Kentucky presents a mixture of both the Midwest and the South. The northern, more urban portion of the state, particularly the Ohio Valley corridor, is characterized by manufacturing and is oriented to the Midwest. Southern and western Kentucky tend to be rural in nature, concentrating on agriculture and mining; they are generally associated with the South.

Kentucky is centrally located within the eastern United States, bordered by the seven states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. The state has an extreme width of 290 km (180 mi) and a length of 676 km (420 mi). Kentucky was once an Indian hunting ground. The name is believed to come from an Indian word meaning "prairie." White men had explored the area by 1750. In 1792, Kentucky separated from Virginia to become the 15th state.

Kentucky shows diversity in its terrain. Considerable areas of plains, many hills, and a limited mountainous area in southeastern Kentucky, the highest part of the state, can be found in the state. Elevations generally decrease to the west and north, varying from 610 to 914 m (2,000 to 3,000 ft) in the southeast to between 122 and 183 m (400 and 600 ft) in the northwest and 396 m (1,300 ft) in the north. The highest point is Black Mountain, 1,262 m (4,139 ft), located near the Virginia border; the lowest elevation, 78 m (257 ft), is the Mississippi River along the state's western tip.

The state may be divided into six regions that closely conform to geologic structure. The Pennyroyal region, located in central and western Kentucky and named for a type of mint native to the area, is a flat to rolling limestone agricultural area. It extends nearly two-thirds of the distance across the state and accounts for about 30 percent of the total area.

The Western Coalfield, more than 10 percent of the state, is a relatively rolling sandstone and shale area north of the Pennyroyal where agriculture and area stripping of coal take place. To its west, the Jackson Purchase, 6 percent of Kentucky, is that region lying west of the Tennessee River that was bought from the Chickasaw Indians in 1818 by Andrew Jackson and former governor Isaac Shelby. It is characterized by large farms developed on unconsolidated floodplain deposits.

The state is geologically simple: rocks are sedimentary and consist primarily of limestones, sandstones, and shales. The strata are nearly horizontal except for deformation associated with thrust faulting in mountainous southeastern Kentucky. Rocks vary in age from the recent (less than 10,000 years) in the Jackson Purchase to more than 420 million years, found in the Ordovician limestones of the Bluegrass.

Soils are primarily woodland residual, but extensive areas possess alluvial and aeolian, or wind-borne, soils. The most fertile soils are associated with alluvial deposits along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and their tributaries.

The climate is moderate but variable due to the state's location in the path of major storm tracks. Kentucky's weather is influenced by warm air from the Gulf of Mexico in summer and by cyclonic storms during winter. The state's location in the path of major storm tracks contributes to frequent weather changes.

The west is slightly warmer than the east in summer, and the south is marginally warmer than the north in winter. Summer temperatures range from highs of 33 degrees C (92 degrees F) to lows of 17 degrees C (62 degrees F). Winter highs average 10 degrees C (50 degrees F) and lows - 3 degrees C (26 degrees F). The growing season extends from 206 days in the west to 165 days in the southeast.

Annual precipitation decreases from south to north, with northern Kentucky receiving an average of 1,016 mm (40 in) and southern Kentucky more than 1,270 mm (50 in). Much of the state's rainfall occurs between March and June; the least amount occurs in October. Severe storms are most common from March to September.

Three streams mark Kentucky's western, northern, and eastern boundaries: the MISSISSIPPI, OHIO, and Big Sandy rivers. Other important streams include the CUMBERLAND, TENNESSEE, Green, Kentucky, Licking, and Salt rivers. Virtually all of Kentucky's streams flow from the south or southeast to the north or northwest and into the Ohio River. The stream pattern is mainly dendritic.

Kentucky has several man-made lakes (reservoirs) and smaller natural ponds or sinks. The best-known lakes include Cumberland (205 sq km/79 sq mi), Kentucky (194 sq km/75 sq mi), and Barkley (184 sq km/71 sq mi). Lakes Cumberland and Barkley were formed by damming the Cumberland River, while Kentucky Lake was formed on the Tennessee and is part of the TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY. The state's largest natural lake is Swan Lake, a 121 ha (300 acre) body of water located in Ballard County. The most productive groundwater areas are in the Jackson Purchase, in the Ohio River floodplain, and in the Pennyroyal. Relatively little groundwater is associated with the coalfield and Bluegrass regions.

The state lies at the center of the Eastern Deciduous Forest and is about 48 percent tree covered. Little of the original forest remains, however. Dominant trees include oak, tulip poplar, hickory, beech, buckeye, maple, pine, cedar, and hemlock. Animal life consists largely of deer, rabbit, squirrel, opossum, raccoon, skunk, woodchuck, snake, and quail. Fish include crappie, bass, perch, catfish, and darters.

Kentucky's most abundant natural resources include reserves of bituminous coal, limestone, sand and gravel, and water and forest resources. Also present are reserves of natural gas, petroleum, oil shale, clay, and fluorspar.

Kentucky's population grew at a rate far lower than the national average for the decade between 1980 and 1990. In-migration related to the "Sun Belt" phenomenon was largely offset by lower rates of natural increase and out-migration associated with poor economic conditions. The state's population density is lower than that of the eastern United States but somewhat higher than the average of the south-central region. The farm population continues to decrease.

Kentucky has a relatively large rural and small-town population. Few cities are of significant size. The state has two large cities, LOUISVILLE and LEXINGTON, and one other city with a population in excess of 50,000--OWENSBORO. A number of other cities have more than 25,000 people, including Covington, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, PADUCAH, FRANKFORT, and Henderson.

The state's population is mostly white. Blacks form the largest nonwhite group, followed by persons of Spanish origin (less than 1 percent of the population), Asian and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians. Of the state's foreign-born residents, most originated from Germany and Ireland. Baptists constitute the largest religious group. Other large denominations are the Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ.

Kentucky's first school opened in Harrodsburg in 1775, and the public school system was established in 1838 by the state legislature. The state department of education is in charge of the public school system; it is headed by a commissioner of education.

Higher education can be traced to the 1780 chartering of Transylvania Seminary, now Transylvania University. The state's two largest schools are the University of Kentucky (1865) and the University of Louisville (1798); in addition the state supports six regional universities (see KENTUCKY, STATE UNIVERSITIES OF). There are 14 public-supported community colleges in Kentucky. There are also a number of private colleges and universities located in the state.

Many public libraries, along with college and specialized libraries, serve Kentucky. The largest library collections are found at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington; the University of Louisville; the Kentucky State Library, in Frankfort; and the Louisville Public Libraries.

The state's museums contain natural history, science, and art collections. Historic houses, planetariums, and nature centers are also part of Kentucky's cultural life. The J. B. Speed Art Museum is in Louisville. Examples of unique museums in the state include the John James Audubon Museum in Henderson and the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville. The state's three principal symphony orchestras are located in Louisville, Lexington, and Owensboro; other cities support university or community orchestras. One opera company and one resident theater are located in Louisville, and ballet companies are headquartered in Lexington and Louisville.

Federal, state, and local historic attractions total about 2,000 in number. Some of the more significant include reconstructed forts Harrod and Boonesborough; Cumberland Gap; the Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis birthplaces; Ashland, home of Henry Clay; Federal Hill, known as Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home"; and the communities of Danville and Frankfort, the state capital.

Kentucky has a number of daily newspapers, including the influential Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader. There are also commercial television and radio stations and an educational television system in the state.

Contrary to popular opinion, manufacturing contributes far more to Kentucky's economy than agriculture and mining combined. The greatest single source of income is derived from manufacturing, although the various service industries together make up the largest segment of the gross state product. Agriculture is still important to the state, and Kentucky ranks among the leading U.S. states in the production of tobacco. Eastern Kentucky is highly dependent on coal mining and is the poorest region of the state. Beginning in the 1960s both the state and federal governments established poverty-combating programs in Kentucky's Appalachian region, but income has remained lower and unemployment higher in that area than elsewhere in the state.

Kentucky's agriculture is confined generally to the western two-thirds of the state. Crops and livestock activities each account for about half of farm income. By far the most valuable crop is tobacco--primarily burley; the crop is grown in almost every county in the state. Also significant are corn, soybeans, and hay. Livestock is dominated by cattle with associated dairy products, hogs, horses, and poultry.

Although Kentucky is a leader in hardwood production, forestry contributes relatively little to the state's economy except on a local level in eastern and southern Kentucky.

The only state with two distinct coalfields--the Appalachian in eastern Kentucky and the Eastern Interior in western Kentucky--Kentucky is among the nation's leading bituminous coal-producing states. Coal is obtained both by underground and surface, or strip, methods. Contour stripping dominates hilly eastern Kentucky; area stripping is more common in the west. Other leading mineral activities, by value of production, include stone, petroleum, natural gas, sand and gravel, and clay.

Manufacturing in Kentucky, employing more than 250,000 people, is dominant along the Ohio River corridor between the Ashland-Catlettsburg area in northeastern Kentucky and the PADUCAH-Calvert City area in the extreme western part of the state. An additional manufacturing area is centered in Lexington. Louisville is the state's principal center of manufacturing; other important industrial cities are Owensboro and the Newport-Covington area. The leading types of manufacturing include metals (steel and aluminum), machinery, transportation equipment (automobiles), chemicals, food (including Bourbon whiskey and other alcoholic beverages), tobacco products, and lumber and wood products.

Five federal parks lie wholly or partly within the state: Mammoth Cave National Park, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (a Tennessee Valley Authority recreation site). The Kentucky state park system supervises 17 areas, the newest of which is Kentucky Horse Park, near Lexington. Breaks Interstate Park is jointly operated by Kentucky and Virginia.

Six areas are significant to tourism: the Kentucky and Barkley lakes area, the Mammoth Cave area, scattered locations in and near Daniel Boone National Forest, the Lake Cumberland area, Lexington and the Bluegrass area, and Louisville. The state has four Thoroughbred and three standardbred, or harness, racetracks. The best known include the Thoroughbred tracks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, site of the KENTUCKY DERBY, and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, one of the country's most beautiful racing facilities. Also popular is the historic Red Mile in Lexington, site of many record-setting harness races. Rupp Arena, one of the nation's largest college basketball facilities, is in Lexington.

Kentucky has 112,654 km (70,000 mi) of highways, of which 2,274 km (1,413 mi) are freeways (consisting of an extensive system of interstates, parkways, and toll roads). Local roads, however, are considered poor when compared with those of adjacent states. The Mississippi and Ohio rivers and intrastate rivers provide over 1,600 km (1,000 mi) of navigable waterway. In addition, 5,300 km (3,300 mi) of railroad tracks cross the state, and scheduled flights are provided to five major airports. In all, 81 airports, including Greater Cincinnati International Airport in northern Kentucky and Standiford Field in Louisville, serve the state.

Kentucky, with coal reserves presently estimated at 66 billion tons, will play a nationally important energy role in future years. At present coal provides more than 90 percent of the state's electric generating capacity. A total of 51 electric generating plants operate in the state; 33 are steam generating plants, 9 are hydroelectric, and 9 internal combustion. Kentucky has no nuclear generating plants.

Kentucky is organized as a commonwealth rather than a state and operates under its fourth constitution, adopted in 1891. Elected officials include the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, auditor of public accounts, commissioner of agriculture, and superintendent of public instruction--all of whom are elected for four-year terms. The legislature consists of 38 senators, elected for two years, and 100 representatives, elected for two years. The judiciary is composed of one court of justice, which, in turn, is composed of four courts: supreme, appeals, circuit, and district.

Kentucky has 120 counties, a number exceeded only by Texas and Georgia, averaging 855 sq km (330 sq mi) in area. Counties are governed by a fiscal court, composed of an elected judge-executive, who serves as county administrator, and three or more magistrates. Cities in Kentucky are delegated powers according to one of six class assignments based on population. Recently a new legal entity was approved by the legislature that permitted the city of Lexington and Fayette County to merge, thus forming a metropolitan government. For planning purposes the state is divided into 15 multicounty planning regions called Area Development Districts (ADDs).

Politically, the state has been dominated by Democrats, although the 1994 elections produced Republican inroads. Republican strength traditionally has been greatest in a 15-county area in southeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky, "the bourbon whiskey capital of the world," is conservative with the sale of alcoholic beverages. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, 77 totally prohibit alcoholic beverage sales. These dry counties are located primarily in the rural, southern part of the state.

Indians established civilizations in Kentucky more than 13,000 years ago. When the first white people entered the area, it was being used as a hunting ground by the SHAWNEE and CHEROKEE Indians.

One of the early explorers, Dr. Thomas Walker, entered Kentucky after discovering Cumberland Gap in 1750. The gap provided a relatively easy route through the Cumberland Mountains, and in subsequent years countless explorers and settlers were to move through it. One of the best-known explorers was the legendary Daniel BOONE, who first arrived in 1767. Others reached Kentucky via the Ohio River and established settlements at Maysville and Louisville.

The first settlement of Fort Harrod, now known as Harrodsburg, was established by James Harrod in 1774. Boonesborough was settled in 1775 by Daniel Boone and his companions. Increased settlement brought pressures for statehood. Following conventions in Danville, the first constitution was approved in April 1792; Kentucky became the 15th state on June 1, 1792. In what was essentially a compromise between Lexington and Louisville, Frankfort was selected the state capital. The new state legislature adopted a strong STATE RIGHTS position when it adopted (1798) resolutions opposing the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Between statehood and the Civil War, Kentucky increased its population from about 75,000 to more than 1 million. Slavery became the dominant social and political issue as the state expanded its farm production. An agricultural market downstream on the Mississippi River was assured by the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The steamboat provided transportation on the Ohio River by 1815, and a rail system was developed before 1860.

A border state, Kentucky attempted to remain neutral during the Civil War but was unsuccessful because of its strategic location and the divided loyalties of its citizens. Farmers who used the Ohio and Mississippi rivers for transporting their produce wanted access to both waterways and the international port of New Orleans. If the South separated itself from the North, this free access would be impeded. On the other hand, influential plantation owners and state rights advocates sided with the Confederacy. As a result, Kentuckians could be found in both Union and Confederate armies. Confederate forces invaded Kentucky in 1861. Most of the fighting within the state's boundaries, however, had ceased by 1863, after the Confederate army was driven out.

After the Civil War, the state changed economically and socially. Tobacco replaced hemp as the major agricultural crop. Coal mining was stimulated by the extension of rail lines into the coalfields of the eastern part of the state. Increased employment opportunities arose in manufacturing and services, and the major cities grew rapidly. After 1920 the state began a 70-year trend of decreases in rural population and growth in urban areas.

From World War II to the present day, Kentucky has changed with the nation. Certain internal events, however, have had a particular impact on Kentucky's historic development. A modern highway system of interstate routes and an extensive parkway/toll-road system connecting all parts of the state have been established. Authorization for the 15 Area Development Districts, beginning in 1968, showed serious efforts to plan for the state's future. Aggressive state involvement with industrial development and stimulation of tourism was begun, particularly with the promotion of the state park system. The state joined in the formation of the Appalachian Regional Commission in 1965 and obtained assistance from the Tennessee Valley Authority in the western part of the state. Higher education was upgraded through the creation of regional universities and community colleges, along with the Kentucky Educational Television Network. A coal severance tax was enacted, to be levied at the time of extraction on an industry whose technological changes have resulted in an increased use of machinery rather than human labor, a major shift from underground mining to surface mining, and an increase in pollution. The state's judicial system was revamped in 1976. Through favorable corporate economic incentives, the state gained a Toyota automobile plant in 1988. Increased concerns for educational quality and funding contributed to the establishment of a statewide lottery in 1989 and to the Education Reform Act of 1990. Significant changes have since occurred in school funding, organization, and in taxation.

Kentucky's future looks promising, however. Continued economic development is possible because of a current emphasis on education reform and the state's advantages in energy, natural resources, transportation, water, scenery, and climate. With intelligent land-use planning, the state's abundant resources should provide Kentuckians with an improved economy and quality of life.