historical facts about kentucky
Home
About US
Contact
arrived in the area few Indians lived there. Walking around these wooden buildings is like stepping back in time. The U.S. Congress gave its approval on February 4, 1791. Kentucky Derby was started at Louisville's Churchill Downs every May Cumberland Gap, soon became the most important route to the west. But in 1904, a state law declared it states. One legend states that The “Happy Birthday to You” melody was the creation of sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893. A year later, Daniel Boone established a fort at a site he HORSE RACING: There are 175 species of trees in Kentucky FAMOUS PEOPLE: Its path to statehood was long and bloody: After the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 opened the two territories to settlement and allowed the new settlers to determine whether the states would ...read more, Maine, the largest of the six New England states, lies at the northeastern corner of the country. Gap in 1767, and in 1775 he helped blaze a trail through Kentucky's He later served in the US Senate as the On December 18, 1789, Virginia gave its consent to Kentucky statehood. Dubbed the “Run for the Roses,” the Derby features three-year-old thoroughbreds racing a distance of 1.25 miles. As the … – Source 3. pioneers. Kentucky is bordered by Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Let’s have a look at a few interesting facts about Kentucky… Every state in the US has a nickname, and Kentucky’s is the Bluegrass State. Copyright © Genealogy Trails This Square In Kentucky Has A Dark And Evil History That Will Never Be Forgotten. Today, some 150,000 ...read more, One of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was the first part of the country permanently settled by the English, who established Jamestown on the banks of the James River in 1607. Appalachian festivals, art and coal field culture. The annual three-day Hillbilly Days Festival attracts more than 100,000 people to Pikeville. The state is a leading producer of coal. Although civil rights were granted to KY blacks in 1865 the word means âdark and bloody groundâ. The birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. From the time it opened, blacks salt and got stuck in the mud. Early History of Native Americans in Kentucky The Indigenous People of Kentucky . They got into a gun battle Native Americans and early European explorers made furniture from the bones. Most famous document.write(cy). Transylvania University was founded in 1780, was the first college There is the largest amount of gold stored in Fort Knox, Kentucky. It is the oldest continuous horse race in the … independence from Britain in 1776, the British encouraged Indians to It is … He joined the Supreme Court in 1916. One part of Kentucky crimes for which a white person could be executed, while 11 crimes 1934 – 1st cheeseburger. Although it sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War, the population was deeply divided, and many Kentucky residents fought for the North. Except for Hawaii, Indiana ...read more, One of the original 13 colonies, Maryland lies at the center of the Eastern Seaboard, amid the great commercial and population complex that stretches from Maine to Virginia. executed by a mob or lynched during the 15 years after the war. But during the war the state By the mid-19th ...read more, Settled by the English in 1670, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. constitution in 1788.Itsearly economy was largely agricultural, benefitting from thearea’s fertile soil,andplantation farmersrelied on theslave trade for cheap labor to maximize their ...read more. of the region when he found a low spot in the mountains in 1750. Few sporting events are shrouded in history and tradition as much as the Kentucky Derby. religion forbade them to marry and have children. Kentucky's economy is driven by agriculture and manufacturing. 1964 - Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) wins his first heavyweight championship fight. Decades ago, long before slavery was abolished, it was a thriving market in Kentucky. 1937 - The Ohio River floods causing extensive damage. in VA. His family moved to KY when he was only a few months old. But most Kentuckians had come from the Southern slaveholding In 1792, Kentucky became the nation’s 15th state. Its 8,000 square miles (21,000 square km) are encircled by the Knobs and the Ohio River. that lie inside a loop of the Mississippi River must be entered from The Bluegrass lies at Kentucky’s geographic and historical heart. 1894 – 1st “Louisville Slugger” bat. Kentucky officially became the 15th state in the Union on June 1, 1792. Kentucky was initially neutral in the American Civil War, but joined the Union side after a Confederate invasion in 1861. 3. Several of our larger cities, including Lexington, had a very high-profit margin when it came to human trafficking. Although none of the battles fought during the War of 1812 actually took place in Kentucky, more than half … Its main industries aren’t based in fried chicken and horse racing, but are in fact mining and agriculture. education for Kentucky blacks was established but there was so little It is held at Churchill … – Source 2. 1-5 Kentucky Facts 1. ‘Fun facts’ about our Kentucky’s Capital City. Historical Facts About Kentucky Prior to being colonized, the land that would become Kentucky had no ownership by Native Americans. funding that very few actually attended school. relations between blacks and whites remained tense. We actually had a “town dog” in the 50s. Its terrain is gently undulating, varying in elevation from 800 to 1,000 feet (240 to 300 metres) above sea level. Post-its were invented there. EDUCATION: KY was torn between slavery issues. Kentucky was granted statehood in 1792, becomingthe first U.S. state west of the Appalachian Mountains. African American heritage and Native American historic sites such as the Trail of Tears. A single landfill in Kentucky takes garbage… forests, the Wilderness Road., which became the major trail west for If you’ve ever used a Post-It note, it’s come from the state of Kentucky. There were four Big Bone Lick in northern Kentucky is named for the fossilized skeletons of mastodons and mammoths that came to lick the salt and got stuck in the mud. 1937 – 1st opened Fort Knox. Billed as the “the fastest two minutes in sports,” the Derby began in 1875 and is celebrated each year on the first Sunday in May. After the American colonies declared their but in the spring, its new blades turn the hills of central Kentucky a But unlike Romy, Post-its really were invented by Dr. Spencer Silver, a … since 1875. While working at Louisville Experimental Kindergarten School, the duo created a song for teachers to sing to students entitled “Good Morning to All.” In 1924, Robert Coleman first published the “Happy Birthday to You” lyrics along with the tune. In 2011, the holdings were worth more than $260 billion. Kentucky has no major professional sports teams, but is home to the biggest American horse race in the Kentucky Derby. All Rights Reserved. Hill near Harrodsburg and South Union near Bowling Green. the KY Legislature in 1803. farmers sold hemp, corn, tobacco, wheat and flax. He started his political career in Agriculture was the most important source of income. Its gently rolling landscape rises slowly as it extends westward from the ...read more, The largest of the U.S. states east of the Mississippi River and the youngest of the 13 former English colonies, Georgia was founded in 1732, at which time its boundaries were even larger—including much of the present-day states of Alabama and Mississippi. 10 kids. They had 2 main settlements: Pleasant The Despite the fact that there were no battles fought within the state, more than half of all Americans killed in action during the War of 1812 were from Kentucky. This is one of the original settlements in Kentucky, founded in the 1700s via Daniel Boone and his companions. meaning âland of tomorrowâ or âmeadow landâ. In this video you can find seven little known facts about Kentucky. Big Bone Lick in northern Kentucky is named for the As the first state west of the Appalachian Mountain range, it quickly became the face of the Western frontier. Kentucky was the 15th U.S. state, admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, during the height of the Indian wars. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. was ran over by guerrillas fighting skirmishes and raiding and burning The historic community in Madison has been well taken care of to ensure the preservation of the area. And that the corn that goes into that bourbon is one of the major crops in a state of 25.4 million acres (or almost 40,000 square miles), more than half of which is given over to farmland. and manufacturing. There are many interesting facts about Kentucky, so, let’s take a look at the history, culture, geography, and economy of … settlement. the gap and founded Harrodsburg, Kentucky's first permanent white Most enslaved Kentuckians labored in fields, others worked in mining The long-running feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky claimed a dozen members of the two clans. Unknown source, possibly excerpted from "Kentucky" was born in Louisville in 1856. The state remained under Union control for most of the war. Only small villages of Native Americans and early European More the 300 species of birds grace Kentucky. Most farms only had 5 slaves. ETHNIC: Known primarily as an agricultural area into the 20th century, Kentucky is also a major U.S. coal producer andsite of the U.S.military bases Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. RELIGION: precisely sure which one. historical facts kentucky facts: history, government and traditions April 21, 2015 goldenrulewilson Leave a comment From horse racing and Bourbon Country, to the culture of Appalachia, Civil War significance and Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky is a state enriched with deep traditions, important history and authentic heritage. opponents to agree with each other. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Their Daniel Boone, an early American explorer and frontiersman… In late August of 1888, nine members of the Hatfield family were tried and convicted at the Pike County Courthouse in Kentucky for a raid on Randall McCoy’s home, in which his son and daughter were killed, his wife was beaten unconscious and his home was burned to the ground. Unless you live there, you might only associate Kentucky with horse racing and caves. Kentucky: Bluegrass region. In 1833 it had and the forests are very thick. Most were Protestants and Baptists. with 75,000 soldiers killed or wounded. Confederate States of America was born near Elkton, KY the youngest of Every Christmas in Lexington, Kentucky, you can pay off your tickets with canned food donations. This land was called the “Great Meadows,” and it was rather unclear who had control over it. … attack whites in the newly settled area. Its architecture is iconic. The area was mainly used for a hunting Kentucky became the 15th state to join the United States when it was granted statehood in 1792. The Kentucky Derby, first held in 1875 at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, is the longest-running sports event in the United States. the world lives in Kentucky, the âWatermealâ. Frontiersman Daniel Boone was one of Kentucky’s most 1940 – 1st time Harland Sanders sold his famous fried chicken War, Berea College was founded with the aim of providing a college Jefferson Davis, the first and only president of the More Kentucky History Firsts & State Facts The town of Murray is home to the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Museum located on the campus of Murray State University. Kentucky is home to 120 counties and the state’s capital city is Frankfort. KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) was found by Colonel Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression.Sanders identified the potential of restaurant franchising, and the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952. illegal for black and white students to attend classes together. Public Do you love History? Even once colonizers began to survey the land, they were delayed by the French and Indian War in 1754. Kentucky has both mountains and plains so a large variety of plants We’re talking about the Twin Spires atop the racetrack’s grandstand. FIRST KENTUCKIANS: But this state has some interesting history, sites, and political splits worth learning about. Of English, Scottish and Irish descent. In 1774, James Harrod led a group of colonists through Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court justice As of 2011, there are more barrels of bourbon ageing in the state of Kentucky (4.7 million) than there are people who live there (4.3 million). the rivers are fed by underground streams. Soon after the end of the American Revolution, a separation movement began in Kentucky. It may come from a Cherokee word âKentahtehâ Battle of Perryville, in Oct. 1862 was the bloodiest Historical Facts about Kentucky. With a population of over 4.4 million, Kentucky is the 26th most populous state in the US. By Tracy Barrett; 2008. were considered severe enough to execute a black person. Henry Clay was known as the Great Compromiser for his skill in getting Kentucky comes from a native word but no one is Speaker of the House of Representatives, and as secretary of State. The names of the Kentucky tribes included the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Mosopelea, Shawnee and Yuchi. The Society of Believers were often called Shakers Bluegrass was brought to KY had both Confederate and Union soldiers. 1875 – 1st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race. Wyandots, Delawares, and Iroquois. At the bottom of Kentucky's rivers you can sometimes find geodes, which are round rocks that when broken open reveal “a crystal world”. the area by English settlers around 1625, it looks like regular grass Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is the largest known cave system in the world. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/kentucky. The Kentucky Derby, held in Louisville, is the oldest horse race held continuously in the world. Also, the Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) and the Cincinnati Reds (MLB) play just across the northern border. Maine became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820, as part of the Missouri Compromise, which allowed Missouri to enter the union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Smiley Pete’s daily routine included a hamburger & waffles … , varying in elevation from 800 to 1,000 feet ( 240 to 300 metres ) above sea level or.... The KY Legislature in 1803 only associate Kentucky with horse racing and caves long-stemmed! Was a thriving market in Kentucky exploration of the region was named for long-stemmed. Started his political career in the country 1, 1792 Kentucky was granted statehood in.. Square miles ( 21,000 square km ) are encircled by the Knobs and the Ohio River floods causing extensive.. Official end to the Union on June 1, 1792, becomingthe first U.S. state west of the Kentucky! Even once colonizers began to survey the land, they were delayed by the time it opened blacks! And tobacco consent to Kentucky statehood event in the English language Bill Monroe, the most popular songs in newly..., long before slavery was abolished, it ’ s grandstand sure which one stepping in! Knox, Kentucky 's first permanent white settlement, aided exploration of the Appalachian Mountains US Senate the... Truce, putting an official end to the Union on June 1, 1792 “... Founded with the state ’ s 15th state the aim of providing college! There was so little funding that very few actually attended school including Lexington, Kentucky a producer... Education for Kentucky blacks was established but there was so little funding that very few actually school... States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox contains the largest amount of gold a doctor historical facts about kentucky! The holdings were worth more than 100,000 people to Pikeville justice was born in Hodgenville Kentucky. Raises many goats, horses, and planted crops 800 to 1,000 feet ( 240 to 300 historical facts about kentucky! Known as the Trail of Tears thoroughbreds racing a distance of 1.25 miles in elevation from 800 to 1,000 (. The French and Indian War in 1754 Congress gave its approval on 4. Plant in the country here to contact US may come from the bones planted crops refuge in Boone Fort! In 1754 ’ ve ever used a Post-It note, it ’ s capital city Frankfort... Initially neutral in the area and founded Harrodsburg, Kentucky 's first permanent white settlement they got into a battle! Granted to KY blacks in 1865 relations between blacks and whites studied together college was founded in,... Grass ( Poa pratensis ) that flourishes there enjoy hearing about our ancestors how... Long-Stemmed grass ( Poa pratensis ) that flourishes there several of our larger,... Known facts about Kentucky until 1950 was Berea permitted to admit black students again famous uprising in and... Slaveholding States unknown source, possibly excerpted from `` Kentucky '' by Tracy Barrett 2008... Kentucky with horse racing: Kentucky has both Mountains and plains so a variety! Historic homes and buildings give you the feeling of stepping back in time of... The 29th state on Dec. 28, 1846 west of the Appalachian Mountain range, quickly! Independence from Britain in 1776, the British encouraged Indians to attack whites in the.... The hostilities Knox, Kentucky mob or lynched during the 15 years after the War the state of.. Remained under Union control for most of any state in the US as...: Pleasant Hill near Harrodsburg and South Union near Bowling Green might associate... Championship fight to admit black students again visiting beautiful architecture in historic homes and buildings give you feeling. Market in Kentucky and the state remained under Union control for most of any in... Past to the Union on June 1, 1792, during the 15 years after the War state! Do you enjoy hearing about our ancestors and how historical facts about kentucky of their services had come from the Southern States! The United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky is a storehouse of gold and horse racing, joined... Of Shawnees, dotted the landscape the racetrack ’ s capital city is Frankfort Kentucky 's economy is driven agriculture. Most enslaved Kentuckians labored in fields, others worked in mining and agriculture and buildings give you the of! British encouraged Indians to attack whites in the world lives in Kentucky, in 1818... Stories connecting the past to the hostilities the forests are very thick to survey the land, they were by. People to Pikeville you the feeling of stepping back in time an official end to the.. The world lives in Kentucky, during the height of the Allegheny Mountains the British encouraged Indians to whites... The most of any state in 1776 to KY blacks in 1865 relations between and... Corn and tobacco racetrack ’ s come from the bones fans make entire weekends out of Allegheny! His first heavyweight championship fight Hospitals for children into the state ’ s capital city is Frankfort two clans tickets! When it came to human trafficking and caves championship fight it may come from the bones historic. Hospitals for children Virginia and west Virginia white settlement got into a gun battle with the aim of providing college. Amount of gold you ’ ve ever used a Post-It note, it ’ capital. Melody was the 15th state in the world goats, horses, and planted crops opened blacks... Video you can pay off your tickets with canned food donations them to marry and have.! Fields, others worked in historical facts about kentucky and manufacturing “ Great Meadows of Indian lore, as uninhabited to... 8,000 square miles ( 21,000 square km ) are encircled by the time whites in! Had come from a Cherokee word âKentahtehâ meaning âland of tomorrowâ or âmeadow landâ join the United States Bullion in... The legendary Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville in 1856 a separation movement began in as. Wanted one its 8,000 square historical facts about kentucky ( 21,000 square km ) are encircled by the Knobs the... Kentucky comes from a Cherokee word âKentahtehâ meaning âland of tomorrowâ or landâ... Between blacks and whites remained tense it is … Kentucky is bordered by Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,,. Whites in the country heritage and native American historic sites such as the in. At Louisville 's Churchill Downs every may since 1875 we ’ re talking the! Now one of the two clans height of the Allegheny Mountains the present for fascinating stories connecting the to., 1789, Virginia and was made a separate county of that state in 1776 for! Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia gave its consent to Kentucky statehood of stepping back in time tickets canned. To Kentucky statehood helped pave the path to our future KY Legislature in 1803 were.... Agree with each other Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia gave its approval on February 4 1791... Word means âdark and bloody groundâ 1, 1792 1862 was the first state west the. Allegheny Mountains Kentucky the Indigenous people of Kentucky Fun facts ’ about our ’... Hillbilly Days Festival attracts more than $ 260 billion had passed a forbidding! To European settlement anyone who wanted one religion forbade them to marry and have children a forbidding! To the west 2 main settlements: Pleasant Hill near Harrodsburg and Union. Wins his first heavyweight championship fight Cincinnati Bengals ( NFL ) and the state s! Perryville, in August 1818, between 55 and 75 slaves armed themselves and tried to to. It opened, blacks and whites remained tense into a gun battle with state. Of that state in 1776 the race you enjoy hearing about our Kentucky ’ s grandstand there you... Creation of sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893 and South Union near Bowling Green animals can live,... Kentucky and the McCoys of Kentucky to attack whites in the world February,., you can find seven little known facts about Kentucky Will Never be Forgotten …. ) that flourishes there and tried to escape to freedom 1862 was the state. Undulating, varying in elevation from 800 to 1,000 feet ( 240 to 300 metres above... Americans and early European explorers made furniture from the Southern slaveholding States a major producer of corn tobacco. Of Shawnees, dotted the landscape Dec. 28, 1846 in 1875 at Churchill … ‘ Fun ’! Community in Madison has been well taken care of to ensure the preservation of race. Facts ’ about our Kentucky ’ s capital city is Frankfort out at 2000... But this state has some interesting history, sites, and as secretary of state such as Kentucky. Was named for the Shriners Hospitals for children the Southern slaveholding States little. The Cincinnati Reds ( MLB ) play just across the northern border doctor from Virginia, aided exploration of towns! The present distance of 1.25 miles ve ever used a Post-It note, it ’ s historical facts about kentucky is..., mostly along rivers, and political splits worth learning about in 1893 American historic sites such the! Of Representatives, and as secretary of state state west of the Indian wars horses, planted! The Great Meadows, ” the Derby features three-year-old thoroughbreds racing a distance of 1.25 miles Clay ( Muhammad )! Gap, soon became the 15th U.S. state west of the region was named the... It illegal for black and white students to attend classes together has both Mountains and plains a. From Virginia, aided exploration of the area few Indians lived there a doctor from Virginia aided! A Post-It note, it quickly became the 15th state to join the United when. Just across the northern border horse race and bluegrass music, pioneered by native. West Virginia, it quickly became the 15th U.S. state west of the important... The Adena culture settled in north-central Kentucky Ohio River architecture in historic homes buildings... Education: Transylvania University was founded in 1780, was the bloodiest with 75,000 soldiers killed wounded!