Kentucky's Neighbors: Cardinal Directions to Bordering States

Kentucky sits in the Upland South, bordered by seven states. Here's the directional breakdown from Kentucky's approximate geographic center:

Cardinal & Intercardinal Directions

• North: Indiana (Ohio River boundary)
• Northeast: Ohio (Ohio River) & West Virginia (Big Sandy / Tug Fork rivers)
• East: Virginia (Cumberland Mountain / watershed divide)
• Southeast: Tennessee (irregular line, roughly 36°30′ parallel)
• South: Tennessee (continued — longest border)
• Southwest: Missouri (Mississippi River) & Arkansas (Mississippi River)
• West: Illinois (Ohio River confluence) & Missouri (Mississippi River)

Notes

• Tennessee borders Kentucky on three sides (SE, S, SW) due to the Mississippi River's meander and the 36°30′ line.
• Missouri touches KY at the Mississippi River (SW & W).
• Illinois only touches KY at the Ohio-Mississippi confluence (Cairo, IL) — a tiny western corner.
• No state borders Kentucky directly to the Northwest.

River Boundaries Dominate

~85% of Kentucky's perimeter is defined by rivers: Ohio (N/NE), Big Sandy/Tug Fork (NE), Mississippi (W/SW), and the Tennessee River (internal).