Lexington is residence to the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland race course, a JIF peanut butter plant which produces more peanut butter than any more manufacturing plant in the globe, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky. UK's basketball program is vastly popular in a city; for instance, the area code (859) spells out UKY. A University of Kentucky Wildcats five has won further games than any more team inside college basketball history.

History

Lexington was founded within June of 1775, 17 years prior to Kentucky became a state. The persin of frontiersmen, led by William McConnell, camped on the branch of Elkhorn Creek at the location known now when McConnell Springs. Upon hearing of the settler' triumph at Lexington, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, they known as their camping site Lexington to commemorate a number 1 battle of the American Revolutionary War. Due to the danger of Indian attacks, lasting personal injury settlement was delayed for 4 years. Around 1779, Colonel Robert Patterson & Twenty-five companions come from either Fort Harrod and erected a blockhouse. Cabins & the stockade were presently built, making the fort a place of importance. A town of Lexingtin was established on May 6, 1782, by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.

By 1820, it was one of a big & affluent towns west of the Allegheny Mountains. Then genteel was its life style, Lexington gained a nickname "Athens of the West." One early large citizen, John Wesley Hunt, became the number 1 millionaire west of the Alleghenies.

Law and government

Around 1974, a governments of the city of Lexington & Fayette County, Kentucky combined to create a todays Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

Lexington has an elective city manager & city council-style of government.

Mayor

Lexington's city manager is Teresa Isaac, world health organization has served in the post since 2002.

Urban County Council

A Urban County Council occurs as fifteen-member legislative class action. Twelve of the members represent specific territorial dominion & help both-biennial terms; deuce-ace come elected city-wide when at-heavy councillor & service iv-month terms. A at-prominent member by using a greatest total of votes in a general election automatically becomes the Vice City manager world health organization, in the absence of the City manager, is the presiding officer of the Council. A todays councillor come: Mike Scanlon: Vice Mayor Chuck Eliinger Deuce: At-Large David B. Stevens, MD: At-Large George Black, Jr: First District Jacques Wigginton: 2d District Dick DeCamp: Third District Linda Gorton: Fourth District Bill Farmer, Jr: Fifth District Kevin O. Stinnett: Sixth District Bill Cegelka: Seventh District George Myers: Eighth District Jay McChord: Ninth District Sandy Shafer: 10th District Richard Moloney: Eleventh District Ed Lane: Twelfth District

Geography

.

Fayette County consists of 283 square miles (733 km²) of gently rolling tableland in the center of the inner Bluegrass Region. A vicinity is noted for its beauty, fertile soil, fantabulous grazing l& & horse and equity farms. Poa Pratensis (bluegrass) thrives on a limestone below the soil's surface, swimming the major role in the area's scenic beauty & in the development of prizewinning horses. Many little lakes rise & flow into a Kentucky River.

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.

Economy

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:

Ashland, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. Clark Material Handling Company Fazoli's General Electric Company GTE Products Corporation Johnson Controls Lexmark International Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company Quebecor World Starbucks Coffee Square D Company Tempur-Pedic Toyota Motor Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. Trane Valvoline United Parcel Service University of Kentucky

Kentucky state sales tax is 6 percent . Groceries are exempt. Hotel tax is 6 percent.

Demographics

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 Region (CSA) was established for "Lexington-Frankfort-Richmond" for which Lexington is the centerpiece. [http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro-city/List6.txt]

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 $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.

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

Media

Newspaper

Lexington Herald-Leader, daily morning newspaper

Television

WLEX, NBC affiliate, - NTSC channel 18 WKYT, CBS affiliate, - NTSC channel 27 WTVQ, ABC affiliate, - NTSC channel 36 WKLE, PBS and KET member station, - NTSC channel 46 WDKY, FOX affiliate, - NTSC channel 56 UKYT, UPN affiliate, - Cable only; CH.13.5

Radio

WVLK, (News/talk) - 590 AM WLAP, (News/talk) - 630 AM WLXG, (Sports) - 1300 AM WRFL, (Alternative) - 88.1 FM WUKY, (Classical/jazz) - 91.3 FM WMXL, (Mixed music) - 94.5 FM WBUL, (Country) - 98.1 FM WLTO, (Rock) - 102.5 FM WLKT, (Rock) - 104.5 FM WCDA, (Top 40) - 106.3 FM WBTL, (Urban/Hip Hop) - 107.9 FM

Education

Area colleges and universities

Asbury College (in Wilmore) Asbury Theological Seminary (in Wilmore) Berea College (in Berea) Bluegrass Community and Technical indicator College Centre College (in Danville) Eastern Kentucky University (in Richmond) Georgetown College (in Georgetown) Kentucky State University (in Frankfort) Lexington Theological Seminary National College of Business and Technology Midway College (in Midway) Sullivan University Transylvania University University of Kentucky

Public high schools

Bryan Station High School Henry Clay High School Lafayette High School Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Tates Creek High School

Private high schools

Lexington Catholic High School Lexington Christian Academy [http://www.sayreschool.org Sayre School] [http://www.tcalex.org Trinity Christian Academy] Blue Grass Baptist School

Sports teams

Lexington Legends, minor league baseball Lexington Men O'War, minor league hockey (now defunct as of 2003) Lexington Horsemen, indoor football (United Indoor Football)

Notable natives

Famous residents of Lexington have included John Hunt Morgan, Thomas Hunt Morgan, Henry Clay, Jefferson Davis, John Breckinridge, John Cabell Breckinridge, Belle Brezing, Mary Todd Lincoln, Charles Chilton Moore, actor Jim Varney, photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard, author Guy Davenport, actor Harry Dean Stanton, and punk-rock godfather Richard Hell.

Points of Interest

Lexington Cemetery University of Kentucky Arboretum Rupp Arena

Sister cities

Lexington has four sister cities: Deauville, France since 1957 County Kildare, Ireland since 1984 Shizunai, Japan since 1988 Newmarket, England since 2003