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Kentucky
More About Kentucky State
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br>Kentucky stretches from Virginia to Missouri, a geographic and historic bridge in the westward flow of American settlement. The state can be divided into four sections: the Bluegrass, the south central cave country, the eastern mountains, and the western lakes. Each differs drastically in geography, culture, and economics. A circular area in the north-central portion of the state, the Lexington plain is bluegrass country, home of great horses and gentlemen farmers. A predominantly rural nature has remained even though a patina of industry has been imposed, thanks to generous tax laws that have added industrial muscle to almost every major community. The great dams of the Tennessee Valley Authority have harnessed floods, generated cheap power, lured chemical plants, and created new vacation resources.
More than 450 million pounds of burley and dark tobacco are typically grown in Kentucky each year. This principal crop is followed by corn, soybeans, and wheat. Cattle, hogs, sheep, and poultry round out the farm family. Not all of Kentucky's corn is served on the cob; much of it winds up as bourbon whiskey, respected and treasured in much of the world. Kentucky is a major mining state as well, with rich deposits of bituminous coal, petroleum, natural gas, fluorspar, natural cement, and clay. Tobacco and food products, electronic equipment, transportation equipment, chemicals, and machinery are the principal factory products.
The Cumberland Gap, a natural passageway through the mountains that sealed the Kentucky wilderness off from Virginia, was the gateway of the pioneers. Dr. Thomas Walker, the first recorded explorer to make a thorough land expedition into the state, arrived in 1750. Daniel Boone and a company of axmen hacked the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap and far into the wilds. The first permanent settlement was at Harrodsburg in 1774, followed quickly by Boonesborough in 1775. Richard Henderson, founder of the Transylvania Company, asked Congress to recognize Transylvania as the 14th state; instead, Virginia claimed Kentucky as one of its counties, and Transylvania passed into history. Finally, in 1792, Congress admitted Kentucky as a state. The Civil War found Kentucky for the Union but against abolition. It remained officially with the North but fought on both sides.
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Kentucky
Statistics & Vital Data |  |
| Population: | 3685296 |
| Area: | 40,409 square miles |
| Timezone: | Eastern and Central |
| Elevation: | 257-4,145 feet |
| High
point: | Black Mountain (Harlan County) |
| Joined
Union: | June 1, 1792 (15th state) |
| State
Capital: | Frankfort |
| State
Motto: | "United we stand, divided we fall" |
| State
Flower: | Goldenrod |
| State
Bird: | Kentucky Cardinal |
| State
Tree: | |
| State
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Kentucky Events >> | | View
Kentucky Attractions >> |
Kentucky Parks, Recreation Areas, & Historical Landmarks:
State Parks - Water-related activities, hiking, riding, and various other sports; picnicking, and camping are available in many of Kentucky's state parks. Eighteen areas have lodges and/or cottages (rates vary; phone 800/255-PARK for information); 30 have tent and trailer sites (Apr-Oct: $10-$20 for two people; $2 for each additional person over 16 years; senior citizens rate; electricity and water included; primitive camping $10-$20; rates subject to change). Thirteen state parks have campgrounds open year-round. Campsites are rented on a first-come, first-served basis; pets on leash only. No entrance fee is charged at state parks. For further information about state parks or camping, contact the Kentucky Department of Parks, 500 Mero St, Frankfort 40601. Phone 502/564-2172 or 800/255-PARK.
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list of all parks in Kentucky >> | |
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Kentucky
Weather and Climate:
Kentucky enjoys a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Winter snowfall ranges from 5 to 10 inches in the southwestern part of the state to as much as 40 inches in the highest elevations. Thunderstorms are common in the Ohio River Valley in spring and summer. | |
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Fishing/Hunting
Opportunities in Kentucky:
Mountain streams, giant lakes, and major rivers invite anglers and are productive throughout the year. Both largemouth bass and crappie can be found throughout the state. Lake Cumberland (see SOMERSET) has walleye; Laurel River Lake (see CORBIN), Lake Cumberland tailwaters, and Paintsville Lake have trout; Buckhorn, Cave Run (see MOREHEAD), and Green River lakes have muskie; Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake (see GILBERTSVILLE), and tailwaters have sauger; and Lake Cumberland has striped bass. Statewide nonresident fishing license: $35; trout stamp $10; nonresident 3-day fishing license $21; 15-day license $25; no fishing license required for children under age 16. Annual nonresident hunting license: $115; deer permit with two tags, gun or archery $25; turkey permit $20; 5-day small game license $32.50. For open season dates and other details, contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Game Farm Rd, Frankfort 40601; phone 502/564-4336 or 800/858-1549. | |
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| | Additional Kentucky Visitor Information:
The Department of Travel, Department MR, PO Box 2011, Frankfort 40602, phone 800/225-8747, distributes literature and information, including a list of the state's many interesting festivals and fairs. The Kentucky Official Vacation Guide is informative, comprehensive, and revised annually.
There are eight welcome centers in Kentucky; visitors who stop by will find information and brochures helpful in planning stops at points of interest. Their locations are: Florence Welcome Center, I-75 southbound exit 180, Walton; Franklin Welcome Center, I-65 northbound exit 2, Franklin; Hopkinsville Welcome Center, I-24 westbound exit 89, Hopkinsville; Grayson Welcome Center, I-64 westbound exit 181, Grayson; Shelby County Welcome Center, I-64 eastbound exit 28, Shelbyville; Bullitt County Welcome Center, I-65 southbound exit 116, Shepherdsville; Whitehaven Welcome Center, I-24 eastbound and US 45, Paducah; and Williamsburg Welcome Center, I-75 northbound exit 11, Williamsburg. |
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