| Kentucky
. . .
Kentucky's official state flag
was adopted in 1918 and was
changed in 1962. The flag has
a deep blue background with
part of the state seal in the
center. In the center are the
words "COMMONWEALTH OF
KENTUCKY" and "UNITED
WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL."
On the seal, a pioneer and a
statesman are shaking hands
which represent all the people.
Goldenrod flowers encircle the
bottom half of the seal.
Kentucky was the 15th state
in the USA; it became a state
in 1792. The capital city is
Frankfort and largest city is
Louisville. Kentucky is located
in the south central U.S. and
is the oldest state that is
west of the Appalachians. It
is bordered by seven states:
Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia,
Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri
and Illinois.
Much of the state grows long
stemmed grass that is bluish
green and this is why Kentucky
is known as the “Bluegrass
State.” The eastern part
of the state is the Appalachian
mountains and the western part
is fertile plains and lowlands.
The economy of Kentucky has
relied on coal mining and bourbon
whiskey as the major industries.
Kentucky is one of the top coal
producing states in the nation.
Kentucky ranks high nationally
in the production of numerous
crops and has over 90,000 farms.
Crops include corn, hay, tobacco,
winter wheat and soybeans. Kentucky
also ranks highly in livestock
production.
The climate of Kentucky has
a continental climate with warm
or hot summers and cool winters.
Precipitation is plentiful and
because of the abundant rain
and fertile soil there are over
88,000 farms which is the 4th
most in the nation. On these
farms, tobacco is the leading
crop.
The state has a mild climate
throughout the year. Summers
are very pleasant, but occasional
hot and humid days are not uncommon.
Winter bring occasional snow
but melts quickly. Summer highs
statewide average 80 degrees
and winter average near 35 degrees.
Average annual precipitation
is near 50 inches.
Many visitors come to Kentucky
to visit the state's scenic
mountains, valleys, and historical
landmarks such as Mammoth Cave
National Park, Abraham Lincoln
Birthplace National Historic
Site, and Cumberland Gap. Kentucky
has had a rich history since
the frontier times when the
famous pioneer Daniel Boone
first hunted bison in the mid
1700’s. Many tourists
also come here to watch America's
most prestigious horse race
which is held annually in Louisville,
the Kentucky Derby. Kentucky
breeds these Thoroughbred horses
and ranks number one in the
nation.
Kentucky has 120 counties:
Adair
Allen Anderson
Ballard Barren
Bath Bell Boone
Bourbon Boyd
Boyle Bracken
Breathitt Breckinridge
Bullitt Butler
Caldwell Calloway
Campbell Carlisle
Carroll Carter
Casey Christian
Clark Clay
Clinton Crittenden
Cumberland
Daviess Edmonson
Elliott Estill
Fayette Fleming
Floyd Franklin
Fulton Gallatin
Garrard Grant
Graves Grayson
Green Greenup
Hancock Hardin Harlan
Harrison Hart
Henderson Henry
Hickman Hopkins
Jackson Jefferson
Jessamine Johnson
Kenton Knott Knox
Larue Laurel
Lawrence Lee
Leslie Letcher
Lewis Lincoln
Livingston Logan
Lyon McCracken
McCreary McLean Madison
Magoffin Marion
Marshall Martin
Mason Meade
Menifee Mercer
Metcalfe Monroe
Montgomery Morgan
Muhlenberg Nelson Nicholas
Ohio Oldham
Owen Owsley Pendleton
Perry Pike
Powell Pulaski
Robertson Rockcastle
Rowan Russell
Scott Shelby
Simpson Spencer
Taylor Todd
Trigg Trimble
Union Warren Washington
Wayne Webster
Whitley Wolfe
Woodford
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state - Kentucky