LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It has been more than 200 years since Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state in a union that would later make up the United States.
The “Bluegrass State” was also the first state west of the Appalachian mountains.
Do you think you know everything about the commonwealth? Here are some fun facts about Kentucky.
- It’s believed the name “Kentucky” is derived from Native American language. National Geographic states, it could have stemmed from the Wyandot name “Kah-ten-tah-teh” translated as “Land of Tomorrow”; the Shawnee name “Kain-tuck-ee” meaning “at the head of the river” or an Iroquoian or Mowhawk word “Kentucke” which means “among the meadows.”
- Frankfort became the state capital in 1792 after it pledged manpower to build the statehouse during the Civil War.
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 4.5 million people call Kentucky home.
- Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city with 1.3 million residents in the metro area, followed by Lexington with 516,000 in its metro area, based on recent Census data.
- President Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace is in Hodgenville and is home to an historic site.
- Fort Knox is home to the U.S. Bullion Depository; it contains the world’s largest gold reserve. It’s heavily guarded, so don’t go looking for a field trip to see it anytime soon!
- Butcher Hollow was the birthplace of country icons Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gale and was also a coal mining community. Webb’s Grocery Store also known as the Number 5 Store, is a favorite among tourists. It was depicted in the 1980 film “Coal Miner’s Daughter” based on Lynn’s life.
- Kentucky is the horse capital of the world.
- Cumberland Falls is the only waterfall in the world to regularly display a moonbow.
- Washington, Kentucky was the first city in the U.S. believed to be named after a president in 1786. The city was also the inspiration of author and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” after she witnessed slaves being sold.
- “Happy Birthday to You” was written by Louisville natives Mildred and Patricia Hill in 1893.
- Thunder Over Louisville, part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, is the largest fireworks display in the U.S.
- Middlesboro is the only U.S. city to be built within a meteorite impact crater
- Bardstown is known as the bourbon capitol of the world where some historic distilleries and landmarks are located. It even hosts an annual bourbon festival
- Famous Kentuckians include Muhammad Ali, Jennifer Lawrence, Diane Sawyer, Johnny Depp, Ashley Judd, George Clooney, Oscar-winning director Gus Van Sant, jazz musician Lionel Hampton, Garrett Morgan (traffic light inventor), Rosemary Clooney and Billy Ray Cyrus.
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