Kentucky
Bluegrass State · Capital: Frankfort · South (Upland South)
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Bordering states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri.
About Kentucky
Kentucky, in the South, touches seven states: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. Its northern boundary is the 1792 low-water mark on the far bank of the Ohio, so the riverbed belongs to Kentucky, and on the Mississippi a loop called the Kentucky Bend can be reached by road only through Tennessee. Elevation runs from 257 feet on the Mississippi to 4,139 feet on Black Mountain. The eastern coal country gives way to the Bluegrass, whose phosphorus-rich limestone has supported horse breeding for two centuries, and then the Pennyroyal, where dissolving limestone formed Mammoth Cave, with more than 400 miles of mapped passage. Rainfall runs about 45 to 50 inches a year, and flash flooding is the most persistent hazard.
Shawnee villages stood along the Ohio, the Cherokee claimed the southeast and the Chickasaw held the far west. Daniel Boone cut the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap in 1775, and Virginia organized Kentucky County in 1776. After ten conventions at Danville, Kentucky entered the Union on June 1, 1792 as the 15th state, the first west of the Appalachians. It declared neutrality in 1861 but stayed in the Union; Perryville, in 1862, was its largest battle, and slavery ended there only with the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865. The first Kentucky Derby was run in 1875.
The 2020 census counted 4,505,836 Kentuckians, up 3.8 percent from 2010, with six House seats. Frankfort is the capital and Louisville, whose economy is built around the UPS air hub, the largest city. Toyota's Georgetown plant, opened in 1988, anchors central Kentucky, while coal jobs have shrunk and the eastern counties have lost population for decades. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were both born in Kentucky, and Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville in 1942. Bill Monroe of Rosine named his band the Blue Grass Boys, and bluegrass music took its name from it.
4 fun facts about Kentucky
- The state produces 95% of the world's bourbon. By federal law, only bourbon made in the US can be called bourbon, and most comes from KY.
- The Kentucky Derby, held since 1875, is the oldest continuously held sporting event in the US.
- Fort Knox holds about 147 million troy ounces of gold for the US Treasury.
- Mammoth Cave National Park has the longest cave system in the world, over 420 miles mapped.
More about Kentucky
Kentucky geography and climate
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky
Is Kentucky a US state?
Yes, Kentucky is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1792, making it the 15th state. Its capital is Frankfort and its largest city is Louisville.
What is the capital of Kentucky?
The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort. Note that the largest city in Kentucky is Louisville, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Kentucky become a state?
Kentucky became a US state in 1792. It is the 15th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Kentucky?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Kentucky is KY.
How big is Kentucky?
Kentucky ranks #37 of 50 US states by area. With 114.1 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 23rd most densely populated state.
What is the population of Kentucky?
Kentucky had 4,505,836 residents at the 2020 census, the 26th largest population of the 50 states, up 3.8% since 2010. That count gives it 6 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Kentucky in?
Kentucky is in the South region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Kentucky in?
Kentucky observes Eastern Time (the state spans multiple time zones).
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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