Ad
related to: Kentucky, United StatesBook Hotel Rooms in Kentucky, USA. Browse Reviews & Photos. Compare Great Options. Browse the Photos and Get Inspired. Start Planning Your Next Getaway.
Search results
Kentucky (US: / kənˈtʌki / ⓘ kən-TUK-ee, UK: / kɛn -/ ken-), [ 5 ] officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, [ c ] is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, and Missouri to the west.
- Overview
- Relief
Kentucky, constituent state of the United States of America. Rivers define Kentucky’s boundaries except on the south, where it shares a border with Tennessee along a nearly straight line of about 425 miles (685 km), and on the southeast, where it shares an irregular, mountainous border with Virginia. Flowing generally northwestward, the Tug and Big Sandy rivers separate Kentucky from West Virginia on the east and northeast. On the north, Kentucky’s boundary follows the Ohio River to the Mississippi, meeting the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois en route. The Mississippi River then demarcates Kentucky’s short southwestern border with Missouri. The capital, Frankfort, lies between the two major cities—Louisville, which is on the Ohio River, and Lexington.
Kentucky was long the home of various Native American peoples before the arrival of Daniel Boone and other European frontiersmen in 1769. Its name perhaps derives from an Iroquois word for “prairie.” By 1792, when Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state of the union—the first west of the Appalachian Mountains—it had drawn nearly 73,000 settlers. By 1800 this number had grown to roughly 220,000 and included some 40,000 slaves.
Kentucky lies within three major physiographic regions of the United States—the Appalachian Highlands (the Appalachian Plateau), the Interior Lowlands, and the Coastal Plain. Within the state, six smaller regions may be identified, based on the underlying rock structure: Mountain, Knobs, Bluegrass, Pennyrile (or Pennyroyal), Western Coalfield, and Purchase.
Britannica Quiz
U.S. State Nicknames Quiz
More than 10,000 square miles (26,000 square km) of the easternmost part of Kentucky lie in the Mountain region, where the state reaches its highest point, at Big Black Mountain (4,145 feet [1,263 metres]), on the border with Virginia. The deeply dissected Cumberland Plateau, which lies to the west of the Cumberland Mountains and the Pine Mountain ridge, is a scenic land of narrow valleys, steep pinnacles, and transverse ridges. Natural passages through eastern Kentucky’s mountain mazes are sometimes provided by water gaps, such as historic Cumberland Gap, and the picturesque Breaks of Sandy. The great eastern coalfields of Kentucky also lie in the Mountain region.
The Knobs is a long, narrow region shaped like an irregular horseshoe, with both ends touching the Ohio River. It embraces the Bluegrass country on its inner side, and it is bounded by the Mountain area on the east and the Pennyrile on the west. The landscape of the Knobs is dotted with cone-shaped or rounded hills that are remnants of escarpments. Thickets of cane grew on some of the lower ground before European settlement and attracted large herds of buffalo and deer. A portion of Daniel Boone National Forest lies in the eastern Knobs.
Special offer for students! Check out our special academic rate and excel this spring semester!
Sep 18, 2024 · Key Facts. Kentucky, also known as the Blue Grass State, is located in the southern United States. Indiana and Ohio border it to the north, West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, Missouri to the west, and Illinois to the northwest.
- Frankfort
- State of Kentucky
- US-KY
THE 30 BEST Things to Do in Kentucky, United States. Places to Visit in Kentucky. Check out must-see sights and activities: Louisville Mega Cavern, Ark Encounter, Caverns & Caves, Ghost Tours. Explore popular experiences. See what other travellers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings. See All. Historical Tours (45) Day Trips (9)
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Visit website Get directions. The Cumberland Gap is a natural break in the Appalachian Mountains that has allowed for the migrations of elk, deer, Indigenous tribes, and explorers over centuries.
- Carter Caves State Resort Park. Visit website Get directions. The Carter Caves State Resort Park is a must-visit for adrenaline junkies and nature lovers alike.
- Belle of Louisville. Visit website Get directions. Built in 1914, the Belle of Louisville is the only remaining authentic steamboat from the great American Packet Boat Era, making a voyage with her a trip back in history!
- Ohio River. Get directions. The Ohio River runs along the northern border of Kentucky and separates it from Ohio, Illinois, and Tennessee. The river is more than 900 miles long and begins in Pennsylvania.
Nov 9, 2009 · Learn about Kentucky's indigenous history, frontier settlement, Civil War division, coal mining, horse racing and more. Explore the state's geography, demographics, economy and landmarks with History.com.
Jul 29, 2024 · From bourbon and fried chicken to horses and castles to Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, check out the best things to do when visiting the Bluegrass State of Kentucky.
People also ask
Where is Kentucky located?
Is Kentucky a state?
What states border Kentucky?
Where is the capital of Kentucky?
