SCOTT COUNTY
County Offices
101 East Main Street
Georgetown 502-863-7885
https://scottky.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
160 E Main Street
Georgetown 502-863-5424
https://www.gtown.org/
Beautiful Scott County enjoys an ideal location in the Bluegrass region just north of Fayette County and the vibrant Lexington metropolitan area. Claiming a colorful and storied past, this region was one of the first counties created in 1792 shortly after Kentucky achieved statehood. A few of the milestones from its unfolding heritage continued to evolve and still play an active part in the modern economy. As early as 1784, a fiery Baptist preacher named Elijah Craig launched the first of several milling industries but he also established a bourbon whiskey distillery in present day Georgetown. The school he founded evolved into Georgetown College, a progressive institution that gradually gained a reputation for academic excellence.
Throughout the 20th century, Scott County has steadily evolved from its roots as an agricultural center into a diversified economy that combines family farms with a large manufacturing sector, services, and small business. The selection of Georgetown as the site of Toyota’s first American assembly plant in 1985 drove the largest growth period in the county’s history. Businesses and residents alike enjoy easy access to regional destinations and points beyond via highway and air travel. Traversed by Interstate 64 just 7 miles from Interstate 75, Scott County is also served by the major thoroughfares of U.S. Highways 25, 62, and 460. Access to major commercial airline service is available in nearby Lexington at Blue Grass Airport.
Services
Newcomers to Scott County will be impressed by the quality of healthcare services and educational opportunities from preschool through graduate studies. In addition to having one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Kentucky, Scott County offers several options for private and parochial schools. Two-year degree programs, vocational-technical training, and adult education are available through Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) with three campuses in Lexington. Georgetown-Scott County maintains its own BCTC campus where students can earn associate degrees or choose from highly relevant technical training programs. Another option for higher education in Scott County is the private liberal arts institution of Georgetown College, where more than 90 percent of the faculty hold the highest possible degree in their field. Students can choose from 38 undergraduate degrees in the arts and humanities, math and sciences, language and culture, business, and healthcare along with a master’s in education. Nearby Lexington is home to the flagship campus for the University of Kentucky (UK) and the private colleges of American National University and Transylvania University. With more than 200 academic programs across 16 degree-granting colleges, UK offers 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.
State-of-the-art healthcare services and resources are as close as Georgetown Community Hospital, providing a broad range of specialties and quality services with a patient-centered focus. The 75-bed hospital is proud of its award-winning reputation for providing clinical excellence and consistent recognition as one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky.” Continually upgrading and expanding to meet the needs of a growing community, Georgetown Community features an award-winning ICU, medical/surgical unit, advanced imaging equipment, and 24-hour emergency care. If the need for more advanced care arises, nearby Lexington is a hub of nationally recognized health systems including UK HealthCare, CHI Saint Joseph Health, and Baptist Health Lexington. UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital was recently ranked No. 1 in Kentucky for Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Along with Kentucky Children’s Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital, UK Chandler Hospital provides Kentucky’s most advanced subspeciality care and the only Level I Trauma Center for both adult and pediatric patients in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Lexington VA Health Care System, a Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center, and Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital are also available in Lexington.
Lifestyle
Country pleasures and small-town living are usually associated with a slower rate of development, but not in Scott County. This region had been consistently changing and evolving long before Toyota chose Georgetown as the site for its first American plant—and its largest worldwide. Today, visitors are able to take a guided tram tour through the plant to see the way America’s best-selling cars are being built. The longstanding equine industry remains Central Kentucky’s claim to fame, crowned by the 1,224-acre Kentucky Horse Park that spans Scott and Fayette counties. The park combines a working horse farm with an educational theme park, equine presentations, horse-drawn tours, and museums. For more personal encounters with famous racing champions, the city of Georgetown is home to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm. Other outdoor attractions include golf, farm visits and tours, the Buffalo Gals Farm Quilt Trail, a family aquatic center, scenic byway routes, and Elkhorn Creek for canoeing and fishing. Georgetown-Scott County Parks & Recreation maintains more than 350 acres of beautiful parkland, 3 recreation centers, 5 boat launch sites, walking trails, pool facilities, and a medley of indoor and outdoor facilities that support a wide range of activities.
Cultural appreciation begins close to home with Kentucky’s oldest collegiate theatre company, the Maskrafters of Georgetown College. The presence of Georgetown College enriches the entire community through theatre, music, and dance programs at Davis Performing Arts Center and three visual art galleries. History buffs will enjoy touring the 12,000 square-foot villa of Ward Hall, built in 1857 as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture. It was here that the saucy Sallie Ward hosted extravagant balls, amassed a fortune marrying four millionaires, and amused herself by scandalizing polite society. Nearby Lexington is home to several first-class venues for the performing arts, including the 23,000-seat Rupp Arena that hosts concerts for the biggest names in music. Lexington Opera House with its gracious 19th-century ambiance offers a more intimate venue for opera, dance, music, theater, comedy, and family shows. Serving a regional audience, Lexington Philharmonic orchestra provides more than 200 annual concerts, education, and community programs. Along with great schools, local college campuses, historic charm, and a popular farmers market, Scott County offers an attractive selection of homes to suit every taste and price range. Newcomers will find everything from cozy bungalows to elegant country manors and vibrant new construction in rural, suburban, and urban settings in this beautiful area that blends small-town charm with big-city convenience.
Georgetown
Municipal Offices
502-863-9800
https://www.georgetownky.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
502-863-5424
https://www.gtown.org/
Recognized on Money magazine’s list of Best Places to Live in Every State, Georgetown exceled in a variety of metrics including economics, education, affordability, convenience, and an overall “pleasant way of life.” The city is noted for the quality and preservation of its historic homes and buildings, but many people know it best as the place for the finest antique shopping in Kentucky. In fact, the charming downtown district is a regional destination for visitors who want to browse through distinctive boutiques and dine in locally owned restaurants and eateries. Characterized as one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, Georgetown’s economic vitality and the local home construction industry have benefited from Toyota’s decision to choose the city as the site of its first American factory. Residents enjoy a local hospital, full-service library, private college, great parks and recreational amenities, architectural treasures, nationally recognized equine attractions, a seasonal farmers market, and a lively downtown atmosphere. An ideal location near the crossroads of Interstates 75 and 64 combines with close proximity to metropolitan Lexington to offer a rare quality of life that remains affordable yet rich with advantages and amenities.
Sadieville
Municipal Offices
502-857-4576
https://www.sadievilleky.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
502-863-5424
https://www.gtown.org/
Big on pride but small in size, the city of Sadieville was incorporated in 1880 and named for the highly honored citizen Mrs. Sadie Pack. Once the largest market in the nation for shipping yearling mules and colts, the community evolved into a railway town. Another milestone in its storied history is the 1920 Rosenwald School for African-American children, restored in 2011 to serve as a museum and cultural center. More than 140 years after its founding, Sadieville remains a quiet community nestled along beautiful Eagle Creek that features picturesque rural backdrops, tree-lined country roads, and historic homes. Downtown Sadieville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and showcases a collection of late Victorian-era and early 20th-century residential architecture. While they enjoy the intimate spirit of a community where neighbors greet each other by name, residents are just a few minutes away from expanded amenities in Georgetown and metropolitan Lexington.
