Difference between revisions of "Kentucky"
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| − | Kentucky is generally considered a [[Republican Party|red]] state.Republicans [[Jim Bunning]] and [[Mitch McConnell]] are [[Senators]]. Senator McConnell is [[Minority Leader of the Senate]]. McConnell's wife, [[Elaine Chao]], is the current [[United States]] [[Secretary of Labor]]. However, Democrat [[Steve Beshear]] is the current Governor Kentucky | + | Kentucky is generally considered a [[Republican Party|red]] state. Republicans [[Jim Bunning]] and [[Mitch McConnell]] are [[Senators]]. Senator McConnell is [[Minority Leader of the Senate]]. McConnell's wife, [[Elaine Chao]], is the current [[United States]] [[Secretary of Labor]]. However, Democrat [[Steve Beshear]] is the current Governor. Kentucky is allowed to seat six representatives in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], and these seats are held by Republicans Ed Whitfield, Ron Lewis, Geoff Davis, and Hal Rogers, and Democrats John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler. |
Republican governor [[Ernie Fletcher]] lost his re-election bid to Beshear in 2007. | Republican governor [[Ernie Fletcher]] lost his re-election bid to Beshear in 2007. | ||
Revision as of 23:49, June 18, 2008
| Capital | Frankfort |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Bluegrass State |
| Official Language | English |
| Governor | Steve Beshear, D |
| Senator | Mitch McConnell, R {{{s1phone}}} [{{{s1email}}}] |
| Senator | Jim Bunning, R {{{s2phone}}} [{{{s2email }}}] |
| Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | June 1, 1792 (15th) |
| Flag of Kentucky | Motto:
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Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, entered the Union in 1792, making it the fifteenth state. Kentucky's capital is Frankfort, and the largest city is Louisville, with a Metro population surpassing 1,000,000. Kentucky is famous for many things, including the Kentucky Derby, bourbon, Kentucky Fried Chicken, coal, bluegrass music, and boxing great Muhammad Ali.
Contents
History
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 Union, after Vermont the previous year. During the Civil War, Kentucky's government remained loyal to the Union, though a Confederate government based itself in Bowling Green, in the south of the state. The state was invaded in September 1861, and its capital, Frankfort, was captured by Confederate forces in 1862, the only Union capital to fall into Confederate hands during the war.[1]
Sports
Kentucky is best-known for its men's college basketball teams, most notably the University of Kentucky Wildcats and University of Louisville Cardinals. The University of Kentucky (UK) traditionally has been the dominant of the two, having won seven NCAA titles. According to Sagarin ratings, the 1996 UK team is the highest-ranked college basketball team in NCAA history. Many UK basketball players have gone on to play in the NBA. The UK basketball team has recently lost its dominance, and the in-state rivalry between the two universities has become less one-sided.
Football has become increasingly associated with Kentucky as well, due to the University of Louisville's team's growth under the coaching of Bobby Petrino. In 2007, the Cardinals competed in and won at the Orange Bowl. During the 2007 football season, the University of Kentucky has been extremely successful compared to the past, having beaten several ranked teams, including Louisville and #1 (at the time) LSU.
Politics
Kentucky is generally considered a red state. Republicans Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell are Senators. Senator McConnell is Minority Leader of the Senate. McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, is the current United States Secretary of Labor. However, Democrat Steve Beshear is the current Governor. Kentucky is allowed to seat six representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives, and these seats are held by Republicans Ed Whitfield, Ron Lewis, Geoff Davis, and Hal Rogers, and Democrats John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler.
Republican governor Ernie Fletcher lost his re-election bid to Beshear in 2007.
The Kentucky State Senate has 21 Republicans, 16 Democrats, and one Independent. The Kentucky House, however, has 61 Democrats and only 39 Republicans.
Geography
Kentucky borders several other states: to the north Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to the south Tennessee, to the east Virginia and West Virginia, and to the west Missouri. The Ohio River makes up the northern border of Kentucky.
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