What is the abbreviation for Kentucky state?
KY is the 2 letter abbreviation for Kentucky, the 26th largest state in the United States of America. Kentucky is a state located in East South Central part of U.S.A, bordering Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Frankfort is the capital city of Kentucky. Major cities include Lexington-Fayette (Population: 314499), Meads (Population: 288660), Ironville (Population: 288660), Louisville (Population: 243650), Lexington (Population: 225377), Bowling Green (Population: 63627), Owensboro (Population: 59053), Covington (Population: 41008), Richmond (Population: 33544), Georgetown (Population: 32367), Florence (Population: 32238), and Hopkinsville (Population: 32216).
Kentucky State Profile
- Capital: Frankfort
- Admitted to USA: 1792
- Area: 104,656 km2
- Population: 4,467,673
- Time zone: GMT-5, GMT-6
- Calling code: 270, 502, 606, 859
- ISO 2-Letter Postal Abbreviation: KY
- State Government Website: http://kentucky.gov/
Overview
Kentucky is located in the east of the United States and borders both the Midwest and the South of the United States, but Kentucky is now considered one of the so-called southern states. Kentucky borders Indiana to the north, Ohio and West Virginia to the northeast, Virginia to the east, Tennessee to the south, Missouri to the west, and Illinois to the northwest.
The state’s official name is Commonwealth of Kentucky, making it one of the four states officially known as the Commonwealth alongside Virginia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The name of the state is derived from a word from the Iroquois language and means something like “land of meadows” or “land of meadows”. The state’s nickname today is “Bluegrass State”, which refers to the blue-green blooming grass pastures. Kentucky has two state mottoes, “United we stand, divided we fall” and “Deo gratiam habeamus”. The symbols of the state are tobacco fields and racing horses.
The state of Kentucky covers an area of approximately 104,659 km² and has approximately 4.38 million inhabitants. The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort, located in the north of the state with approximately 25,000 inhabitants. However, the largest city in Kentucky is Louisville with approximately 750,000 inhabitants. Since 1769, Daniel Boone and other pioneers explored the area of what is now Kentucky, and the first also founded the first fort in the region, provided for the construction of a road and thus opened up the region for later settlement. Kentucky was initially part of the state of Virginia and joined the Union on June 1, 1792 as the 15th state.
Nowadays, Kentucky is a popular destination for tourists due to its scenic landscape, colorful farmland and many historic sites. State visitors can choose between admiring nature or architecture. The state’s economy, which has historically been closely intertwined with tobacco growing, is more diverse today. In addition to tobacco cultivation, there are other important branches of the agricultural sector such as horse breeding and cattle breeding, so the export of cattle is important, since Kentucky supplies a large part of the meat processed in Chicago’s slaughterhouses.
Kentucky, on the other hand, is famous for its whiskey, more precisely bourbon. 90 percent of the bourbon consumed worldwide comes from Kentucky, just mentioning the name Jim Beam. The Kentucky-Fried-Chicken fast food chain is also extremely well-known. In 1930, Harland D. Sanders, now affectionately known as the Colonel, opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at a gas station in Corbin, southeastern Kentucky. Other famous personalities from Kentucky include former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, the President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis, the writer and journalist Hunter S. Thompson, the actors George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, William Shatner and Lee Majors.
Smaller parts of Kentucky are also in the so-called Tornado Alley. This is a particularly tornado-rich area in the Midwestern United States, where over a thousand large and small tornadoes roam across the country each year, especially in the spring. The US states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri are entirely within Tornado Alley. The northeastern part of Texas, the north of Louisiana, the northwestern part of Mississippi, central and southern Illinois, the southwestern Indiana and parts of Nebraska and smaller parts of Tennessee to Tornado Alley.
Cities and larger towns
Frankfort
The city of Frankfort with its approximately 25,000 inhabitants is the capital of the state of Kentucky. The city is located in northern Kentucky on the banks of the Kentucky River. The city was founded in 1786 by General James Wilkinson. The name is not an offshoot of the German city of Frankfurt, but goes back to the pioneer Stephan Frank. Frankfort has been the state capital since 1792. Because of its size, Frankfort has retained its rural charm and still offers many sights such as the grave of Daniel Boone, the Switzer Covered Bridge and of course the State Capitol. The most famous child in the city is surely the actor Johnny Depp.
Lexington
The city of Lexington has approximately 290,000 residents, making it the second largest city in Kentucky after Louisville. Around 485,000 people live in the city’s metropolitan area. Lexington is located in central North Kentucky in the so-called bluegrass region, the center of which it is. The city is entitled “Horse Capital of the World”. This is due to historical reasons, because Lexington has traditionally been the center of horse breeding and tobacco growing. The city was founded in 1782 and experienced a rapid rise. In the 1820s, Lexington was one of the largest and wealthiest cities west of the Allegheny Mountains. This earned her another nickname “Athens of the West”. Nowadays Lexington with its three universities is also an important science location. There is also a pronounced religious diversity in the city. There are 230 churches and synagogues that are used by 38 different religious communities. Visitors should not miss the picturesque city center. Highlights such as the Mary Todd Lincoln House and the Lexington Opera House can be found here. The Rupp Arena is the world’s largest basketball hall in the city. Highlights such as the Mary Todd Lincoln House and the Lexington Opera House can be found here. The Rupp Arena is the world’s largest basketball hall in the city. Highlights such as the Mary Todd Lincoln House and the Lexington Opera House can be found here. The Rupp Arena is the world’s largest basketball hall in the city.
Louisville
The city of Louisville has approximately 750,000 residents, making it by far the largest city in Kentucky. As many as 1.3 million people live in the city’s metropolitan area. The city is located in northern Kentucky on the banks of the Ohio River and thus directly on the border with the state of Indiana. The city was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark. It is named after King Louis XVI. from France, in thanks for supporting the United States’ war of independence against Britain. The city center is mostly characterized by modern architecture, but there are several parts of the city where some exquisite examples of Victorian villas have been preserved. The city’s biggest attraction is the annual Kentucky Derby. The city also has cultural attractions such as museums and galleries, the best known of which is the Speed Art Museum. Incidentally, one of the twin cities of Louisville is Mainz.
Hodgenville
The small town of Hodgenville is located in central Kentucky and is the birthplace of the well-known US President Abraham Lincoln. This was born here in 1809. The city began in 1789 with the construction of a mill and the associated expansion of the town. Nowadays, the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, the Lincoln Museum and the Abraham Lincoln Statue can be found on the city’s central square.
Cave City
The small town of Cave City is located in southern Kentucky and has approximately 2,000 inhabitants. The city is the starting point for tours of the Mammoth Cave National Park. In addition to being close to the national park, Cave City’s size also offers a few notable attractions, such as the Floyd Collins Museum.
List of Kentucky Acronyms
The most commonly used abbreviations about Kentucky are KY which stands for Kentucky. In the following table, you can see all acronyms related to Kentucky, including abbreviations for airport, city, school, port, government, and etc.
Acronym |
Meaning |
AIK |
Associated Industries of Kentucky |
AIKCU |
Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities |
AMK |
Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Inc. |
BKYF |
Bank of Kentucky Financial |
BBKY |
Bankers Bank of Kentucky |
BSK |
Baptist Seminary of Kentucky |
BOCK |
Brewers of Central Kentucky |
CAK |
Cardiology Associates of Kentucky |
CKAP |
Central Kentucky Antique Pullers |
CKGH |
Central Kentucky Ghost Hunters |
CKHRA |
Central Kentucky Hunting Retriever Association |
CKJF |
Central Kentucky Jewish Federation |
CKNJ |
Central Kentucky News Journal |
CKRA |
Central Kentucky Research Associates |
CKSEC |
Central Kentucky Special Education Cooperative |
CHEK |
Christian Home Educators of Kentucky |
CPAK |
College Personnel Association of Kentucky |
CFKY |
Columbia Financial of Kentucky |
CKDIS |
Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Information Systems |
CBKY |
Community Bank of Kentucky |
CLIK |
Connected Learning in Kentucky |
DDKY |
Delta Dental of Kentucky |
EKB |
East Kentucky Broadcasting |
EKSC |
East Kentucky Science Center |
EKYS |
Eastern Kentucky |
EKBC |
Eastern Kentucky Bird Club |
EKU |
Eastern Kentucky University |
FTCKY |
Fort Campbell Kentucky |
GHK |
Get Healthy Kentucky |
HCK |
Historical Confederation of Kentucky |
HOCCK |
Holy Orthodox Catholic Church in Kentucky |
HOKC |
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels |
IFHCK |
International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky |
KY |
Kentucky |
KAMS |
Kentucky Academy of Mathematics and Science |
KAS |
Kentucky Academy of Science |
KATA |
Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys |
KAR |
Kentucky Administrative Regulations |
KALS |
Kentucky Adult Literacy Survey |
KATI |
Kentucky Advanced Technology Institute |
KADAP |
Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program |
KASPER |
Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting |
KAAE |
Kentucky Alliance for Arts Education |
KAAM |
Kentucky Alliance for the Advancement of Midwifery |
KARE |
Kentucky Alternative Recovery Effort |
KABA |
Kentucky Amateur Baseball Association |
KAPS |
Kentucky Appalachian Paranormal Society |
KATEA |
Kentucky Applied Technology Education Association |
KAAC |
Kentucky Association for Academic Competition |
KACA |
Kentucky Association for Community Action |
KAED |
Kentucky Association for Economic Development, Inc. |
KAPS |
Kentucky Association for Psychology in the Schools |
KAAA |
Kentucky Association of Administrative Adjudicators |
KABC |
Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches |
KABA |
Kentucky Association of Blind Athletes |
KABB |
Kentucky Association of Blood Banks |
KAESP |
Kentucky Association of Elementary School Principals |
KAIS |
Kentucky Association of Independent Schools |
KAMP |
Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals |
KAPS |
Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors |
KASES |
Kentucky Association of Science Educators and Skeptics |
KASE |
Kentucky Association of State Employees |
KASFAA |
Kentucky Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators |
KAD |
Kentucky Association of the Deaf |
KATC |
Kentucky Autism Training Center |
KASES |
Kentucky Automated Support Enforcement System |
KBB |
Kentucky Backroads Band |
KBA |
Kentucky Bankers Association |
KBC |
Kentucky Baptist Convention |
KBA |
Kentucky Bar Association |
KBN |
Kentucky Beef Network |
KBGA |
Kentucky Blueberry Growers Association, Inc. |
KBG |
Kentucky Bluegrass |
KBML |
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure |
KBOE |
Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners |
KBF |
Kentucky Bourbon Festival |
KBS |
Kentucky Breakfast Stout |
KBA |
Kentucky Broadcasters Association |
KBF |
Kentucky Butterfly Farm |
KCRM |
Kentucky Center for Reproductive Medicine |
KCA |
Kentucky Center for the Arts |
KCSA |
Kentucky Certified Surgical Assistant |
KCCE |
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives |
KCCN |
Kentucky Child Care Network |
KCN |
Kentucky Child Now! |
KCH |
Kentucky Children’s Hospital |
KCC |
Kentucky Christian College |
KCSAA |
Kentucky Christian School Athletic Association |
KCFC |
Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition |
KCA |
Kentucky Coal Academy |
KCA |
Kentucky Coal Association |
KCIRR |
Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights |
KC3 |
Kentucky Coalition to Carry Concealed |
KCW |
Kentucky College for Women |
KCW |
Kentucky Commission on Women |
KCTCS |
Kentucky Community and Technical College System |
KCC |
Kentucky Consular Center |
KCMP |
Kentucky Continuous Monitoring Process |
KCCA |
Kentucky Core Content for Assessment |
KCIW |
Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women |
KCC |
Kentucky Council of Churches |
KCA |
Kentucky Counseling Association |
KCOJ |
Kentucky Court of Justice |
KCC |
Kentucky Courts Crew |
KCMP |
Kentucky Craft Marketing Program |
KCSA |
Kentucky Crushed Stone Association |
KYDPH |
Kentucky Department for Public Health |
KDA |
Kentucky Department of Agriculture |
KDOC |
Kentucky Department of Corrections |
KDE |
Kentucky Department of Education |
KDOH |
Kentucky Department of Highways |
KYDMA |
Kentucky Department of Military Affairs |
KDER |
Kentucky Derby |
KD |
Kentucky Derby |
KDF |
Kentucky Derby Festival |
KDFW |
Kentucky Derby Future Wager |
KDM |
Kentucky Derby Museum |
KDEC |
Kentucky Diabetes Endocrinology Center |
KDN |
Kentucky Diabetes Network, Inc. |
KDA |
Kentucky Distillers Association |
KDOC |
Kentucky Division of Conservation |
KDF |
Kentucky Division of Forestry |
KDA |
Kentucky Dressage Association |
KECTP |
Kentucky Early Childhood Transition Project |
KEEP |
Kentucky Ecumenical Empowerment Project |
KEA |
Kentucky Education Association |
KETC |
Kentucky Education Technology Conference |
KERA |
Kentucky Educational Reform Act |
KERAS |
Kentucky Educational Reform Act |
KESDA |
Kentucky Educational Speech and Drama Association, Inc. |
KET |
Kentucky Educational Television |
KEPS |
Kentucky Educator Placement Service |
KESI |
Kentucky Electric Steel Inc |
KEEN |
Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network |
KERA |
Kentucky Equal Rights Association |
KERAS |
Kentucky Equal Rights Association |
KEEP |
Kentucky Equine Education Project |
KER |
Kentucky Equine Research |
KEC |
Kentucky Exposition Center |
KFTC |
Kentucky Fair Tax Coalition |
KFGA |
Kentucky Feed & Grain Association |
KFACA |
Kentucky Fertilizer & Agricultural Chemical Association, Inc. |
KFAC |
Kentucky Folk Art Center |
KFW |
Kentucky Foundation for Women |
KFC |
Kentucky Fried Chicken |
KFCJ |
Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan Limited |
KFG |
Kentucky Fried Gamers |
KFM |
Kentucky Fried Movie |
KFP |
Kentucky Fried Panda |
KGS |
Kentucky Gourd Society |
KGC |
Kentucky Grilled Chicken |
KGA |
Kentucky Grocers Association |
KGR |
Kentucky Growth Readiness |
KHSA |
Kentucky Head Start Association |
KHGCA |
Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association |
KHQS |
Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society |
KHIC |
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation |
KHS |
Kentucky Historical Society |
KHGCA |
Kentucky Household Goods Carriers Association |
KHC |
Kentucky Housing Corporation |
KIDC |
Kentucky Industrial Development Council, Inc. |
KIME |
Kentucky Industrial Materials Exchange |
KIWI |
Kentucky Info Web, Incorporated |
KIH |
Kentucky Information Highway |
KIAA |
Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
KICC |
Kentucky International Convention Center |
KJCCC |
Kentucky Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee, Inc. |
KJA |
Kentucky Justice Association |
KLSC |
Kentucky Lake Sailing Club |
KLJ |
Kentucky Law Journal |
KLC |
Kentucky League of Cities |
KLA |
Kentucky Library Association |
KLN |
Kentucky Library Network |
KLBMDA |
Kentucky Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association |
KMAC |
Kentucky Manufacturing Assistance Center |
KMSS |
Kentucky Manufacturing Skills Standards |
KMA |
Kentucky Medical Association |
KMLA |
Kentucky Medical Library Association |
KMTP |
Kentucky Migrant Technology Project |
KME |
Kentucky Mining Engineering |
KMBA |
Kentucky Mortgage Brokers Association |
KMTA |
Kentucky Motor Transport Association |
KMM |
Kentucky Mountain Mission |
KMSHA |
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association |
KMTA |
Kentucky Music Teachers Association |
KNB |
Kentucky Neighborhood Bank |
KNOW |
Kentucky Network of Outdoor Women |
KYNAC |
Kentucky Nuclear Advisory Commission |
KNAR |
Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry |
KNA |
Kentucky Nurses Association |
KOLA |
Kentucky Occupational License Association |
KODCP |
Kentucky Office of Drug Control and Prevention |
KOI |
Kentucky Office of Insurance |
KOGA |
Kentucky Oil and Gas Association |
KOPS |
Kentucky Operations of Paranormal Studies |
KOHC |
Kentucky Oral History Commission |
KORT |
Kentucky Orthopedic Rehabilitation Team |
KPR |
Kentucky Paranormal Research |
KPR |
Kentucky Performance Report |
KPPC |
Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center |
KPR |
Kentucky Population Research |
KP |
Kentucky Post |
KPCA |
Kentucky Primary Care Association |
KYPO |
Kentucky Probe Owners |
KPPA |
Kentucky Professional Photographers Association |
KPSC |
Kentucky Public Service Commission |
KRC |
Kentucky Racing Commission |
KRM |
Kentucky Railway Museum |
KRM |
Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc. |
KRPC |
Kentucky Regional Poison Center |
KRC |
Kentucky Resources Council |
KRA |
Kentucky Restaurant Association, Inc. |
KRS |
Kentucky Retirement Systems |
KRS |
Kentucky Revised Statute |
KRFDC |
Kentucky River Foothills Development Council |
KRWW |
Kentucky River Watershed Watch |
KRQ |
Kentucky Romance Quarterly |
KSD |
Kentucky School for the Deaf |
KSNA |
Kentucky School Nurses Association |
KSEF |
Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation |
KSTC |
Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation |
KSTA |
Kentucky Science Teachers Association |
KSS |
Kentucky Sleep Society |
KSA |
Kentucky Society of Anesthesiologists |
KSR |
Kentucky Sports Radio |
KSBS |
Kentucky State Button Society |
KSNPC |
Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission |
KSNA |
Kentucky State Numismatic Association |
KSPS |
Kentucky State Poetry Society |
KSP |
Kentucky State Police |
KSR |
Kentucky State Reformatory |
KSU |
Kentucky State University |
KTLN |
Kentucky TeleLinking Network |
KTA |
Kentucky Telephone Association |
KTA |
Kentucky Theatre Association |
KTA |
Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Inc. |
KTC |
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |
KTC |
Kentucky Transportation Center |
KTG |
Kentucky Tuition Grant |
KUPI |
Kentucky Underground Protection, Inc. |
KUNA |
Kentucky United Nations Assembly |
KUPEE |
Kentucky University Partnership for Environmental Education |
KU-2 |
Kentucky Utilities |
KU |
Kentucky Utilities |
KVIS |
Kentucky Vehicle Information System |
KVCC |
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central |
KVMA |
Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association |
KVRA |
Kentucky Vintage Racing Association |
KVL |
Kentucky Virtual Library |
KVU |
Kentucky Virtual University |
KVCA |
Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association |
KWP |
Kentucky Warbler Population |
KWC |
Kentucky Wesleyan College |
KYWT |
Kentucky Wills and Trusts |
KW |
Kentucky Windage |
KWTC |
Kentucky World Trade Center |
KYSS |
Kentucky Young Scientist Summer |
KYA |
Kentucky Youth Advocates |
KYA |
Kentucky Youth Assembly |
KYDCC |
Kentucky Youth Development Coordinating Council |
KIO |
Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio |
KIPCUG |
Kentucky/Indiana Personal Computer Users Group |
KCSA |
Kentucky-Canadian Studies Association |
KOI |
Kentucky-Ohio-Indiana |
LKS |
League of Kentucky Sportsmen |
NKAPC |
Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission |
NKDA |
Northern Kentucky Dietetic Association |
NKMS |
Northern Kentucky Medical Society |
NKMLS |
Northern Kentucky Multiple Listing Service |
NKOA |
Northern Kentucky Officials Association |
NKS |
Northern Kentucky Symphony |
NKT |
Northern Kentucky Transit, Inc. |
NKU |
Northern Kentucky University |
OINK |
Ohio, Indiana, and Northern Kentucky |
OAK |
Outstanding Alumnus of Kentucky |
OAK |
Ovarian Awareness of Kentucky |
PINK |
Parent Information Network of Kentucky |
PFK |
Poulet Frit Kentucky |
PCAK |
Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky |
PERKS |
Program Effectiveness Review for Kentucky Schools |
PEAK |
Public Energy Authority of Kentucky |
RPKS |
Republican Party of Kentucky |
RPK |
Republican Party of Kentucky |
SKIDA |
South Kentucky Industrial Development Association |
SKMA |
Southeastern Kentucky Music Association |
SKED |
Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation |
SCIAK |
Spinal Cord Injury Association of Kentucky |
SAALCK |
State-Assisted Academic Library Council of Kentucky |
SEEK |
Support Education Excellence in Kentucky |
THINK |
Teaching Homes in Northern Kentucky |
TICK |
Technology in Classrooms of Kentucky |
TBJ |
The Business Journal of Southern Kentucky |
TMMK |
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. |
TACK |
Transit Authority of Central Kentucky |
TANK |
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky |
UBK |
United Bowhunters of Kentucky |
UKY |
University of Kentucky |
UOK |
University of Kentucky |
UK |
University of Kentucky |
UKCC |
University of Kentucky Computing Center |
UKPA |
University of Kentucky Parents Association |
UPK |
University Press of Kentucky |
WMK |
Waste Management of Kentucky |
WKAA |
West Kentucky Amateur Astronomers |
WKCA |
West Kentucky Construction Association |
WKEC |
West Kentucky Educational Cooperative |
WKPA |
West Kentucky Powerboat Association |
WKWA |
West Kentucky Winegrowers Association |
WDKY |
Western District of Kentucky |
WKBG |
Western Kentucky Botanical Garden |
WKES |
Western Kentucky Energy Corp. |
WKE |
Western Kentucky Energy Corp. |
WKG |
Western Kentucky Gas |
WKP |
Western Kentucky Paralegals |
WKSC |
Western Kentucky State College |
WKTD |
Western Kentucky Tres Dias |
WKU |
Western Kentucky University |
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