KENTUCKY

Commonwealth of Kentucky

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Derived from the Wyandot Indian word Kah-ten-tah-teh (land of tomorrow). NICKNAME: The Bluegrass State. CAPITAL: Frankfort. ENTERED UNION: 1 June 1792 (15th). SONG: "My Old Kentucky Home." MOTTO: United We Stand, Divided We Fall. FLAG: A simplified version of the state seal on a blue field. OFFICIAL SEAL: In the center, two men exchange greetings; above and below them is the state motto. On the periphery are two sprigs of goldenrod and the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky." COLORS: Blue and gold. BIRD: Cardinal. WILD ANIMAL: Gray squirrel. FISH: Bass. FLOWER: Goldenrod. TREE: Tulip poplar. FOSSIL: Brachiopod. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January, plus one extra day; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Good Friday, March or April, half-day holiday; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November, plus one extra day; Christmas Day, 25 December, plus one extra day. TIME: 7 AM EST = noon GMT; 6 AM CST = noon GMT.