Kentucky Facts Learning About US States in Special Ed

Welcome to Kentucky

If you are teaching about the US states, here are some facts about Kentucky you may want to know.

Kentucky is part of the southeastern region of the United States. It has the abbreviation KY.

Kentucky borders Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia. Frankfort is the capital.

Let’s learn a little more about this great state.

Scroll to the end for a free set of Bingo cards with Kentucky facts.

A brief history of Kentucky

In 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state to join the United States.

Most historians believe Kentucky got its name from a Native American Iroquois word, “ken-tah-ten,” which means “Land of Tomorrow.”

In 1774, the first settlers came to this area, which was part of Virginia territory at the time. A few years later, James Harrod and Daniel Boone would find settlements of their own here.

In 1792, Kentucky separated from Virginia and became its own state.

Then, in 1818, the state expanded to the west, purchasing land from the Chickasaw tribe.

From 1861 to 1865, the US was involved in the Civil War. Because both the president of the North (Abraham Lincoln) and the president of the South (Jefferson Davis) came from Kentucky, the state remained officially neutral during the war. Thousands of residents, however, went off to fight, mainly fighting with the Confederate (Southern) troops.

The geography of Kentucky

Kentucky is the only state with rivers creating three of its continuous borders. The Mississippi River is to the west, the Ohio River is to the north, and the Big Sandy and Tug Forks rivers form the eastern border.

Kentucky is divided into six geographical regions. Let’s take a look at each one more closely.

The Mountain Region is the farthest east and is part of the Appalachian Mountain range. It is covered with forests and high ridges. You will find the highest point in the state in this region. Black Mountain stands 4145 feet tall.

Also in the Mountain Region are the Eastern Kentucky Coal Fields. These underground coal fields cover more than 10,000 square miles.

The Knobs Region is a horseshoe-shaped area. Erosion from weather and wind has caused hundreds of knob-shaped hills called monadnocks.

The Bluegrass Region is in the middle of the Knobs Region. This is where much of the famous bluegrass grows. There is also a lot of limestone in this region, and when it breaks down from erosion, it leaves behind caves and sinkholes.

The Pennyroyal Region covers much of the southern part of the state. It gets its name from a type of mint plant that grows there. It is rocky with trees, lakes, and lots of caves. This is where you will find Mammoth Cave, the world’s longest underground cave system.

The Western Coalfield Region is surrounded by the Pennyroyal Region. This area is quite hilly and covers more than 4,500 square miles of underground coal fields. You will also find the James Audubon State Park here.

Finally, the Jackson Purchase is the region farthest to the west. This area was added to Kentucky in 1818 and has many ponds, swamps, and lakes.

Kentucky's resources and industries

One of Kentucky’s most important natural resources is forests. They cover about 50% of the state and are one of the country’s top three producers of hardwood.

Kentucky is also one of the main suppliers of coal in the US, producing more than 40 million tons each year. Limestone is also a large part of this state’s economy.

Farming is also part of this state’s economy. Farmers grow corn, tobacco, and grain and raise cattle and chickens.

One of the most important industries in this state is horses. Horse breeding is a big business here, and people come from around the world to breed and purchase horses.

The auto industry is also prevalent here. In 2022, more than 1 million cars and trucks were built in Kentucky, making them one of the largest automotive states in the US.

Two large military bases in this state, Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, help support the local economy.

Finally, tourism is very important to this state. Millions come to see some of the most famous horse races in the world at Churchill Downs each year, as well as other popular locations across the state.

Fun places to visit in Kentucky

If you plan to visit Kentucky, there are some things you will want to know and make sure you get to see. This state has a rich history and fun sites to see.

Kentucky is home to the longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave. This cave stretches 345 miles and contains underground lakes and rivers. It also contains stalactites and stalagmites, remnants of the limestone that has eroded away. Several scenic tours are available through this underground wonderland.

John James Audubon Park is located in Henderson, just south of the Ohio River. Audubon was an ornithologist (a person who studies birds), a naturalist, and a world-famous painter. He mainly painted natural landscapes and birds.

In Louisville, you can visit the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. It opened in 1996 and displays the story of the Louisville Slugger throughout history. The legend is that Bud Hillerich made a bat for Louisville Eclipse star Peter Browning after his bat broke. With this new bat, he got three hits in the next game.

There are some fun sights to see at this museum. You can see the world’s largest bat, which stands 120 feet tall. There is also the Signature Wall, which displays the signatures of all the Louisville Slugger players. You can take a tour of the factory and even try out these bats in some batting cages.

Just south of Louisville is Fort Knox. Part of Fort Knox is the US Bullion Depository. This solid, square, bombproof shelter is where the US stores the bulk of its gold. It was also used in World War 2 to house the original copies of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Although closed to visitors, it is a cool sight in Kentucky.

Cumberland Falls, also known as “Little Niagara,” is located along the Cumberland River and is one of the only places in the world to see a moonbow. Moonbows, much rarer than rainbows, are formed as the light from the moon passes through the small water droplets from the waterfall, creating an almost white arc. They can be best seen during the night of a full moon.

A short but interesting visit is to Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace at Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville. Here, you can see a reconstruction of the one-room cabin where Lincoln was born in 1809. Lincoln’s family lived here until he was two years old, when they moved to Knob Creek Farm.

Finally, Red River Gorge lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest. This intricate canyon system has over 100 natural sandstone arches, waterfalls, and natural bridges. It is one of the top places in the world for rock climbing.

Fun facts about Kentucky

Here are a few fun facts about Kentucky: The Golden Rod is the state flower, and the Kentucky Cardinal is the state bird.

Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State. In the spring, the grass that covers much of this state gets blue-purplish buds, giving it that famous blue color.

This is the state flag of Kentucky. It was adopted in 1918 and designed by an art teacher, Jesse Cox Burgess. It has a navy blue background with the state seal in the center. It features a pioneer and a statesman standing together surrounded by the words, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”

Not surprisingly, Kentucky is considered the horse capital of the world. There are over 400 horse farms in Lexington alone.

The song Happy Birthday was written by two sisters living in Louisville, Mildred and Patty Hill.

Kentucky Fried Chicken got its start here. Harland Sanders began serving his famous recipe in 1930 at a motel in Corbin, Kentucky. The first franchise opened in Utah, and today the headquarters is located in Louisville.

Finally, you can see the largest fireworks display in the world, the Thunder Over Louisville, in Churchill Downs during the opening ceremony of the Kentucky Derby. The show lasts 30 minutes and is held on the last Saturday in April, signaling the week-long festival leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky is a great state with so much to see. Next time you go on a trip, consider visiting this state and seeing what you can find.