The Commonwealth of Kentucky

Gitsba H., III IR.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state.

One of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth. Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 it became the 15th state to join the Union.

Kentucky is the 37th largest state in terms of total area, the 36th largest in land area, and ranks 26th in population. Capital- Frankfort

Kentucky is known for thoroughbred horses, horse racing, bourbon distilleries, bluegrass music, automobile manufacturing, tobacco and college basketball.

Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the fact that native bluegrass is present in many of the pastures throughout the state, based on the fertile soil.

REGION

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.

CLIMATEKentucky has a climate that can best be described as a humid subtropical climate. 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.Kentucky experiences all four seasons, usually with striking variations in the severity of summer and winter from year to year.

LAKES AND RIVERS

Kentucky has both the largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi in water volume (Lake Cumberland) and surface area (Kentucky Lake).

Kentucky is 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.

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.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

The state stocked wild turkeys in the 1950s. Once extinct there, today Kentucky has more turkeys than any other eastern state. Hunters telechecked a record 29,006 birds during the 23-day season in Spring 2009

RACE AND ANCESTRY. RELIGION

The largest ancestries in the commonwealth are:

-English (30.6%), -German (12.7%), -Irish (10.5%), -African American (7.8%). Kentucky's 4,041,769 residents:

- 46.57% were not affiliated with any church - 33.68% were members of evangelical Protestant churches

-Southern Baptist Convention (979,994 members, 24.25%) -Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (106,638 members, 2.64%) -Church of Christ (58,602 members, 1.45%)

-10.05% were Roman Catholics -8.77% belonged to mainline Protestant churches

-United Methodist Church (208,720 members, 5.16%) -Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (67,611 members, 1.67%)

- 0.05% were Orthodox Christians - 0.88% were affiliated with other theologies.

COUNTIES

Kentucky is subdivided into 120 counties, the largest being Pike County, Kentucky at 787.6 square miles (2,040 km2), and the most populous being Jefferson County, Kentucky with 693,604 residents as of 2000.

County government, under the Kentucky Constitution of 1891, is vested in the County Judge/Executive (formerly called the County Judge) who serves as the executive head of the county, and a legislature called a Fiscal Court. Despite the unusual name, the Fiscal Court no longer has judicial functions.

EDUCATION

Kentucky maintains eight public four-year universities. There are two general tiers: the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville and regional universities, which encompasses the remaining 6 schools.

"UK" and "U of L" have the highest academic rankings and admissions standards although the regional schools aren't without their national recognized departments.

"UK" is the flagship and land grant of the system and has agriculture extension services in every county. The two research schools split duties related to the medical field, "UK" handles all medical outreach programs in the eastern half of the state while "U of L" does all medical outreach in the state's western half.

GALLERY

Kentucky state welcome sign

Frankfort State Capitol

High Bridge over the Kentucky River was the tallest rail bridge in the world when it was completed in 1877A barge hauling coal in the Louisville and Portland Canal, the only manmade section of the Ohio River

The best selling truck in the United States, the Ford F-Series, is manufactured in Louisville.

The best selling car in the United States, the Toyota Camry, is manufactured in Georgetown.

Sunrise Sunset

Arabian mare and a foal

The world famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat holds the guiness world record for the largest bat.

Kentucky's 2001 commemorative quarter.

Kentucky's horse farms are world renowned.

Kentucky Bourbon

The Daniel Boone National Forest. The Ohio River forms the northern border of Kentucky.

Thunder Over Louisville is the largest annual fireworks show in the world.

Downtown, Bowling Green.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace near Hodgenville

Both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were born in Kentucky.

Jonny Depp

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