Kentucky is a diverse state with a rich history and unique culture. We’re Southern but not Southern, reverent of the past but also forward-thinking, into traditions but also welcoming of the weird. Today, we’re embracing the weird and sharing some quirky facts about Kentucky that sound too fantastic to be true… but are 100% accurate. File these fun facts about Kentucky under “weird but true…”

1. There are 130 known caves and caverns in Kentucky.

Mammoth Cave National Park/Facebook
The most famous is, of course, Mammoth Cave, which, spanning 400+ subterranean miles, is the longest cave system in the world.

2. There's a Kentucky town bisected by a literal cave, too!

Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum/Facebook
Hidden River Cave is a fascinating place in Kentucky. Because, you see, the cave for which the city is named is located on the south side of Main Street -- literally smack in the center of town!

3. Kentucky once owned the Ohio River.

The Pug Father/Flickr
In 1792, the federal government determined that Kentucky owned the Ohio River along its border with Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

4. Kentucky has a state drink... and it's not what you'd think.

Ale-8-One/Facebook
While bourbon and the Bluegrass go hand in hand, Ale-8-One is actually the official state drink of Kentucky!

5. Speaking of drinks, 120,000 mint juleps are served at the Kentucky Derby each year.

Jeremy T. Hetzel/Flickr

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6. The World's First KFC was in... Utah?

Fuzzy Gerdes/Flickr
Yes, Corbin is home to the Sanders Cafe, but in the 1950s, the Colonel identified the potential of restaurant franchising, and the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952.

7. Do you enjoy a good cheeseburger? You can thank Kentucky!

80/20 at Kaelin's/Facebook
Kaelin's restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, claims to have invented the cheeseburger in 1934.

8. One of its cities is located in a meteor crater.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
In Kentucky, you can find a three-mile-wide crater caused by a meteor 300 years ago. This crater isn't just a hole in the middle of the state; it's actually the site of Middlesboro, the only town constructed inside a meteor crater.

9. The "Happy Birthday" song was created in Kentucky.

Eliza Adam/Flickr
The song may feel like it's been around forever, but it was actually written by two sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill. Both these women were from Kentucky, and the song was written for the children Patty taught.

10. Daniel Boone National Forest spans 21 counties.

RubyT (I come here for cameraderie)/Flickr
It's a treasure trove of outdoor recreation teeming with waterfalls, including the Niagara of the South, Cumberland Falls.

The Bluegrass is a fascinating state, isn’t it? And there’s nothing like drilling down on quirky facts about Kentucky to make you appreciate that.

Feeling proud to live in Kentucky? You should! Check out this unique apparel from Wear Your Roots and wear your state pride on your sleeve.

Looking for more Kentucky fun? Meet these famous Kentucky Derby horses!

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