Kentucky Geography

Basic Facts

• Geographical Region: South
• Size: 40411 sq.mi., 37th rank overall.
• Admitted to Statehood: June 1, 1792
• Population: 4,314,113;26th rank overall.
• Capital: Frankfort
• Other Major City: Louisville
• Abbreviation: KY

Fun Facts

• Nickname: Bluegrass State
• State Flag: Click Here (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Bird: Cardinal (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Flower: Goldenrod (opens window to 50states.com)

Geographical Description

• Kentucky is composed of five geographic regions:
• Bluegrass Region is the north-central area of Kentucky characterized by rolling meadows in the central portion and by sandstone "knobs" on the eastern, southern and western edges.
• Cumberland Plateau is part of the bigger Appalachian Plateau and covers the eastern portion of the state, consisting of mountains, plateaus and valleys. The Cumberland, Pine Mountain and Black Mountain (highest point in the state) ranges are found in this region
• Western Coal Field occupies the northwestern part and consists of hills bordered by the Ohio River on the north. Large coal deposits are found here.
• Pennyroyal Region stretches along the southern border of Kentucky from the Appalachian Plateau west all the way to Kentucky Lake. The southern portion consists of flat lands with some rolling hills and the center of the region contains a treeless area called The Barrens. The northern section consists of rocky ridges. Under this rocky area are underground caves and tunnels where Mammoth Cave is located.
• Jackson Purchase Region is the far western tip characterized by flood plains with low hills. The Mississippi River crosses the Madrid Fault zone here.

Map: Relief Map of KY

Industry

Transportation equipment, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, food processing, tobacco products, coal, tourism, printing and publishing, automobiles

Agriculture

Horses, mules, corn, cattle, tobacco, dairy products, hogs, soybeans, hay

Other Information

Fun Facts:

• The Mississippi River actually flowed backwards in 1811 and 1812 because of earthquakes!
• The first cheeseburger ever served was in 1934 at Kaolin's restaurant in Louisville.
• The Shawnee and Cherokee Indian nations used Kentucky as a hunting ground before white settlers began occupying the land.
• Fort Knox is home to more than $6 billion worth of gold held in underground vaults. It is the largest amount of gold stored anywhere in the world.
• Both Abraham Lincoln, President of the Union, and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, were born in Kentucky.
• Corbin is home to the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant owned and operated by Colonel Sanders.
• The second oldest tourist attraction and world's longest cave is Mammoth Cave.
• More than half of all Americans killed in the War of 1812 were Kentuckians.

More Fun Facts: http://www.50states.com/facts/kentucky.htm