Kentucky Information

Here is some general information about Kentucky:

Recommended Reading

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide

This guide contains information about the symbols, mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and even license plates for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

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Name
Offical Name	Commonwealth of Kentucky
Nickname	Bluegrass State
Abbreviations	KY, US-KY
Origin of Name	Unknown, possibly from Wyandot, Iroquoian, Algonquian or Shawnee Indian language

Government
Official Language	English
Admission to Union	14 December 1792
Time Zones	Central, Eastern
Official Web Site	www.kentucky.gov

Population
Capital	Frankfort
Largest City	Louisville
Population	4,041,869 (as of 2000 census)
Economy	Agriculture: horses, cattle, tobacco, dairy products, hogs, soybeans, corn Industry: transportation equipment, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, food processing, tobacco products, coal, tourism

Geography
Area	40,444 square miles (104,749 km²)
Major Rivers	Cumberland River, Green River, Kentucky River, Mississippi River, Ohio River
Major Lakes	Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Lake Cumberland
Highest Point	Black Mountain - 4,145 feet (1263 meters)
Bordering States	Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois
Bordering Country	None
Bordering Body of Water	None

Symbols
Flag
Motto	United we stand, divided we fall
Song	My Old Kentucky Home
Bluegrass Song	Blue Moon of Kentucky
Slogan	Unbridled Spirit
Center for Celebration of African-American Heritage	Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage
Honey Festival	Clarkson Honeyfest
Arboretum	Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Botanical Garden	University of Kentucky-Fayette County Arboretum
Science Center	Louisville Science Center
Wild Animal	Gray Squirrel
Bird	Kentucky Cardinal
Horse	Thoroughbred
Butterfly	Viceroy Butterfly
Fish	Kentucky Bass
Fossil	Brachiopod
Flower	Goldenrod
Fruit	Blackberry
Tree	Tulip Popular, formerly was the Kentucky Coffeetree
Drink	Milk
Rock	Kentucky Agate
Gemstone	Freshwater Pearl
Mineral	Coal
Soil	Crider Soil Series
Dance	Clogging
Musical Instrument	Appalachian Dulcimer
Theatre Pipe Organ	Kentucky Theatre's Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ
Outdoor Musical	Stephen Foster - The Musical