List of Kentucky state symbols

Iconography of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Location of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States of America

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has 29 official state emblems, as well as other designated places and events. The majority are determined by acts of the Kentucky General Assembly and recorded in Title I, Chapter 2 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.[1] The state's nickname – "The Bluegrass State" – is traditional, but has never been passed into law by the General Assembly. It does, however, appear on the state's license plates. Despite the nickname's popularity, the General Assembly has not designated bluegrass (or any other grass) as the official state grass.

The first symbol was the Seal of Kentucky, which was made official in 1792. The original seal also contained the future state motto. It served as the state's only emblem for over 130 years until the adoption of the state bird in 1926. Enacted by law in 2010, the newest symbols of Kentucky are the state insect, the honey bee, and the state sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette.

## Insignia

[edit]

Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia

Type  | Symbol  | Description  | Year  | Image  | Source

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|
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Flag | The Flag of Kentucky | Kentucky's flag has a navy blue background with the Seal of Kentucky in the middle.  | 1928  |  | [2][3]
Latin motto | Deo gratiam habeamus
| "Let us be grateful to God"
| 2002  | —  | [4]
Motto | United we stand, divided we fall |  | 1942  | —  | [4]
Nickname | The Bluegrass State  | The bluegrass that grows in the state's pasture land  | Traditional  | —  | [5]
Seal | The Seal of Kentucky | Kentucky's seal depicts two men embracing, the state motto and two sprigs of goldenrod.  | 1792  |  | [6][7]
Slogan  | Kentucky Unbridled Spirit  | The slogan alludes to Kentucky's reputation in horse racing and horse farms, as well as its production of whiskey  | 2004  | —  | [8]

## Species

[edit]

Type  | Symbol  | Description  | Year  | Image  | Source

|
|
|
|
|

Bird | Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis | The male cardinal is bright red and the female is brown and dull red. They live in Kentucky year-round.  | 1926  |  | [9]
Butterfly | Viceroy butterfly
Limenitis archippus | Viceroys are a Müllerian mimic to the monarchs which birds avoid eating because they are toxic and distasteful. The butterfly is usually found all over the state, except in mountainous areas, from April until November.[10] | 1990  |  | [11]
Fish | Kentucky spotted bass
Micropterus punctulatus | Similar to the largemouth bass, a common sporting fish that usually weighs up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg).  | 2005  |  | [12]
Flower | Goldenrod
Solidago gigantea | The goldenrod has a yellow flower that blooms in late summer and early fall. It is also the state flower of Nebraska.  | 2023  |  | [13]
Fruit | Blackberry
Rubus allegheniensis | This soft fruit is used to make jams, seedless jellies and wine.  | 2004  |  | [14]
Horse | Thoroughbred
Equus caballus | A horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Over 30% of all U.S. thoroughbred births happen in Kentucky, more than any other state[15] | 1996  |  | [16]
Insect | Honey bee
Apis mellifera | Official state insect in 17 states  | 2010  |  | [17]
Tree | Tulip poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera | The tulip tree is also called the yellow poplar. It has a distinctive leaf shape and yellow, bell-shaped flowers.  | 1994  |  | [18]
Wild animal game species  | Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis | Predominantly gray fur but it can have a reddish, black or white color. It has a white underside and a large bushy tail.  | 1968  |  | [19]

## Geology

[edit]

Type  | Symbol  | Description  | Year  | Image  | Source

|
|
|
|
|

Fossil | Brachiopod | Brachiopods are the most collected fossil in Kentucky. They resemble clams, but their top and bottom shell are not identical, and they don't burrow into the sand.[20] | 1986  |  | [21]
Gemstone | Freshwater pearl | The pearl is formed in several species of freshwater mussels. Originally found all over Kentucky, increased pollution, over-harvesting and damming of rivers have severely depleted the population of freshwater mussels.[22] | 1986  |  | [23]
Mineral | Coal | Kentucky is the third leading state in coal production.[24] | 1998  |  | [25]
Rock | Kentucky agate | Agate, a form of quartz, has varying shades of color arranged in layers of red, black, yellow, and gray.  | 2000  |  | [26]
Soil | Crider Soil Series | The Crider soils make up about 500,000 acres (2,000 km2) in Kentucky. Most areas are used for crops or pasture for corn, small grain, soybeans, tobacco, and hay.  | 1990  |  | [27]

## Cultural

[edit]

Type  | Symbol  | Description  | Year  | Image  | Source

|
|
|
|
|

Beverage | Milk |  | 2005  |  | [28]
Soft Drink | Ale-8-One | Kentucky House Bill 205 of the 2013 Regular Session signed by Governor (Acts Chapter 85) designated this regional, and historical citrus soda as a state symbol, the official soft drink of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  | 2013  |  | [29]
Bluegrass song  | "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
by Bill Monroe | Kentucky native Bill Monroe wrote this song in 1947 and performed it soon thereafter. Elvis Presley sang the song when he auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry and later recorded it for his first single for Sun Records.  | 1988  |  | [30]
Dance | Clogging | Clogging in the southern U.S. has its roots from early settlers. English clogging, Irish jigs, African-American buck dance and Cherokee dance.[31] | 2006  |  | [32]
Gun  | The Kentucky Long Rifle |  | 2013  |  | [33]
Language | English  | Over 95% of the state's residents are able to speak English.[34] | 1984  | —  | [35]
Music  | Bluegrass music |

> But it wasn't called bluegrass back then. It was just called old time mountain hillbilly music. When they started doing the bluegrass festivals in 1965, everybody got together and wanted to know what to call the show, y'know. It was decided that since Bill was the oldest man, and was from the Bluegrass state of Kentucky and he had the Blue Grass Boys, it would be called 'bluegrass.'

— Don Harrison, [36]

| 2007  |  | [37]
Musical instrument  | Appalachian dulcimer | A stringed instrument that appeared in the south in the early 19th century  | 2001  |  | [38]
Silverware pattern  | Old Kentucky Blue Grass-The Georgetown Pattern  |  | 1996  | —  | [39]
Song | "My Old Kentucky Home"  | The song describes life on a Kentucky plantation.  | 1928  |  | [40]
Sports car  | Chevrolet Corvette | Since 1981, the Chevrolet Corvette has been manufactured in Bowling Green.  | 2010  |  | [41]

## See also

[edit]

* Kentucky portal

## References

[edit]

General

* "Kentucky's State Symbols". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
* "Kentucky State Symbols". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

Specific

1. ^ "Kentucky Revised Statutes: Title I, Chapter 2". Kentucky Legislature. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
2. ^ "Kentucky's State Flag". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on March 18, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
3. ^ "State flag" (PDF). Legislative Research Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
4. ^ a b "State Motto". Kentucky Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
5. ^ "State Nickname". Kentucky Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
6. ^ "Kentucky's State Seal". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on March 18, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
7. ^ "State seal" (PDF). Legislative Research Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2007.
8. ^ "Unbridled Spirit Information". kentucky.gov. Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
9. ^ "Kentucky's State Bird: The Cardinal". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on March 18, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
10. ^ "Viceroy". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Montana State University. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
11. ^ "State butterfly" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
12. ^ Kleber, John E. (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 321\. ISBN 0813128838. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
13. ^ "State flower" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
14. ^ "State fruit" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
15. ^ "Distribution of registered US foal crop by state". The Jockey Club. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
16. ^ "State horse" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
17. ^ "State agricultural insect" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
18. ^ "Kentucky's State Tree". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
19. ^ "State wild animal game species" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
20. ^ "Brachiopods". Kentucky Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2011-08-05. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
21. ^ "State fossil" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
22. ^ "Pearl--Kentucky's State Gemstone". Kentucky Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
23. ^ "State gemstone" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
24. ^ "U.S. Coal Production by Coal-Producing Region and State". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
25. ^ "State mineral" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
26. ^ "State rock" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
27. ^ "State soil" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
28. ^ "State drink" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
29. ^ "Kentucky General Assembly, 2013 Regular Session House Bill 205". legislature.ky.gov. 2013-03-22. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023.
30. ^ "Kentucky's State Bluegrass Song: "Blue Moon of Kentucky"". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
31. ^ Charlton, Angela (June 1997). "Cloggers shuffle and skip to save Appalachian tradition". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2010.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
32. ^ "State dance" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 17, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
33. ^ "State Gun". Legislature of Kentucky. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
34. ^ "Ability to Speak English by Language Spoken at Home for the Population 18 Years and Over". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
35. ^ "State dance" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
36. ^ Harrison, Don (June 2008). "Old-Time Man". Virginia Living. pp. 55–57.
37. ^ "State music" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
38. ^ "State musical instrument" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
39. ^ "State silverware pattern" (PDF). Legislature of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
40. ^ "Kentucky's State Song: "My Old Kentucky Home"". State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2010.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
41. ^ "Gov. Beshear ceremonially signs House Bill 104". Governor of Kentucky. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.

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