About Opentopia
Opentopia Directory Encyclopedia Tools

Lexington, Kentucky

Encyclopedia : L : LE : LEX : Lexington, Kentucky

 

Lexington, Kentucky, known as the "Horse Capital of the World," is located in the heart of the Bluegrass region. It is the second-largest city in Kentucky, after Louisville. On January 1, 1974 Lexington became the first municipality in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to form a consolidated city-county government by merging with Fayette County. In 2005, the population estimate given by the U.S. Census Bureau was 268,080. Its population, territory and government are coextensive with that of Fayette County. The Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Area (consisting of Fayette and four of the five surrounding counties) had a population of 429,889 as of 2005 estimates. The Lexington-Fayette-Frankfort-Richmond Combined Statistical Area, which includes the Metro area and an additional seven counties, had an estimated population of 635,547 in 2005. Garrard County is also an important commuter county, even though it is excluded from the CSA.

Lexington is home to the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland race course, the Red Mile race course, a Jif peanut butter plant which produces more peanut butter than any other factory in the world, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky (UK). The area code (859) spells out UKY. UK's basketball program is immensely popular in the city, and the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team have won more games than any other team in college basketball history.

Lexington has been selected to be the site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games [link].

Contents

Cityscape

Lexington's urban layout, with a strictly controlled urban growth boundary around the city and a greenbelt between it and the surrounding towns, is similar to European and Canadian cities and very unlike the typical US cityscape. This has been done in an effort to preserve the area's horse farms and Bluegrass landscape, which brings millions of dollars to the city both in the horse industry and tourism. Urban growth is also strictly controlled in the surrounding counties, with the only areas allowed for development being inside the limits of existing cities. Fayette and all of the surrounding counties have minimum lot size requirements (ranging from 10 to 50 acres minimum land to build a new house) to prevent "rural subdivisions" from eating up the Bluegrass landscape.

Most of Lexington's growth has historically occurred south of downtown since the farmland there was composed of "replaceable" tobacco farms and not the region's treasured horse farms. Today over 70% of the population lives south of Highway 60. Until the 1990s, growth was fastest southwest of downtown between Harrodsburg and Tates Creek Roads, but that area has been developed to the Jessamine County line, so most growth today is southeast of downtown along I-75. Of the surrounding counties, growth is fastest in the I-75 counties (Scott and Madison) and Jessamine (over a 10,000 net increase per census); Clark and Woodford Counties are experiencing moderate growth (about 3,000 per census); and Bourbon County is stagnant, with almost no growth.

In addition, the downtown area has also seen a recent building and revitalization boom. Most of the new projects are built on the sites of former tobacco warehouses along the South Broadway corridor. Examples of this include the "500's on the Main" of new residential condos and commercial properties along Main Street, "The Fairmont on Main," "ARTEK LOFTS," "The Lofts at Gratz Park," "Center Court," "South Hill Crossing," "The Blackhorse at Gratz Park, "Main+Rose," and "The Woodlands."

New Developments

With the price of land within the urban service boundary of Fayette County increasing due to the diminishing amount of developable plots, along with a resurgence in downtown living, several new projects are either in planning, under construction, or have been finished.

500's on the Main

Located within the 500 block on West Main Street across from the Lexington Center and adjacent to Victorian Square, this residental and commerical project will feature a sweeping spire and clock as its trademark. It will consume an entire block that was previously all low-key and out-of-character structures, and will include seven new and separate structures and two renovated buildings. It will include ground floor commerical space, a courtyard featuring shops and leisure areas, and loft-styled condos. Status: Construction underway on the main structures.

Artek Lofts

As a living artist community on Old Georgetown Street west of the downtown, it will be a residental project featuring renovated and new structures alike. Status: Under construction.

[ Located within the Gratz Park neighborhood on North Mill Street, this mixed-use project will feature condominiums and carriage-houses. It will replace out-of-character and non-historical structures in a high-class neighborhood. Status: Project expected to start late-2006.

Center Courts

Located in the College Town district between downtown and the University of Kentucky on Martin L. King Blvd., this 54-unit loft condominium project between High and Maxwell Streets is complete.

The Fairmont on Main

This consists of single-family townhomes and rowhouses in the 600 block of West Main Street. Status: Essentially complete.

Kimball House Square

A mixed-use development along S. Upper, this is comprised of several historic Victorian-era structures whose former use was as a hotel. It also includes several single-family homes along S. Limestone. It will become an interconnected loft condominium project with a salon, spa, and self-imaging center. Status: Construction underway.

Main & Rose

Located on the corner of East Main Street and Rose Street/Elm Tree Lane, this mixed-use development project includes 96 loft-styled condominiums, a downtown convenience store, restaurants with open-air seating, and ground floor commerical space. Status: Ground clearing and prep work underway.

Nunn Building Lofts

Utilizing an existing structure that was all but empty and new construction, this open-floorplan development is on the north end of downtown near Martin L. King Blvd. Status: Demolition on low-key buildings next to the Nunn Building completed in 2005. Construction underway to build adjacent structure next to Nunn Building as part of the project.

South Hill Crossing

Demolishing out-of-character industrial structures in a booming and historic residental neighborhood, this mixed-use development introduces rowhouses and townhomes that blend in very well with the existing historical structures. Status: Construction ongoing.

South Hill Station

This residential project, located in an old tobacco warehouse at the corner of S. Limestone and Bolivar, features hardwood floors, exposed brick, and other industrial characteristics that tie it in with its past. Status: Renovations complete.

Transit Center

The transit terminal and 770-space parking garage, built in the late 1980's on East Vine Street, was designed to support an extension upward. On June 11, 2006, it was announced that a mixed-use development project, combining enterainment, retail, and residental into one structure, would be constructed. It is in the preliminary planning phases. Status: Planning. Fortune, Beverly. "Downtown officials pick 3 plans for developing Transit Center." Herald-Leader [Lexington] 11 June 2006. 12 July 2006 [link].

The Woodlands

At the corner of Woodland Avenue and East Maxwell Street was a large church structure that was demolished in mid-June 2006. In its place will rise a loft-styled condominium structure. Status: Demolition of church all but complete; major construction to begin late summer 2006.

History

Lexington was founded in June 1775 in Virginia (17 years before Kentucky became a state). A party of frontiersmen, led by William McConnell, camped on the Middle Fork of Elkhorn Creek (today called Town Branch and rerouted under Vine Street) at the location known today as McConnell Springs. Upon hearing of the colonists' victory in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, they named their campsite Lexington after Lexington, Massachusetts. 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." One early prominent citizen, John Wesley Hunt, became the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies. Slaves were widely held and used as laborers, field hands and domestic servants in Kentucky. In 1850, 1/5 of the state's population were slaves, and Lexington had the highest concentration of slaves in the state. However, the state attempted to remain neutral during the Civil War. Not only were both Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis born in Kentucky (less than one year and 100 miles apart), but both had spent time in Lexington. Davis attended Transylvania University in 1823 and 1824. Lincoln visited the city several times with his wife, Mary Todd, after their marriage in 1842.

Lexington hosted one of the first drug rehabilitation clinics, known as the "Addiction Research Center," which opened in 1935 [link]. It also has a Federal Prison.

Law and government

In 1974, the governments of the city of Lexington and Fayette County, Kentucky combined to create the current Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

Lexington has an elected mayor and city council-style of government.

Mayor

Lexington's mayor is Teresa Isaac, who has served in the post since 2002.

Urban County Council

The Urban County Council is a fifteen-member legislative group. Twelve of the members represent specific districts and serve two-year terms; three are elected city-wide as at-large council members and serve four-year terms. The at-large member with the highest number of votes in the general election automatically becomes the Vice Mayor who, in the absence of the Mayor, is the presiding officer of the Council. The current council members are:

Geography and climate

Lexington is strategically located at the intersection of Interstates 64 and 75. However, the city's downtown is not served by any controlled-access highways, and traffic congestion is a significant problem. New Circle Road (KY 4) acts as a beltway around the city. Lexington is accessible by air with approximately 100 direct and nonstop flights from Blue Grass Airport.

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.

Location of Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
Lexington-Fayette is located at [38°1′47″N, 84°29′41″W] (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.

Climate

The 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.

Lexington has the dubious distinction of being recognized as the #1 worst city for spring allergies in the fall of 2005 by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America [link]. Louisville came in at #4 in that same time period. The results for spring of 2006 have since moved Lexington to #75 and Louisville to #12.

Economy

Traditionally the area's economy has been based on horses and tobacco, but since 1950 it has increasingly become a manufacturing and university based economy. There are three public universities, five private colleges, and two theological seminaries located in the Lexington CSA, with Centre College located just outside the CSA in Danville, Kentucky. In addition, Lexington functions as the major medical and commercial center for a large part of Kentucky. Major employers in the Lexington area include: Kentucky state sales tax is 6 percent . Groceries are exempt. Hotel tax is 6 percent.

Demographics

Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington
Enlarge
Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington

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 Counties, is 424,778.

In 2005 a Combined Statistical Area (CSA) was established for "Lexington-Fayette-Frankfort-Richmond" for which Lexington is a part. [link]

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
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
41.9% are non-families
31.7% of all households are made up of individuals
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.

The age distribution is 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 $58,677. 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.

There are over 230 churches, mosques and synagogues in Lexington, representing 38 denominations.

Media

Newspapers

Television

Radio

Education

Area colleges and universities

Public schools

The city is served by the Fayette County Public Schools district.

High schools that serve the city include:

Private high schools

Sports teams

Notable residents

Famous residents of Lexington have included:

Points of interest

Sister cities

Lexington has four sister cities, as designated by [Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI)]: All four are, like Lexington, major centers of the thoroughbred breeding industry in their respective countries.

References

  • Bolin, James Duane. Bossism and Reform in a Southern City: Lexington, Kentucky, 1880-1940 (2000) ISBN 0-8131-2150-7.)

External links

 Commonwealth of Kentucky
State capital Frankfort
Regions Cumberland Plateau | The Bluegrass | The Knobs | Northern Kentucky | Pennyroyal Plateau | Cincinnati metropolitan area | Louisville metropolitan area | Western Coal Fields | The Purchase | Central Kentucky
Major cities Ashland | Bowling Green | Covington | Elizabethtown | Florence | Frankfort | Georgetown | Glasgow | Henderson | Hopkinsville | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Nicholasville | Owensboro | Paducah | Radcliff | Richmond
Counties Adair | Allen | Anderson | Ballard | Barren | Bath | Bell | Boone | Bourbon | Boyd | Boyle | Bracken | Breathitt | Breckinridge | Bullitt | Butler | Caldwell | Calloway | Campbell | Carlisle | Carroll | Carter | Casey | Christian | Clark | Clay | Clinton | Crittenden | Cumberland | Daviess | Edmonson | Elliott | Estill | Fayette | Fleming | Floyd | Franklin | Fulton | Gallatin | Garrard | Grant | Graves | Grayson | Green | Greenup | Hancock | Hardin | Harlan | Harrison | Hart | Henderson | Henry | Hickman | Hopkins | Jackson | Jefferson | Jessamine | Johnson | Kenton | Knott | Knox | LaRue | Laurel | Lawrence | Lee | Leslie | Letcher | Lewis | Lincoln | Livingston | Logan | Lyon | Madison | Magoffin | Marion | Marshall | Martin | Mason | McCracken | McCreary | McLean | Meade | Menifee | Mercer | Metcalfe | Monroe | Montgomery | Morgan | Muhlenberg | Nelson | Nicholas | Ohio | Oldham | Owen | Owsley | Pendleton | Perry | Pike | Powell | Pulaski | Robertson | Rockcastle | Rowan | Russell | Scott | Shelby | Simpson | Spencer | Taylor | Todd | Trigg | Trimble | Union | Warren | Washington | Wayne | Webster | Whitley | Wolfe | Woodford

 

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

Search Titles
0123456789
ABCDEFGHIJ
KLMNOPQRST
UVWXYZ?

E-mail this article to:

Personal Message: