FAYETTE COUNTY

Urban/County Offices
859-425-2255
https://www.lexingtonky.gov/

County Clerk
162 E Main Street
Lexington 859-253-3344
https://fayettecountyclerk.com/

Chamber of Commerce
330 East Main Street
Lexington 859-254-4447
https://www.commercelexington.com/

Strategically served by the intersection of Interstates 75 and 64, Fayette County and the metropolitan center of Lexington share territorial boundaries and an Urban County Government with a separate County Clerk’s office. Centrally located in Kentucky, residents and businesses in Lexington-Fayette County enjoy easy access to regional attractions and the major metropolitan centers of Louisville, Cincinnati, and Knoxville. Blue Grass Airport offers major airline service with 80 daily flights and 17 non-stop destinations. Fayette County has long been recognized as the proud home of legendary Thoroughbred race horses and some of the world’s most beautiful horse farms. In addition to the role the equine industry has played in the region’s heritage and generational history, it continues to drive a thriving tourism industry. Today, Lexington-Fayette County is emerging as a forward-thinking community with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a friendly atmosphere of inclusion, and an emerging technology sector.

Boasting a stable, diverse and growing economy along with a top-rated university, Fayette County continues to attract new development with its progressive outlook and unique advantages. The 735-acre University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus connects business and research with recreational amenities that include a 225-acre park with pedestrian/bicycle trails and a large fenced dog park. As many as 50 organizations in leading industries that include biotech, pharmaceutical, and equine health are at home on the Research Campus, along with several global or regional headquarters. Planners are working intentionally to blend traditional Bluegrass beauty and Southern charm with high-tech advantages and an exceptional quality of life that appeals to a highly educated population. With nearly 40 percent of its residents holding bachelor’s degrees or higher, Lexington consistently garners a top-rated position on lists of America’s smartest cities.

Services
Newcomers will discover an exemplary quality of life including premier educational and healthcare resources. Public schools are known for high educational standards, above average college entrance exam scores, and the high percentage of high school graduates who pursue a higher education. Parents looking for alternative educational environments can choose from a selection of private and parochial schools, including several that have developed state championship sports teams. Local opportunities for a higher education begin with three campuses for Bluegrass Community & Technical College including the exclusive North American Racing Academy at the Thoroughbred Training Center. Those looking for degrees from bachelor’s through professional in a premier state-supported institution will appreciate having the University of Kentucky in their own hometown. Supporting more than 200 academic programs across 16 degree-granting colleges, UK boasts several graduate programs ranked among the nation’s finest by U.S. World & News Report and nearly 100 rankings for excellence in academics, research, healthcare, and economic development. Another major public institution, Kentucky State University, is just 45 minutes away in nearby Frankfort. Lexington is also home to the private colleges of American National University and Transylvania University, the latter founded in 1780 as Kentucky’s first university.

With a full spectrum of healthcare resources ranked among the nation’s finest, Lexington-Fayette County is well-known as a regional and statewide hub for advanced care and clinical excellence. Employing nearly 18 percent of the region’s total workforce, the healthcare and social services industries are key factors in economic growth and stability. Highly respected health systems include the multi-hospital UK HealthCare, CHI Saint Joseph Health, and Baptist Health Lexington. Recent rankings for Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report named UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital No. 1 in Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region. Home to the only Level I Trauma Center for both adult and pediatric patients in Central and Eastern Kentucky, UK Chandler Hospital joins Kentucky Children’s Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital in providing Kentucky’s most advanced subspeciality care. CHI Saint Joseph Health offers the 433-bed Saint Joseph Hospital, recognized for its pioneering work in cardiology, orthopedics, and stroke. Baptist Health Lexington operates an award-winning medical, research, and education center in addition to a 434-bed tertiary care hospital designated as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Fayette County is also home to the Lexington VA Health Care System, a Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center, and Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Lifestyle
Few places can match Lexington-Fayette County for livability and opportunity—a fact that attracts newcomers from young adults and growing families to seasoned professionals and retirees. This region has earned national attention in Forbes, CNN Money, The Atlantic, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Livability.com as a great place to retire, buy a home, land a job, launch a high-tech startup, and attend college. Lexington has also been named a Google eCity, a designation for top online business communities. In addition to urban advantages, the Bluegrass Region offers a moderate four-season climate and picturesque backdrop for outdoor adventures, sports, farmers markets, and family activities. More than 100 parks add natural beauty and programs for archery, camping, canoeing—even scuba. The 734-acre paradise of Raven Run features a nature sanctuary with 600 plant species and 10 miles of woodland and meadow hiking trails. Within an hour’s drive from home are opportunities for hiking, camping, and whitewater rafting. Enthusiasts of “the horses” will love the live action at Keeneland racecourse or harness racing at The Red Mile. However, few spectator thrills can ever rival the frenzy that takes over Lexington during basketball season with the University of Kentucky Wildcats—the most successful NCAA Division I champions in history.

As culturally rich as it is naturally beautiful, Lexington-Fayette County is home to several first-class venues for the performing arts, including an expansive downtown arena that hosts the brightest stars in the music business. Rupp Arena joins Lexington Center to form one of the nation’s largest multi-purpose convention center, sports, and entertainment complexes. Lexington Opera House with its gracious 19th-century ambiance offers a more intimate venue for opera, dance, music, and theater performances including family shows and comedy. Engaging communities across the region, Lexington Philharmonic orchestra provides more than 200 concerts, education, and community programs throughout the year. Lovers of history will find abundant sites and venues dedicated to the past including the Mary Todd Lincoln House, the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Headley-Whitney Museum, American Saddlebred Museum, and the celebrated Kentucky Horse Park. Newcomers will be delighted at the quality, and affordability of homes throughout Fayette County. Friendly tree-lined neighborhoods offer everything from cozy bungalows to luxury manors and a wide variety of styles including Ranch, Traditional, Colonial, and Cape Cod. From its panoramic landscapes and popular farmers market to the vibrance of its suburban scene, Lexington-Fayette County welcomes newcomers to a rare blend of reverence for the past and a shared vision of future progress.

COMMUNITIES

Urban/County Offices
859-425-2255
https://www.lexingtonky.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
859-254-4447
https://web.commercelexington.com/visit/

Home to several Fortune 500 companies and the highly respected University of Kentucky, Lexington is a city on the move. Even within the past decade, progress and expansion are evident throughout the community, from improved streetscapes and new walking and bicycle paths to economic growth and a stronger high-tech sector. Complementing a rich spectrum of amenities and resources, Lexington adds unique advantages like the nationally recognized Carnegie Center for literacy and learning that offers tutoring, arts-related events, and classes—all free of charge. Residents enjoy an annual calendar filled with events in contemporary or beautifully restored venues, from rock concerts and competitive sports to ballet, orchestra, stage productions, and Broadway show tours. Ushering in a growing food scene, the city hosts a lively mix of coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants from casual fare to fine dining with specialties that highlight fresh local produce. With highly rated schools, premier healthcare, affordable housing, attractive neighborhoods, and abundant parks, little wonder that U.S. News & World Report recently named Lexington among its Top 25 Places to Live.