| | 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. | | 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> The first major explorer into the state is [[Daniel Boone]]. |
| | + | The southwestern portion of the state consistently has been solidly Republican since the late 1800s. One well-known politician from the region is [[Eugene Siler]], a staunch conservative and non-interventionist who served as the U.S. representative from the 8th congressional district during the mid-1900s and has been viewed as a forerunner to current Sen. [[Rand Paul]] as well as Rep. [[Thomas Massie]].<ref>[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/11/02/before-rand-paul-there-was-eugene-siler/ Before Rand Paul, There Was Eugene Siler]. ''fascinatingpolitics.com''. Retrieved May 28, 2021.</ref> |