), ranked on ''[[National Review]]''{{'s}} list of the 100 best non-fiction books of the century{{snd}}during his time as a monk at the [[Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani]] near Bardstown, Kentucky. Author [[Hunter S. Thompson]] is also a native of the state. Since the later part of the 20th century, several writers from Kentucky have published widely read and critically acclaimed books, including: [[Wendell Berry]] ([[Floruit|fl.]] 1960–), [[Silas House]] (fl. 2001–), [[Barbara Kingsolver]] (fl. 1988–), poet [[Maurice Manning (poet)|Maurice Manning]] (fl. 2001–), and [[Bobbie Ann Mason]] (fl. 1988–).

Well-known playwrights from Kentucky include [[Marsha Norman]] (works include ''[['night, Mother]]'', 1983) and [[Naomi Wallace]] (works include ''[[One Flea Spare]]'', 1995).
[[File:Hot Brown Kurtz.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.95| The Hot Brown]]

===Cuisine===

{{Main|Cuisine of Kentucky}}

Kentucky's cuisine is generally similar to traditional southern cooking, although in some areas of the state it can blend elements of both the South and Midwest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://southernfood.about.com/od/southernregionalfood/Southern_Recipes_and_Regional_Specialties.htm |title=Southern Recipes – Southern Food and Recipes |publisher=Southernfood.about.com |date=June 17, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iicaculinary.com/iica-ye2-sem1.htm#ac303 |title=International Institute of Culinary Arts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106091226/http://www.iicaculinary.com/iica-curr.htm#ac303 |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One original Kentucky dish is called the [[Hot Brown]], a dish normally layered in this order: toasted bread, turkey, bacon, tomatoes and topped with [[mornay sauce]]. It was developed at the [[Brown Hotel (Louisville, Kentucky)|Brown Hotel]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown.html |title=Hot Brown Recipe |publisher=[[Brown Hotel (Louisville, Kentucky)|Brown Hotel]] |access-date=December 18, 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823065032/http://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown.html| archive-date = August 23, 2007}}</ref> The [[Pendennis Club]] in Louisville is the birthplace of the [[Old fashioned (cocktail)|Old Fashioned]] cocktail. Also, western Kentucky is known for its own regional style of barbecue. Central Kentucky is the birthplace of [[Beer cheese (spread)|Beer Cheese]].

[[Colonel Sanders|Harland Sanders]], a [[Kentucky colonel]], originated [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]] at his service station in [[North Corbin, Kentucky|North Corbin]], though the first franchised [[KFC]] was located in [[South Salt Lake, Utah]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henetz|first1=Patty|last2=Nii|first2=Jenifer K.|title=Colonel's landmark KFC is mashed|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595057690/Colonels-landmark-KFC-is-mashed.html|work=[[Deseret News]]|access-date=January 14, 2017|date=April 21, 2004}}</ref>

===Sports===

{{Main|Sports in Kentucky}}
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2014}}
[[File:University of Louisville marching band, Churchill Downs Twin Spires.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|Kentucky's [[Churchill Downs]] hosts the [[Kentucky Derby]].]]

Kentucky is the home of several sports teams such as [[Minor League Baseball]]'s Triple-A [[Louisville Bats]] and Class A [[Lexington Legends]] and the Class A [[Bowling Green Hot Rods]]. They are also home to the [[Frontier League]]'s [[Florence Y'alls]] and several teams in the [[MCFL]]. The [[Lexington Horsemen]] and [[Louisville Fire]] of the now-defunct [[af2]] had been interested in making a move up to the "major league" [[Arena Football League]], but nothing has come of those plans.

The [[Northern Kentucky|northern part of the state]] lies across the [[Ohio River]] from Cincinnati, which is home to a [[National Football League]] team, the [[Cincinnati Bengals|Bengals]], and a [[Major League Baseball]] team, the [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]]. It is not uncommon for fans to park in the city of [[Newport, Kentucky|Newport]] and use the [[Newport Southbank Bridge|Newport Southbank Pedestrian Bridge]], locally known as the "Purple People Bridge", to walk to these games in Cincinnati. Also, [[Georgetown College (Kentucky)|Georgetown College]] in [[Georgetown, Kentucky|Georgetown]] was the location for the Bengals' summer training camp, until it was announced in 2012 that the Bengals would no longer use the facilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bengalscamp.com |title=About the camp |publisher=Georgetown College |access-date=December 18, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205035939/http://bengalscamp.com/ |archive-date=December 5, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As in many states, especially those without major league professional sports teams, college athletics are prominent. This is especially true of the state's three [[NCAA Division I|Division{{nbs}}I]] [[Football Bowl Subdivision]] (FBS) programs, including the [[Kentucky Wildcats]], the [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers]], and the [[Louisville Cardinals]]. The [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Wildcats]], [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Hilltoppers]], and [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Cardinals]] are among the most tradition-rich college men's basketball teams in the United States, combining for 11 National Championships and 24 NCAA Final Fours;{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} all three are high on the lists of total all-time wins, wins per season, and average wins per season.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

The Kentucky Wildcats are particularly notable, leading all Division{{nbs}}I programs in all-time wins, win percentage, NCAA tournament appearances, and being second only to [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]] in NCAA championships.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The college basketball teams with the most national championships {{!}} NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-07-10/college-basketball-teams-most-national-championships|access-date=August 21, 2020|website=www.ncaa.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] has also stepped onto the football scene in recent years, including winning the [[2007 Orange Bowl]] as well as the 2013 Sugar Bowl, and also producing [[2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2016]] [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Lamar Jackson]]. [[WKU Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky]], the 2002 [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|national champion in Division{{nbs}}I-AA football]] (now [[Football Championship Subdivision]] (FCS)), completed its transition to Division{{nbs}}I FBS football in 2009.

The [[Kentucky Derby]] is a horse race held annually in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. The [[Valhalla Golf Club]] in Louisville has hosted several editions of the [[PGA Championship]], [[Senior PGA Championship]] and [[Ryder Cup]] since the 1990s.

The [[NASCAR]] [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series|Cup Series]] has a race at the [[Kentucky Speedway]] in [[Sparta, Kentucky]], which is within an hour driving distance from Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington. The race is called the [[Quaker State 400]]. The NASCAR [[Nationwide Series]] and the [[Camping World Truck Series]] also race there, and previously the [[IndyCar Series]].

[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] in Louisville was the primary location for training and rehab for [[WWE]] professional wrestlers from 2000 until 2008, when WWE moved its contracted talent to Florida Championship Wrestling. OVW later became the primary developmental territory for [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) from 2011 to 2013.

In 2014 [[Louisville City FC]], a professional soccer team in the league then known as USL Pro and now as the [[United Soccer League]], was announced. The team made its debut in 2015, playing home games at Louisville Slugger Field. In its first season, Louisville City was the official reserve side for [[Orlando City SC]] while making its debut in [[Major League Soccer]] at the same time. That arrangement ended in 2016 when Orlando City established a [[Orlando City B|directly controlled reserve side]] in the USL.

===State symbols===

{{Main|List of Kentucky state insignia}}
{{See also|Flag of Kentucky|Seal of Kentucky}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!width=25%|[[List of U.S. state insignia|Insignia]]
!width=35%|Symbol
!width=20%|[[Binomial nomenclature]]
!width=15%|Year adopted<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm |title=Kentucky's State Symbols |publisher=Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives |access-date=December 18, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213232500/http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm |archive-date=December 13, 2006 }}</ref>
|-
| [[List of U.S. state birds|Official state bird]]
|[[Northern cardinal|Cardinal]]
|''Cardinalis cardinalis''
| 1926
|-
| [[List of U.S. state butterflies|Official state butterfly]]
| [[Viceroy butterfly]]
| ''Limenitis archippus''
| 1990
|-
| [[List of U.S. state dances|Official state dance]]
| [[Clogging]]
|
| 2006
|-
| [[List of U.S. state beverages|Official state beverage]]
| [[Milk]]
|
| 2005
|-
| [[List of U.S. state fish|Official state fish]]
| [[Spotted bass|Kentucky spotted bass]]
| ''Micropterus punctulatus''
| 2005
|-
| [[List of U.S. state fossils|Official state fossil]]
| [[Brachiopod]]
| undetermined
| 1986
|-
| [[List of U.S. state flowers|Official state flower]]
| [[Solidago gigantea|Goldenrod]]
| ''Soldiago gigantea''
| 1926
|-
| [[List of U.S. state fruits|Official state fruit]]
| [[Rubus allegheniensis|Blackberry]]
| ''Rubus allegheniensis''
| 2004
|-
| [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|Official state gemstone]]
| [[Freshwater pearl mussel|Freshwater pearl]]
|
| 1986
|-
| [[List of U.S. state grasses|State grass]]
| [[Poa pratensis|Kentucky bluegrass]]
| ''Poa pratensis''
| Traditional
|-
| [[List of U.S. state mottos|Official state motto]]
| "United we stand, divided we fall"
|
| 1942/1792
|-
| Official state slogan
| "United we stand, divided we fall"
|
| 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kentucky.gov/pages/unbridledspirit.aspx |title=Unbridled Spirit Information |publisher=State of Kentucky |access-date=December 18, 2006 |date=November 20, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601090945/http://kentucky.gov/Pages/unbridledspirit.aspx |archive-date=June 1, 2008 }}</ref>
|-
| Official state Latin motto
| ''"Deo gratiam habeamus"'' ("Let us be grateful to God")
|
| 2002
|-
| [[List of U.S. state mammals|Official state horse]]
| [[Thoroughbred]]
| ''Equus caballus''
| 1996
|-
| [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|Official state mineral]]
| [[Coal]]
|
| 1998
|-
| Official state outdoor musical
| ''The [[Stephen Foster]] Story''
|
| 2002
|-
| [[Musical instrument|Official state instrument]]
| [[Appalachian dulcimer]]
|
| 2001
|-
| [[List of U.S. state nicknames|State nickname]]
| "The bluegrass state"
|
| Traditional
|-
| [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|Official state rock]]
| [[Agate|Kentucky agate]]
|
| 2000
|-
| [[Soil|Official state soil]]
| [[Crider soil series]]
|
| 1990
|-
| [[List of U.S. state trees|Official state tree]]
| [[Tulip poplar]]
| ''Liriodendron tulipifera''
| 1994
|-
| [[List of U.S. state mammals|Official wild animal game species]]
| [[Eastern gray squirrel|Gray squirrel]]
| ''Sciurus carolinensis''
| 1968
|-
| [[List of U.S. state songs|Official state song]]
| "[[My Old Kentucky Home]]" (revised version)
|
| 1928/1986
|-
| Official state silverware pattern
| Old Kentucky blue grass: the Georgetown pattern
|
| 1996
|-
| Official state music
| [[Bluegrass music]]
|
| 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/07RS/HB71/bill.doc |format=DOC |title=HB71: An act designating bluegrass music as the official state music of Kentucky |publisher=Legislative Research Commission |access-date=June 26, 2007}}</ref>
|-
| Official state automobile
| [[Chevrolet Corvette]]
|
| 2010
|}

===Official state places and events===

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest]]
* [[University of Kentucky Arboretum|The Arboretum: State Botanical Garden of Kentucky]]
* [[Kentucky Science Center]]
* [[Kentucky Center for African American Heritage]]
* [[Clarkson, Kentucky|Clarkson]] Honeyfest<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/002-00/099.PDF |title=KRS 2.099 – State Honey Festival |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=December 18, 2006}}</ref>
* [[Iroquois Amphitheater]], ([[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]])

{{col-2}}
* [[Fordsville, Kentucky|Fordsville]] Tug-of-War Championship
* [[Covered Bridge]] Capital of Kentucky: [[Fleming County, Kentucky|Fleming County]]
* Official [[Covered Bridge]] of Kentucky: Switzer Covered Bridge ([[Franklin County, Kentucky|Franklin County]])
* Official [[steam locomotive]] of Kentucky: [[L & N Steam Locomotive No. 152|"Old 152"]] (located in the [[Kentucky Railway Museum]] in [[New Haven, Kentucky|New Haven]])
* [[Kentucky Bourbon Festival|Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Inc.]], [[Bardstown, Kentucky|Bardstown]]
* Official State outdoor musical: ''[[The Stephen Foster Story]]'' at [[My Old Kentucky Home State Park|My Old Kentucky Home]], Bardstown
{{col-end}}

Unless otherwise specified, all state symbol information is taken from Kentucky State Symbols.

===Kentucky colonel===

{{Main|Kentucky colonel}}

The distinction of being named a '''Kentucky colonel''' is the highest [[title of honor]] bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the [[Governor of Kentucky|Governor]] and the [[Secretary of State of Kentucky|Secretary of State]] to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. The sitting [[Governor of Kentucky|governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky]] bestows the honor of a colonel's [[commission (document)|commission]], by issuance of [[letters patent]]. Kentucky colonels are commissioned for life and act officially as the state's [[goodwill ambassador]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sagamore-commodore-colonel-ceremonial-title-honorary|title=You Can't Be Knighted in the U.S., But You Can Be Named a Sagamore of the Wabash|last=Grundhauser|first=Eric|date=November 8, 2017|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en|access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==

{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Index of Kentucky-related articles]]
* [[Outline of Kentucky]]

==Notes==

{{NoteFoot}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
===Politics===

* [https://www.questia.com/read/3096856/kentucky-politics-government-do-we-stand-united Miller, Penny M. ''Kentucky Politics & Government: Do We Stand United?'' (1994)]
* Jewell, Malcolm E. and Everett W. Cunningham, ''Kentucky Politics'' (1968)

===History===
====Surveys and reference====

* Bodley, Temple and Samuel M. Wilson. ''History of Kentucky'' 4 vols. (1928).
* [[Harry M. Caudill|Caudill, Harry M.]], ''Night Comes to the Cumberlands'' (1963). {{ISBN|0-316-13212-8}}
* Channing, Steven. ''Kentucky: A Bicentennial History'' (1977).
* Clark, Thomas Dionysius. ''A History of Kentucky'' (many editions, 1937–1992).
* Collins, Lewis. ''History of Kentucky'' (1880).
* {{cite book|last=Gunther|first=John|author-link=John Gunther|chapter=Romance and Reality in Kentucky|title=Inside U.S.A|pages=[https://archive.org/details/insideusa00guntrich/page/640 640–652]|location=[[New York City|New York]], [[London]]|publisher=[[Harper & Brothers]]|year=1947|title-link=Inside U.S.A. (book)}}
* [[Lowell H. Harrison|Harrison, Lowell H.]] and [[James C. Klotter]]. ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997).
* Kleber, John E. et al. ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'' (1992), standard reference history. {{ISBN|0-8131-1772-0}}
* [[James C. Klotter|Klotter, James C.]] ''Our Kentucky: A Study of the Bluegrass State'' (2000), high school text
* Lucas, Marion Brunson and Wright, George C. ''A History of Blacks in Kentucky'' 2 vols. (1992).
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306060234/http://www.uky.edu/Subject/aakyall.html World-Wide Web Resources – Notable Kentucky African Americans]
* Share, Allen J. ''Cities in the Commonwealth: Two Centuries of Urban Life in Kentucky'' (1982).
* Wallis, Frederick A. and Hambleton Tapp. ''A Sesqui-Centennial History of Kentucky'' 4 vols. (1945).
* Ward, William S., ''A Literary History of Kentucky'' (1988) ({{ISBN|0-87049-578-X}}).
* [https://www.questia.com/read/99066764/kentucky-a-guide-to-the-bluegrass-state WPA, ''Kentucky: A Guide to the Bluegrass State '' (1939)], classic guide.
* {{cite book|title=Two Hundred Years at the Fall of the Ohio: A History of Louisville and Jefferson County|last=Yater|first=George H.|year=1987|publisher=[[The Filson Historical Society|Filson Club, Incorporated]]|edition=2nd|isbn = 978-0-9601072-3-0}}

====Specialized scholarly studies====

* [https://www.questia.com/read/105132587/daniel-boone-master-of-the-wilderness Bakeless, John. ''Daniel Boone, Master of the Wilderness'' (1989)]
* Blakey, George T. ''Hard Times and New Deal in Kentucky, 1929–1939'' (1986)
* Coulter, E. Merton. ''The Civil War and Readjustment in Kentucky'' (1926)
* Davis, Alice. "Heroes: Kentucky's Artists from Statehood to the New Millennium" (2004)
* Ellis, William E. ''The Kentucky River'' (2000).
* Faragher, John Mack. ''Daniel Boone'' (1993)
* [https://www.questia.com/read/6471305/politics-in-the-border-states-a-study-of-the-patterns Fenton, John H. ''Politics in the Border States: A Study of the Patterns of Political Organization, and Political Change, Common to the Border States: Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri'' (1957)]
* Harlow, Luke E. ''Religion, Race, and the Making of Confederate Kentucky, 1830–1880.'' New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
* Ireland, Robert M. ''The County in Kentucky History'' (1976)
* {{cite book|title=Kentucky's Civil War 1861–1865|author-link=James C. Klotter|last1=Klotter|first1=James C.|last2=Harrison|first2=Lowell|author-link2=Lowell H. Harrison|last3=Ramage|first3=James|last4=Roland|first4=Charles|last5=Taylor|first5=Richard|last6=Bush|first6=Bryan S|last7=Fugate|first7=Tom|last8=Hibbs|first8=Dixie|last9=Matthews|first9=Lisa|last10=Moody|first10=Robert C.|last11=Myers|first11=Marshall|last12=Sanders|first12=Stuart|last13=McBride|first13=Stephen|editor-last=Rose|editor-first=Jerlene|year=2005|location=Clay City, Kentucky|publisher=Back Home in Kentucky, Inc.|isbn = 978-0-9769231-1-4}}
* Kelly, Andrew, Ed. "Kentucky by Design: The Decorative Arts and American Culture". Lexington, University Press of Kentucky, 2015. {{ISBN|978-0-8131-5567-8}}
* [[James C. Klotter|Klotter, James C.]] ''Kentucky: Portrait in Paradox, 1900–1950'' (1992)
* Pearce, John Ed. ''Divide and Dissent: Kentucky Politics, 1930–1963'' (1987)
* Remini, Robert V. ''Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union'' (1991).
* [https://www.questia.com/read/100662336/liberal-kentucky-1780-1828 Sonne, Niels Henry. ''Liberal Kentucky, 1780–1828'' (1939)]
* Tapp, Hambleton and [[James C. Klotter]]. ''Kentucky Decades of Discord, 1865–1900'' (1977)
* [https://www.questia.com/read/61648056/lincoln-and-the-bluegrass-slavery-and-civil-war-in Townsend, William H. ''Lincoln and the Bluegrass: Slavery and Civil War in Kentucky'' (1955)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130605161639/http://www.questia.com/read/14459929/night-riders-defending-community-in-the-black-patch Waldrep, Christopher ''Night Riders: Defending Community in the Black Patch, 1890–1915'' (1993)] tobacco wars

==External links==

{{Sister project links|Kentucky|voy=Kentucky}}
* {{official website|http://kentucky.gov}}
* [https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/states/kentucky/index.html Kentucky State Guide, from the Library of Congress]
* {{curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Kentucky}}
* [http://www.kentuckytourism.com/ Kentucky Department of Tourism]
* [http://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zkXQ4MSaa6bU.kV82taX_fVck GPS Specific Map of Kentucky Destinations (map)]
* [http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=KY USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Kentucky]
* [http://www.eia.gov/beta/state/?sid=KY Energy & Environmental Data for Kentucky]
* [http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=21&StateName=Kentucky Kentucky State Facts from USDA]
* [http://kentucky.gov/about/Pages/unbridledspirit.aspx Kentucky: Unbridled Spirit]
* [http://www.kyvl.org/ Kentucky Virtual Library]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150622061626/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/21000.html U.S. Census Bureau Kentucky QuickFacts]
* {{Ballotpedia|Kentucky}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080515221659/http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Kentucky Kentucky State Databases] – Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Kentucky state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
* {{OSM relation|161655}}

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