Louisville, Kentucky
The 15th state to be admitted to the union, the “bluegrass state” Kentucky, is home to horse racing, bourbon, the Louisville Sluggers, and of course Kentucky Fried Chicken. Among other things the state is also known for its industry in coal mining, car manufacturing, and tobacco. Besides that, the state also has a reputation for its very own style of music being bluegrass, named after the grass that can be found growing in the many Kentucky meadows.
Some theories that the state’s name derives from the Iroquois word for “prairie.” The state is characterized by its expansive fields, in which a landscape of white fences and paddocks are reminiscent of the antebellum South that once was. But Kentucky is not only the horse racing south one might expect, it is also an urbanized state with its cities being oriented toward Cincinnati, Ohio, showing the states northern ties. This orientation due to Kentucky’s large German heritage in its northernmost areas, but the contrast between the two atmospheres is what characterizes the state. Both Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis of the confederacy were born in Kentucky, a stet of split allegiances.
Besides its history Kentucky boasts a varied and prosperous economy. The western regions of the state are affluent regions thanks to the great manufacturing industry in the area. Additionally, trade is also a key factor here, as Kentucky includes one of the most inland ports in the US. The eastern regions of the state are reliant on coal mining and agriculture.
All in all, Kentucky is a state to be reckoned with. Packing a lot of history, being one of the constituent states of the US, and being key to the development of the American civil war. Nowadays, it is a busy industrious hub for manufacturing and trade, fried chicken, and bourbon.