The 15th state admitted to the US was Kentucky on June 1st, 1792. It was not one of the original 13 colonies because it was originally part of Virginia. In 1792, Virginia ceded the district of Kentucky to the US. Kentucky is one of four commonwealth states, which implies that it was founded by the people to be a "free and independent state" through the common will of the people, and for their common good.
Kentucky has more miles of running water, with 1100 miles of rivers and water impoundments, than every state but Alaska. It is the home to Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace, Fort Knox, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the International Bluegrass Music Museum, to name a few. Kentucky is the horse capitol of the world. The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort. The state bird is the Northern Cardinal. The state tree is the Tulip Tree. The state flower is the Giant Goldenrod.
Indigenous lived on the land of Kentucky for over 12,000 years. There were many different tribes who spoke many different languages. In 1792, when Kentucky joined the union, over 20 tribes legally claimed their land. These tribes include the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Chippewa, Delaware, Eel River, Haudenosaunee, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Miami, Ottawa, Piankeshaw, Potawatomi, Shawnee, Wea, and Wyandot. One of the largest of these groups was the Cherokee. The Cherokee and British settlers in Virginia were trading allies in the 1600's. Half of the Cherokee population was destroyed by the smallpox epidemic that was brought by the British in the 1700's. The Cherokee fought against the British and the French in the Seven Year's War. In 1763, the British won the war and took over the rights of the Indian Territory. Treaties were signed to end the battles through the 1790's, but by the 1800's, new settlers arrived wanting the land. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase movement relocated the indigenous west of the Mississippi River. Finally, in 1830 the Indian Removal Act was signed by Andrew Jackson. This led to the takeover of indigenous land in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
 By 1830, black people were enslaved in the state, and slavery was written into the constitution. Kentucky remained a neutral state in the Civil War, and after it ended, Kentucky did not ratify the 13th amendment to end slavery. It wasn't until 1976 that Kentucky ratified the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, and the segregation laws were dismantled. Today, there are still tribes of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Delaware, Mosopelea, Shawnee, Wyandot, and Yucki indigenous people. The state continues to have areas of division and racism, but there are parts of the state where all races, sexes, and religions of people live peacefully together.