Explore this Map of Kentucky to know everything you want to know about the 15th state of the US. Learn about the location of this state in the United States of America. Also, check out its geography, time zones, history, major cities, national parks, trails, flag, capital, and many more.

About Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky or simply Kentucky is the 15th state of the United States. On June 1, 1792, it was admitted to the Union. Frankfort is Kentucky’s capital city. Louisville is the largest city and also the largest metro-urban area in Kentucky. 

This state’s official language is English. In the US, Kentucky is the 26th most populous state. The Bluegrass State is its nickname. “United we stand, divided we fall” and “Deo gratiam habeamus” (which means “Let us be grateful to God”) is the State Motto. 

Check Facts of Kentucky to learn more about this US state.

Kentucky Flag

On March 26, 1918, the Kentucky General Assembly adopted the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s flag. An art teacher named Jesse Cox Burgess (living in the state capital, Frankfort) designed this flag. In 1963, the design was standardized. 

The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s flag has a navy blue background. The Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is placed at the center of this blue field flag. This white-colored seal image in a circle features:

• The image of two embracing persons. While one person symbolizes a statesman, the other is a pioneer or frontiersman. 
• “United We Stand” as well as “Divided We Fall” are written at the image’s top and bottom, respectively. 

Surrounding the white-colored seal image in the flag, the word “Commonwealth of Kentucky” is written. Below it, the state flower and sprigs of goldenrod surround the seal. Learn more about Kentucky State Symbols.

Kentucky History

The early history of Kentucky dates back to around 10,000 BCE. In the late 17th century, the first Europeans visited the current region where the state of Kentucky is situated. They reached here either through the Appalachian Mountains’ natural pass in the southeast or from the northeast through the Ohio River. 

Through the lower Appalachians, Daniel Boone, a frontiersman, discovered the Cumberland Gap in 1769. Under the Royal Government of Kentucky’s authority, Harrod’s Town (the first permanent settlement of European-Americans) was founded. To facilitate migration to Kentucky, the Wilderness Road was built by Boone in association with thirty-five axmen in March 1775. 

On May 23, 1775, for writing the “Kentucke Magna Charta”, Colonel Daniel Boone, Captain James Harrod, Colonel Richard Henderson, and other ten colonial colonels met for the Transylvania Convention. Under Governor Patrick Henry, Jr., the territory became Kentucky’s Kentucky County on January 1, 1777. 

Kentucky attained statehood and was admitted to the Union as the 15th state of the United States on June 1, 1792. Initially, it was included as a slave state. However, the conflict between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups remained. It culminated in 1850’s Bloody Monday, where the Anglo-American Protestants attacked many Irish-German immigrants. During the Civil War, many people from Kentucky joined both the forces of the Union and the Confederates. 

Groups of white supremacists, including people belonging to the Ku Klux Klan group, continued to hate and attack Afro-American people. This conflict even led to the assassination of the governor in 1900. Rapid industrialization in the state took place after the World Wars. It quickly became the leading automotive manufacturer in the country. In the 1960s, the civil rights movement in Kentucky gained pace.

Kentucky Location

The Kentucky Location Map shows the exact location of the US state of Kentucky on the United States map. This map also shows the US state’s boundaries, neighboring countries, and oceans. 

The state of Kentucky is situated in the southeastern part of the US. It shares its border with:

• Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois (in the north)
• Kentucky and West Kentucky (in the east) 
• Tennessee (in the south) 
• Missouri (in the west)

The Ohio River borders the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s northern border.

Kentucky’s precise location is 36° 30′ N to 39° 09′ N Latitude and 81° 58′ W to 89° 34′ W Longitude. Check the Kentucky Longitude and Latitude Map to learn more about the location.

Kentucky Geography

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is spread across a total area of 40,408 sq mi (104,656 sq km), out of which 39,486 sq mi (102,269 sq km) is land area and 921 sq mi (2,387 sq km) is water area. It is the 37th largest state in the United States in terms of area. Check this Kentucky Topographic Map to learn more.

The geographical area of Kentucky has five major landforms:

• In the eastern part of Kentucky, you’ll find the Cumberland Plateau. The historic coal mines can be found within this landform. 
• In the north-central part of Kentucky, the Bluegrass geographical region is situated. The state capital, Frankfort, and all the major cities are located here. 
• You’ll find the Pennyroyal Plateau (popularly also called Mississippi Plateau or Pennyrile) in the south-central and western Kentucky region. 
• The West Kentucky Coal Field region is situated in the state’s northwestern and west-central regions. This geographic region is part of the Illinois Basin. The Pennsylvanian age sandstones, coal, and shales are the main features of this landform. 
• Southwestern Kentucky is made up of Jackson Purchase geographic region. It is predominantly a coastal plain region. This terrain is bounded by:
  • The Mississippi River (in the west)
  • The Ohio River (in the north)
  • The Tennessee River (in the east)

Learn about the location of mountain peaks, rivers, lakes, the state capital, state boundary, ocean, and neighboring states from this Physical Map of Kentucky.

Kentucky Counties 

Kentucky has 120 counties. Pike County is the largest county, having a total area of 788 sq mi (2,041 sq km). Robertson County is the smallest county, having a total area of 100 sq mi (259 sq km). Check Kentucky County Map to learn more about the location and boundaries of different counties in the.

Kentucky Area Codes

The US State of Kentucky has 4 area codes: 

• 270/364: South Central Kentucky’s western part and western Kentucky are served by the area code.
• 502: The areas of Frankfort and Louisville are served by this area code.
• 606: The Eastern Kentucky region (which includes the Eastern Coalfield) is served by this area code.
• 859: Northern Kentucky and the Lexington area are served by this area code.

The Kentucky Area Codes Map helps you locate a particular area code. you can also use it to know more about the area code boundary, county and state boundaries, and state capital. 

Kentucky Zip Codes

There are 769 active zip codes in Kentucky. Some of the best zip codes to live in include 40503, 40513, 40502, 40207, 40205, 40509, 40206, 41075, 40222, 40514, and many more. You can locate a particular zip code’s location, boundary, state boundary, and state capital with the help of the Kentucky Zip Codes Map. 

Kentucky Major Cities

Learn about the state’s major cities from this Kentucky cities map. It also helps you to know the exact location of the state capital, other cities, state boundaries, neighboring states and oceans, and many more. 

Some of Kentucky’s largest and major cities are Louisville, Covington, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Lexington, and many more. Check out the Kentucky Cities Map for more details.

Kentucky Airports Map

The busiest airports in Kentucky are Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Louisville International Airport, Blue Grass Airport, etc. Check the location of different airports in the state on the Kentucky Airports Map. This map also shows Kentucky’s state and country boundaries, cities, the state capital, neighboring states, and oceans.

Kentucky National Park and Trails

Kentucky has seven national parks. Around 1,519,274 visitors visit these national parks annually. Major national parks in the state are Mammoth Cave National Park, Daniel Boon National Park, Big South Fork National River & Recreational Area, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, and others.

In Kentucky, you can enjoy around 841 recreational trails (hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and other adventurous trails). Double Arch, Courthouse Rock, and Auxier Ridge Loop, Rock Bridge Trail, Pinch Em Tight, Rush Ridge, Rough Trail, Gray’s Arch Loop, Dog Slaughter Falls Trail, etc. are some of the most popular trails in Kentucky. Check out the National Parks in Kentucky Map to get a clear idea about the locations of different national parks, monuments, preserves, etc.

Kentucky Climate 

Kentucky is situated in the southeastern interior region of the USA. You’ll find a humid subtropical climate in most parts of the state. However, in southeastern Kentucky, you’ll find an oceanic climate (thanks to the influence of the Appalachian Mountains). 

You’ll generally experience hot, humid, rainy summers in Kentucky. The winters are usually moderately cold and rainy. You’ll find significant variation in the winter and summer seasons in Kentucky. 

During the daytime in summer, the average high temperature revolves around 87 °F (31 °C). During winters, the average low temperature hovers around 23 °F (−5 °C). The annual average precipitation remains around 46 inches (1,200 mm). 

The far northern states hardly experience extreme cold, and the Deep South region experiences high heat. The areas of the north are five degrees cooler than the western regions of Kentucky.

Kentucky Time Zones

The time zone of:

• Eastern Kentucky is UTC−05:00 (Eastern). Its Summer (DST) time zone is UTC−04:00 (EDT).
• Western Kentucky is UTC−06:00 (Central). Its Summer (DST) time zone is UTC−05:00 (CDT).

FAQs on Kentucky

FAQ #1: What is The Time Zone for Kentucky?

Ans: UTC−05:00 (Eastern) is the time zone in Eastern Kentucky. UTC−04:00 (EDT) is the Summer (DST) time zone. UTC−06:00 (Central) is the time zone in Western Kentucky. Its Summer (DST) time zone is UTC−05:00 (CDT).

FAQ #2: What Is The Capital of Kentucky?

Ans: Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky. 

FAQ #3: What Is Kentucky Known For?

Ans: Kentucky is known for Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby, Fort Knox’s Military Museum, the George S. Patton, Jr., Mammoth Cave, Old Fort Harrod State Park, and many more. You’ll find some of the finest race horses in the world around Lexington’s Bluegrass region. 

FAQ #4: How Many Tornadoes Hit Kentucky?

Ans: Around 21 tornadoes hit Kentucky every year. Most of the tornadoes hit during the months of April and May every year. 

FAQ #5: Does It Snow In Kentucky?

Ans: Yes, around 11 inches (279.4 mm) of snowfall takes place in Kentucky every year. Most of the snowfall takes place during the months of November and December. 

FAQ #6: How Many Counties In Kentucky?

Ans: 120 counties are there in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

FAQ #7: What Region Is Kentucky In?

Ans: Kentucky is one of the US states that are located in the Upper South. It is located in the Southeastern region of the USA.