Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • U.S. State

Kentucky

Kentucky is a landlocked state in the Southeastern United States, officially known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Kentucky is a landlocked state in the Southeastern United States, officially known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It became the 15th state on June 1, 1792, and its capital is Frankfort while its largest city is Louisville.

What it is

Kentucky is a landlocked state in the Southeastern United States, bordered by seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. Its northern boundary is largely defined by the Ohio River. It is one of four U.S. states that use the title 'commonwealth' in their official name.

Why it matters

Kentucky is relevant to Canadian readers through cross-border travel, trade, and North American geography. It is well-known for horse racing, bourbon, and logistics, topics that often appear in Canadian media and tourism coverage.

Key details

Kentucky became the 15th state on June 1, 1792, after formerly being part of Virginia. As of 2024, its population was estimated at about 4.6 million. The state has 120 counties and is nicknamed the Bluegrass State.

In short

  • Landlocked state in the Southeastern U.S.
  • 15th state, admitted June 1, 1792.
  • Capital: Frankfort; largest city: Louisville.
  • Nickname: Bluegrass State.
Canadian angle

Kentucky is relevant to Canadian readers through cross-border travel, trade, and North American geography. It is also a well-known U.S. state for horse racing, bourbon, and logistics, topics that often appear in Canadian media and tourism coverage.

Quick questions

What is Kentucky?
Kentucky is a U.S. state in the Southeastern United States.
When did Kentucky become a state?
Kentucky entered the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state.
What is Kentucky's capital?
Frankfort is Kentucky's capital.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky
    Supports: State status, official name, location, borders, capital, largest city, population estimate.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Kentucky
    Supports: Area and population estimate.
  3. National Geographic Kids — https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/states/article/kentucky
    Supports: Statehood history and borders.
  4. The Fact File — https://thefactfile.org/kentucky-facts/
    Supports: 120 counties, statehood date, capital, abbreviation.
  5. Infoplease — https://www.infoplease.com/us/states/kentucky
    Supports: Official name, statehood date, nickname, motto, counties, population, capital.
  6. 50states.com — https://www.50states.com/kentucky.htm
    Supports: Nickname, abbreviation, statehood date, origin of name.
  7. CountryReports — https://www.countryreports.org/country/united-states/states/kentucky
    Supports: Commonwealth designation, location, capital, largest city, first state west of Appalachians.