Kentucky Has More ‘Only State’ Claims Than You Think

One of my favorite pastimes as a kid was learning interesting facts about the 50 states. It's a fascination I've carried into adulthood. And, just as I did in my childhood, I always start with Kentucky.

Fun Facts About Kentucky

I recently covered the Kentucky Bend, a geographic oddity known as an exclave, in which a piece of one territory is completely surrounded by that of one or more territories.

But Kentucky is home to multiple "onlys," some of which you might not realize separate the Commonwealth from the rest of the country. Well, let's start right there.

Why Is Kentucky a Commonwealth?

Of course, Kentucky is a state, but it is also one of four commonwealths. According to the Library of Congress, its founders, mostly Virginians, wanted a government dedicated to the "common good" rather than monarchical rule. Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts are the other three, but Kentucky is the only commonwealth that wasn't an original colony.

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Kentucky Moonbows

Kentucky's Cumberland Falls is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you can see a moonbow, a rainbow created by moonlight and the mist from the falls. Pilgrimages are made to witness this stunning phenomenon.

Kentucky's Dueling Oath

Here's a good one. Every elected official and attorney being sworn in in Kentucky must also swear that they have never participated in a duel using deadly weapons. Those were the days, huh?

Kentucky's River Borders

I'm a geography nerd, so this is right up my wheelhouse. Kentucky is the only state with continuous river borders on three of its sides. There's the Mississippi River on the western edge, the Ohio River on the northern border, and the Big Sandy and Tug Fork to the east. Throw in all of its lakes, and Kentucky makes water lovers very happy.

Kentucky and Two Opposing Presidents

This is a Kentucky "only" with an asterisk, because this couldn't possibly happen in any other state. Kentucky is home to the birthplace of the President of the Union, Abraham Lincoln, and the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. You'd think that would've made Kentucky the premier battleground, but it was a neutral player in the Civil War.

You're not finished. There are more fun Kentucky tidbits below. Enjoy.