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| Origin of name | |
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Narrow country roads bounded by stone and wood plank fences are a fixture in the Kentucky Bluegrass region.
It is generally accepted that the historic Native American tribes who hunted in what is now Kentucky referred to the region as Catawba, or some similar variant. There is also a tradition that some tribes referred to the area as "The Dark and Bloody Ground".[citation needed] Some have said that the land was described in this way to Daniel Boone by a native Chief. According to The Kentucky Blue Book,[citation needed] Dragging Canoe, a young Cherokee chief opposed to selling ancestral hunting grounds, warned the whites that they were purchasing a "dark and bloody ground." The origin of Kentucky's modern name (variously spelled Cane-tuck-ee, Cantucky, Kain-tuck-ee, and Kentuckee before its modern spelling was accepted)[5] comes from an Iroquois word meaning "meadow lands", referring to the buffalo hunting grounds in Central Kentucky's savanna. Members of the Haudenosaunee, the Iroquois Confederacy, were historically based in New York and Pennsylvania. They penetrated to this area of the Ohio River Valley and drove other tribes out in order to control more hunting land. In addition to buffalo, they trapped beaver for the lucrative fur trade with the French and English, long before European-American settlement in this area.[6]
[edit] Tags:Central,Pennsylvania,Bluegrass Region,Haudenosaunee,Ohio River,Beaver,Fur Trade,Ohio,Cherokee, | |
| Geography | |
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See also: List of Kentucky counties and Coal mining in Kentucky
Kentucky is considered to be situated in the Upland South. It is infrequently included in the Midwest.[7][8] A significant portion of eastern Kentucky is part of Appalachia.
Kentucky borders seven states, from the Midwest and the Southeast. West Virginia lies to the east, Virginia to the southeast, Tennessee to the south, Missouri to the west, Illinois and Indiana to the northwest, and Ohio to the north and northeast. Only Missouri and Tennessee, both of which border eight states, touch more states.
Kentucky's northern border is formed by the Ohio River and its western border by the Mississippi River. The official state borders are based on the courses of the rivers as they existed when Kentucky became a state in 1792. In several places, the rivers have changed courses away from the original borders. For instance, northbound travelers on US 41 from Henderson, after crossing the Ohio River, will be in Kentucky for about a half-mile (800 m) longer on the north side. Ellis Park, a thoroughbred racetrack, is located in this small piece of Kentucky. Waterworks Road is part of the only land border between Indiana and Kentucky.[9]
Kentucky is the only U.S. state to have a non-contiguous part existing as an exclave surrounded by other states. Fulton County, in the far west corner of the state, includes Kentucky Bend. This small part of Kentucky on the Mississippi River, bordered by Missouri and accessible via Tennessee, was created by the 1812 New Madrid Earthquake changing the course of the river.[10]
[edit] Tags:Mississippi River,Eastern,State,Virginia,Upland South,Midwest,Southeast,West Virginia,Tennessee,Missouri,Illinois,Indiana,Exclave,New Madrid Earthquake,U.s. State, | |
| Regions | |
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Kentucky's regions (click on image for color coding information.)
Kentucky can be divided into five primary regions: the Cumberland Plateau in the east, the north-central Bluegrass region, the south-central and western Pennyroyal Plateau, the Western Coal Fields and the far-west Jackson Purchase. The Bluegrass region is commonly divided into two regions, the Inner Bluegrass—the encircling 90 miles (145 km) around Lexington—and the Outer Bluegrass—the region that contains most of the Northern portion of the state, above the Knobs. Much of the outer Bluegrass is in the Eden Shale Hills area, made up of short, steep, and very narrow hills. This map is a rough depiction of the regions because it relies largely on county lines; as a result, the Inner Bluegrass appears larger than it is, and the Cumberland Plateau appears slightly smaller. The latter region is more commonly known in Kentucky as the East Kentucky Coal Field. Note the singular; these regions are not the sites of coal "fields" but one continuous field with many overlapping seams; the West Kentucky Coal Field is part of the Illinois Basin.
Kentucky's Inner Bluegrass region features hundreds of horse farms
The Jackson Purchase and western Pennyrile are home to several bald cypress/tupelo swamps
The East Kentucky Coal Field is known for its rugged terrain
[edit] Tags:/,Cumberland Plateau,Pennyroyal Plateau,Western Coal Fields,Knobs,Eden Shale Hills,Jackson Purchase,Pennyrile, | |
| Climate | |
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Located within the southeastern interior portion of North America, Kentucky has a climate that can best be described as a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa). Monthly average temperatures in Kentucky range from a summer daytime high of 87 °F (31 °C) to a winter low of 23 °F (−5 °C). The average precipitation is 46 inches (1,200 mm) a year.[11] Kentucky experiences all four seasons, usually with striking variations in the severity of summer and winter from year to year.[12] Kentucky's highest recorded temperature was 114 °F (46 °C) at Greensburg on July 28, 1930 while the lowest recorded temperature was −34 °F (−37 °C) at Cynthiana on January 28, 1963.
Major weather events that have affected Kentucky include:
Event
Death Toll
Louisville Tornado of 1890
est. 76–120+
Ohio River flood of 1937
?
April 3, 1974 Tornado Outbreak
72
April 7, 1977 Flooding (Cumberland River toppled Pineville floodwall)
?
March 1, 1997 Flooding
18
North American blizzard of 2003
?
2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak
Weather.com reported 17 deaths
September 2008 Windstorm
1
January 2009 ice storm
24+
Monthly Average High and Low Temperatures For Various Kentucky Cities
City
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Lexington
40/24
45/28
55/36
65/44
74/54
82/62
86/66
85/65
78/58
67/46
54/37
44/28
Louisville
41/25
47/28
57/37
67/46
75/56
83/65
87/70
86/68
79/61
68/48
56/39
45/30
Paducah
42/24
48/28
58/37
68/46
77/55
85/64
89/68
87/65
81/57
71/45
57/36
46/28
Pikeville
46/23
50/25
60/32
69/39
77/49
84/58
87/63
86/62
80/56
71/42
60/33
49/26
Ashland
42/19
47/21
57/29
68/37
77/47
84/56
88/61
87/59
80/52
69/40
57/31
46/23
[edit] Tags:Dst,Louisville Tornado Of 1890,2008 Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak,September 2008 Windstorm,Cumberland River, | |
| Lakes and rivers | |
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Lake Cumberland is the largest artificial lake, in volume, east of the Mississippi River.
Kentucky's 90,000 miles (140,000 km) of streams provides one of the most expansive and complex stream systems in the nation. Kentucky has both the largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi in water volume (Lake Cumberland) and surface area (Kentucky Lake). It is the only U.S. state to be bordered on three sides by rivers—the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and the Big Sandy River and Tug Fork to the east.[13] Its major internal rivers include the Kentucky River, Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Green River and Licking River.
Though it has only three major natural lakes,[14] the state is home to many artificial lakes. Kentucky also has more navigable miles of water than any other state in the union, other than Alaska.[15]
[edit] Tags:Lake Cumberland,Big Sandy River,Tug Fork,Tennessee River, | |
| Natural environment and conservation | |
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Once an industrial wasteland, Louisville's reclaimed waterfront now features thousands of trees and miles of walking trails
Kentucky has an expansive park system which includes one national park, two National Recreation areas, two National Historic Parks, two national forests, two National Wildlife Refuges, 45 state parks, 37,696 acres (153 km2) of state forest, and 82 Wildlife Management Areas.
Kentucky has been part of two of the most successful wildlife reintroduction projects in United States history. In the winter of 1997, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources began to re-stock elk in the state's eastern counties, which had been extinct from the area for over 150 years. As of 2009, the herd had reached the project goal of 10,000 animals, making it the largest herd east of the Mississippi River.[16]
The state also stocked wild turkeys in the 1950s. Once extinct here, more wild turkeys thrive in Kentucky today than in any other eastern state. Hunters telechecked a record 29,006 birds taken during the 23-day season in Spring 2009. Only bearded turkeys were allowed to be hunted; the females are protected for breeding.[17]
In March 2011, Kentucky was rated last place amongst the states in the American State Litter Scorecard, presented at the American Society for Public Administration national conference.[18]
[edit] Tags:Turkey,Elk,National Forests,American Society For Public Administration, | |
| Significant natural attractions | |
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Red River Gorge is one of Kentucky's most visited places
Cumberland Gap, chief passageway through the Appalachian Mountains in early American history.
Cumberland Falls State Park, the only place in the Western Hemisphere where a "moon-bow" may be regularly seen, due to the spray of the falls.[19]
Mammoth Cave National Park, featuring the world's longest known cave system.[20]
Red River Gorge Geological Area, part of the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Land Between the Lakes, a National Recreation Area managed by the United States Forest Service.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Whitley City.
Black Mountain, state's highest point.[21] Runs along the border of Harlan and Letcher counties.
Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve, 2,639-acre (11 km2) state nature preserve on southern slope of Pine Mountain in Letcher County. Includes one of the largest concentrations of rare and endangered species in the state,[22] as well as a 60-foot (18 m) waterfall and a Kentucky Wild River.
Jefferson Memorial Forest, located in the southern fringes of Louisville in the Knobs region, the largest municipally run forest in the United States.[23]
Lake Cumberland, 1,255 miles (2,020 km) of shoreline located in South Central Kentucky.
Natural Bridge, located in Slade, Kentucky Powell County
Breaks Interstate Park, located in southeastern Pike County, Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia. The Breaks is commonly known as the "Grand Canyon of the South."
[edit] Tags:Mammoth Cave National Park,Cumberland Gap, | |
| History | |
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Abraham Lincoln Birthplace near Hodgenville
Both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were born in Kentucky.
Main article: History of Kentucky
See also: Kentucky in the American Civil War, Kentucky Historical Society, and Hatfield-McCoy feud
What is now the state was inhabited by varying cultures of Native Americans from at least 1000 BC to about 1650 AD, particularly along the waterways and in areas of game. Bison roamed in the region. By the time that European and colonial explorers and settlers began entering Kentucky in greater number in the mid-18th century, there were no major Native American settlements in the region. The Iroquois had controlled much of the Ohio River valley for hunting from their bases in what is now New York. The Shawnee from the northwest and Cherokee from the south also sent parties into the area regularly for hunting. As more settlers entered the area, warfare broke out because the American Indians considered the settlers to be encroaching on their traditional hunting grounds.[24] Today the Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky is a state-recognized tribe.
According to a 1790 U.S. government report, 1,500 Kentucky settlers had been killed in Indian raids since the end of the Revolutionary War.[25] In an attempt to end such raids into the state, Clark led an expedition of 1,200 drafted men against Shawnee towns on the Wabash River in 1786, one of the first actions of the Northwest Indian War.[26]
After the American Revolution, the counties of Virginia beyond the Appalachian Mountains became known as Kentucky County.[27] Eventually, the residents of Kentucky County petitioned for a separation from Virginia. Ten constitutional conventions were held in the Constitution Square Courthouse in Danville between 1784 and 1792. In 1790, Kentucky's delegates accepted Virginia's terms of separation, and a state constitution was drafted at the final convention in April 1792. On June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state to be admitted to the union. Isaac Shelby, a military veteran from Virginia, was elected the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.[28]
Central Kentucky, the Bluegrass region, was the center of the greatest slaveholding, as planters cultivated tobacco and hemp, and also were noted for their quality livestock. During the nineteenth century, Kentucky slaveholders began to sell surplus slaves to the Deep South, with Louisville becoming a major slave market and departure port for slaves being transported downriver.
It was one of the border states during the American Civil War.[29] Although frequently described as never having seceded, representatives from several counties met at Russellville calling themselves the "Convention of the People of Kentucky" and passed an Ordinance of Secession on November 20, 1861.[30] They established a Confederate government of Kentucky with its capital in Bowling Green.[31] Though Kentucky was represented by the central star on the Confederate battle flag,[32] the Russellville Convention did not represent the majority of residents. Kentucky officially remained "neutral" throughout the war due to Union sympathies of many of the Commonwealth's citizens.
In a revival of the "Lost Cause" that has exceeded the support it gained during the war, some contemporary people observe Confederate Memorial Day on Confederate President Jefferson Davis' birthday, June 3 and participate in Confederate re-enactments.[33][34]
Designed by the Washington Monument's architect Robert Mills in 1845, the U.S. Marine Hospital in Louisville is considered the best remaining antebellum hospital in the United States
The Black Patch Tobacco Wars, a vigilante action, occurred in the area in the early 20th century. As result of the tobacco industry monopoly, tobacco farmers in the area were forced to sell their tobacco at low prices. Many local farmers and activists united to refuse to sell tobacco to the tobacco industry. A vigilante wing, the "Night Riders", terrorized farmers who sold their tobacco at the low prices demanded by the tobacco corporations. They burned several tobacco warehouses, notably in Hopkinsville and Princeton. In the later period of their operation, they were known to physically assault farmers who broke the boycott. The Governor declared martial law and deployed the Kentucky Militia to end the Black Patch Tobacco Wars.
On January 30, 1900, Governor William Goebel, flanked by two bodyguards and walking to the State Capitol in downtown Frankfort, was mortally wounded by an assassin. Goebel was contesting the election of 1899, which William S. Taylor was initially believed to have won. For several months, J. C. W. Beckham, Goebel's running mate, and Taylor fought over who was the legal governor, until the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in May in favor of Beckham. After fleeing to Indiana, Taylor was indicted as a co-conspirator in Goebel's assassination. Goebel is the only governor of a U.S. state to have been assassinated while in office.[35]
[edit] Tags:Capital,Commonwealth,Tobacco, | |
| Law and government | |
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Kentucky is one of four U.S. states to officially use the term commonwealth, which it inherited from Virginia. Kentucky is also one of only five states that elects its state officials in odd-numbered years (the others are Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia). Kentucky holds elections for these offices every 4 years in the years preceding Presidential election years. Thus, the last year when Kentucky elected a Governor was 2011; the next gubernatorial election will occur in 2015, with future gubernatorial elections to take place in 2019, 2023, 2027, etc.
See also: List of Governors of Kentucky, Kentucky Senate, and Kentucky House of Representatives
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| Executive branch | |
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The governor's mansion in Frankfort, Kentucky
The executive branch is headed by the governor who serves as both head of state and head of government. The Tags: | |
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