"Commonwealth of Kentucky" Kentucky is one of four states to call itself a commonwealth. In 1792
when Kentucky became the 15th state, the first on the western frontier, both commonwealth and state were used.
Commonwealth meaning government based on the common consent of the people, dates to the time of Oliver Cromwell's
England in the mid-1600s. The other US commonwealths, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were originally
British colonies. Kentucky, once part of Virginia, chose to remain a commonwealth when it separated from Virginia.
"Bluegrass State" Bluegrass is not really blue, it's green, but in the spring, bluegrass produces bluish-purple buds that, when seen in large fields, give a rich blue cast to the grass. Early pioneers found bluegrass growing on Kentucky's rich limestone soil and traders began asking for the seed of the "blue grass from Kentucky." The name stuck and today Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State.
Kentucky has more miles of running water than any other state except Alaska. The numerous rivers and water impoundments provide 1,100 commercially navigable miles. Kentucky has 12.7 million acres of commercial forest land - 50% of the state's land area. The main species of trees are white oak, red oak, walnut, yellow poplar, beech, sugar maple, white ash and hickory.
Kentucky has an expansive park system which includes one national park, two National Recreation areas, two National Historic Parks, two national forests, 45 state parks, 37,696 acres of state forest, and 82 Wildlife Management Areas. Top tourist attractions in Kentucky are: Lake Cumberland, Land Between the Lakes, Mammoth Cave National Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum, Red River Gorge & Natural Bridge, Louisville Zoo, and Cumberland Falls.
Located in the south central United States along the west side of the Appalachian Mountains, Kentucky ranks 37th in land size, with 39,732 square miles. The Commonwealth is bordered by seven states: Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois. The Ohio River flows 664 miles along the northern and western borders of the state. Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain in Harlan County, 4,145 feet above sea level; its lowest point, the Mississippi River in Fulton County , 257 feet above sea level.
As of July 2006, Kentucky has an estimated population of 4,206,074. The 15 largest cities are: Louisville 557,789, Lexington 279,044, Owensboro 55,398, Bowling Green 54,244, Covington 43,062, Richmond 32,333, Hopkinsville 31,638, Henderson 27,768, Florence 27,098, Frankfort 27,281, Jeffersontown 26,152, Nicholasville 25,845, Paducah 25,539, Elizabethtown 23,777, Radcliff 21,933.
See Kentucky Online recommends Rafferty's as you travel and eat out in our beautiful state!
