Geography and Climate of Kentucky
Kentucky, or the “Bluegrass State,” borders Midwestern and Southern states, with West Virginia to the east, Missouri to the west, Ohio to the north and Tennessee to the south, along with Virginia in the southeast and Illinois and Indiana to the northwest. The state’s nickname comes from a unique abundance of bluegrass, which lies mainly in the north and central regions.
Both the Ohio River and the Mississippi River flow through the borders of the state. Internal rivers like the Tennessee River, Kentucky River, Cumberland River and Big Sandy River contribute to the lush forests and wooded surroundings of Kentucky. Lake Cumberland, the Land Between the Lakes, and Mammoth Cave National Park are among Kentucky’s top natural tourist attractions.
The Cumberland Plateau, the southern part of the Appalachian Plateau, makes up most of eastern Kentucky. The Pennyroyal Plateau in the south and western regions consists mainly of rolling hills and caves.
The Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers bound Jackson Purchase in the west, making it a leader in the state’s agricultural outputs. The Western Coal Fields are in the west and central part of the state. The Bluegrass region, characterized by steep, narrow hills, can be divided into the Inner and Outer Bluegrass. At the far west corner, the Kentucky Bend borders Missouri and is accessible through Tennessee. The Kentucky Bend formed from the New Madrid Earthquake, which took place in 1812.
Kentucky has a humid subtropical climate, with warm summers and colder winters. Annual rainfall is about 46 inches, while the northern and eastern parts of the state receive more snowfall on average than other regions. However, the harshness of the weather changes from year to year. Kentucky has been the site of several natural disasters, including deadly tornadoes, flooding, blizzards and earthquakes.
History of Kentucky
Even though Native Americans never settled in Kentucky, Cherokee and Shawnee tribes used it as a prime hunting region. Huge chunks of modern-day Kentucky were purchased from Native Americans in the Fort Stanwix and Sycamore Shoals treaties in 1768 and 1775, respectively.
As a result, Kentucky grew, as settlers moved westward past the Appalachian Mountains in what is now Lexington. Trailblazer Daniel Boone established the southern part of the state, near the Great Appalachian Valley and across from the Cumberland Gap. Settlers grew tobacco, corn and hemp, as well as hunted.
During the American Revolutionary War, Kentucky became the site of several battles. Eventually, the residents of Kentucky County petitioned for separation from Virginia. In 1792, Kentucky became an official state.
During the Civil War, Kentucky remained a neutral border state. Although it never technically seceded from the Union and was ultimately sympathetic to the Union, a group of Kentucky soldiers from Russellville established a Confederate government.
However, since to some extent Kentucky was a slave state, it was subject to military occupation under Reconstruction. The ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 was a huge point of debate.
Between 1867 and 1881, the Ku Klux Klan grew in prominence, with increased reports of shootings and lynchings. However, movements focused on equal citizenship for African-Americans and women’s suffrage gained a notable following, especially by Laura Clay.
Kentucky Gov. William Goebel, who was shot in 1900, has been the only governor to be assassinated while in office. Coal production increased rapidly and dramatically, as many Kentuckians, especially in the Appalachian regions, shifted from farming to coal mining. Others migrated north to cities in the Midwest for better employment opportunities. German immigrants settled in northern Kentucky and became a source of social tension during World War I.
Prohibition was a detriment to Kentucky’s economy, affecting bourbon industries and leading to widespread bootlegging. The Great Depression only worsened the economy, even though New Deal programs improved the state’s infrastructure and educational system.
Rural electrification, hydroelectric power from the Kentucky Dam and the construction of telephone lines connected the state. World War II led to the expansion of Fort Knox. Several artificial rubber plants sprouted up in Louisville, along with shipyards and automobile manufacturing.
Demographics of Kentucky
As of 2006, Kentucky has an estimated population of 4,206,074. The state population has grown every decade. However, while cities like Louisville experience growth, other regions are going through rural flight.
American, German, Irish and English are among the largest European ancestry groups, while African-Americans make up nearly eight percent of the overall population. Although they made up approximately a quarter of Kentucky’s population in the antebellum years, mass migration to industrial Northern cities led to a significant drop in the African-American population.
Around a third of Kentucky’s population is Evangelical or Protestant, with nearly a quarter claiming affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian Church headquarters are both located in Louisville. The city is also home to growing Jewish and Muslim populations.
Economy of Kentucky
In 2006, Kentucky’s gross state product was $146 billion, with a per capita income of $28,513.
Historically, Kentucky has been an agricultural state. Much of Kentucky has maintained rural status. There is still a large number of farms producing goats, cattle, hogs, soybeans, dairy and corn, along with a high amount of tobacco. Outside of Lexington is the leading area for breeding thoroughbred racehorses, since the soil has high calcium content.
Presently, the state’s economy has become more industrial based, including chemical products, transportation and electric equipment, food processing, machinery and tobacco products. The Eastern Kentucky Coal Fields are among the most productive coalmines in the country. Automobile and truck assembly has increased with Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ford and Toyota plants throughout the state.
Kentucky Law and Government
The state capital, Frankfort, is where Republican Ernie Fletcher currently acts as the Governor of Kentucky. Republicans Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning serve in the U.S. Senate, whereas six Kentucky congressional representatives serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. There are 38 members in the state Senate and 100 in the House of Representatives.
Kentucky has always leaned toward the Democratic Party, including before the Civil War, when the South supported the Democratic Party. However, in the past seven presidential elections, Kentucky has voted Democrat for Southern candidates and Republican for others.
Recently, the state has made headlines for a debate regarding the display of the biblical Ten Commandments on public property. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a previous decision that doing so is unconstitutional.
Kentucky Transportation
I-75 runs north to south through the Cumberland Plateau and Lexington. I-71 starts in Louisville and travels to Cleveland, while I-64 runs east to west through Lexington into West Virginia. I-24 connects western Kentucky to the Tennessee border.
Since major rivers comprise the boundaries of the state, water transportation has always been useful, with many of the largest ports in the U.S. located near or in Kentucky. Barge traffic today is mostly coal used to power several plants off the Ohio River and exported to other countries.
Louisville International Airport serves most of the state, along with two other regional airports. Amtrak has service to Fulton, South Portsmouth and Ashland. There are also routes to Cincinnati and New Orleans. Old railways, however, have been reclaimed for other projects, such as the Newport Southbank or “Purple People” Bridge, which connects Newport to Cincinnati and is the longest pedestrian-only bridge in the world.
Major Cities and Towns of Kentucky
Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, is in the north-central region by the Indiana border and near the Falls of the Ohio. Although the 1937 flood inundated about 70 percent of the city, Louisville is now growing quickly.
The Kentucky Derby, the first race of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, takes place annually in Louisville. The historic district has a large collection of Victorian-era homes. Incidentally, the city manufactures a third of bourbon produced.
Kentucky Educational System
Kentucky has eight public universities, with the University of Kentucky as the state’s flagship college and the University of Louisville a major research institution.
The Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) passed in 1990 and led to sweeping statewide reform. While there have been some positive results, most say the system needs more changes.
For more, visit the Kentucky Board of Education.
Kentucky Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Since there are no major sports franchises in Kentucky, many residents cheer for neighboring teams in Nashville, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. The Lexington Legends and the Louisville Bats play minor league baseball, while several other minor league teams play for arena football and hockey. Additionally, Kentucky universities have a long tradition with basketball games and NCAA championships, along with Division I football.
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