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KYKentucky Map
Kentucky on the US map
Kentucky is located in the South region of the United States — specifically the upland south subregion. With an area ranking of #37 of 50, it is a moderately-sized state. The map above highlights Kentucky in gold and color-codes the other 49 states by region.
Key cities
The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort. The largest city by population is Louisville. As is the case with most US states, the capital is not the largest city — this is by design, dating back to the late 18th and 19th centuries when state founders deliberately chose smaller, more centrally located towns to host state government and avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place.
Borders and neighbors
Kentucky shares land borders with 7 other US states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #37 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Mountain ranges: appalachians
- Appalachian range: yes
- Mississippi River: bordered or crossed by
How to use this map
The map above is interactive — click any state to see its facts and history. Kentucky appears in gold to make it easy to find. The other states are colored by region: Northeast (blue), South (red), Midwest (orange), and West (green). This color coding follows the standard US Census Bureau region definitions and helps you build a mental map of US geography as you explore.
Bordering states
Kentucky shares borders with 7 other US states.
Practice US geography daily
Statedoku is a free 3×3 daily puzzle that quietly teaches US geography. Kentucky appears as the answer or as a constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, or quirks.
Play today's puzzle →Common questions
Where is Kentucky located?
Kentucky is in the South region of the United States. Its capital is Frankfort and its largest city is Louisville. The state ranks #37 of 50 by total area.
What states border Kentucky?
Kentucky borders Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri. That's 7 bordering states in total.
Is Kentucky on the coast?
No, Kentucky is landlocked. It has no ocean coastline and no Great Lakes shoreline.
What time zone is Kentucky in?
Kentucky observes Eastern Time (the state spans multiple time zones).
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