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I wrote the page on Kentucky for Ameriwiki.
==History==
==History==
In colonial times, the area was essentially wilderness. An unnamed encampment there, upon hearing of the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]] in the Massachusetts Bay colony, which started the American revolution, chose the name Lexington. It is now the second largest city in Kentucky.
Kentucky was founded as a county of the state of [[Virginia]] in 1776. Kentucky County was divided into three counties in 1780, and the three became a state in their own right in 1792. Kentucky was the fifteenth state to enter the [[United States|Union]], after [[Vermont]] the previous year. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Kentucky's government remained loyal to the Union, though a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] government based itself in Bowling Green, in the south of the state. The state was invaded in September 1861, and its capital, [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]], was captured by Confederate forces in 1862, the only Union capital to fall into Confederate hands during the war.<ref>http://www.visitkentuckyusa.com/about-kentucky/kentucky-facts.asp</ref>
Kentucky was founded as a county of the state of [[Virginia]] in 1776. Kentucky County was divided into three counties in 1780, and the three became a state in their own right in 1792. Kentucky was the fifteenth state to enter the [[United States|Union]], after [[Vermont]] the previous year. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Kentucky's government remained loyal to the Union, though a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] government based itself in Bowling Green, in the south of the state. The state was invaded in September 1861, and its capital, [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]], was captured by Confederate forces in 1862, the only Union capital to fall into Confederate hands during the war.<ref>http://www.visitkentuckyusa.com/about-kentucky/kentucky-facts.asp</ref>
Kentucky is generally considered a [[conservative]] state. Republicans [[Mitch McConnell]] and [[Rand Paul]] are their U.S. [[Senators]]. Senator McConnell is [[Majority Leader of the Senate]]. McConnell's wife, [[Elaine Chao]], was [[United States]] [[Secretary of Labor]] under President [[George W. Bush]]. The current governor of Kentucky is [[Tea Party Movement|Tea Party]] Republican [[Matt Bevin]], the third Republican governor since World War II to be elected with [[Louie B. Nunn]], the chief executive from 1967 to 1971, and [[Ernie Fletcher]], who served from 2003 to 2007, being elected before.
Kentucky is generally considered a [[conservative]] state. Republicans [[Mitch McConnell]] and [[Rand Paul]] are their U.S. [[Senators]]. Senator McConnell is [[Majority Leader of the Senate]]. McConnell's wife, [[Elaine Chao]], was [[United States]] [[Secretary of Labor]] under President [[George W. Bush]]. The current governor of Kentucky is [[Tea Party Movement|Tea Party]] Republican [[Matt Bevin]], the third Republican governor since World War II to be elected with [[Louie B. Nunn]], the chief executive from 1967 to 1971, and [[Ernie Fletcher]], who served from 2003 to 2007, being elected before.
Kentucky is allowed to seat six representatives in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], and these seats are held by Republicans Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie, Andy Barr, and Hal Rogers, and Democrat John Yarmuth.
Kentucky has six representatives in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], and these seats are held by Republicans James Comer, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie, Andy Barr, and Hal Rogers, and Democrat John Yarmuth.
The Kentucky State Senate has 27 Republicans, and 11 Democrats. In the 2016 elections, the Republicans made massive gains in the State House, gaining a supermajority and holding the chamber for the first time since 1921.<ref name="Loftus">Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/ GOP takes Ky House in historic shift]. ''Courier-Journal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> The Kentucky State House was the last state legislature in the South to not have a Republican majority, and GOP trifecta in the state will allow conservative legislation to be passed.<ref name="Loftus"/><ref>Brammer, Jack & Blackford, Linda (November 8, 2016). [http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article113464563.html Republicans take the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic control]. ''Lexington Herald-Leader''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref>
The Kentucky State Senate has 27 Republicans, and 11 Democrats. In the 2016 elections, the Republicans made massive gains in the State House, gaining a supermajority and holding the chamber for the first time since 1921.<ref name="Loftus">Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/ GOP takes Ky House in historic shift]. ''Courier-Journal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> The Kentucky State House was the last state legislature in the South to not have a Republican majority, and GOP trifecta in the state will allow conservative legislation to be passed.<ref name="Loftus"/><ref>Brammer, Jack & Blackford, Linda (November 8, 2016). [http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article113464563.html Republicans take the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic control]. ''Lexington Herald-Leader''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref>