Happy Birthday, Kentucky!

Today is the anniversary of Kentucky being admitted to our United States of America.

Date of Admittance:

June 1, 1792 

Parentage: The word "kentucky" is a Native American word meaning "meadowland."  The territory was originally part of Virginia (The Kentucky County) but between 1784 and 1790 the local Kentuckians petitioned separation until they became The Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1792.

Place in the Family

Number 15
Between staunch East Coaster Vermont (Mar 1791)
and Southern Compatriot Tennessee (June 1796)

Motto

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
because Kentucky knows what it is all about

Nick-Name

The Blue Grass State
Kentucky definitely has something about the color BLUE

On the License Plate

The Unbridled State
You mean, like, free roaming horses?

State Flag

A blue banner with the state seal in the center.
Friendly and welcoming,
although I am not a fan of words on flags 

First City You Probably Think of

When You Think "Kentucky"

Louisville

Actual State Capital: Frankfort
This reminds me of a joke.
Q: Do you pronounce the capital of KY
"lewey-ville" or "lewis-ville"?
A: You pronounce it "Frankfort."  

State Size (Area) is 37th of 50.

Population is closer to 25th of 50.

(per 2000 Census figures)
 

Kentucky Sports:

There are no professional sports teams based in Kentucky.
However....
The Louisville Bat Company
still makes champion MLB bats...



...and
The Kentucky Derby is held every May

Anybody From Kentucky
Ever Grow Up To Be President?

Yes!
President Abraham Lincoln
was born in Kentucky....

as was his Civil War enemy,
President Jefferson Davis!

As a kid I thought they looked
very very similar!
I always though Davis was a Young Lincoln!

Good vs Evil
John Carpenter

Director of Horror Films 

DW Griffith
Director of One Particular Horror Film

Musical Kentuckians

Rosemary Clooney

"Come On-A My House"

Loretta Lynn & Crystal Gayle

First Sisters of Country Music

 

Billy Ray Cyrus

before he was Miley Cyrus' dad 

he had quite the "Achy Breaky Heart"

The Judds

"Love Can Build A Bridge"

TV Celebrities From Kentucky

Lee Majors

"Big Valley," $6 Million Man," "Fall Guy"

William Conrad

"Cannon," "Fat Man and Jake"

Diane Sawyer

news reporter, "Good Morning America"

 

Film Stars From Kentucky

Patricia Neal

Academy Award Winning Actress
BREAKFAST at TIFFANY'S, HUD,
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, etc

Ned Beatty

Well-known Character Actor
DELIVERANCE, SUPERMAN, etc
 

Johnny Depp

Internationally Famous Actor


George Clooney
Academy Award Winning Actor

Kentucky Literary Figures

Robert Penn Warren

All The Kings' Men

Hunter S. Thompson
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas,
"Gonzo" Journalism
 

Don Rosa
Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck
 

Kentucky Inventions

Jim Bowie 

Bowie Knife

Garrett Morgan

prototype gas-mask hood

John T. Thompson

Tommy Gun

Other Famous Kentuckians

Carrie Nation

Axe-wielding Prohibitionist

Muhammed Ali

"The Greatest"

Larry Flynt
HUSTLER magazine



Most Famous Kentuckian

Col. Harland Sanders
creator of Kentucky Fried Chicken
known throughout the world
was actually born in Indiana!

A Song For You....

"My Old Kentucky Home"

Written by Stephen Foster
Probably the most famous "Kentucky" song,
this is The Official State Song of Kentucky
and is played every year at The Kentucky Derby