“ The negroes are increasing less rapidly than are the whites. This may be due to the migrations of the negroes into other States. A large number of counties, particularly those in the mountainous eastern part of the State, have very few representatives of the black race. Kentucky has one large centre of population which helps to make the per cent. of the urban population high as compared with most other Southern States. In 1900 twenty cities, each containing a population of over 4000, had 19.7 of the total population. ”

“ The construction of railroads has now rendered possible the development of the industries dependent upon the mineral resources of the State. Iron and coal are abundant, and the development of the iron and steel industry during the decade 1890-1900 is suggestive of the future possibilities. ”

“ There is a circuit court in each county, which must hold at least three terms a year. The State is divided into districts, in each of which a circuit-court judge is elected for a term of six years. There are also quarterly and county courts in each county. Police courts may be established in each city or town. Counties are divided into from three to eight districts, in each of which one justice of the peace is elected. Counties have fiscal courts which consist of the judge of the County Court, together with justices of the peace ”

“ A considerable portion of the population adhered to the Confederacy, and in November, 1862, a convention irregularly chosen and claiming to represent sixty-five counties of the State passed an ordinance of secession, and the Confederate Congress went through the form of admitting the State to the Confederacy. Kentucky escaped from the carpetbag and military régimes, the civil authority having been reëstablished in October, 1865. In national elections Kentucky was a Democratic State from the date of its admission till the formation of parties about 1828. ”

“ For a time the branches of the Bank of the United States were the only banks in the State. In 1834 three large banks were chartered, with an aggregate capital of $13,000,000, and for a period under the influence of the distributing of national deposits these banks flourished. In the crisis of 1837 they all suspended specie payment, and until 1844 were in a very precarious condition. Another critical period was 1854, when 27 banks failed. But the State never went back into the banking business, and accordingly its financial position was not threatened. ”

“ If a majority of all the members elected to each House concur at two consecutive sessions to a proposal to call a constitutional convention, it is submitted to a vote of the people, and if approved by a majority of those voting, provided the number is equal to one-fourth of the qualified voters who voted at the last preceding election, the convention will be called. Voters must have resided one year in the State, six months in the county, and sixty days in the precinct. All elections for the State, county, city, town, or district are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November ”

“ A large number of distillers removed to Kentucky from Pennsylvania about 1794, as a result of the Whisky Rebellion. The product took the name of the county in which most of them settled—‘Bourbon.’ The distilled product constitutes three-fourths of the total output. The slaughtering and packing of pork is another long-established industry, centring in Louisville, which place during the decade 1850-60 was a rival of Cincinnati for first rank in the pork-packing business of the United States. While the industry is growing, it has long since lost its relative importance. ”

“ The average salary received by white teachers is $34.10, and that of colored teachers $29.95. The State laws make it possible, by the passing of certain examinations, to secure a diploma permitting the holder to teach for life, or to secure a certificate which holds for eight years. ”

“ The climate is generally more equable than that of the other States in the same latitude. The mean annual temperature is about 55° F., the average for January being about 35° and for July 78°. In summer the thermometer sometimes rises as high as 100°. ”

“ The number of horses has increased gradually since 1870, as has also that of the mules and asses. Similarly, dairy cows and other neat cattle have gained in every decade since 1870, though a change in the method of enumeration resulted in a seeming decrease in the former in the last decade. ”

“ Only the lower course of the Tennessee lies in Kentucky. The Cumberland flows in its upper and lower courses through the State, but the central portion lies in Tennessee. The Big Sandy on the West Virginia border is navigable only for a short distance, owing to falls. There are no large lakes in the State.
AREA AND POPULATION OF KENTUCKY BY COUNTIES.
Climate and Soil. ”