Kentucky History

* Kentucky was the first region west of the Allegheny mountains to be settled by American pioneers and the first village built in Kentucky was on the banks of the Ohio River, across from what is now Portsmouth, Ohio, approximately in 1756. The village existed for 20 years and most of the dwellings were log cabins. The first settlement was in Harrodsburg, in June 1774.

* Danville, Kentucky claims fame to having the states first jail, which was built in 1783.

* Statehood was gained in 1792, after once being a county within the state of Virginia. It was known as Fincastle County, VA. Now the Commonwealth of Kentucky has 120 counties. 1792 was also the year of their first governor, Issac Shelby. He served from 1792 - 1796 and again served another term from 1812 - 1816, as their fifth governor.

* Kentucky was caught in the middle during the Civil War, supplying both Union and Confederate forces with thousands of troops and both Civil War Presidents were born here. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

* The first Civil War combat in Kentucky took place in Barbourville on or about September 19th, 1861. There were 11 major clashes occurring in Kentucky furing the Civil War. Nevertheless, Kentucky remained a neutral State.

* Kentucky Casualties amounted to over 1,000 soldiers each in the War of 1812, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. Some refer to Vietnam and Korea as 'conflicts'. I categorize them as 'Wars'. In the same three wars, Kentucky had approximately 220,000 Kentuckians in Action.

* Louisville is famous for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and the Bluegrass country around Lexington is the home of some of the world's finest race horses. Other attractions are Mammoth Cave, the George S. Patton, Jr., Military Museum at Fort Knox, and Old Fort Harrod State Park. Bowling Green, KY is home to the "Corvette" Museum.

Famous Kentuckians:

Daniel Boone came from Virginia to Kentucky around 1775.
Muhammad Ali boxer, Louisville
Alben W. Barkley vice president, Graves Cty
Louis D. Brandeis jurist, Louisville
John Mason Brown critic, Louisville
Kit Carson scout, Madison Cty
Champ Clark politician, Anderson Cty
Rosemary Clooney singer, Maysville
Irvin S. Cobb humorist, Paducah
Jefferson Davis president of the Confederacy, Fairview
Irene Dunne actress, Louisville
Crystal Gayle singer, Paintsville
David W. Griffith film producer, Oldham Cty
Casey Jones locomotive engineer, Cayce
Abraham Lincoln U.S. president, Hodgenville
Brian Littrell singer, Lexington
Loretta Lynn singer, Butchers Hollow
Bill Monroe songwriter, Rosine
Carry Amelia Nation temperance leader, Garrard Cty
Patricia Neal actress, Packard
Kevin Richardson singer, Lexington
Wiley B. Rutledge jurist, Cloverport
Diane Sawyer broadcast journalist, Glasgow
Allen Tate poet and critic, Winchester
Hunter Thompson writer, Louisville
Frederick M. Vinson jurist, Lousia
Robert Penn Warren author, Guthrie

Fast Facts:

State Bird: Cardinal

State Flag: Placed on a navy blue field is the seal and words"Commonwealth of Kentucky". The two friends shaking hands, a pioneer and a statesman, represent all the people. They are acting out the meaning of Kentucky's motto: "United We Stand; Divided We Fall". Sprays of the state flower {goldenrod} extend in a half circle around the picture. Flag adopted 1918 amended in 1928 & 1962.