How Kentucky Became a State
Kentucky became a state on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state admitted. Kentucky was admitted by a vote of the Senate and U.S. House and prior to 1782, Kentucky was once part of the Commonwealth of Virginia which still included what is now known as West Virginia. On the flag, Kentucky was the 15th star added and was also the last state to have a stripe added. When realized, Kentucky and Vermont's 14th stripe was removed because there were too many stripes on the flag. Since Kentucky had stayed with the Union on the Civil War, it didn't have to be readmitted.