Capital:
Frankfort
Governor: Paul E. Patton, D (to Dec. 2003)
Lieut.
Governor: Stephen L. Henry, D (to Dec. 2003)
Senators: Jim Bunning, R (to Jan. 2005); Mitch McConnell, R
(to Jan. 2003)
Secy.
of State: John Y. Brown III, D (to Dec. 2003)
Treasurer: Jonathan Miller(to Dec. 2003)
Auditor: Ed Hatchett, D (to Dec. 2003)
Atty.
General: A. B. "Ben" Chandler, D (to Dec. 2003)
Entered
Union (rank): June 1, 1792 (15)
Present
constitution adopted: 1891
Motto:
United we stand, divided we fall
State Symbols:
|
tree
|
tulip
poplar (1994) |
|
flower
|
goldenrod |
|
bird
|
Kentucky cardinal |
|
song
|
"My Old Kentucky Home" |
|
|
Kentucky was
the first region west of the Allegheny Mountains to be settled
by American pioneers. James Harrod established the first
permanent settlement at Harrodsburg in 1774; the following year
Daniel Boone, who had explored the area in 1767, blazed the
Wilderness Trail and founded Boonesboro.
Politically, the Kentucky region was originally part of
Virginia, but early statehood was gained in 1792. During the
Civil War, as a slaveholding state with a considerable
abolitionist population, Kentucky was caught in the middle of
the conflict, supplying both Union and Confederate forces with
thousands of troops.
In recent
years, manufacturing has shown important gains, particularly in
automotive assembly and parts manufacturing. Kentucky also
prides itself on producing some of the nation's best tobacco,
horses, and whiskey. Corn, soybeans, wheat, fruit, hogs, cattle,
and dairy products are among the agricultural items produced.
Among the
manufactured items produced in the state are motor vehicles,
furniture, aluminum ware, brooms, apparel, lumber products,
machinery, textiles, and iron and steel products. Kentucky also
produces significant amounts of petroleum, natural gas,
fluorspar, clay, and stone. However, coal accounts for 90% of
the total mineral income.
Louisville, the largest city, famed for the Kentucky Derby at
Churchill Downs, is also the location of a large state
university, whiskey distilleries, and cigarette factories. The
Bluegrass country around Lexington is the home of some of the
world's finest race horses. Other attractions are Mammoth Cave,
the George S. Patton, Jr., Military Museum at Fort Knox, and Old
Fort Harrod State Park.
Nickname: Bluegrass State
Origin of name: From an
Iroquoian word "Ken-tah-ten" meaning "land of tomorrow"
10 largest cities (1999 est.):
Louisville, 253,128; Lexington-Fayette, 243,785; Owensboro,
54,010; Bowling Green, 45,550; Covington, 40,099; Hopkinsville,
32,270; Richmond, 28,658; Frankfort, 26,762; Henderson, 26,566;
Paducah, 25,777
Land area:
39,732 sq mi. (102,907 sq km)
Geographic center: In Marion
Co., 3 mi. NNW of Lebanon
Number of counties:
120
Largest county by population and area:
Jefferson, 672,900 (1999 est.); Pike, 788 sq mi.
State forests: 9 (44,173 ac.)
State parks: 49
Residents: Kentuckian
1999 resident population est.:
3,960,825
1990 resident census population (rank):
3,685,296 (23). Male:
1,785,235; Female:
1,900,061. White: 3,391,832
(92.0%); Black: 262,907
(7.1%); American Indian:
5,769 (0.2%); Asian: 17,812
(0.5%); Other race: 6,976
(0.2%); Hispanic: 21,984
(0.6%). 1990 percent population below
age 18: 25.9; 65 and over:
12.7; median age:
32.9 |
