1. Kentucky Celebrated Independence Day before becoming a State
Kentucky declared its own independence more than a year before the other thirteen colonies, and before it became a state in 1792, Kentuckians celebrated July 4th as their own holiday. The day was marked with speeches, parades, and military maneuvers in honor of their victory over the British at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782.

2. Louisville hosts one of the country's largest fireworks shows
Louisville hosts one of the largest fireworks shows in the country on July 4, attracting over 100,000 spectators each year. The event, known as "Thunder Over Louisville," features a choreographed fireworks display set to music.

3. Colonel Harland Sanders was born on July 4
Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), was born on July 4, 1890, in Henryville, Indiana. Although not born in Kentucky, Sanders spent most of his life in the state, where he famously began selling his famous fried chicken recipe at a gas station in Corbin.

4. Abraham Lincoln gave a famous speech in Kentucky on July 4
On July 4, 1848, while still a congressman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky. In the speech, Lincoln spoke about the dangers of the expansion of slavery, a topic that would consume much of his political career.

5. The Great Flood of 1937 affected Kentucky on July 4
The Great Flood of 1937, one of the worst natural disasters in American history, affected much of the Ohio River Valley, including Kentucky, on July 4. The flood, caused by heavy rains and rapid snowmelt, resulted in over 300 deaths and caused over $500 million in damages (in today's dollars).