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| Lexington Information |
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Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 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, Kentucky, and the 68th largest in the United States. 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 2006, the population estimate given by the U.S. Census Bureau was 275,754. Lexington is home to the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland race course, the Red Mile race course, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky. Lexington has been selected to be the site of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. History
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 (200 km) apart), but both had spent time in Lexington. Davis attended Transylvania University in 1823 and 1824. Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was born and raised in Lexington; the couple visited the city several times after their marriage in 1842. Lexington hosted one of the first drug rehabilitation clinics, known as the "Addiction Research Center," which opened in 1935. The first alcohol and drug rehabilitation hospital in the United States of America was also known as "Narco" of Lexington, as well as the "Addiction Research Center". This was later converted into a federal prison.
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.
The average temperature in Lexington is 54.9 °F (13 °C). Annual precipitation is 45.68 inches (1,200 mm). 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 a high allergy area by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The city is home to several notable skyscrapers. The Lexington Financial Center is currently the tallest building, followed by Kincaid Towers, and then the World Trade Center complex. It is also home to many other notable structures, and to many new urban developments within two major districts. It also has many uncompleted projects, ranging from the 41 floor World Coal Center to an elevated park above Vine Street and the Harrison Avenue viaduct.
In 1980, the Comprehensive Plan was updated and the Urban Service Area was modified to include Urban Activity Centers and Rural Activity Centers. The Urban Activity Centers were commercial and light-industrial districts in urbanized areas, while Rural Activity Centers were retail trade and light-industrial centers clustered around the Interstate 64/Interstate 75 interchanges. In 1996, the Urban Service Area was expanded when 5,300 acres (21 km²) of the Rural Service Area was acquired through the Expansion Area Master Plan. This was not without its controversy, as it was the first major update to the Comprehensive Plan in over a decade. The Expansion Area Master Plan included impact fees, assessment districts, neighborhood design concepts, design overlays, mandatory greenways, major roadway improvements, stormwater management and open space mitigation for the first time; it also included a draft of the Rural Land Management Plan, which included large lot zoning and traffic impact controls. A pre-zoning of the entire expansion area was refuted in the Plan. A 50 acre minimum proposal was also defeated, although the mention of the proposal led to a deluge of 10 acre subdivisions in the Rural Service Areas]. Three years after the expansion was initiated, the Rural Service Area Land Management Plan was adopted, which increased the minimum lot size in the agricultural rural zones to 40 acre minimums. In 1998, a moratorium was issued on rural lot creations to curb the development of new rural 10 acre subdivisions that were incompatible with the existing agricultural uses. Two years later, the Purchase of Development Rights plan was adopted, which granted the city power to purchase the development rights of existing farms; in 2001, $40 million was allocated to the plan from a $25 million local, $15 million state grant. An Infill and Redevelopment study was also initiated during that time, along with design guidelines for the areas surrounding the new Fayette County courthouses.
Government and politics
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The current council members are: Jim
Gray: Vice Mayor
The Lexington-Fayette-Frankfort-Richmond, KY Combined Statistical Area, established in 2005, had an estimated population of 635,547 in 2005. This includes the metro area and an additional seven counties, although Garrard County was excluded even though it is an important commuter county. As of the census² of 2000, there were 260,512 people, 108,288 households, and 62,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 353.5/km² (915.6/mi²). There were 116,167 housing units at an average density of 157.6/km² (408.3/mi²). The
racial makeup of the city was: There
were 108,288 households out of which: The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90. The
age distribution was: The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $39,813, and the median income for a family was $58,677. Males had a median income of $36,166 versus $26,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,109. 12.9% of the population and 8.2% of families were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those 65 and older. There are over 230 churches, mosques and synagogues in Lexington, representing 38 denominations. Economy
As such, the city is home to several large corporations. There are two Fortune 500 companies located within the city, Affiliated Computer Services and Lexmark International, employing 1,200 and 3,450 respectively. United Parcel Service, Trane and Amazon.com, Inc. have a large presence in the city, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky is within the Lexington CSA in adjoining Georgetown. The city is also host to a Jif peanut butter plant that produces more peanut butter than any other factory in the world, and to the Forcht Group of Kentucky, a holding company that employs more than 2,100 people across Kentucky. Forcht Group operates several businesses in Lexington including First Corbin Bancorp, Kentucky National Insurance Company, My Favorite Things, BSC, a bank data services company, and First Lab, among others. Another large employer, the University of Kentucky employs 10,668, however, it does not include the College of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service which has a staff of over 900. The University is the ninth largest economic company in the state of Kentucky, with an annual budget of $1.4 billion, and the College of Medicine within the University is the 21st largest company in the state. Other sizable employers include the Lexington-Fayette County government and other hospital facilities. This includes the Fayette County Public Schools, employing 4,651, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, employing 3,936. Central Baptist Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, and the Veterans Administration Hospital employ 6,206 total.
Education The city is served by the Fayette County Public Schools. The system consists of 7 high schools, 11 middle schools, and 33 elementary schools, along with six private schools. There are also two traditional colleges, the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University. Other institutions of higher learning include Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Sullivan University, Spencerian College, Strayer University, and a newly opened distance learning extension of Indiana Wesleyan University.
Culture Mayfest is a free outdoor festival that takes place annually over Mother's Day weekend. Held in Gratz park between the Carnegie Center and Transylvania University, the festival typically features up to 100 art and craft booths, live entertainment throughout the weekend, food, children's activities, adult activities and literary events, free carriage rides, a traditional Morris and Maypole dance and various demonstrations. Taking part the first full weekend of June is the Festival of the Bluegrass, Kentucky's oldest bluegrass music festival. It includes three stages for music and a "music camp" that teaches the bluegrass music to school children. Also in June is the popular Broadway review presented by UK Opera Theatre, "It's A Grand Night for Singing!" Lexingtonians gather downtown for the Fourth of July festivities which extend for several days. On July 3, the Gratz Park Historic District is transformed into an outdoor music hall when the Patriotic Music Concert is held on the steps of Morrison Hall at Transylvania University. The Lexington Singers and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra perform at this event. On the Fourth, annual festivities include a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Old Courthouse, a waiter's race in Phoenix Park, a parade, a country music concert, and fireworks. Also, throughout the day street vendors sell their wares and food to the downtown visitors. The Fourth of July is considered to be the biggest holiday in Lexington. "Southern Lights: Spectacular Sights on Holiday Nights", taking place from November 18 to December 31, is held at the Kentucky Horse Park. It includes a three-mile (5 km) drive through the park, showcasing numerous displays, many in character with the horse industry and history of Lexington. The "Mini-Train Express", an indoor petting exotic animal petting zoo, the International Museum of the Horse, an exhibit showcasing the Bluegrass Railway Club's model train, and Santa Claus are other major highlights. The Lexington Christmas Parade: Held usually the first Saturday in December, the parade route follows Main Street between Midland and Broadway. Festivities include a pre-parade "Santa's Sleigh" charity race, food, light entertainment, and post-show activities. Other events and fairs include: -"It's
A Grand Night for Singing" Presented by UK Opera, 2nd and 3rd weekends
in June. Historical
structures and museums Lexington Public Library, in the Phoenix Park area near the geographic center of Lexington, houses the world's largest ceiling clock, a five story Foucault pendulum and a frieze depicting the history of the horse in the Bluegrass. The library and its branches also house art galleries and traveling exhibits. Another important museum is the Lexington History Center in the old Fayette County Courthouse in the heart of downtown. It offers two museums, one dedicated to the history of the region and the other dedicated to public safety. A third museum, devoted to the history of pharmaceuticals in the Bluegrass, is under construction. It will also be home to the Isaac Scott Hathaway Museum in 2007 as well. Media
City
parks and facilities
The Arboretum is a one-hundred-acre preserve adjacent to the University of Kentucky. It features the Arboretum Woods, a small, 16 acrer Bluegrass Woodland patch that is home to eighteen native Kentucky tree species, and more than 50 native Kentucky grasses and herbs. It also has 1,500 varieties of roses in the Rose Garden, a Home Demonstration Garden, and numerous paved paths and trails. The city also plays host to the historic McConnell Springs, a 26 acre park within the industrial confines off of Old Frankfort Pike. There are two miles (3 km) of trails that surround the namesake springs, historic dry-laid stone fences, and historical structures.
The Lexington Horsemen are an indoor football team in the United Indoor Football league. The University of Kentucky fields 22 varsity sports teams, most of which compete in the Southeastern Conference. The most famous team by far is the men's basketball team, led by head coach Billy Gillispie. The Kentucky Men's Basketball team has won 7 NCAA Championships and is the winningest program in college basketball history. Transylvania University competes in NCAA Division III athletics. Lexington was also home to the Kentucky Thoroughblades, a minor league (AHL) hockey team that played between 1996 and 2001. From 2002-2003, the ECHL Men O' War played minor league hockey in Lexington. In addition, Lexington is home to two horse racing tracks. At Keeneland, thoroughbred horses race while at The Red Mile harness racing is the featured competition. It is also home to the Rolex Kentucky Three Day, one of the top 5 annual equestrian eventing competitions in the world.
Highways
The airport is located four miles (six km) west of the city along US 60 (Versailles Road).
By the early 1970s, expenses associated with the operation of the motorized buses soon outstripped revenue for the Lexington Transit Corporation. In April 1972, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government incorporated the system under the local government and renamed the system LexTran. In 1997, LexTran introduced the Lexington Bluegrass Mobility Office. It offers carpooling and vanpooling computer ridematching services and Lex Van, a work commute vanpool leasing program. Today, LexTran operates eight routes from 5:30 AM to 11:20 PM seven-days-a-week from the Lexington Transit Center along Vine Street in downtown. In 2004, the system received additional funding from a successful ballot initiative to implement a new property tax dedicated to helping fund the LexTran system [29]. Since the tax referendum passed, LexTran's system has grown by 50% and the number of passenger boardings and operators more than doubled. The bus fleet will increase from 53 as of May 2007 to 60 by August 2007 as well. For 2007, LexTran is poised to receive several upgrades to its fleet of buses and facilities. A renovation and expansion of the main LexTran facilities on East Loudon Avenue, expected to cost $7.5 million, has $4 million already secured. LexTran is also seeking $3.1 million for new buses, $1.5 million for an Automated Vehicle Locator, and $800,000 to purchase new fare boxes. Phase one of the expansion project includes the construction of a new bus fuel and wash building at 109 West Loudon Avenue, along with upgrades to the restrooms and break room at the Lexington Transit Center.
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Editorial credit: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. Article Name: Lexington, Kentucky.
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