Kentucky 2014
The capital city of Kentucky is Frankfort. Located in the northern part of the state, it has a population of over 25,000 people. It is home to several historic sites, including the Old State Capitol and Liberty Hall. The city also boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene with many galleries, museums, theaters and performing arts centers.
According to countryaah.com, the largest city in Kentucky is Louisville. It has a population of over 600,000 people and is located on the Ohio River in the north-central part of the state. Louisville is known for its world-famous horse racing at Churchill Downs as well as its thriving music scene with many live venues and music festivals throughout the year. It also has a vibrant art community with numerous galleries, museums and theaters throughout the city. Louisville is also home to several universities such as University of Louisville and Bellarmine University.
Politics of Kentucky in 2014
In 2014, Kentucky was a state in flux politically. On the one hand, the Democratic Party had made some gains in the previous election cycle and held several statewide offices. This included Governor Steve Beshear, who had been reelected with nearly 60% of the vote in 2011. The Democrats also held a majority of seats in both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly, although their majority was slim.
On the other hand, Republicans were on the rise and had made significant gains in recent years. This was largely due to strong support from rural areas of the state which had traditionally been Democratic strongholds. In 2014, Republicans held five of six congressional seats and were steadily gaining ground in local elections as well.
The biggest political issue facing Kentucky in 2014 was health care reform. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) had been passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama earlier that year and it quickly became a divisive issue among Kentuckians. While some viewed it as an important step forward for providing citizens with access to affordable health care coverage, others saw it as an overreach of federal power that would be detrimental to states’ rights and individual liberties.
The debate over health care reform spilled into other areas such as education reform and tax policy where Republicans argued for more local control while Democrats pushed for increased investment from state government to improve public services such as schools and roads. In addition, Kentucky’s coal industry was struggling due to increased federal regulations which led to debates over how best to protect jobs while still protecting public health and safety.
Overall, politics in Kentucky in 2014 were characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about what direction the state would take going forward. With Democrats holding onto power at the state level but seeing their majorities slowly slipping away while Republicans gained ground at all levels of government, it seemed clear that change was coming—but what form it would take remained to be seen.
Population of Kentucky in 2014
In 2014, according to beautyphoon, the population of Kentucky was estimated to be 4,413,457 according to the United States Census Bureau. The state is divided into two metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and three micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs). The Louisville/Jefferson County MSA had a population of 1,283,566 while the Lexington-Fayette MSA had a population of 497,849. The micropolitan statistical areas include Bowling Green (population of 126,942), Owensboro (population of 111,565), and Middlesborough (population of 107,746).
The majority of Kentucky’s population is located in the central and northern parts of the state. Approximately 60% of the state’s population lives in Jefferson County alone. The state’s largest cities are Louisville and Lexington with populations of 597,337 and 310,797 respectively. Other major cities in Kentucky include Bowling Green with a population 61,067; Owensboro with 57,265; Covington with 43,370; Hopkinsville with 31,577; Frankfort with 25,527; and Richmond with 33,533.
The racial makeup of Kentucky in 2014 was 84.8% White non-Hispanic/Latino; 8.6% African American/Black non-Hispanic/Latino; 1.4% Asian non-Hispanic/Latino; 0.2% Native American non-Hispanic/Latino; 2.8% from two or more races non-Hispanic/Latino; 3% Hispanic/Latino origin (any race). In terms of religious affiliation in 2014 the largest denominations were Evangelical Protestant (37%), Mainline Protestant (17%), Catholic (21%) and unaffiliated individuals accounting for 20%.
Economy of Kentucky in 2014
In 2014, according to ablogtophone, Kentucky had a gross domestic product (GDP) of $184.6 billion making it the 26th largest state economy in the United States. The state’s primary industries are agriculture, manufacturing, energy production, and medical services. Agriculture is the foundation of Kentucky’s economy with over 23,000 farms that produce corn, soybeans, wheat, tobacco and horses. Manufacturing is also one of Kentucky’s largest industries with automotive manufacturing being the most prominent sector. Major automotive companies such as Ford and GM have assembly plants located in the state which employ thousands of people.
Energy production is another key industry in Kentucky. The state has over 300 coal mines that produce more than 40 million tons of coal each year making it the third largest coal-producing state in the nation. In addition to coal production, Kentucky also produces natural gas from its shale reserves located in Eastern Kentucky.
The medical services industry is also a major contributor to Kentucky’s economy with more than 400 hospitals and health care facilities located throughout the state. The University of Louisville Medical School provides world-class training for future physicians while other medical centers such as Norton Healthcare offer specialized care to patients from all over the world.
The tourism industry is another important part of Kentucky’s economy with attractions such as Mammoth Cave National Park attracting visitors from all over the world each year. Other popular tourist destinations include Churchill Downs (home to the famous horse race “The Kentucky Derby”) and Red River Gorge (a popular hiking destination). In addition to these attractions there are numerous art galleries, museums and historical sites located throughout the state that draw both domestic and international visitors annually.
Events Held in Kentucky in 2014
In 2014, Kentucky hosted a wide variety of events for visitors and locals alike. From music festivals to sporting events, there was something for everyone in the Bluegrass State.
The Forecastle Festival was held in Louisville in July and featured some of the biggest names in music, including Outkast, Jack White and The Black Keys. The festival also included art installations, fashion shows and comedy acts.
The Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs in May and drew a crowd of over 150,000 people to watch the famous horse race. This year marked the 140th running of the Derby with California Chrome taking home the coveted title.
In August, Kentucky hosted its first ever Comic Con event at the Lexington Convention Center. Fans from all over came to meet their favorite comic book artists and writers as well as purchase comics and memorabilia from local vendors.
Sports fans had plenty of opportunities to cheer on their favorite teams throughout 2014 with both college and professional teams playing regularly throughout the state. The University of Kentucky Wildcats won both their regular season basketball championship as well as their post-season tournament championship while professional teams such as the Cincinnati Reds (MLB) and Louisville Cardinals (NFL) had successful seasons on the field as well.
Finally, Kentucky held its annual Bourbon Festival in September which showcased some of its finest bourbons from around the state. Guests were able to sample different bourbons while learning about distilling techniques from master distillers located throughout Kentucky’s bourbon country.
