Lexington, Kentucky

city in and county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States

Lexington is the second largest city in Kentucky. In 2020, 322,570 people lived there.[5] It is called "the Horse Capital of the World".

Lexington, Kentucky
Downtown Lexington
Downtown Lexington
Flag of Lexington, Kentucky
Nickname(s): 
Athens of the West,[1] Horse Capital of the World
Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky is located in the United States
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 38°02′47″N 84°29′49″W / 38.04639°N 84.49694°W / 38.04639; -84.49694
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyFayette
Established1782[2]
Incorporated1831[2]
Named forLexington, Massachusetts
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorLinda Gorton (R)
Area
 • Consolidated city-county285.5 sq mi (739.5 km2)
 • Land283.6 sq mi (734.6 km2)
 • Water1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2)
 • Urban
87.5 sq mi (226.7 km2)
Elevation
978 ft (298 m)
Population
 • Consolidated city-county322,570
 • RankUS: 60th
Kentucky: 2nd
 • Density1,137/sq mi (439/km2)
 • Urban
315,631 (US: 130th)[4]
 • Urban density3,758/sq mi (1,451/km2)
 • Metro
517,056 (US: 109th)
 • CSA
745,033 (US: 70th)
DemonymLexingtonian
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
40502–40517, 40522–40524, 40526, 40533, 40536, 40544, 40546, 40550, 40555, 40574–40583, 40588, 40591, 40598
Area code859
FIPS code21-46027
Websitewww.lexingtonky.gov

History change

Lexington was first named by a party of Virginians who camped here in June, 1775, after they heard the news about the Battle of Lexington, Massachusetts in April of that year starting the American Revolution against the British government. A fort was begun at the same spot in 1779, and by 1782 there was a town here known as Lexington, Virginia. This is because Kentucky was still part of Virginia then, and was not made into a state of its own until 1792.

References change

  1. "Athens of the West". National Register of Historic Places (Essay). National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. May 2, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Lexington, Kentucky". Accessed September 18, 2013.
  3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  4. United States Census Bureau (December 29, 2022). "2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications". Federal Register.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "QuickFacts: Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2023.