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Free Traveling Guides » States » Kentucky History of Kentucky
Kentucky, situated in East Central United States of America, is one of the 4 states in U. S. that are officially known as a commonwealth. Popularly known as the “Bluegrass State”, Kentucky was inhabited by Native Americans in the prehistoric times. In the mid-1700s, explorers and settlers arrived in the area and a large portion of the land was bought from the Native Americans in treaties of Sycamore Shoals (1775) and Fort Stanwix (1768). This led to a rapid growth in the population of the state. Daniel Boone played a significant role in the development of Kentucky and is traditionally considered to be the founder of the State. The first settlements were founded west of the Appalachian Mountains with settlers chiefly from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Lexington and Washington were the two major settlements in the State, established in the northern part, along the Ohio River. The southern part of Kentucky was settled via the famous Wilderness Trail and extended across the Cumberland Gap. The major turning point in history of the State was the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The last major battle of the Revolution fought in Kentucky was the Battle of Blue Licks. After the American Revolution, Kentucky was made a part of Virginia and the counties beyond the Appalachian Mountains became known as the Kentucky County. At the final Constitutional Convention held in April, 1792 at the Constitution Square Courthouse in Danville, Virginia’s terms of separation were accepted and Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the 15th US State, with Isaac Shelby as its first Governor. On November 20, 1861, a group of Kentucky soldiers posted at Russellville passed an Ordinance of Secession, establishing a Confederate government with its capital in “Bowling Green”. The Confederate Memorial Day is still observed by many on Jefferson Davis’ birthday, June 3. However, Kentucky remained neutral throughout the American Civil War. Another major event in the history of the State was the assassination of Governor William Goebel on January 30, 1900, when he was in the process of contesting the 1899 elections. William S. Taylor was later found to be the co-conspirator in the assassination of Goebel.
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