Looking to brush up on your Kentucky trivia? Here are ten fun facts about the Bluegrass State.
1. The original state flower was, in fact, the Bluegrass flower.
ProFlowers explains that up until the 1920s, Kentucky’s state flower was the one from which it gets its iconic nickname. However, around 1926 lawmakers sought to change the flower to one more representative of the state as a whole, since the Bluegrass only blooms in the central Kentucky region (hence why the area is known as the Bluegrass region.) Unlike bluegrass, which is– unsurprisingly– technically a grass, the goldenrod is actually classified as a flower and appears throughout the state.
2. Kentucky is home to the deadliest spider in North America.
While Kentucky is far from the only place you can find the brown recluse, it’s still worth being wary if your spider bite starts looking suspicious. Luckily, according to the University of Kentucky, brown recluses stay true to their name and tend to avoid humans whenever possible.
3. Bourbon isn’t only made in Kentucky (although 95% of it is.)
It’s commonly believed that in order to be classified as bourbon, the liquor must be made in the state of Kentucky. While this is technically untrue, many maintain that truly authentic bourbon is made in-state, and it’s true that Kentucky produces the overwhelming majority of bourbon in the world. Bourbon must, however, be made with a strict percentage of corn, and made within the United States.
4. Kentucky has 120 counties for a reason.
Admittedly, that reason is a little out-of-date: according to the Kentucky Genealogical Society, early in Kentucky’s history it was decided that no one person should be more than a day’s worth of horse riding away from a country courthouse. While we no longer rely on horse and buggy transportation to get from place to place, this historical decision still informs Kentucky’s county divisions today.
5. The University of Kentucky basketball team has more wins than any other NCAA Division I Men’s team.
It’s not news to anybody that the University of Kentucky has one of the strongest college basketball programs in the nation (the absolute strongest, if you ask many locals.) But UK’s reputation has the stats to back it up, with the team winning more games than any other men’s basketball team in the NCAA’s Division I. Kansas State follows closely behind, and North Carolina comes in third place.
6. Ale-8 is the only soft drink still sold that was invented in Kentucky.
As explained by Kentucky Tourism, Ale-8, which is bottled right in Winchester, Kentucky, is the state’s exclusive proprietary soda (or pop, depending on who you ask in the region.) The drink is coming up on its 100th birthday in just a few years, and since its inception has brought about diet, cherry, and orange cream soda versions.