Lexington, Kentucky is the "Horse Capital of the World," located in the heart of the Bluegrass. It is the second largest city in Kentucky and has the second largest metropolitan area (after Louisville).
Lexington is home to the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland race course, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky. UK's basketball program is immensely popular in the city; for example, the area code (859) spells out UKY. The University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team has won more games than any other team in college basketball.
Lexington was founded in June of 1775, 17 years before Kentucky became a state. A party of frontiersmen, led by William McConnell, camped on a branch of Elkhorn Creek . Upon hearing of the colonists' victory at Lexington, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, they named their campsite Lexington to commemorate the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. Due to the danger of Indian attacks, permanent settlement was delayed for four years. In 1779, Colonel Robert Patterson and 25 companions came from Fort Harrod and erected a blockhouse. Cabins and a stockade were soon built, making the fort a place of importance. The town of Lexington was established on May 6, 1782, by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.
By 1820, it was one of the largest and wealthiest towns west of the Allegheny Mountains. So cultured was its lifestyle, Lexington gained the nickname "Athens of the West."
Within a day's drive of 75% of the population of the United States, Lexington is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 64 and 75. Lexington is accessible by air with approximately 100 direct and nonstop flights.
Fayette County consists of 283 square miles (733 km²) of gently rolling plateau in the center of the inner Bluegrass Region. The area is noted for its beauty, fertile soil, excellent pastureland and horse and stock farms. Poa Pratensis (bluegrass) thrives on the limestone beneath the soil's surface, playing a major role in the area's scenic beauty and in the development of champion horses. Numerous small creeks rise and flow into the Kentucky River.
In 1974, the governments of the city of Lexington and Fayette County, Kentucky combined to create the current Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. The estimated 2000 population of Lexington-Fayette was 260,512. The estimated 2000 population of the metropolitan statistical area (MSA), comprised of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, and Woodford County, is 424,778.
There are over 230 churches and synagogues in Lexington, representing 38 denominations.
Daily morning newspaper: Lexington Herald-Leader
1 Geography
2 Demographics
Climate
The mean average temperature in Lexington is 54.9 °F (13 °C). Annual precipitation is 45.68 inches (1.2 m). Lexington and the Bluegrass have four distinct seasons that include cool plateau breezes, moderate nights in the summer, and no prolonged periods of heat, cold, rain, wind, or snow.
Corporations/Industry in the Lexington area
Traditional products of the area include horses, tobacco and handcrafts, but an increasing diversity of products and services contributes to a healthy economy. Major employers in the Lexington area include:
Kentucky state sales tax is 6 percent. Groceries and horse sales are exempt. Hotel tax is 6 percent.
Universities/Colleges in the Lexington area
Famous residents of Lexington have included John Hunt Morgan, Thomas Hunt Morgan, Henry Clay, Jefferson Davis, John Breckinridge, John Cabell Breckinridge, Belle Brezing, Irene Moon, Mary Todd Lincoln, actor Jim Varney, photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard and author Guy Davenport.
Geography
Lexington-Fayette is located at 38°1'47" North, 84°29'41" West (38.029632, -84.494642)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 739.5 km² (285.5 mi²). 736.9 km² (284.5 mi²) of it is land and 2.6 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.35% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 260,512 people, 108,288 households, and 62,915 families residing in the city. The population density is 353.5/km² (915.6/mi²). There are 116,167 housing units at an average density of 157.6/km² (408.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 81.04% White, 13.48% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 3.29% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 108,288 households out of which 27.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% are non-families. 31.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 14.6% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,813, and the median income for a family is $53,264. Males have a median income of $36,166 versus $26,964 for females. The per capita income for the city is $23,109. 12.9% of the population and 8.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Last updated: 02-07-2005 13:44:52
Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55
