Last updated on June 21st, 2024
53. Traffic lights were invented in Kentucky in 1923. Garrett Morgan created the first traffic lights system, installed in London, Kentucky. This invention improved traffic safety significantly.
54. The radio is credited by some to Guglielmo Marconi, but Nathan Stubblefield of Murray actually invented it three years before the claim by the Italian.
55. In 1884, the first slugger bat was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky. Tourists can visit the building factory tour and the museum.
56. Kentucky gave the world the famous Bourbon drink. The amber drink was first distilled in Bourbon County, created in 1785. According to sources, the inventor of bourbon was Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister.
57. You might be surprised to know that the cheeseburger was also invented in Kentucky. Despite claims by others, Kaelin’s restaurant in Louisville stands by being the first to serve cheeseburgers in 1934.
58. The first enamel bathtub was created in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1856. This revolutionized amenities and interior bathroom decorations all over the world.
59. Bill Monroe, born in Rosine, made Bluegrass music famous in the US and then, later, the rest of the world. He was born in 1911 and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1939. His unique style of playing string instruments, with quick picking and wailing, launched a new genre that is still popular in certain pockets of the United States.
60. At the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Frankfort, a giant sundial’s shadow touches the name of each veteran on the date of the person’s death. The monument was built on March 26th, 1982, and is a major attraction in Frankfort, Kentucky.
61. Middlesboro, Kentucky, is a unique city in the United States as it was built on a meteor crater. The crater is estimated to have a diameter of 3 miles and is about 300 million years old.
62. Vanceburg is the only city south of the Ohio River with a monument dedicated to deceased Union soldiers. It commemorates the 107 soldiers who lost their lives in the war and was built in 1884. Despite being south of the Mason-Dixon line, the Union had a stronghold on Lewis County.
63. Anyone driving on I-75 has seen the water tower with “Florence Y’all” on it. While it has turned into an iconic feature of the city, with a local festival in its name even, it was originally meant to be an advertisement for the Florence Mall. The city prohibited advertisements that high, forcing a quick change in the text.
64. The locals consider Owensboro to be the BBQ Capital of the World and when it comes to barbecue, mutton is often the preferred choice of meat. Owensboro also holds an annual International BBQ festival each May, but the famous BBQ this region is known for is available any day of the week.
65. Every year, Louisville holds their annual Idea Festival. This unique festival held every fall draws creative thinkers of all ages. The goal of this gathering is to encourage innovation that will impact the arts, education, technology, and business. They believe that anyone can create positive change through great ideas, regardless of their position in life.
66. Cumberland Falls is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where a person can spot a moonbow. This unique rainbow is formed from light bouncing off the moon during the night time. Every full moon (and near full moon nights), the moonbow (lunar rainbow) can be seen.
Now that we have read Kentucky facts, let us also explore about its flag.
About the Flag of Kentucky
Although Kentucky was granted statehood on June 1st, 1792, the Kentucky state flag as we know it today would not be adopted until March 26, 1918.
This was not because Kentucky had a different historical flag, but that it chose to unofficially adopt the United States flag as its state flag following statehood and would continue to do so until 1918.
The only exception was during the Civil War years, when both the Union and Confederate flags flew, as Kentucky remained a neutral border state during this conflict.
When one looks into the history about the flag of Kentucky, they may be surprised to learn that the flag was not designed by a statesman or politician, but by an art teacher.
This teacher, Jesse Cox Burgess, lived in the state capital of Frankfort and was commissioned by the Kentucky Historical Society to complete the design.
The finished design is featured on a dark blue background and also includes white, gold, and green prominently.
The popular American phrase “United we stand, divided we fall” encircles the design.
The center-point of the design is two men shaking hands and embracing, a frontiersman and a statesman in appearance and dress. This is important due to Kentucky’s history as America’s first frontier and role in America’s growth and early government.
Though the two men are intended to represent the roles rather than specific people, many citizens claim that the two men are Daniel Boone and Henry Clay. Boone blazed the Wilderness Trail to settle Kentucky and Clay was an influential Speaker of the House and Secretary of State from the Bluegrass country.
Above the two men, the flag is emblazoned “Commonwealth of Kentucky”. They stand on a circle of white encircled in gold. Underneath them, the flag features the Kentucky state flower, the Goldenrod. This image is also present in the state seal of Kentucky.
Though the design for the Kentucky state flag was approved by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1918, the flag would not physically be made until the year 1920.
The first Kentucky state flag was made for a special event at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville. This item was made hastily and not with the attention one would expect for such as a memorable milestone. The first flag is in the possession of the Kentucky Historical Society.
In 1961, the Kentucky Legislature passed a bill, KRS 2.030, that dictated specifications for the state flag’s manufacture, including design and color. Illustrations are included in the bill, and to date it is the only bill in Kentucky history to include illustrations in it. An artist named Harold Collins was responsible for this historical art.
The Kentucky state flag has a unique history regardless of the fact that its design has remained largely unchanged since its onset.
It is curious to consider that Kentucky is one of the oldest states in the Union, but has one of the newest flags!
Kentucky – quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | KY |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Frankfort List Of 50 U.S. States And Their Capital |
| Largest City | Louisville |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 40,409 sq miles; Land Only: 39,728 sq miles |
| Population | 4,588,372 (Estimate July 1, 2024 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | June 1, 1792 |
| State rank by population | 26th |
| State rank by date of formation | 15th |
| State rank by area | 37th |
| Number of Counties | 120 Complete list of 50 states and number of counties in each |
| Demonym | Kentuckian |
| Bordering States | Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Official Language | English |
| Highest Point | Black Mountain[3][4] 4,145 ft (1263 m) |
| Lowest point | Mississippi River at Kentucky Bend 257 ft (78 m) |
| Mean elevation | 750 feet above sea level |
| Length | 379 miles (610 km) |
| Width | 170 miles (250 km) |
| Governor | Andy Beshear (D) |
| Lieutenant Governor | Jacqueline Coleman (D) |
| Electoral Votes | 8 |
| State Motto | United we stand, divided we fall |
| State Nickname | Bluegrass State |
| % Water | 1.7 |
| Noble prize winners | Thomas H. Morgan (Physiology or Medicine, 1933) Phillip A. Sharp (Physiology or Medicine, 1993) Robert H. Grubbs (Chemistry, 2005) |
| Famous people | Dermontti Dawson (Pro Football player) Jim Bunning (Baseball player) Arnie Risen (Basketball player) Johnny Depp (Actor) Joan Osborne (Singer) |
| U.S. President Born in Kentucky | Abraham Lincoln |
| State Horse | Thoroughbred |
| State Tree | Tulip Poplar |
| State Wild animal game species | Eastern gray squirrel |
| State Bird | Cardinal |
| State Butterfly | Viceroy Butterfly |
| State fish | Spotted bass |
| State fruit | Blackberry |
| State Flower | Goldenrod |
| State Fossil | Brachiopod |
| State Gemstone | Freshwater Pearl |
| Insect | Honey bee |
| State mineral | Coal |
| State Rock | Kentucky Agate |
| Longitude | 81° 58′ W to 89° 34′ W |
| Latitude | 36° 30′ N to 39° 09′ N |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone, Central Time Zone |
| Website | kentucky.gov |
| Area Codes | 270, 364, 502, 606, 859 |
| Table last updated | May 10, 2025 |