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), officially - Commonwealth of Kentucky (English Commonwealth of Kentucky) - a state in the eastern part of the United States, one of the so-called states of the Southeast Center. Population 4,369,356 (; 26th among states). The capital is Frankfort. The largest city is Louisville, other large cities are Lexington Fayette, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville.

The most significant rivers are Ohio and Tennessee. Karst landforms are quite common; cave systems are considered the longest in the world. The climate is subtropical continental, the average temperature in summer is +31 ° C, in winter it is about 0 ° C.

History

Until the 19th century

The area of \u200b\u200bpresent-day Kentucky has been inhabited by Native Americans since about 1000 BC. e. before 1650 AD BC, especially along rivers and in areas suitable for hunting bison. By the time of the arrival of European explorers and the first settlers in the region, there was not a single more or less large settlement of the Indians. The Iroquois controlled most of the Ohio River Valley, there, and in the territory of the future state of New York, were their hunting grounds.

During World War I, Kentucky, like the rest of the US cities, faced the problem of inflation. At the same time, during this period, the state is actively building infrastructure, new roads are being laid in order to adapt the state to the needs of the growing number of car owners. The war also led to a significant reduction in forests in the state due to their active deforestation.

The tobacco industry and the production of whiskey, during this period, are experiencing their active growth, however, when the Eighteenth Amendment entered into force, which introduced "Prohibition" in the United States, the state's economy was dealt a serious blow. Then, in Kentucky, alcohol smuggling flourished, which continued until the middle of the 20th century.

Also in the twenties, the anti-gambling crusade, driven by Democratic progressives, supported by the rural population, Protestant clergy and the Ku Klux Klan, became widespread in Kentucky. The most striking figure of those events can be called Alben Barkley, who, in addition to the actual fight against gambling, was also noticeable by the fact that he actively advocated for the interests of workers and farmers, supported the New Deal of Roosevelt, and fought against the dominance of the coal industry, all this allowed him to build a successful political career not only within the state, but also at the national level, from the beginning he became a member of the House of Representatives, then Senator from Kentucky in Congress, and from 1949 to 1953 he served as Vice President of the United States under the administration of Harry Truman.

The Great Depression

The Second World War

During World War II, the importance of industry increased and the demand for the state's agricultural products decreased. It has undergone a significant expansion, and before that is not a small military base of Fort Knox. The largest artificial rubber plant in the world was built in Louisville. One of the Ford factories was also located there, which during the war produced about 100,000 jeeps for the army. Therefore, we can say with full confidence that Kentucky also made a rather impressive contribution to the victory of the Allies. The consequences of the war can also include an increase in the interest of the state's population in higher education, since specialists with engineering and technical skills were in great demand both during the war and after it.

Kentucky at war

A native of the state of Kimmel Husband was the commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet of the US Navy, but after the defeat of the American fleet, at Pearl Harbor, he was demoted to rear admiral, in this rank he served until the end of the war. Sixty-six native of the state, captured during the fighting in Southeast Asia until 1942, had to go through the Bataan death march. Franklin Susley, who was born in Kentucky, was captured in one of the most famous photographs of World War II during the hoisting of the flag over Iwo Jima. Through service in the army during the Second World War, 306,364 Kentucky passed, seven of them were awarded the Medal of Honor, in total, during that difficult time, on the battlefields, the state lost 7,917 of its sons.

The inhabitants of the state were distinguished not only at the front, but also in the rear. It is symbolic that one of the prototypes of the iconic symbol of the era of "Rosie the Riveter" was a native of Kentucky, Rose Monroe.

1945-1980 years

After World War II, Kentucky was integrated into the US interstate system, which made it possible to connect even the most remote areas of the state with each other. Since 1951, when the young, progressive and charismatic Lawrence Weatherby was elected governor, the state administration began to work on development

Kentucky, USA (Kentucky, KY, USA) - Photo

Kentucky (KY) is the easternmost state of the United States of America, and is bordered by Vigrinia, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. State capital - city \u200b\u200bof Frankfort, other big cities are Bowling Green, Louisville, Hopkinsville, Lexington-Fayette. Kentucky became part of the United States in 1792 and became the 15th state.

The territory of the state is divided into parts; the Camberlain limestone plateau is located on a huge area. The state is surrounded by rivers: Ohio, Mississippi, Big Sandy and Tag Fork... The bulk of the territory is occupied by the Appalachian mountains. State of kentucky nicknamed "the edge of blue grass" because the land is covered with meadow bluegrass. The climate in Kentucky is continental with cold winters and hot summers.

Kentucky has nearly 4.5 million inhabitants. By race, most Americans live in the state, and as for religion, the majority are evangelical.

The state has minerals such as natural gas, oil and coal. At a high level, Kentucky has a developed tobacco, textile and food industries, as well as the production of footwear, electronics, furniture, metal products, alcoholic beverages and ferrous metal rolling. Many industrial companies are located along the Ohio (river). The city of Paducah is considered a large center of the nuclear industry. The state ranks second in the United States for tobacco production. Kentucky farms raise cattle and racehorses. The state produces bourbon (corn whiskey) and develops tourism.

The state has a huge number of places to visit and have a pleasant pastime; here you can see places that are not found anywhere else in the world.

One of the largest waterfalls in the country "" is located in Kentucky. Also near the Kentucky River is a huge number of limestone caves. The longest cave in the whole world is located here - Mammoth cave, it stretches for 630 kilometers. This place alone is visited by half a million tourists every year.

Mammoth cave

Louisville is known for its racetrack called Churchill Downswhere horse races are held annually. You can also visit museums dedicated to equestrian sports and competitions. Not far from the city there is a vault "", which houses the US gold reserve.

Newport has a huge aquarium, while Frankfort is home to the whiskey distillery and the Capitol Building.

The cave is located in the national park of the same name in the state of Kenttukki, founded on July 1, 1941. It is also known as the Mamontov-Flint Ridge Cave System. The system of passages was formed about 10 million years ago under the western foothills of the Appalachians, which today are part of the Mammoth National Park. It differs from many other caves of Mamontov not only in size, but also in that it is unusually dry. It is relatively difficult for water to penetrate there, so stalactites familiar to the eye and the like that accompany the existence of each cave are not often seen there. However, there are places where the stone vaults are damaged, as a result of which, due to the penetration of water, beautiful frozen waterfalls are obtained.

In addition, wide rivers flow in the cave. One of them, bearing the poetic name Styx, flows into an underground lake with the no less poetic name of Summer. Another river, Echo, flows out to the surface and continues its way there, called the Green River.

In the cave rivers there is a unique shrimp - an eyeless albino. He doesn't live anywhere except the Mammoth Cave. In addition to albino shrimp, blind fish and crayfish live in underground waters.

The National Park offers tours of the cave for tourists, lasting from one to six hours. Moreover, along with popular routes, along the corridors and halls illuminated by electric light, alternative tours are held in wild and dark places.

Apparently, people have known the Mammoth Cave for about six thousand years. The graves of Indians were found in the cave. The Europeans, however, opened the entrance to the cave only in 1808. But, apparently, in the Mammoth Cave there are still places not yet explored and even, in all likelihood, not discovered.

The most popular attractions in Kentucky with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Kentucky on our website.

Kentucky is the home of bourbon and the first racehorse producer in the United States. This is one of the eastern states of the United States. In the past it was the largest slave-holding center in the country, now it is an industrial and agricultural center.

Bluegrass state

Kentucky is part of the most populous region, the US Southeast Center. It is bordered by the states of Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The name of the state of Kentucky comes from the language of the American Indians. According to one version, it is translated as "land of meadows". According to another theory, it means "dark and bloody land" and is associated with the Iroquois tribes who drove other Indians from this territory.

In English, its name sounds like Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is one of four states in America (along with Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania) that have the word "commonwealth" in their name. Kentucky's official nickname is the Bluegrass State, thanks to the hilly meadows covered with this grass.

Geography

The state of Kentucky in the United States covers 104,659 sq. km. From the west it is surrounded by the Mississippi River, to the east by the Big Sandy and Tag Fork rivers, and the Ohio flows to the north. The eastern part of the state is occupied by the Cumberland Plateau. These are the slopes of the ancient Appalachian mountains with a height of up to 400 meters.

The plateau is covered with deciduous and coniferous forests, including the Daniel Boone National Forest. Within the plateau there are rivers, small streams and a large reservoir - Lake Cumberland. Here is the Cumberland Falls, or "Little Niagara", where you can see a lunar rainbow with a clear sky on a full moon.

To the west of the plateau stretch the picturesque hilly steppes of Bluegrass, covered with dense bluegrass grass. They serve as pastures for livestock. To the southwest there are fields with large deposits of coal, and even to the west is the highly swampy Purchase of Jackson region.

To the south is the Mississippi Plateau with many deep and long karst caves that have been washed out by local rivers for centuries. The most famous and longest not only in Kentucky, but also in the world is Mammoth Cave (more than 587 kilometers in length, 105 meters in depth).

Population and cities

The state is home to 4.4 million people with an average density of 41 people per square kilometer. The racial composition is dominated by whites (87%). The indigenous people of Kentucky, the Indians, represent less than 0.2% of the population. Among the ethnic groups, the most numerous are Germans (13%), followed by the Irish (11%) and the British (10%).

The largest cities in the state are Louisville, Lexington, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Covington, and others. The capital of Kentucky, Frankfort, is significantly smaller than them. It is home to about 25 thousand people.

The largest city in Kentucky is Louisville. With a population of almost 701 thousand people, it is one of the thirty largest cities in the United States. It is located in the north, from the state of Indiana it is separated by waterfalls of the Ohio River.

It is located on the conventional border between the northern and southern regions of the country and combines two cultural traditions. This is manifested at least in the name of the city, in which the letter "s" is never pronounced, even politicians and journalists always say "Louisville".

Louisville, Kentucky is home to several industrial and business districts, and its Old Town is considered the largest historic center in the country. Distilleries are located here, where one third of all bourbon is produced in the country. Louisville is also home to General Electric and Ford factories, as well as the headquarters of KFC, Brown-Forman, Pizza Hut, and more.

State history

The nature of Kentucky attracted bison and other animals that were hunted by the Cherokee, Shawnee and Iroquois tribes. Europeans arrived here in the 18th century. Their arrival and land development led to bloody confrontations and wars, in which the settlers won.

In 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state of the new state - the United States. It was the largest center of slavery, as well as the border state between the free north and the slave south.

During the Civil War, a real confrontation began among its inhabitants. President Abraham Lincoln (born in Kentucky in 1809) will ask the state for support in the battle. But the regional authorities have officially declared their position of neutrality.

Nevertheless, the population was divided into ardent opponents of the south and its defenders. The massacres of the Ku Klux Klan began, blood feud, brutal killings of supporters of the opposite camp, which continued until the beginning of the 20th century.

During the slave system in Kentucky, livestock, tobacco, hemp, flax and corn were raised, thoroughbred horses were raised, and later they began to mine coal. Many of these industries are still developing today. Currently, the state produces coal, natural gas and oil, produces tobacco and bourbon, grows fodder grasses, corn, soybeans, horse breeding, etc.

State features

Kentucky is known for several of its inventions. The first is bourbon, a type of whiskey. It was invented by immigrants from Ireland and Scotland, making it a real symbol of the state.

Unlike traditional barley whiskey, bourbon is made from corn and aged in toasted oak barrels for at least four years. Protestant church pastor Elijah Craig and Dr. James Crow were among the first to prepare the drink. Now the most famous bourbon brand is Jim Beam, which is produced in the city of Claremont.

The state of Kentucky is also home to the bluegrass music genre, named after bluegrass. It features a mixture of traditional British-Irish music with African American blues and jazz influences.

Usually bluegrass is played only with acoustic stringed instruments. Typically, it includes violin, banjo, guitar, double bass and mandolin. Piano, harmonica, drums and accordion are sometimes added. The instruments do not sound together, each of them in turn performs a solo, while the others only accompany him.

Kentucky is not the most popular tourist destination and it seems that we know little about this US state, but the famous melody for the song "Happy Birthday to you" was created here. It is already becoming interesting and beckoning to visit this place, isn't it. But this is not the only interesting fact about this state. There are many things to see and visit. Traveling is easy all year round, winters are mild, not the same in Russia, and fogs are possible in summer. In general, the weather is pleasing and predisposes to a great pastime! What is it, holidays in Kentucky 2019 - prices and entertainment.

Louisville

Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky. Tourism is well developed here and everything is created for recreation. Famous "Old Louisville" - an area in which all buildings are created in the Victorian style. This place is definitely worth a visit. The hotel can choose a guest of any income from an economy room to a luxury apartment. Once in Louisville, you can't help but visit Fourth Street Live, everything is for entertainment.

Mammoth cave

The Mammoth Cave is the largest in the world. It is located in the national park of the same name. It is very interesting to visit it and find out where the name comes from, how and when it was formed. There are several options for excursions in the national park. But what can you do here? People come here to see with their own eyes beautiful, picturesque canyons, waterfalls, stone heaps and much more. All sections of the cave have their own names. For fans of extreme sports, climbing on undeveloped areas is suitable.

Be sure to try the real bourbon, its homeland is just Kentucky. Experienced masters will show you how to use this drink correctly.

Kentucky derby festival

Horse racing enthusiasts should be in Kentucky in the month of July and be at one of the world's largest realistic horse model festivals. You can participate in contests, watch performances, exhibitions, buy souvenirs at fairs or auctions, participate in master classes. You will definitely find someone to chat with here, because everyone is connected by one hobby.