Kentucky

Kentucky is a southern state of The United States Of America and was the 15^th state admitted to the Union.

Kentucky and its residents are probably most well known for thoroughbred horses[?] and racing, local whiskey distilleries and unbridled fanaticism for basketball. The two principal rivals in the state are the University of Kentucky[?] (blue, Wildcats) and the University of Louisville[?] (red, Cardinals).

Several US Navy ships have been named USS Kentucky in honor of the state.

History

Kentucky is one of four states to call itself a commonwealth. At one point in time, Kentucky was a county of Virginia. Ten constitutional conventions took place at the courthouse of Constitution Square in Danville, Kentucky between 1784-1792. In 1790, Kentucky delegates accepted Virginia's terms for separation, and the state constitution was drafted at the final convention in April 1792. On June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state in the union and Isaac Shelby[?], a Revolutionary War hero, was named the first Governor of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky.

On May 20, 1861 during the American Civil War, Kentucky proclaimed its neutrality in the conflict but was forced to take the side of the Union on September 3 when Confederate forces invaded the state.

Law and Government

The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort and its governor is Paul E. Patton[?] (Democrat). Kentucky's two U.S. senators are Jim Bunning (Republican) and Mitch McConnell[?] (Republican). The Kentucky Constitution provides for three branches of government: the legislative, the judicial, and the executive. Kentucky's General Assembly has two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Kentucky, also known as The Bluegrass State, borders the Midwest and Deep South. It touches West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and is bordered on the north by the Ohio River. There are five main regions, the Cumberland Mountains[?] and Cumberland Plateau[?] in the southeast, the north-central Bluegrass Region, the south-central and western Pennyroyal Plateau, also sometimes termed "Pennyrile", the western coal-fields area, and the far-west Jackson Purchase[?].

The largest cities in Kentucky in terms of geographic area are the two metro city/counties of Lexington and Louisville, although Louisville has a much larger metropolitan population. Northern Kentucky, an assemblage of smaller cities across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio, also has a large metropolitan population.

Significant Natural Attractions

Economy The total gross state product for 1999 was $113 billion, placing Kentucky 26^th in the nation. Its Per Capita Personal Income is $24,294, 40^th in the nation. Kentucky's agricultural outputs are horses, cattle, tobacco,dairy products, hogs, soybeans, and corn. Its industrial outputs are transportation equipment, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, food processing, tobacco products, coal, and tourism.

Demographics According to the national census, there were 4,041,769 people living in Kentucky in 2000.

Important Cities and Towns

Education

Colleges and Universities

Community Colleges

Professional Sports Teams The Minor League baseball teams are:

• Louisville Bats
• Lexington Legends[?]

Miscellaneous Information

• State Bird: Cardinal.
• State Flower: Goldenrod.
• State Tree: Tulip Tree[?].
• State Horse: Thoroughbred.
• State Fish: Kentucky Bass[?].
• State Wild Animal: Grey Squirrel[?].
• State Butterfly: Viceroy Butterfly[?].
• State Gemstone: Fresh Water Pearl[?].
• State Fossil: Brachiopod.

• State Song: "My Old Kentucky Home" by Stephen Collins Foster[?]-1853
• State Bluegrass Song: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe-1947
• State Motto: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"

External Links

• http://www.state.ky.us
• http://www.kentuckytourism.com