Kentucky is a state situated in the east central US. Nicknamed as the "Bluegrass State", Kentucky is the 26th most populous state of the 50 U.S. states. The state of Kentucky is one of the four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth (others being Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts). Kentucky is bordered by West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri.
Kentucky Floods Update - July 2022
At least 26 people are dead and a lot are not identified after floods that were heavy caused massive flooding in the region of Eastern Kentucky and surrounding Appalachian communities. More rainfall threatens eastern Kentucky on Sunday, at least 12 counties, along with two cities in Kentucky have declared their own states of emergency.
Map of Kentucky with Cities, Road, River, Highways
About Map: Kentucky Map showing the capital, state boundary, roads, rail network,rivers, interstate highways, major cities and towns.
More Kentucky Maps & Info
About Kentucky State Map
Kentucky State Map provides an illustrative description of the entire state, sections include: geographical locations, railways, rivers, counties, national parks, county seats, museums, golf courses, and roadways.
This state map of Kentucky locates the state as bordered by West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. It shows inter-state and state highways, railway lines and state boundaries besides showing the state capital Frankfort, major towns and other towns.
According to the census data of July 2019, Kentucky has a population of 4,467,673 people. Kentucky is politically sub divided into 120 counties with county seats acting as the administrative headquarters of the counties.
Kentucky is situated on the eastern front of South Central United States and covers a total area of 39,728 sq mi. The transportation system of Kentucky includes railways with 2,961 miles of tracks and 79,266 miles of roadways.
History of Kentucky
The land was primariliy inhabited by Native American tribes from 1000 BC to 1650 AD. European contact to the land occured in the mid-eighteenth century, by which time the Native American population was greatly diminished. Though originally part of the state of Virginia, Kentucky came to acheive full and separate statehood in 1792. The area known as Central Kentucky in the nineteenth century was a major slaveholding region. During the American Civil War, Kentucky was considered one of the "border states."Geography of Kentucky
The state of Kentucky is part of the east south-central region of the U.S. Eastern Kentucky lies in the Applachian mountain ranges. The north of the state is bound by the Ohio river while the southern part of the state is similarly enclosed by the Mississippi river.
Kentucky is best divided into five separate regions geographically. These are the Cumberland plateau, the Bluegrass region, the PennyRoyal plateau, the Western Coal fields and finally the Jackson purchase. Kentucky has a humid subtropical climate.
Important Cities in Kentucky:
Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky. Louisville, Glasgow, Cave City, and Columbia are some of the other prominent cities.
Kentucky Travel & Tourism
Considered a part of the American South in terms of culture, Kentucky is famous in particular as a tourist destination for its beautiful lakes. Horse racing is another attraction in Kentucky. The Kentucky Fried Chicken as well as the musical traditions of bluegrass also add to the cultural dimension of the place.
Tourist hotspots include Mammoth Cave National Park, Newport Aquarium, Keeneland, Louisville Zoo, Nationl Corvette Museum, Cumberland Gap, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park and much more.
Education in Kentucky
There are eight major public universities in Kentucky. Out of these, the University of Kenucky and the University of Louiseville are major schools aimed at research. The other six are regional universities. Other famous universities in the state are Transylvania University and Berea College.
Kentucky State Facts
| State Name | Kentucky |
| Nickname | The Bluegrass State |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Capital City | Frankfort |
| Largest City | Louisville |
| Abbreviation | KY |
| State Motto | United We Stand, Divided We Fall |
| Bordering States | Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri |
| State Flower | Goldenrod |
| State Bird | Northern Cardinal |
| State Animal | Gray Squirrel |
| Joined the Union | June 1, 1792 |
| Area | 40,408 sq mi (104,656 sq km) |
| Major Cities | Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Covington |
| Timezone | Eastern Time Zone, Central Time Zone |
| Population | 4,505,836 (2020 Census) |
| Highest Point | Black Mountain - 4,145 ft (1,263 m) |
| Lowest Point | Mississippi River - 257 ft (78 m) |
| Major Rivers | Ohio River, Kentucky River, Cumberland River, Tennessee River, Green River |
| Major Lakes | Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland, Barren River Lake, Rough River Lake, Dale Hollow Lake |
| Longest River | Kentucky River |
| Famous For | Horse racing, bourbon whiskey, bluegrass music, Mammoth Cave, fried chicken |
| Airports | Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Blue Grass Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport |
| Major Sports Team | Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals |
| Major Highways | US Highway 23, US Highway 25, US Highway 31, US Highway 41, US Highway 60 |
| State Routes | Kentucky Route 4, Kentucky Route 8, Kentucky Route 11, Kentucky Route 15, Kentucky Route 80 |
| Official Website | https://kentucky.gov |
List of the Largest Cities in Kentucky by Population
| City | County | Population (2020 Census) | Lat Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Jefferson County | 633,045 | 38.2527,-85.7585 |
| Lexington | Fayette County | 322,570 | 38.0406,-84.5037 |
| Bowling Green | Warren County | 72,294 | 36.9685,-86.4808 |
| Owensboro | Daviess County | 60,183 | 37.7719,-87.1112 |
| Covington | Kenton County | 40,961 | 39.0837,-84.5086 |
| Richmond | Madison County | 34,585 | 37.7479,-84.2947 |
| Georgetown | Scott County | 37,086 | 38.2098,-84.5588 |
| Florence | Boone County | 31,946 | 38.9989,-84.6266 |
| Hopkinsville | Christian County | 31,180 | 36.8656,-87.4886 |
| Nicholasville | Jessamine County | 31,933 | 37.8806,-84.5730 |
Kentucky Transportation
Airlines in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the main airport in the state of Kentucky. Other important airports include Louisville International Airport andCentral Kentucky Regional Airport.
Kentucky is well connected by a good network of roads and railways. Interstates 65, 71, and 75 connect the northern and southern parts of Kentucky. The eastern end of the state is connected to the western end by Interstates 24 and 64.
Kentucky Interstates Highways:
I-24, I-64, I-65, I-66, I-69, I-71, I-65
US Highways and State Routes in Kentucky
US Highways and State Routes include: US 23, US 25, US 25W, US 25E, US 27, US 31, US 31W, US 31E, US 37, US 41, US 42, US 45, US 51, US 52, US 60, US 62, US 68, US 79, US 119, US 127, US 150, US 168, US 227, US 231, US 421, US 431, US 460, US 641.
Regions in Kentucky
- Bluegrass Region
- Pennyroyal Plateau
- Eastern Coal Field
- Western Coal Field
- Jackson Purchase
- Cumberland Plateau
- Knobs Region
- Northern Kentucky
Main Sights in Kentucky
- Mammoth Cave National Park - Mammoth Cave
- Churchill Downs - Louisville
- Red River Gorge - Slade
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park - Corbin
- Kentucky Horse Park - Lexington
- Corvette Museum - Bowling Green
- Natural Bridge State Resort Park - Slade
- Maker's Mark Distillery - Loretto
- Ark Encounter - Williamstown
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park - Hodgenville
- Louisville Slugger Museum - Louisville
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area - Golden Pond
National Parks in Kentucky
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
- Camp Nelson National Monument
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield