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Where is Lexington City, KY



More popularly known as 'Thoroughbred City' and the 'Horse Capital of the World', Lexington is located in the central part of Kentucky state and central east of the United States. Lexington is one of the major cities of the United States and second largest city of Kentucky. The population of city is 295,803 and including metropolitan area the population is 472,099; the data has been based upon 2010 Census.



Location Map of Lexington, KY

Where is Lexington, KY

Map showing Location Map of Lexington City in the Kentucky State, USA.
US Map showing Location Map of Lexington City in Kentucky
The city was established in the year 1775 and at that time, it was the part of Virginia state; however, in the year 1792, Kentucky became an independent state and subsequently, Lexington became the city of Kentucky state. Surprisingly, by the year of 1820, Lexington became one of the wealthiest and biggest towns located west of the Allegheny Mountains. Interestingly, because of its rich culture, the city has become popular by the nickname 'Athens of the West'. Furthermore, in the year 1935, a drug rehabilitation clinic i.e. 'Addiction Research Centre' has also been established in the city. Likewise, the city has grown and became a major city of United states.

Interestingly, the city Lexington is home of various thriving arts organizations; significant of them are two ballet companies, professional orchestra, big theatres, and many museums. Besides, people also organize various trade and fairs.

Lexington, Kentucky Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityLexington
CountyFayette County
StateKentucky
State CapitalFrankfort
US RegionSouth
Latitude38.0406° N
Longitude84.5037° W
Elevation978 ft (298 m)
Land Area283.6 sq mi
Water Area1.2 sq mi
Total Area284.8 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)322,570
Population DensityApproximately 1,137 per sq mi
ZIP Codes40502, 40503, 40504, 40505, 40507, 40508, 40509, 40510, 40511, 40513, 40514, 40515, 40516, 40517, 40522, 40523, 40524, 40526, 40533, 40536, 40544, 40546, 40550, 40555, 40574, 40575, 40576, 40577, 40578, 40579, 40580, 40581, 40583, 40588, 40591, 40598
Area Code859
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5)
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4)
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code21-46027
Congressional DistrictKentucky 6th Congressional District

Location and Surroundings

Lexington is located in Fayette County in central Kentucky within the Bluegrass Region. It lies between Louisville and the Appalachian foothills, surrounded by rolling farmland and world-famous horse farms. The city is known as the Horse Capital of the World and is recognized for its equine industry, bourbon heritage, higher education institutions, and healthcare sector.

Nearby Cities to Lexington, Kentucky

  • Nicholasville, Kentucky - 12 mi South
  • Georgetown, Kentucky - 15 mi North
  • Versailles, Kentucky - 16 mi West
  • Winchester, Kentucky - 18 mi East
  • Paris, Kentucky - 18 mi Northeast
  • Richmond, Kentucky - 26 mi Southeast
  • Frankfort, Kentucky - 29 mi West
  • Danville, Kentucky - 37 mi Southwest
  • Berea, Kentucky - 42 mi Southeast
  • Shelbyville, Kentucky - 52 mi West

Lexington, Kentucky Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January41243.5
April67454.2
July86664.5
October69473.0
Annual664646.0
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Humid Subtropical (Cfa)
Annual RainfallAbout 46 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysApproximately 190 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskLow hurricane risk, moderate tornado risk
SnowfallApproximately 13 inches annually

Driving Distances from Lexington, Kentucky

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
NicholasvilleKentucky1220 min
GeorgetownKentucky1520 min
VersaillesKentucky1625 min
WinchesterKentucky1825 min
ParisKentucky1825 min
RichmondKentucky2635 min
FrankfortKentucky2935 min
DanvilleKentucky3745 min
BereaKentucky4250 min
ShelbyvilleKentucky5255 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Lexington, Kentucky

CategoryDetails
Airport NameBlue Grass Airport
IATA CodeLEX
PortNot Applicable
Major HighwaysI-64, I-75, New Circle Road (KY 4), US 27, US 60
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo direct Amtrak service
Local Bus/Transit ServiceLextran Public Transit
  • Interstate 64 - Connects Lexington with Louisville, Frankfort, and eastern Kentucky.
  • Interstate 75 - Major north-south corridor linking Lexington with Cincinnati and Tennessee.
  • New Circle Road (KY 4) - Beltway serving Lexington neighborhoods and commercial districts.
  • US Highway 27 - Regional route connecting central Kentucky communities.
  • US Highway 60 - Historic east-west highway crossing the Bluegrass Region.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Lexington, Kentucky

Landmark NameType
Kentucky Horse ParkEquestrian Attraction
Keeneland Race CourseHorse Racing Venue
Mary Todd Lincoln HouseHistoric House
Ashland - The Henry Clay EstateHistoric Site
Rupp ArenaSports Venue
University of Kentucky ArboretumBotanical Garden
Lexington Opera HouseHistoric Theater
The Aviation Museum of KentuckyMuseum
Raven Run Nature SanctuaryNature Preserve
Lexington CemeteryHistoric Landmark

Waterbodies in Lexington, Kentucky

Elkhorn Creek, Town Branch Creek, South Elkhorn Creek, Jacobson Lake, Kentucky River, Boone Creek, Hickman Creek, Reservoir No. 4, Cane Run Creek, McConnell Springs Watershed

Golf Courses in Lexington, Kentucky

Kearney Hill Golf Links, Lakeside Golf Course, Gay Brewer Jr. Course, University Club of Kentucky, Griffin Gate Golf Club, Greenbrier Golf and Country Club, Lexington Country Club, Cherry Blossom Golf Club, Houston Oaks Golf Course, Picadome Golf Course

Economy and Major Employers in Lexington, Kentucky

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
EducationUniversity of KentuckyLargest employer and research institution in the region.
HealthcareUK HealthCareMajor healthcare provider and employer.
HealthcareBaptist Health LexingtonLeading regional medical center.
Equine IndustryHorse Farms and Racing IndustryWorld-renowned center for thoroughbred breeding.
ManufacturingToyota Motor Manufacturing KentuckyMajor employer in the metropolitan area.
GovernmentLexington-Fayette Urban County GovernmentSignificant public-sector employer.
FinanceBanking and Financial ServicesSupports regional business growth.
TourismHorse Country and Bourbon TourismMajor contributor to the local economy.

Colleges and Universities in Lexington, Kentucky

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of KentuckyPublicUniversityResearch, medicine, and engineering programs
Transylvania UniversityPrivateUniversityKentucky's oldest university and liberal arts education
Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegePublicCommunity CollegeWorkforce training and transfer programs
Sullivan University - LexingtonPrivateUniversityCareer-focused higher education
National University - Lexington CampusPrivateUniversityProfessional and graduate degree programs
Eastern Kentucky University - Lexington CenterPublicUniversityContinuing and adult education programs

Lexington, Kentucky - Key Historical Facts

  • Lexington was founded in 1775 and named in honor of the Battle of Lexington in Massachusetts.
  • The city became an important center for agriculture, commerce, and education in early Kentucky history.
  • Lexington earned the nickname "Athens of the West" because of its educational and cultural influence during the nineteenth century.
  • The thoroughbred horse industry developed around Lexington and became one of the region's defining economic sectors.
  • The University of Kentucky, established in 1865, helped transform Lexington into a major educational and research center.
  • Today, Lexington is internationally recognized for horse breeding, racing, healthcare, higher education, and Bluegrass culture.

Sources

More Kentucky Maps & Info

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Kentucky Area CodesKentucky Blank MapKentucky River Map
Kentucky Physical MapKentucky Road MapWhere is Lexington

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 11, 2025, 11:50 PM ET