Fayette County,
Kentucky
claims 283 square miles of the scenic
Bluegrass
Region of the Midwestern
United
States. Called home by more than 260,000 residents, Fayette County
consists of expansive plateaus with charming horse farms sprinkled
throughout the countryside.
The Lexington-Fayette area, known for its fertile soil, horses,
tobacco and whiskey, lies in the Daniel
Boone Country of Central
Kentucky. Bluegrass, formally called Poa
Pratensis, flourishes in KY because of the limestone rich soil. This
signature grass contributes to the area's striking beauty, while
enriching the quality of the local breed of racehorses. Fayette County
is home to numerous horse farms, in addition to the more popular sites
such as Keeneland
Race Course, the Kentucky
Horse Park and the Red
Mile. Lexington-Fayette genuinely lives up to its distinction as the
"Horse Capital of the World".
According to Census
2000, Fayette County, KY reported a population of 260,512. Lexington,
the county seat, shares the government, population and territory, with
Fayette County. Lexington-Fayette is part of a substantial Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA) that includes Bourbon,
Clark,
Jessamine, Madison,
Scott and Woodford
counties. The MSA has a population of approximately 425,000 residents.
Lexington-Fayette residents also have access to 75% of the nation's
population, through its situation at the intersection of Interstates 64
and 75.
Lexington-Fayette supports a healthy financial base, with well-known
employers such as Johnson
Controls, Smuckers
and United Parcel Service
(UPS) providing a wealth of career options to the local population. U.S.
Census data recently indicated that more than 31,000 people commute into
the Lexington-Fayette area for work each day. Residents also enjoy a low
rate of crime that consistently ranks below that of the nation's
average. This is due to car and foot patrols, as well as the Lexington
Mounted Patrol Unit and the Mountain
Bike Patrol Unit.
Fayette County and Lexington afford Kentucky residents with a wealth
of options when it comes to education. Younger students have excellent private
schools and the Blue
Ribbon rated public
schools, while older students may choose from eight colleges and
universities in the immediate area. These include the University
of Kentucky, which is KY's
flagship college system. Other fine choices include Lexington
Theological Seminary, Sullivan
University and Transylvania
University. Nearly 36 percent of Lexington-Fayette citizens have
earned their Bachelor's degree.
The Lexington-Fayette area has twenty-four rural and urban districts
on the National
Register of Historic Places, with more than 100 individual historic
site listings. Natural sites also play a major role in the day-to-day
lives of local residents. Fayette County has approximately 3,000 acres
of designated parkland,
part of which has public recreational facilities. Residents and visitors
also have access to facilities for horseback riding and for playing golf.
There are a multitude of places to see and things to do in Fayette
County; however, nearby cities such as Berea,
Richmond, Versailles
and Winchester
provide even more activities within the convenience of a day trip.
Fayette County,
Kentucky holds the
ideal balance of urban and rural living, ensuring residents the best of
what both worlds have to offer. Lovely communities, each with their own
distinct characteristics, await those looking to call Fayette County
home.
