Living in the Bluegrass Region, KY

Some Information about Lexington

Location

Lexington isn’t known as the heart of the Bluegrass for nothing. It’s centrally located in the Commonwealth, 74 miles east of Louisville and 81 miles south of Ohio. Within this "Golden Triangle" lies the majority of Kentucky’s total personal income and total population. Lexington is the state’s second largest city and continues to grow steadily. Part of Lexington’s unmatched charm is the close proximity of the area’s rural surroundings to the metropolitan conveniences of a dynamic city. Lexington is within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population. Within the Central Kentucky region’s boundaries are many universities and colleges, including the Commonwealth’s flagship, the University of Kentucky. Thirty percent of Lexington residents have a college degree or higher, sixth highest in the United States among 75 large cities.

Population

Lexington has experienced tremendous growth in population over the past sixteen years. Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of the Census report that the population in Lexington and Fayette County is 260,512. The Lexington MSA (encompassing Fayette, Bourbon, Clark, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Woodford counties) has a population of 479,198 as of the 2000 census. The median age for the Lexington MSA is 33.8. Lexington’s average age is approximately 1.6 years younger than both Kentucky and the United States. For Lexington-Fayette County, the median age is 31.3.

Government

In an effort to coordinate the areas of planning, law enforcement, public education, parks and recreation, and to eliminate duplication of services, Lexington-Fayette County merged to a single city-county government on January 1, 1974. The Lexington-Fayette County Urban County Government (LFUCG) is the first and only merged government in Kentucky. The Charter created under the merger allowed for a mayor and a 15-member non-partisan Urban County Council. The Council has the ability to establish budgets, levy taxes, and pass local ordinances. In addition to three At-Large Council members, each of the county’s 12 districts is represented by a member. District Council members are elected to two-year terms, At-Large Council members serve for four years. Fayette County is divided into nine state legislative districts, and four state senatorial districts. We are represented by the sixth U.S. Congressional district, the fifth Supreme Court district, the fifth Court of Appeals district, and the twenty-second District Court and Circuit Court districts.

Transportation

Getting around Lexington by car is likened to maneuvering along the spokes of a wheel. The spokes represent major roads, many of them named for the different communities to which they lead. For example, Nicholasville Road leads to Nicholasville/Jessamine County; Richmond Road to Richmond/Madison County; Winchester Road to Winchester/Clark County. The wheel itself represents New Circle Road, a 26-mile roadway that encircles the city. An outer loop is Man O’War Boulevard, a 16-mile road that begins at Interstate 75, Exit 108 and ends at Versailles Road. Lexington is at the crossroads of Interstate 64 (east and west) and 75 (north and south), making the Bluegrass Region highly accessible for business and travel. The Mountain Parkway is easily accessible as well. Blue Grass Airport serves eight commercial airlines with non-stop service to all major hubs in the Eastern United States. In 1999, the airport recorded 103,192 commercial flights (arrivals and departures), handling 1,034,579 passengers. The airport serves as a fixed base operator (TAC Air) and offers flight training and air charter services. Louisville and Cincinnati also operate airports that serve Central Kentucky.

The Transit Authority of Lexington (LEXTRAN) offers main bus routes throughout the city, transporting thousands of people everyday to jobs, shopping centers, suburbs, colleges, and universities. LEXTRAN also operates a Wheels service, which meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act by delivering door-to-door transportation to the disabled. For more information on schedules, please call 859-253-INFO.

Taxis, limousines, and carriage rides are also available means to get around Lexington.

Real Estate

First-time as well as experienced home buyers will find that Lexington’s home market offers just about anything they want. Housing is quite affordable as well. Lexington fares well among comparative housing costs and consistently lower than the national average. According to the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce’s ACCRA Cost of Living Index for Third Quarter 2003, a new three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage home with 1800 square feet of living area will price at $215,687 on a 60x120 lot. Homebuyers can choose to live near downtown, the heart of Lexington, or a modern subdivision. Spacious townhomes and condiminiums are available around the area. Many Lexington residents choose to live in one of the area’s many historic neighborhoods. And with many mortgage companies at your back door, flexible financing options are always available. Many of our Realtors specialize in relocation services and can help ease the transition.