Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky became the 15th U.S. state when it was admitted to the U.S. in 1792. It was once believed that the name Kentucky was derived from the Native American word meaning "dark and bloody hunting ground," which is believed to be due to the fact that many Native American tribes went there to hunt in the game-rich forests and often fought each other there. However, it is now most commonly believed that the name Kentucky can be attributed to various Native American languages with several possible meanings from "land of tomorrow" to "cane and turkey lands" to "meadow lands." This last may come from the Iroquois name for the Shawnee town Eskippathiki. The name Kentucky referred originally to the Kentucky River and from that came the name of the region.

State symbols

• State bird: Cardinal
• State flower: Goldenrod
• State tree: Tulip tree (formerly the Kentucky coffeetree)
• State horse: Thoroughbred
• State fish: Kentucky Bass
• State wild animal: Grey Squirrel
• State butterfly: Viceroy Butterfly
• State gemstone: Fresh Water Pearl
• State fossil: Brachiopod
• State song: "My Old Kentucky Home" by Stephen Foster (1853)
• State bluegrass song: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe (1947)
• State drink: Milk
• State motto: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
• State slogan: "Unbridled Spirit"
• See also: Flag of Kentucky