1942: Kentucky

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood June 1, 1792, Kentucky ranks 36th in size among the states, with an area of 40,395 sq. mi., including 286 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census in 1940. In population it ranks 16th, numbering 2,845,627 according to the 1940 census, an increase of 8.8 per cent since 1930.

The state has only one large city, Louisville, the population of which in the census of 1940 was 319,077. Since the taking of the census however, the population has been greatly increased by the building within its borders, and also on the Indiana side of the Ohio, of many defense plants. Today, the population of Louisville exceeds 400,000 people. The next largest cities are Covington, 62,018; Lexington, 49,304; Paducah, 33,765; Newport, 30,631; Owensboro, 30,245; and Ashland, 29,537. Frankfort, the capital, has 11,492. In many of these also there have been increases.

The state has only 15,631 foreign-born residents. About 13 per cent of the native-born are Negroes.

Education.

Over a fourth of Kentucky's inhabitants are of school age, the exact number being 745,104. Of these, 474,380 were in the elementary grade schools, 1941-42. To serve these there are 6,621 elementary schools. The average attendance in each is 75 pupils. There are about 35 pupils to each teacher. Some one-room schools are yet in operation, but they are constantly growing less in number. As better roads are extended into the less accessible areas, the one-room schools are abandoned.

The public high schools in 1941-42 numbered 738, with 96,925 students. This was an average of about 137 students to the school, and about 20 to the teacher.

State school funds expended for 1942 amounted to $13,600,000. The median salary for elementary school teachers was $625 and for high-school teachers, $1,069.

The Legislature in 1942 appropriated $400,000 as an educational equalization fund. So many of the schools in the poorer counties were not able to keep up to standards on their local allotments that it was decided to assist those who were in need.

Agriculture.

Kentucky's farmers, under the lead of the County Farm Agents, are planning their stock and crop production as the Federal agencies have requested. This means that a large output is attempted, but the question of farm labor is difficult and makes the outcome doubtful. An interesting feature is the return of the farmers in the Bluegrass section to the cultivation of hemp. Hemp was a staple crop in Kentucky from pioneer days, until the passing of the sailing vessel killed the market. Since the crop requires much attention throughout the year, labor is again a problem. In places local students and others have volunteered help. It is thought that sugar rationing will stimulate a large production of sorghum syrup for which the state is justly famous.

The state's leading crop continues to be tobacco, which had a value in 1941 of $78,995,000. Next comes corn, which in the same year was worth $54,079,000. Hay also brings the farmers a substantial income.

Defense.

Fort Knox, increased in size to 116,000 acres, is now headquarters for the mechanized schools and various army units. Bowman Airfield, near Louisville, has a large school for pilots and airfields have been established elsewhere in the state.

State Finances.

The General Fund amounts to $26,000,000 and the State Highway Fund to $20,000,000 to which the Federal government contributes $4,000,000. The General Fund comes from the general taxes; while the Highway Fund comes from the gasoline tax, amounting to $15,000,000; license fees on vehicles, $4,000,000; and the balance from bus and truck mileage, and other transportation items.

The state's expenditure for unemployment insurance benefits showed a decrease in 1941-42 to $2,802,895.99, from $3,819,063.64 during 1940-41.

State Officers.

Governor, Keen Johnson; Lieutenant Governor, Rhode K Myers; Secretary of State, George W. Hatcher; Attorney General, Hubert Meredith; Treasurer, E. E. Shannon; Auditor, D. A. Logan; Superintendent of Public Instruction, John W. Brooks.

United States Senators:

Alben W. Barkley, Albert B. Chandler.