Where in the World is Kentucky

Known as the Bluegrass State, Kentucky comprises the 37th largest state by land area, boasting 40,408 square miles of largely rolling hills and natural beauty, including nearly 916 square miles of scenic lakes and rivers. Bordered by Illinois, Ohio and Indiana to the north, West Virginia and Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south and Missouri to the west, the Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and thriving equine industry, while the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky is home to some of the most rugged terrains in North America.

Angler’s Paradise

Other features include the massive Ohio River along the state’s entire northern border, while other main rivers include the Salt, Green, Licking, Big Sandy, Kentucky and Cumberland. In addition to an abundance of rivers, Kentucky is also home to several massive lakes, including Lake Cumberland in Somerset and Barkley Lake near Cadiz, which collectively draws anglers from across the U.S. on an annual basis, as well as outdoor enthusiasts who flock to a 170,000-acre region of heavily forested beauty known as the “Land Between the Lakes.” With its capital city at Frankfort, along the banks of the Kentucky River, the state experiences three distinct climates, including humid subtropical conditions in the north, temperate continental in Central Kentucky and humid continental in the southern part of the state. Summers throughout the state are general hot but moderate, followed by cold winters and rainy but enjoyable springtime conditions.

Demographics

Home to slightly more then 4.5 million Kentuckians—the 26th most populated state in the U.S.—Kentucky is divided into 120 counties, while her largest city is Louisville in the southeastern part of the state, whose population of more than 624,000 people makes the city the 29th most populous in the U.S. The greater Louisville-Jefferson County metropolitan region, however, is home to nearly 1.4 million people, including seven counties in Kentucky and five in Southern Indiana, which makes the Metropolitan Statistical Area the 43rd largest in the nation. Major industry sectors within the state include automotive, aerospace, primary metals, AgriTech, chemicals, healthcare, logistics and transportation, all contributing to an annual GDP of more than $225 billion, making the state of Kentucky, a landlocked diamond in the American heartland.