I’ve always considered Kentucky, at least the southern half of the state to be part of the South. That said, my personal experience with Kentucky has been limited. I’ve been to Lexington and Louisville and both experiences were very Southern. I’ve been through Paducah several times, as it’s the last good fuel stop on the way to visit my mother’s parents in southeastern Missouri. And Paducah, and the surrounding towns, are very Southern. I had to stop and ask directions the first time because I thought I was lost and pulled up to someone’s house, at 10:30 pm and she invited me in for some sweet tea while she made sure I was going the right way. Mind you, I’m 6’1” with a mohawk and multiple piercings: the modern Southern gentleman.
So, in answer to your question, in my mind, the majority of Kentucky is Southern. As a border state, the lines are little muddled, but overall he people, the climate, and the general culture mimic those of the rest of the South and tie much more strongly with other Southern states than with the North.
