Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
Lexington-Fayette is a place of 323,725 people in Fayette County, Kentucky, founded in 1775.
Why visit Lexington-Fayette
Townapedia lists 99 museums and landmarks, 50 parks and trails, 299 places to eat, 25 places to stay and 15 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lexington Opera House, LexLive, Henry Clay's Law Office and Living Arts and Science Center.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Lexington-Fayette
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lexington-Fayette
Lexington is a consolidated city coterminous with Fayette County, Kentucky, United States, of which it is also the county seat. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the second-most populous city in Kentucky (after Louisville), the 14th-most populous city in the Southeast, and the 59th-most populous city in the United States. By area, it is the country's 33rd-largest city.
From the Wikipedia article Lexington, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do15
Lexington Opera House
Cinema and theater · 2.3 mi
Theater in Lexington, Kentucky
Transylvania University
School · 2.1 mi
Private university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Lyric Theatre
Cinema and theater · 1.7 mi
Performing arts center and former movie theater in Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
School · 2.5 mi
Graduate program devoted to the study of diplomacy, international affairs and commerce at the University of Kentucky
Singletary Center for the Arts
Cinema and theater · 2.3 mi
Performing arts center on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, United States
University of Kentucky
School · 2.5 mi
Public university in the United States
Carriage House Theatre
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
156 West Bell Court, Lexington
3 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks99
Henry Clay's Law Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Former law office in Kentucky
176 North Mill Street, Lexington
Living Arts and Science Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic house in Lexington, Kentucky, United States
362 North Martin Luther King Boulevard, Lexington
Mary Todd Lincoln House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
Pope Villa
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
326 Grosvenor Avenue, Lexington
Abraham Barton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Building in Lexington, United States of America
African Cemetery No. 2
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky
Ashland
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Plantation of the 19th-century Kentucky statesman Henry Clay, located in Lexington, Kentucky
Ashland Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Human settlement in Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
Bell Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Human settlement in Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
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Botherum
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
Buenna Hill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 9.6 mi
House in Fayette County, Kentucky
Buford-Duke House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 9.9 mi
Historic house in Kentucky, United States
87 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds50
Rupp Arena
Sports field and stadium · 2.5 mi
432 West Vine Street, Lexington
38 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes299
Blue Door Smokehouse
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.0 mi
819 National Avenue, Lexington
Mo-Th 11:00-15:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.6 mi
Located within Barnes & Noble Bookstoore
1932 Pavilion Way, Lexington
09:00-22:00
WING KYNG
Restaurant · Chicken · 1.8 mi
Wing joint with some seating, but mostly take-away.
101 West Loudon Avenue, Lexington
Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-20:00
A Cup of Common Wealth
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.8 mi
105 Eastern Avenue, Lexington
Mo-Tu 06:00-14:00; We-Fr 06:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00; Sa-Su...
Archa Nine Thai Kitchen
Restaurant · Thai · 2.1 mi
162 Old Todds Road, Lexington
Mo-Th 11:45-14:45; Fr 17:00-20:45; Sa 12:00-14:45; Su 17:00-20:45
Carson's Food & Drink
Restaurant · 1.9 mi
Carson's Food & Drink features new and exciting chef-driven recipes and cocktails that combine rustic refinement with classic Kentucky...
362 East Main Street, Lexington
Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-22:00
Chuy's
Restaurant · Tex-Mex · 2.6 mi
1856 Alysheba Way, Lexington
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
287 more on the map.
History
Lexington was named in June 1775, in what was then considered Fincastle County, Virginia, 17 years before Kentucky became a state. A party of frontiersmen, led by William McConnell, camped on the Middle Fork of Elkhorn Creek (now known as Town Branch and rerouted under Vine Street) at the site of the present-day McConnell Springs. There was widespread support among pioneers in the lands across the Appalachian range for the colonists in Massachusetts in their opposition to what was viewed as the arbitrary abuse of authority by the British crown. Upon hearing of the opening of armed hostilities between Massachusetts militiamen and British regular infantry in an initial skirmish at Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, and of the deaths of several colonists in that action, the frontiersmen under McConnell decided to name the site "Lexington". It was the first of many American places to be named after the Massachusetts town.
From the History section of Lexington, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay25
Churches and places of worship48
Central Christian Church
Church · Disciples Of Christ · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Christ Church Episcopal
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
First Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Second Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church & Day School
Church · Episcopal · 1.6 mi
533 East Main Street, Lexington
Shopping41
Gas and EV charging21
Schools, colleges and libraries66
Healthcare16
Baptist Health Medical Group Primary Care Hamburg
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
2530 Sir Barton Way, Lexington
Lexington Hearing & Speech Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
350 Henry Clay Boulevard, Lexington
Map of Lexington-Fayette
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 25°F | 3.4 in | 4.7 in |
| Feb | 47°F | 28°F | 3.6 in | 4.5 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 36°F | 4.5 in | 2.8 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 45°F | 4.4 in | 0.2 in |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 47°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.4 in | 0.4 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 30°F | 4.2 in | 1.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lexington Bluegrass Ap Gsn 72422 (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Fayette County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
- 2024-05-22: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-04-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2021-04-23: Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Blue Grass Airport (LEX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Nicholasville 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
- Keene 12 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Midway 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Winchester 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Versailles 15 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Paris 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Georgetown 16 mi north, about 25 min by car
- Wilmore 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
- Richmond 23 mi south, about 37 min by car
- Frankfort 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- LexingtonDowntown, Madgeek1450 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Henry Clay's law office, FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mary Todd Lincoln House, Lexington Kentucky 3, FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kinkead House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Pope Villa (Lexington, Kentucky) - DSC09312, Daderot, CC0
- Central Christian Church in Lexington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Loudoun House, Lester Jones, Public domain
- Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Mentelle Park (3), Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 330 Madison Place, Lexington, Own work; house built by unknown architect ca. 1885-1900, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Botherum, Lester Jones, Public domain
- African Cemetery No. 2, Lexington Kentucky, FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ashland HC, The original uploader was Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia ., CC BY 2.5
- Confederate Soldier Monument in Lexington 2, Bedford at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Douglass School, Lexington, Kentucky, Randolph Hollingsworth, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lexington National Cemetery 2, Bedford at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Ladies' Confederate Memorial 1, Bedford at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- JamesLaneAllenHome, Work Projects Administration Photo Collection - Public Records Division - Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Public domain
- Former First African Baptist Church, Nyttend, Public domain
- Russell School in Lexington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Floral Hall in Lexington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Providence Church (Jessamine Co., Kentucky), Rover9000, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Keeneland Race Course, Jason Phillips ( user:Wildcat~commonswiki ), CC BY 2.5
- Main east of Forest in Lexington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ashwood from Woodspoint, Ashland Park, Nyttend, Public domain
- Old Morrison, Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cadentown School 2004, Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), Public domain
- Pepper Distillery from east, Nyttend, Public domain
- Old Episcopal Burying Ground and Chapel, Lexington Kentucky, FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hurricane Hall, Kyman1959 ( talk ), Public domain
- LexingtonCemetery, Analogue Kid at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
- Waveland spring, JTD Media, CC BY-SA 3.0
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