Welcome to Kentucky
"The Bluegrass State" Famous for its bluegrass (both the plant and the music) as well as the annual Kentucky Derby horse race, this 15th state admitted to the Union was originally part of Virginia. The origin of the nameKentucky is a point of contention, with some declaring it derived from an Iroquois word for "prairie" and others claiming it means "river of blood" in reference to the 13th century war campaigns the tribe fought in the area. The fact that both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were both born in Kentucky highlights the state's precarious position as a border state during the Civil War, when its officials maintained a "neutral" position. One of four states to officially use the title "Commonwealth," the state has more registered Democrats than Republicans. Most are of the "Blue Dog" Southern variety, more politically conservative than Democrats in the rest of the country. The state is quite religious as a whole, with almost a quarter of the population being affiliated with evangelical Protestant churches like the Baptists. (Louisville is the home of the principal Southern Baptist Seminary.) In terms of economic output, Kentucky ranks fourth among states in automobile assembly and fifth in number of farms. Then there's that renowned Kentucky bourbon. Named after the place of its creation, Bourbon County, an estimated 95 percent of the whisky is distilled and aged in the Bluegrass State. State Name: Kentucky  State Nickname: The Bluegrass State  State Motto: United we stand, divided we fall.  Name for Residents: Kentuckian Abbreviation: KY Time Zone:    Eastern half: Eastern, GMT/UTC -5 / -4 (Daylight Savings Time)    Western half: Central, GMT/UTC -6 / -5 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Frankfort Date of Statehood: June 1, 1792  Statehood Rank: 15th State Area: 40,409 square miles (104,659 km²) Area Rank: 37 of 50 Number of Counties: 120 State Population: 4,269,245 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Louisville - 557,224 (2008)     Lexington - 282,114 (2008)     Owensboro - 55,516 (2008) Major Rivers:     Mississippi: 2,320 mi (3,730 km)     Ohio: 981 mi (1,579 km)     Kentucky: 259 mi (417 km) Highest Point: Black Mountain, 4,145 ft (1,263 m) Lowest Point: Mississippi River, 257 ft (78 m) Bordering States:     Ohio (North)     West Virginia (East)     Virginia (Southeast)     Tennessee (South)     Missouri (West)     Illinois (Northwest)     Indiana (Northwest)     Ohio (Northeast) Record High Temperature:     114°F (45°C)     July 28, 1930 at Greensburg Record Low Temperature:     -37°F (-38°C)     January 19, 1994 at Shelbyville
	Kentucky State Flag Kentucky State Seal Kentucky Location Map Kentucky
	Author: World Trade Press