Did You Know Kentucky Has Six Official Regions?

If someone were to ask you what Kentucky's regions were named, how many of you would say, "Eastern KY, Western KY, Northern KY, South Central KY, and the Lakes?" I ask that because I have not heard one mention of the Commonwealth's official regions since I was in elementary school.

Oddly enough, the only time I ever learned about Kentucky in school was in fourth grade, and I was completely engrossed. Even as a kid, I wanted to learn about my home state. I can't remember how long we were on it, but I remember filmstrips and homework about fun facts like the smallest and largest counties by population and by area. (By the way, Jefferson and Pike are the largest by population and area, respectively, but the smallest in population has changed; it was Menifee then, Robertson now.)

And, of course, there were the six regions.

Jackson Purchase

When you've also learned about the Louisiana Purchase and the Gadsden Purchase, throwing another "Purchase" into the mix might have been confusing for this young mind, but I loved it and still do. Big geography nerd, here.

Comprised of Hickman, Fulton, Calloway, Graves, McCracken, Marshall, Ballard, and Carlisle Counties, the Jackson Purchase was inhabited by the Chickasaw Nation, with whom a treaty was signed in 1818. It would be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1819. The region was named for then General Andrew Jackson who, along with Governor Isaac Shelby, negotiated the deal. Those eight counties cover 2,369 of the 8,000 square miles of land that became part of the United States...land that was paid for--in annual $20,000 installments to the Chickasaws--over the course the of next 15 years.

Pennyroyal

When I learned it, I remember being confused about the name "Pennyroyal" since I was more familiar with "Pennyrile," the former name of the parkway that is now Interstate 69. The largest of Kentucky's regions, Pennyroyal is named for the wild mint plant of the same name which grows here. The Pennyroyal Region is also referred to as the Mississippi Plateau.

Western Coal Fields

This is my home region, and the name is not a surprising choice. You need only travel about a half hour south before being square up in the middle of coal country.

Bluegrass

The fertile soil of this northern Kentucky region is ideal for growing lush bluegrass. It also lies under the hoofs of the beautiful thoroughbreds that are trademarks of the area, as well as the rest of the Commonwealth.

Knobs

Wrapped around the Bluegrass is Kentucky's thinnest region, the Knobs. If you drive east on the Bluegrass Parkway out of Elizabethtown, you will see why this region gets its name. Also, you'll drive right through them as you head north from E-town to Louisville.

Eastern Coal Fields

Also known as the Cumberland Plateau, this name is also self-explanatory as we are talking here about Appalachia. And in Kentucky, that is synonymous with the coal industry.

In terms of what I learned in school, I've only ever used algebra once. But my fourth grade tutorial on Kentucky? I refer to it all the time.