According to Countryaah, Kentucky is home to some of the most beautiful cities in the country. Louisville is the capital city of Kentucky and offers attractions such as The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and The Muhammad Ali Center. Lexington is a vibrant city with plenty of cultural attractions including The Kentucky Horse Park and Rupp Arena. Other popular cities in Kentucky include Bowling Green, Covington, Owensboro, Hopkinsville, Frankfort, and Richmond. Each of these cities has something special to offer from outdoor activities like fishing or camping to historical sites like Cumberland Gap National Historic Park or Daniel Boone National Forest.
Politics of Kentucky in 2013
In 2013, Kentucky was a state governed by a Republican majority in both the House and Senate. In the gubernatorial election, incumbent Steve Beshear was re-elected with 54.3% of the vote, soundly defeating Republican challenger David Williams. The state had been trending towards the Republican Party since 2003 when Ernie Fletcher became the first GOP governor in over 30 years.
The economy of Kentucky saw some growth in 2013 with unemployment dropping to 8.2%, a slight decrease from 2012’s 8.5%. This was due to an increase in manufacturing jobs throughout the state which contributed to over 25,000 new jobs that year alone. Additionally, Kentucky’s agricultural sector was also experiencing positive growth due to increased demand for its products such as tobacco, corn and soybeans.
In terms of social policy, Kentucky saw several important changes in 2013 including legalizing medical marijuana for certain medical conditions as well as increasing minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $7.50 per hour beginning on July 1st of that year; this change affected over 140,000 people throughout the state and provided a much-needed boost to their annual income.
Education reform was also a major focus during this period with Governor Beshear signing into law several bills that aimed at improving educational outcomes across the state’s public school system; these included measures such as increasing funding for early childhood education programs as well as requiring all public schools to offer college preparation classes starting in 9th grade.
In terms of foreign policy, Kentucky did not have any major initiatives during this period but did join other states in opposing President Obama’s proposed military intervention in Syria after it had used chemical weapons against its own people; instead they advocated for diplomatic solutions and economic sanctions against Syria instead of military action which ultimately led President Obama to abandon his plans for intervention altogether in September 2013.
All things considered, 2013 was an eventful year for Kentucky politics; it saw both positive economic growth due to increased manufacturing jobs and improved social policies such as raising minimum wage and improving educational outcomes across its public school system while also maintaining its stance against military intervention overseas through diplomatic means rather than resorting to armed conflict.
Population of Kentucky in 2013
In 2013, Kentucky had a population of 4.4 million people, making it the 26th most populous state in the US. The majority of Kentuckians were white (84.7%), followed by African Americans (8.6%) and Hispanics (3.2%). The state also had a sizable Asian population, accounting for 1.9% of the total population, with the remaining 0.7% identifying as either Native American or from other ethnic backgrounds.
The median age for Kentuckians in 2013 was 38 years old and the gender ratio was fairly balanced with 49% male and 51% female. The largest cities in Kentucky included Louisville, which accounted for over 20% of the state’s population; Lexington, which comprised 16%; Bowling Green with 9%; and Owensboro with 8%. Check ehuacom for more information about the capital city of Kentucky.
In terms of education attainment, 32% of Kentuckians held bachelor’s degrees or higher in 2013; this number was slightly lower than the national average at that time. Additionally, 28% of adults over 25 had completed some college but did not have a degree while 22% had only a high school diploma or equivalent and 18% lacked any type of formal education beyond high school or even primary school level studies. Check anycountyprivateschools for business education in Kentucky.
The median household income for Kentucky was $45,215 in 2013 which was slightly lower than the national average at that time ($52,250). In terms of employment status in 2013, 73% were employed while 12% were unemployed and 15% were not actively seeking employment due to retirement or other reasons such as disability or family caretaking duties.
Overall, Kentucky’s population in 2013 was diverse yet balanced between genders and age groups; it also reflected a lower educational attainment rate than most other states across America at that time but still boasted a healthy employment rate despite its slightly lower median household income compared to other parts of the country.
Economy of Kentucky in 2013
In 2013, Kentucky’s economy was largely driven by the manufacturing industry, which accounted for nearly a quarter of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). The automotive industry was particularly important in this sector, with General Motors and Ford both having major plants located in Louisville. Other industries included agriculture, food processing, petroleum production, and chemical manufacturing.
The state had a total of $186.7 billion in GDP in 2013 with a per capita income of $41,936, which was slightly lower than the national average at that time. The unemployment rate in Kentucky for 2013 was 8.2%, which was slightly higher than the national rate of 7.4%.
The largest employers in the state included Walmart (15% of all jobs), Kroger (8%), UPS (7%), Amazon (5%), Humana (4%), Yum. Brands (3%), and Ford Motor Company (2%). In terms of the public sector, Kentucky’s government employed over 23% of all workers while education accounted for around 13%.
In terms of exports, Kentucky exported over $18 billion worth of goods in 2013; this figure represented an increase from 2012 when exports totaled just over $17 billion. The top export markets for Kentucky were Canada ($3.1 billion), Mexico ($1.9 billion), Japan ($1.5 billion), China ($1.3 billion) and Germany ($1.2 billion). The most exported commodities included motor vehicles and parts ($4 billion), machinery except electrical products ($3.6 billion), chemicals ($2.5billion) and aircraft/spacecraft parts/equipment ($1billion).
Overall, Kentucky’s economy had been relatively strong in 2013; its reliance on manufacturing as its main economic driver meant that it had been able to weather the global recession relatively well compared to other states across America at that time due to its strong automotive industry base and also its sizable agricultural sector as well as its exports to key international markets such as Canada and Mexico.
Events Held in Kentucky in 2013
In 2013, Kentucky hosted a variety of interesting events and festivals that showcased the state’s vibrant culture and heritage. The Kentucky Derby Festival was one of the state’s biggest annual events, drawing in thousands of visitors from all over the world. The festival featured a variety of activities including parades, concerts, fireworks displays, and horse racing. The festival was held over two weeks in April and May and included the famous Run for the Roses horse race at Churchill Downs.
The Louisville International Festival was another popular event in 2013 which celebrated Kentucky’s diverse cultural heritage with music, dance, art exhibitions, food tastings and more. This event took place in October and brought together people from around the world to enjoy a variety of performances. Other festivals held during this year included the St James Court Art Show which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013; this event showcased local artisans from around Louisville who created unique pieces for sale or display.
The Kentucky State Fair was another popular event that took place during this time; it featured agricultural exhibits such as livestock judging competitions as well as arts & crafts shows, amusement rides, concerts and much more. Another noteworthy event was the Bluegrass Music Festival which drew in thousands of music enthusiasts each year to enjoy performances by some of America’s most popular bluegrass bands.
In addition to these large-scale events, there were also numerous smaller festivals taking place throughout Kentucky throughout 2013 including the Appalachian Music Festival (held in June), Bardstown’s Historic Preservation Celebration (held in August), Lexington’s Oktoberfest (held on September 21st) and Owensboro’s International Bar-B-Q Festival (held on October 11th). These smaller events were great opportunities to experience some local culture while enjoying delicious food or listening to some traditional music.
Overall, 2013 was an exciting year for Kentucky with a wide range of events taking place throughout the state that showcased its unique culture and heritage. From major festivals such as The Derby Festival or The Louisville International Festival to smaller local celebrations such as Bardstown’s Historic Preservation Celebration or Owensboro’s International Bar-B-Q Festival – there were plenty of opportunities for visitors to discover something new about this vibrant region.