Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington: The second most populous city in Kentucky.
About
Lexington is a city located in the county of Fayette in the U.S. state of Kentucky.
Lexington is the second largest city in Kentucky after Louisville. With a population of over 320,000 in the metro area, it serves as the center of the state's Bluegrass Region.
History and Origins
Lexington was founded in 1775 and named after the Revolutionary War’s first battle. It emerged as a commercial and educational hub.
Key facts:
- Settled in 1775 and named after Lexington, Massachusetts
- Served as capital of Kentucky from 1780-1792
- Home to the first university west of the Allegheny Mountains, Transylvania University
- Center of the thoroughbred horse industry and bourbon production
Economy and Industries
Major sectors include education, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. Top employers are:
- University of Kentucky
- Lexington-Fayette government
- Lexington-Fayette Urban County School System
- Saint Joseph Health System
Attractions and Things to Do
Popular sites include:
- Historic homes like Ashland and Hunt-Morgan House
- The Kentucky Horse Park showcasing all things horses
- Kentucky Bourbon Trail tours
- Rupp Arena sports and entertainment venue
- The Arboretum with 100 acres of gardens
Lexington offers Southern heritage, horses, bourbon, and urban amenities.
Quick Facts about Lexington
| Population | 225,366 |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Kentucky (United States) |
| County | Fayette County |
| Phone Area Codes | 859 |
| Area | 739.56 km2 |
| Official name | Lexington |
| Latitude & Longitude | 37.9887,-84.4777 |
| Named for | Lexington |
| Altitude | 978 feet / 298 meters |
| Capital city | Lexington is capital of Fayette County |
| Establishment | January 01, 1775 (251 years ago) |
| Time Zone | America/New_York |
| Local time | 18:00:27 (22nd April 2026) |
| Postal code | 40502 |
| Weather | 76℉ Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 7-days weather |
Geography
Lexington is located at 37°59'19"N 84°28'40"W (37.9886900, -84.4777200).
Lexington map
icon to open full mode. View satellite images
Weather
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipit...
7-Day ForecastOfficial website of Lexington
Official WebsiteBest Things to Do in Lexington
1Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511, United States View details
Phone: +18592334303 | Website available
2Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
3885 Raven Run Way, Lexington, KY 40515, United States View details
Phone: +18592726105 | Website available
3Mary Todd Lincoln House
578 W Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, United States View details
Phone: +18592339999 | Website available
4Explorium of Lexington
440 W Short St, Lexington, KY 40507, United States View details
Phone: +18592583253 | Website available
5Talon Winery & Vineyards
7086 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY 40515, United States View details
Phone: +18599713214 | Website available
Services and Civic Places in Lexington
1USDA Rural Development
771 Corporate Dr, Lexington, KY 40503, United States View details
Phone: +18592247300 | Website available
2Usda
3180 Hemingway Ln, Lexington, KY 40513, United States View details
Phone: +18592534653 | Website available
People born in Lexington (200)
People born in Lexington, including war correspondent, screenwriter Michael Herr, Thoroughbred racehorse Man o' War, composer Zach Brock, .
More notable people
- Gene Robinson (Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire) he was born in 29/05/1947
- Thomas Hunt Morgan (American biologist) he was born in 25/09/1866
- George W. Dunlap (American politician (1813-1880)) he was born in 22/02/1813
- Tyson Gay (American track and field sprint athlete) he was born in 09/08/1982
- Mary Todd Lincoln (wife of Abraham Lincoln and First Lady of the United States (1818-1882)) she was born in 13/12/1818
- Joyce Compton (American film actress (1907-1997)) she was born in 27/01/1907
- Kevin Richardson (American singer, member of the Backstreet Boys) he was born in 03/10/1971
- Tamara McKinney (American alpine skier) she was born in 16/10/1962
- John C. Breckinridge (Confederate Army general and Vice President of the United States (1821-1875)) he was born in 16/01/1821
- Jim Varney (American stand-up comedian (1949-2000)) he was born in 15/06/1949
- Dotsie Bausch (cyclist) she was born in 06/03/1973
- Carter Harrison (American politician Carter H. Harrison III (1825-1893)) he was born in 15/02/1825
- Chancellor Miller (actor) he was born in 11/05/1993
- Brian Littrell (American male singer, member of Backstreet Boys) he was born in 20/02/1975
- Melissa McBride (American actress) she was born in 23/05/1965
- Mark W. Izard (American politician (1799-1866)) he was born in 25/12/1799
- Benjamin Gratz Brown (American politician (1826-1885)) he was born in 28/05/1826
- Tinashe (American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress and former model) she was born in 06/02/1993
Nearby Schools and Colleges
Schools and campuses linked to Lexington, KY. Select a name to open its map and contact details.
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 446242 | Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education | Lexington (KY) | 40517 |
Nearby Transit Stations (2)
Rail and bus stations connected to Lexington, KY. Select a station to open its map and address details.
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAY | Maysville | West Front St & Rosemary Clooney St | RAIL |
| LVL | Louisville, Kentucky | 720 West Muhammad Ali Blvd. | BUS |
Closest post offices linked to Lexington.
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegra Post Office | Lexington (KY) | 40517 |
Other places with the same name (20)
- Lexington, Massachusetts town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States with a population of 33,003 people.
- Lexington, South Carolina town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States with a population of 22,716 people.
- Lexington, North Carolina city in and county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States with a population of 19,141 people.
- Lexington, Nebraska city in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States with a population of 10,109 people.
- Lexington, Tennessee city in Henderson County, Tennessee, United States with a population of 7,866 people.
- Lexington, Virginia independent city in Virginia, United States with a population of 7,279 people.
- Lexington, Ohio village in Richland County, Ohio, United States with a population of 5,328 people.
- Lexington, Missouri city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States with a population of 4,543 people.
- Lexington, Indiana unincorporated community in Lexington Township, Scott County, Indiana, United States with a population of 3,533 people.
- Lexington, Oklahoma city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States with a population of 2,187 people.
- Lexington, Illinois city in McLean County, Illinois, United States with a population of 2,020 people.
- Lexington, Kansas human settlement in United States of America with a population of 1,414 people.
- Lexington, Mississippi city in and county seat of Holmes County, Mississippi, United States with a population of 1,412 people.
- Lexington, Texas town in Lee County, Texas, United States with a population of 1,256 people.
- Lexington, Michigan village in Sanilac County, Michigan, United States with a population of 1,118 people.
- Lexington, New York town of the United States with a population of 767 people.
- Lexington, Minnesota city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States with a population of 742 people.
- Lexington, Alabama town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States with a population of 711 people.
- Lexington, Oregon city in Morrow County, Oregon, United States with a population of 240 people.
- Lexington, Georgia city in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States with a population of 230 people.
Other cities in Fayette County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Fayette County , KY.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | 314,488 | The most populous city in Kentucky and the center of the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area. |
| Crestwood | 5,111 | Human settlement in Oldham County, Kentucky, United States of America |
| Mount Vernon | 2,375 | City in Rockcastle County, Kentucky |
| Columbus | 150 | City in Hickman County, Kentucky, United States |
Distance to Other Cities
Lexington distances to largest Kentucky cities