The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth (the others being Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts).

Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 it became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the fact that native bluegrass is present in many of the pastures throughout the state, based on the fertile soil. It is the 15th US State; admitted June 1, 1792. Kentucky borders seven states: West Virginia lies to the east, Virginia to the southeast, Tennessee to the south, Missouri to the west, Illinois and Indiana to the northwest, and Ohio to the north and northeast. The state capital is Frankfort. Other major cities include Louisville/Jefferson County, Lexington-Fayette, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Covington, Richmond, Hopkinsville, Henderson, and Florence.