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.
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| Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 native 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 springs of goldenrod. | 1792 | [6][7] | |
| Slogan | Kentucky Unbridled Spirit | The slogan alludes to Kentucky's reputation in horse racing and horse farms. | 2004 | — | [8] |
| Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird | Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis |
The male cardinal is bight 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 till November.[10] | 1990 | [11] | |
| Fish | Kentucky Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus |
Similar to the largemouth bass, a common sporting fish the usually weighs up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg). | 2005 | [12] | |
| Flower | Goldenrod Soldiago gigantea |
The goldenrod has a yellow flower that blooms in late summer and early fall. It is also the state flower of Nebraska. | 1926 | [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 birth 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] |
| 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 borrow 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] |
| Type | Symbol | Description | Year | Image | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverage | Milk | 2005 | [28] | ||
| 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 sung the song when he auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry and later recorded it for his first single for Sun Records. | 1988 | [29] | |
| 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.[30] | 2006 | [31] | |
| Language | English | Over 95% of the state's residents are able to speak English.[32] | 1984 | — | [33] |
| 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.'"[34] | 2007 | [35] | |
| Musical instrument | Appalachian Dulcimer | A stringed instrument that appeared in the south in the early 19th century | 2001 | [36] | |
| Silverware pattern | Old Kentucky blue grass, the Georgetown pattern | 1996 | — | [37] | |
| Song | "My Old Kentucky Home" | The song describes life on a Kentucky plantation. | 1928 | [38] | |
| Sports car | Chevrolet Corvette | Since 1981, the Chevrolet Corvette has been manufactured in Bowling Green. | 2010 | [39] |
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