Geography of Kentucky

Introduction to Geography of Kentucky

Kentucky, one of the southeastern states of the United States. It is bordered by Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. Kentucky has an area of 40,411 square miles (104,665 km 2), ranking 37th in size in the nation. Maximum dimensions are about 425 miles (685 km) east-west and 180 miles (290 km) north-south.

Physical Geography

Most of Kentucky consists of eroded, low plateaus that slope gradually downward to the north and west.

The Cumberland Plateau, part of the Appalachian region of the United States, covers the eastern quarter of the state. The Cumberland Plateau is rugged hill country cut by deep river valleys. It is heavily forested and rich in coal. Near the Virginia border, in the southeast, are the Cumberland and Pine Mountains. Here rises Kentucky's highest peak, Black Mountain, which reaches 4,145 feet (1,263 m) above sea level. The Cumberland Gap lies near the point where the Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee state lines meet.

The Jackson Plain, also called the Jackson Purchase, occupies the western tip of the state, that part west of the Tennessee River. It is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the United States. The plain was named after Andrew Jackson, who helped arrange its purchase from the Chickasaw Indians in 1818. This region consists mainly of low hills and floodplains of the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys. The lowest point in the state, 257 feet (78 m) above sea level, is on the east bank of the Mississippi River at the Tennessee state line.

Central Kentucky, situated between the Jackson Plain and the Cumberland Plateau, is made up of several regions, including the Bluegrass, the Knobs section, the Pennyroyal Plateau, and the Western Coal Field.

The Bluegrass is a circular area centering on Frankfort and Lexington. Flat to gently rolling, it is noted for fertile soils, green pastures, productive farms, and prize livestock, especially thoroughbred horses.

The Knobs section, fringing the Bluegrass on the east, south, and west, is named for its conical and flat-topped hills.

The Pennyroyal Plateau is a section with alternately hilly, rolling, and nearly level land. In some areas underground rivers have cut passages and caverns in the underlying limestone. Of these, the most widely known is Mammoth Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park.

The Western Coal Field, northwest of the Pennyroyal Plateau, is a semicircular area fronting on the Ohio River. The land is hilly with broad valleys along the principal rivers. Like the Cumberland Plateau, it is rich in coal.

State lines are formed by the Mississippi River on the west, the Ohio River on the north, and the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers on the east. Among the largest rivers crossing the state are the Licking, Kentucky, Green, Cumberland, and Tennessee.

Many dams and reservoirs have been built in the state. Especially notable are Kentucky Lake, behind Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River, and nearby Lake Barkley, behind Barkley Dam on the Cumberland. Between the two lakes is a large recreational area known as the Land Between the Lakes. Reservoirs in south-central Kentucky include Lake Cumberland, on the Cumberland River, and Dale Hollow Lake, on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Cumberland Falls, near Corbin, is the largest waterfall in the southeastern United States.

Kentucky's climate reflects the state's border location between North and South. It is largely a continental type of climate with subtropical influences from the south. Temperature and precipitation are variable. Average January temperatures range from about 31° F. (-1° C.) in the north to 40° F. (4° C.) in the south. July temperatures average close to 78° F. (26° C.) throughout most of the state; they are somewhat higher in the far west and slightly lower in the mountainous parts of the east. Temperatures above 100° F. (38° C.) or below 0° F. (-18° C.) seldom occur.

Annual precipitation averages 40 to 45 inches (1,020 to 1,140 mm) in most of the state. Depending on location, snowfall averages 10 to 20 inches (250 to 500 mm) per year.

Economy

For many years Kentucky's economy was based on its natural resources—farmland, coal, and timber. Rapid industrial growth occurred after World War II. Today, manufacturing provides the largest single share of the state's earnings. However, the older economic activities, especially mining, continue to predominate in parts of eastern Kentucky. Other major contributors to the state economy in terms of earnings and jobs include wholesale and retail trade, government (federal, state, and local), and the service industries.

Most of Kentucky's manufacturing is located in cities in the Ohio River valley, from Ashland in the east to Paducah in the west. Louisville is the chief industrial center. The Lexington, Owensboro and Covington-Newport areas are also sizable manufacturing centers.

The assembly of trucks and automobiles leads all manufacturing activities in terms of total earnings. Louisville is the center of truck assembly, and Bowling Green and Georgetown are automobile assembly centers. Other major manufacturing activities include the production of chemicals, machinery, food and beverages, and primary metals. Also produced are a variety of textile, wood, rubber, plastic, glass, and leather products.

Kentucky is well known for the production of cigars, cigarettes, and bourbon whiskey. Well over half of the world's bourbon is produced here. Cities with large distilleries include Bardstown, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, and Loretto.

Fertile soils and moderate climate provide parts of the state with excellent conditions for farming. About 20 per cent of the state's land area is used for crops. A similar amount is used for pasture.

Tobacco is the most valuable cash crop, and Kentucky is second only to North Carolina in its production. Lexington is one of the largest tobacco markets in the world. Corn, soybeans, and hay are also major crops.

Cattle and calves are the state's leading source of agricultural income from sources other than crops. Also important are milk and dairy products. Kentucky has long been known for the breeding and raising of horses, primarily thoroughbreds. The horse farms, many of them internationally known, are concentrated in the Bluegrass around Lexington.

Bituminous coal, mined in the Cumberland Plateau and in coalfields south of Owensboro and Henderson, accounts for most of the state's mineral wealth. Kentucky is one of the nation's largest producers of coal. Crude petroleum and natural gas come from scattered wells in or near the coalfields. The oil is of excellent quality, but only small amounts are produced. Limestone is the most important nonfuel mineral produced.

Almost half of the state's area is forested. Most of the forests are of commercial value and are privately owned. Hardwoods predominate and make up most of the annual cut; softwoods, mainly pines, are also harvested.

Kentucky's highway system includes five Interstate highways and several intercity toll roads called parkways. Louisville and Lexington are the chief points of convergence for major highways.

Several major railways operate in Kentucky, providing mostly north-south freight service. At Ohio River terminals, such as Louisville and Cincinnati (across the river in Ohio), connections are made with some of the large northern railways.

Scheduled air service is provided at five of the state's airports, the busiest being Greater Cincinnati International Airport, west of Covington, and Standiford Field in Louisville. The Ohio and Mississippi rivers carry large amounts of barge traffic. Parts of the Kentucky, Green, and Cumberland rivers are also navigable by barge.

The People

Among Kentucky's chief settlers were the English, Irish, Scots, Germans, and French Huguenots. In 2000, blacks made up about 7 per cent of the population; other nonwhites accounted for less than 3 per cent.

Education

The superintendent of public instruction, elected for a four-year term, is executive officer of the state board of education. All board members, except the superintendent, are appointed by the governor. School attendance is required from age 7 to 16.

In 1794 Kentucky Academy, the first public school in the state, was opened at Lexington. A public school system was set up in 1838.

An agricultural and mechanical college was established at Lexington in 1865 as part of Kentucky University (now Transylvania University). The land-grant college was separated from Kentucky University in 1878. It became the State University of Kentucky in 1908, and has been called University of Kentucky since 1916.

Government

Kentucky—officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky—is governed under its fourth constitution, adopted in 1891. The General Assembly consists of a Senate of 38 members, elected for four years, and a House of Representatives of 100, elected for two years. Sessions are held in even-numbered years. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, auditor of public accounts, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of agriculture are elected for four years. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, circuit courts, and lesser courts. All judges are elected.

Kentucky has 120 counties, divided into magisterial districts rather than townships. Cities are divided into classes according to population. Kentucky has two senators and six representatives in the U.S. Congress.