There’s more to Kentucky than fried chicken (and Colonel Sanders was born in Indiana). One of four U.S commonwealths, Kentucky is the home of the Kentucky Derby and Jim Beam bourbon. So here are ten things you (probably) didn’t know about the Bluegrass State.
- The 15th State
Admitted on the 1st of June 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state of the Union. It was once part of Virginia, the area where the state crossed the Appalachian Mountains being regarded as Kentucky County. On the 18th of December 1789, Virginia gave consent for Kentucky’s statehood.
2. First Winery
The first winery in the United States was opened in 1799 in Kentucky. It was located near Lexington and was founded by John James Dufour, a Swiss businessman. There is still a winery there, although not the same one founded by Dufour. Even then, it is still called First Vineyard.
3. Stick A Seal On It
Kentucky is another state that has put its state seal on the flag. The seal was originally adopted in December 1792, but has since undergone numerous revisions. The current one depicts two men, one in buckskin and the other in a suit. It is believed that the man in the suit is Henry Clay, and the man in buckskin is Daniel Boone, a pioneer responsible for the exploration of Kentucky. The seal also includes Kentucky’s motto, “United we stand, divided we fall,” which is derived from the Liberty Song.
4. Commonwealth State
Officially, Kentucky is the “Commonwealth of Kentucky” and is one of four states to be classified as a commonwealth (the others being Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia). A commonwealth was a term for a political movement for the common good, which put great emphasis on a government based on the common consent of the people. A state that considers itself a commonwealth doesn’t gain any superiority over states that don’t – all states are considered as equal. Kentucky regarded itself as a commonwealth to express a common desire among its people to be a free and independent state from Virginia.
5. No, Your Dog May Not Hump That Car
In Fort Thomas, it is technically illegal for your dog to molest a car in accordance to pet/nuisance ordinance. Meanwhile in Owensboro, receiving anal sex is also illegal (the law says nothing on giving it, though).
6. Horse Racing State
Kentucky may be noted for the Kentucky Derby, but the state also produces some of the finest racehorses that could give the legendary Red Rum (or recently, Tiger Roll) a run for his money. It is less to do with the calcium-rich blue grass of the state, but more to do with history. Much of the east coast prohibited gambling in the 1800’s, but Kentucky didn’t outlaw horse betting and gambling. Breeders simply moved to Kentucky to continue their businesses legally.
7. More Bourbon Than Residents
Bourbon is big business in Kentucky. There are more barrels of bourbon than residents in the state – about 5.6 million aging barrels of bourbon and 4.4 million residents in 2018. You may also be very surprised to learn that not one single bourbon company is in the top 10 employers in Kentucky (the biggest is Yum! Brands, which is based on hotels, leisure, and restaurants).
8. When State Slogan And State Don’t Match
In 2002, Kentucky officials released a new slogan, “It’s That Friendly,” and imprinted the slogan on vehicle plates that also had a rising, smiling sun over a field. Residents disliked the slogan and it was scrapped a few years later. It was replaced with the current slogan, “Unbridled Spirit” but even that isn’t too popular. In the past few years, a Lexington ad firm has released a campaign for a new slogan and is getting some popularity. That slogan? “Kentucky Kicks Ass.”
9. State of Lincoln?
Step aside, Illinois, because your famous son wasn’t born there. Abraham Lincoln was born on the 12th of February 1809 on Sinking Spring Farm in Hogdenville, Kentucky. Lincoln only moved to Illinois in 1831 due to concerns of an outbreak of milk sickness, a poisoning through the consumption of dairy products from a cow that has fed on white snakeroot. That illness killed Lincoln’s mother in 1818.
10. Moonbows
Cumberland Falls in Kentucky is one of few locations in the world to witness a moonbow – that is a rainbow formed from the reflected light of the moon, rather than the direct light from the sun. These phenomenons can only be seen with a full moon.
Thanks for reading.
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