Atlas of Kentucky
Richard Ulack, University of Kentucky
Karl Raitz, University of Kentucky
Gyula Pauer, University of Kentucky
Cartography by Dick and Donna Gilbreath, University of Kentucky

From average temperatures to maps showing the distribution of UK versus U of L basketball season ticket holders, if it's information you want, look no further than the new, full-color Atlas of Kentucky.

The Atlas of Kentucky, put together by a team of geographers and cartographers from across the state and edited by Professor Richard Ulack (University of Kentucky), was published on May 16 by The University Press of Kentucky. After five years in the planning, research, and design stages, the Atlas will be the most comprehensive source for information on Kentucky's land and life. Topics covered in over 600 maps and graphs include the natural environment, settlement patterns, population, mineral and timber resources, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, tourism and recreation, and politics.

The opening chapters on the natural environment and the history and culture of Kentucky present a portrait of the land and early settlement of the state. Readers will find data on rainfall, air quality, and the diversity of plant and animal life, as well as maps of Indian trails, charts showing the evolution of counties, and a profile of immigration patterns.

The Atlas contains a wealth of information about the ways in which Kentuckians make their living. Illustrations explain the different methods of mining coal and turning it into energy, while maps demonstrate how the number of acres of harvested cropland is decreasing in the east but growing in the west. County-by-county statistics are available on the size and makeup of harvests as well as expenditures and market value of dairy products, cattle, and pigs.

The section on Kentucky's population tells us much about ourselves as a people. Maps include the ratio of males to female by county, leading causes of death and illness (heart disease is the number one cause), and the changing makeup of Kentucky households. For example, comparing data from 1930 to 1990 shows that the number of one and two-person households are increasing while the overall number of households with three or more persons have decreased significantly since 1930.

Other graphs show the diversity of and opportunity for employment and manufacturing in the Commonwealth. Kentucky has drawn significant foreign investment, particularly in the areas of transportation and electrical equipment. And in the trademark distilled spirits industry, the Atlas notes that in 1992, the value of Kentucky shipments was over $1.1 billion, more than one-third of the national total.

So whether you're interested in comparing the number of Kentucky subscribers to TV Guide with Better Homes and Gardens, finding out how each county voted in state and national elections, or if you're just curious about who won the Sweet Sixteen in 1963, the Atlas of Kentucky will tell—and show—you all you need to know.

The University Press of Kentucky, 1997