Flag of Kentucky

What the flag looks like

A navy blue field with the state seal, two men shaking hands, ringed by UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL, with COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY arched above and sprays of goldenrod below.

What it means

The handshake between a frontiersman and a statesman illustrates the state motto, "United we stand, divided we fall".

How to remember it

Kentucky's seal-on-blue is the handshake: two men greeting each other under COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

Fun facts

• The two men are popularly said to be Daniel Boone and Henry Clay, but officially they are just a frontiersman and a statesman.
• Kentucky is one of four US states that officially call themselves a commonwealth.

Kentucky at a glance

Nickname

The Bluegrass State

Statehood

1792

Capital

Frankfort

Region

East South Central

Population

4.5 million

Area

104,656 km²

Flag adopted

1918

Flags often confused with Kentucky

• Wisconsin: Kentucky and Wisconsin both show two men in a seal on blue. Kentucky's men shake hands, with COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY above; Wisconsin's sailor and miner flank a shield, with WISCONSIN above and 1848 below.
• Virginia: Kentucky and Virginia are both commonwealths with a seal on dark blue. Virginia's seal is on a white disc and shows a woman standing over a fallen tyrant; Kentucky's shows two men shaking hands, ringed by its name and goldenrod.