Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette Urban County | |
 From top, left to right: Lexington skyline, Rupp Arena/Central Bank Center, Keeneland Race Course, Donamire Farm, Kroger Field, University of Kentucky Arboretum, Old Fayette County Courthouse, NTRA headquarters | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname(s): Athens of the West,[1] Horse Capital of the World | |
 Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky | |
  Lexington, Kentucky Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 38°01′47″N 84°29′41″WCoordinates: 38°01′47″N 84°29′41″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Counties | Fayette |
| Established | 1782[2] |
| Incorporated | 1831[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Linda Gorton (R) |
| • Urban County Council | 15-member legislative council |
| Area | |
| • Consolidated city-county | 285.54 sq mi (739.54 km2) |
| • Land | 283.64 sq mi (734.62 km2) |
| • Water | 1.90 sq mi (4.92 km2) |
| • Urban | 87.5 sq mi (226.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 978 ft (298 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Consolidated city-county | 322,570 |
| • Rank | US: 60th Kentucky: 2nd |
| • Density | 1,100/sq mi (440/km2) |
| • Urban | 312,263 |
| • Metro | 517,056 (US: 109th) |
| • CSA | 745,033 (US: 70th) |
| • Demonym | Lexingtonian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 40502–40517, 40522–40524, 40526, 40533, 40536, 40544, 40546, 40550, 40555, 40574–40583, 40588, 40591, 40598 |
| Area code | 859 |
| Airport | Blue Grass Airport LEX (Regional) |
| Interstates |   |
| U.S. Routes |      |
| State Routes |      |
| Waterways | Kentucky River |
| Website | www |
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the county seat of Fayette County. By population, it is the 57th-largest city in the United States, and by land area, is the country's 28th-largest city. Known as the "Horse Capital of the World", it is the heart of the state's Bluegrass region. Notable locations in the city include the Kentucky Horse Park, The Red Mile and Keeneland race courses, Rupp Arena, Transylvania University, the University of Kentucky, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
As of the 2020 census the population was 322,570, anchoring a metropolitan area of 516,811 people and a combined statistical area of 747,919 people. Lexington is consolidated entirely within Fayette County, and vice versa. It has a nonpartisan mayor-council form of government, with 12 council districts and three members elected at large, with the highest vote-getter designated vice mayor.
History[edit]
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. Upon hearing of the colonists' victory in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, they named the site Lexington. It was the first of many American places to be named after the Massachusetts town.[4]
On January 25, 1780, 45 original settlers signed the Lexington Compact, known also as the "Articles of Agreement, made by the inhabitants of the town of Lexington, in the County of Kentucky."[5] The settlement at Lexington at this time was also known as Fort Lexington, as it was surrounded by fortifications to protect from the British and from Indians. The Articles allocated land by granting "In" lots of 1/2 acre to each share, along with "Out" lots of 5 acres for each share. Presumably the "In" lots were for the family dwelling inside the fortifications, while the "Out" lots were to be "cleared" for farming. (Corn is the only crop specifically mentioned in the Articles.) It is known that several of these original settlers (perhaps many of them) served under General George Rogers Clark in the Illinois campaign (also called the Northwestern campaign) against the British in 1778–79. [6][7] While the ostensible founder of Lexington, William McConnell, is not one of the signees, an Alexander McConnell is. Within two years of signing the Agreement, both John and Jacob Wymore were killed by Indians in separate incidents outside the walls of "Fort Lexington".[8]
In December, 1781, a huge caravan of around 600 pioneers from Spotsylvania County, Virginia--dubbed "The Travelling Church"--arrived in the Lexington area. Led by the preacher Lewis Craig and Captain William Ellis, the Travelling Church established numerous churches, including the South Elkhorn Christian Church in Lexington. [9]On May 6, 1782, the town of Lexington was chartered by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.[2] Around 1790, the First African Baptist Church was founded in Lexington by Peter Durrett,[10] a Baptist preacher and slave held by Joseph Craig. Durrett had helped guide "The Travelling Church" on its trek to Kentucky. This church is the oldest black Baptist congregation in Kentucky and the third-oldest in the United States.[10][11]
In the early 1800s, Lexington was a rising city of the vast territory to the west of the Appalachian Mountains; Josiah Espy described it in a published version of his notes as he toured Ohio and Kentucky:[12]
In the early 19th century, Lexington planter John Wesley Hunt became the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies. Henry Clay, a lawyer who married into one of the wealthiest families of Kentucky and served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in 1812, helped to lead the War Hawks, pushing for war with Great Britain to bolster the markets of American products.[14] Six companies of volunteers came from Lexington, with a rope-walk on James Erwin's farm on the Richmond Road used as a recruiting office and barracks until the war ended.[15] Several Lexingtonians served with prominence as officers in the war. For example, Captain Nathaniel G.S. Hart commanded the Lexington Light Infantry (also known as the "Silk Stocking Boys") and was killed while a captive after the Battle of the River Raisin.[16] Henry Clay also served as a negotiator at the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.
The growing town was devastated by a cholera epidemic in 1833, which had spread throughout the waterways of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys: 500 of 7,000 Lexington residents died within two months, including nearly one-third of the congregation of Christ Church Episcopal.[17] London Ferrill, second preacher of First African Baptist, was one of three clergy who stayed in the city to serve the suffering victims.[11]
Farmers in the areas around Lexington held slaves for use as field hands, laborers, artisans, and domestic servants. In the city, slaves worked primarily as domestic servants and artisans, although they also worked with merchants, shippers, and in a wide variety of trades. Farms raised commodity crops of tobacco and hemp, and thoroughbred horse breeding and racing became established in this part of the state. By 1850, Lexington had the highest concentration of enslaved people in the entire state. The city also had a significant population of free blacks, who were often of mixed race. By 1850, First African Baptist Church, led by London Ferrill, a free black from Virginia, had a congregation of 1,820 persons. At that time, First African Baptist Church had the largest congregation of any church, black or white, in the state of Kentucky.[11]
20th century to present[edit]
Amidst the tensions between black and white populations over the lack of affordable housing in the city, a race riot broke out on September 1, 1917. At the time, the Colored A. & M. Fair (one of the largest African American fairs in the South) on Georgetown Pike had attracted more African Americans from the surrounding area into the city. Also during this time, some United States National Guard troops were camping on the edge of the city. Three troops passed in front of an African American restaurant and shoved some people on the sidewalk. A fight broke out, reinforcements for the troops and civilians both appeared, and soon a riot began. The Kentucky National Guard was summoned, and once the riot had ended, armed soldiers and police patrolled the streets. All other National Guard troops were barred from the city streets until the fair ended.[18]
On February 9, 1920, tensions flared up again, this time over the trial of Will Lockett, a black serial killer who murdered Geneva Hardman, a 10-year-old white girl. When a large mob gathered outside the courthouse where Lockett's trial was underway, Kentucky Governor Edwin P. Morrow massed the National Guard troops into the streets to work alongside local law enforcement. As the mob advanced on the courthouse, the National Guard opened fire, killing six and wounding 50 others. Fearing further retaliation from the mob, Morrow urged the United States Army to provide assistance. Led by Brigadier General Francis C. Marshall, approximately 1,200 federal troops from nearby Camp Zachary Taylor moved into the city the same day to assist National Guard forces and local police in bringing order and peace. Marshall declared martial law in the city and had soldiers positioned throughout the area for two weeks. Lockett was eventually executed on March 11 at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, after being found guilty of murdering Hardman.[19]
In 1935, during the Great Depression, the Addiction Research Center (ARC) was created as a small research unit at the United States Public Health Service hospital in Lexington.[20] Founded as one of the first drug rehabilitation clinics in the nation, the ARC was affiliated with a federal prison. Expanded as the first alcohol and drug rehabilitation hospital in the United States, it was known as "Narco" of Lexington. The hospital was later converted to operate as part of the federal prison system; it is known as the Federal Medical Center, Lexington and serves a variety of health needs for prisoners. Lexington also served as the headquarters for a pack horse library in the late 1930s and early 1940s.[21]
Geography[edit]
The Lexington-Fayette metro area includes five additional counties: Clark, Jessamine, Bourbon, Woodford, and Scott. This is the second-largest metro area in Kentucky after Louisville. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 285.5 square miles (739 km2). 284.5 square miles (737 km2) of it is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) of it (0.35%) is covered by water.[22]
Cityscape[edit]
Lexington features a diverse cityscape.
Planning[edit]
Lexington has had to manage a rapidly growing population while working to maintain the character of the surrounding horse farms that give the region its identity. In 1958, Lexington enacted the nation's first urban growth boundary, restricting new development to an urban service area (USA). It set a strict minimum area requirement, currently 40 acres (160,000 m2), to maintain open space for landholdings in the rural service area.[23]
In 1980, the comprehensive plan was updated: the USA was modified to include urban activity centers (UACs) and rural activity centers (RACs).[24] The UACs were commercial and light-industrial districts in urbanized areas, while RACs were retail trade and light-industrial centers clustered around the Interstate 64/Interstate 75 interchanges. In 1996, the USA was expanded when 5,300 acres (21 km2) of the RSA were acquired through the expansion area master plan (EAMP).[23] This was controversial: this first major update to the comprehensive plan in over a decade was accompanied by arguments among residents about the future of Lexington and the Thoroughbred farms.[24]
The EAMP included new concepts of impact fees, assessment districts, neighborhood design concepts, design overlays, mandatory greenways, major roadway improvements, storm water management, and open-space mitigation for the first time. It also included a draft of the rural land management plan, which included large-lot zoning and traffic-impact controls. A pre-zoning of the entire expansion area was refuted in the plan. A 50-acre (200,000 m2) minimum proposal was defeated. Discussion of this proposal appeared to stimulate the development of numerous 10-acre (40,000 m2) subdivisions in the RSAs.[24]
Three years after the expansion was initiated, the RSA land management plan was adopted, which increased the minimum lot size in the agricultural rural zones to 40-acre (160,000 m2).[23] In 2000, a purchase of development rights plan was adopted, granting the city the power to purchase the development rights of existing farms; in 2001, $40 million was allocated to the plan from a $25-million local, $15-million state grant.[24]
Climate[edit]
Lexington is in the northern periphery of the humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa),[25] with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters with occasional mild periods; it falls in USDA hardiness zone 6b.[26] The city and the surrounding Bluegrass region have four distinct seasons that include cool plateau breezes, moderate nights in the summer, and no prolonged periods of heat, cold, rain, wind, or snow. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 33.9 °F (1.1 °C) in January to 76.7 °F (24.8 °C) in July, while the annual mean temperature is 56.3 °F (13.5 °C).[27] On average, 25 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs occur annually and 23 days per winter where the high is equal to or less than freezing.[28] Annual precipitation is 49.84 inches (1,270 mm), with the late spring and summer being slightly wetter; snowfall averages 14.5 inches (37 cm) per season.[28] Extreme temperatures range from −21 °F (−29 °C) on January 24, 1963, to 108 °F (42 °C) on July 10 and 15, 1936.[27]
Lexington is recognized as a high allergy area by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.[29]
| hideClimate data for Lexington, Kentucky (Blue Grass Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1872–present[b] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) | 80 (27) | 86 (30) | 91 (33) | 96 (36) | 104 (40) | 108 (42) | 105 (41) | 103 (39) | 97 (36) | 83 (28) | 75 (24) | 108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 64.2 (17.9) | 68.4 (20.2) | 75.0 (23.9) | 81.6 (27.6) | 87.2 (30.7) | 92.0 (33.3) | 93.9 (34.4) | 93.4 (34.1) | 90.9 (32.7) | 83.6 (28.7) | 73.5 (23.1) | 65.6 (18.7) | 95.9 (35.5) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 42.3 (5.7) | 46.8 (8.2) | 56.1 (13.4) | 67.2 (19.6) | 75.8 (24.3) | 83.8 (28.8) | 86.9 (30.5) | 86.2 (30.1) | 80.2 (26.8) | 68.6 (20.3) | 55.8 (13.2) | 45.9 (7.7) | 66.3 (19.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.9 (1.1) | 37.5 (3.1) | 45.9 (7.7) | 56.2 (13.4) | 65.4 (18.6) | 73.3 (22.9) | 76.7 (24.8) | 75.7 (24.3) | 69.1 (20.6) | 57.8 (14.3) | 46.1 (7.8) | 37.8 (3.2) | 56.3 (13.5) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 25.4 (−3.7) | 28.3 (−2.1) | 35.8 (2.1) | 45.2 (7.3) | 55.0 (12.8) | 62.8 (17.1) | 66.5 (19.2) | 65.2 (18.4) | 58.1 (14.5) | 47.0 (8.3) | 36.4 (2.4) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 46.3 (7.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 3.5 (−15.8) | 7.8 (−13.4) | 16.9 (−8.4) | 28.1 (−2.2) | 38.9 (3.8) | 49.8 (9.9) | 56.9 (13.8) | 54.9 (12.7) | 43.5 (6.4) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 11.5 (−11.4) | 0.3 (−17.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −20 (−29) | −2 (−19) | 15 (−9) | 26 (−3) | 39 (4) | 47 (8) | 42 (6) | 32 (0) | 20 (−7) | −3 (−19) | −19 (−28) | −21 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.42 (87) | 3.64 (92) | 4.48 (114) | 4.42 (112) | 5.44 (138) | 4.96 (126) | 5.12 (130) | 3.71 (94) | 3.42 (87) | 3.66 (93) | 3.37 (86) | 4.20 (107) | 49.84 (1,266) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.7 (12) | 4.5 (11) | 2.8 (7.1) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (1.0) | 1.9 (4.8) | 14.5 (37) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.6 | 11.6 | 12.8 | 12.8 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 10.7 | 9.6 | 7.7 | 9.2 | 10.3 | 12.6 | 134.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.5 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 13.4 |
| Source: NOAA[27][28] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[edit]
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 834 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,795 | 115.2% | |
| 1810 | 4,326 | 141.0% | |
| 1820 | 5,270 | 21.8% | |
| 1830 | 6,026 | 14.3% | |
| 1840 | 6,997 | 16.1% | |
| 1850 | 8,159 | 16.6% | |
| 1860 | 9,321 | 14.2% | |
| 1870 | 14,801 | 58.8% | |
| 1880 | 16,656 | 12.5% | |
| 1890 | 21,567 | 29.5% | |
| 1900 | 26,369 | 22.3% | |
| 1910 | 35,099 | 33.1% | |
| 1920 | 41,534 | 18.3% | |
| 1930 | 45,736 | 10.1% | |
| 1940 | 49,304 | 7.8% | |
| 1950 | 55,534 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 62,810 | 13.1% | |
| 1970 | 108,137 | 72.2% | |
| 1980 | 204,165 | 88.8% | |
| 1990 | 225,366 | 10.4% | |
| 2000 | 260,512 | 15.6% | |
| 2010 | 295,803 | 13.5% | |
| 2020 | 322,570 | 9.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[30] | |||
The Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Scott, and Woodford Counties. The MSA population is 516,811 as of the 2020 census.[31]
The Lexington-Fayette-Frankfort-Richmond, KY Combined Statistical Area had a population of 747,919 in 2020.[32] This includes the metro area and an additional seven counties.[33]
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As of the 2020 census, there were 322,570 people, 129,784 households, and 74,761 families within the city. The population density was 1,137.3 people per square mile (439.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.7% non-Hispanic White, 15.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.4% of the population.
Of the 131,929 households reported in the 2019 American Community Survey, 52% were married couples living together, 15% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27% were non-families. 28.4% of households were home to children under the age of 18. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.99. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
In 2019 the population was distributed with 20.9% of residents under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,291 in 2019, slightly below the national average of $62,843. and for a family was $53,264. Males living alone had a median income of $36,268 versus $30,811 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,442. About 8.7% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those ages 65 and older.
The table below illustrates the population growth of Fayette County since the first U.S. Census in 1790. Lexington city limits became coterminous with Fayette County in 1974.
Sources:
- 1790 to 1960 census:[34]
- 1970 census:[35]
- 1980 census:[36]
- 1990 census:[37]
- 2000 to 2005 census:[38]
- 2006 census:[39]
Economy[edit]
Lexington has one of the nation's most stable economies. Lexington describes itself as having "a fortified economy, strong in manufacturing, technology, and entrepreneurial support, benefiting from a diverse, balanced business base".[40] The Lexington Metro Area had an unemployment rate of 3.7% in August 2015, lower than many cities of similar size.[41]
The city is home to several large corporations. Sizable employment is generated by four Fortune 500 companies: Xerox (which acquired Affiliated Computer Services), Lexmark International, Lockheed-Martin, and IBM, employing 3,000, 2,800, 1,705, and 552, respectively.[42] United Parcel Service, Trane, and Amazon.com, Inc. have large operations in the city, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky is within the Lexington CSA, located in adjoining Georgetown. A Jif peanut butter plant located here produces more peanut butter than any other factory in the world.[43]
Notable corporate headquarters include Lexmark International, a manufacturer of printers and enterprise software;[44] Link-Belt Construction Equipment, a designer and manufacturer of telescopic and lattice boom cranes;[45] Big Ass Fans, a manufacturer of large ceiling fans and lighting fixtures for industrial, commercial, agricultural, and residential use;[46] A&W Restaurants, a restaurant chain known for root beer;[47] and Fazoli's, an Italian-American fast-food chain.[48]
The city's largest employer, the University of Kentucky, employed 16,743 as of 2020.[49]
Other sizable employers include the Lexington-Fayette County government and other hospital facilities. The Fayette County Public Schools employ 5,374, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government employs 2,699. Central Baptist Hospital, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, and the Veterans Administration Hospital employ 7,000 persons in total.[42]
Culture[edit]
Annual cultural events and fairs[edit]
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June has two popular music festivals: Bluegrass and Broadway. The Festival of the Bluegrass, Kentucky's oldest bluegrass music festival, is in early June; it includes three stages for music and a "bluegrass music camp" for school children. For more than two decades, during the second and third weekends, UK Opera Theatre presents a Broadway medley "It's A Grand Night for Singing!"[50]
Later in June, the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization hosts the Lexington Pride Festival, which celebrates pride in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities and welcomes allies. The festival offers live music, crafts, food, and informational booths from diverse service organizations. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, elected in 2010 and openly gay, proclaimed June 29, 2013, as Pride Day.[51] Lexington has one of the highest concentrations of gay and lesbian couples in the United States for a city its size.[51]
Area residents gather downtown for the Fourth of July festivities, which extend for several days. On July 3, the Gratz Park Historic District is transformed into an outdoor music hall, when the Patriotic Music Concert is held on the steps of Morrison Hall at Transylvania University. The Lexington Singers and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra perform at this event. On the Fourth, events include a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Old Courthouse, a waiters' race in Phoenix Park, a parade, a country-music concert, street vendors for wares and food, and fireworks. The Woodland Arts Fair is almost four decades old.[52]
"Southern Lights: Spectacular Sights on Holiday Nights," which takes place from November 18 to December 31, is held at the Kentucky Horse Park. It includes a three-mile (4.8 km) drive through the park, showcasing numerous displays, many in character with the horse industry and history of Lexington. The "Mini-Train Express", an indoor petting zoo featuring exotic animals, the International Museum of the Horse, an exhibit showcasing the Bluegrass Railway Club's model train, and Santa Claus are other major highlights.[53]
Other events and fares include:
- The North Limestone (NoLi) Night Market[54]
- The Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra presents several annual concerts.[55]
- The Lexington Ballet Company performs their annual Nutcracker Ballet.
- LexArts Gallery HOP is a seasonal event when the city's art galleries are open to the public on the third Friday of January, March, May, July, September, and November.[56]
Historical structures and museums[edit]
Additional historic sites include:
The University of Kentucky Art Museum is the premier art museum for Lexington and the only accredited museum in the region. Its collection of over 4000 objects ranges from Old Masters to Contemporary. It regularly hosts special exhibitions.[58]
The local Woolworth's building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as a site of protests during the Civil Rights Movement against segregation during the 1960s. Activists conducted sit-ins to gain integrated lunch service, full access to facilities, and more employment. However, in 2004, the building was demolished by its owner, and the area was paved for use as a parking lot until further development.[59]
Sports[edit]
College athletics[edit]
The Kentucky Wildcats, the athletic program of the University of Kentucky, is Lexington's most popular sports entity. The school fields 22 varsity sports teams, most of which compete in the Southeastern Conference as a founding member.[60] The men's basketball team is one of the winningest programs in NCAA history, having won eight national championships. The basketball program was also the first to reach 2000 wins.[61]
Professional sports[edit]
Lexington is home to the Lexington Legends, a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent MLB Partner league.[62] In 2020, the Legends were one of the minor league teams that lost MLB affiliation under a new plan by the MLB.[63]
Horse racing and equestrian events[edit]
The city is home to two horse-racing tracks, Keeneland and The Red Mile harness track. Keeneland, sporting live races in April and October, is steeped in tradition; little has changed since the track's opening in 1936. Keeneland hosted the 2015 Breeders' Cup, with the event's signature race, the Breeders' Cup Classic, won by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. This track also has the world's largest Thoroughbred auction house; 19 Kentucky Derby winners, 21 Preakness Stakes winners, and 18 Belmont Stakes winners were purchased at Keeneland sales. Its most notable race is the Blue Grass Stakes, which is considered an important preparation for the Kentucky Derby. The Red Mile is the oldest horse racing track in the city and the second-oldest in the nation. It runs live harness races, in which horses pull two-wheeled carts called sulkies. The two tracks announced a partnership in 2014.[64]
The Kentucky Horse Park, located along scenic Iron Works Pike in northern Fayette County, is a comparative latecomer to Lexington, opening in 1978. Although commonly known as a tourist attraction and museum, it is also a working horse farm with a farrier and famous retired horses such as 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. Since its opening in April 1978, the Kentucky Horse Park has hosted the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, which is one of the top-three annual equestrian eventing competitions in the world and is held immediately before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. In September and October 2010, Lexington hosted the World Equestrian Games.[65]
Parks and outdoor attractions[edit]
City parks and facilities[edit]
Lexington has over 100 parks, ranging in size from the 8,719-square-foot (810.0 m2) Smith Street Park to the 659-acre (2.7 km2) Masterson Station Park.[66][67] Among those parks are:
- Five public golf courses at Kearney Hill Links, Lakeside, Meadowbrook, Tates Creek, and Picadome
- Five dog parks at Jacobson, Masterson Station, Coldstream, Pleasant Ridge, and Wellington
- Three public 18-hole disc golf courses at Shillito Park, Jacobson Park, and Veterans Park
- A public skate park at Woodland Park, featuring 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) of "ramps, platforms, bowls, and pipes"[66]
Natural areas[edit]
The city is home to Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, a 734-acre (3.0 km2) nature preserve along the Kentucky River Palisades.[66][68]
The Arboretum is a 100-acre (0.40 km2) preserve adjacent to the University of Kentucky.[66]
The city also plays host to the historic McConnell Springs, a 26-acre (110,000 m2) park within the industrial confines off Old Frankfort Pike.[66][68]
Government and politics[edit]
 | This article or section appears to be slanted towards recent events. (June 2020) |
Urban County Council[edit]
The Urban County Council is a 15-member legislative group. Twelve of the members represent specific districts and serve two-year terms; three are elected citywide as at-large council members and serve four-year terms. The at-large member receiving the highest number of votes in the general election automatically becomes the vice mayor, who acts as the presiding officer of the council when the mayor is absent. The council members as of 2021 are [69]
| Councilmember | District | Term ends |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Kay[70] | Vice Mayor | 2022 |
| Richard Moloney[71] | At-large | 2022 |
| Chuck Ellinger II[72] | At-large | 2022 |
| James Brown[73] | 1st | 2022 |
| Josh McCurn[74] | 2nd | 2022 |
| Hannah LeGris[75] | 3rd | 2022 |
| Susan Lamb[76] | 4th | 2022 |
| Liz Sheehan[77] | 5th | 2022 |
| David Kloiber[78] | 6th | 2022 |
| Preston Worley[79] | 7th | 2022 |
| Fred Brown[80] | 8th | 2022 |
| Whitney Baxter[81] | 9th | 2022 |
| Amanda Mays Bledsoe[82] | 10th | 2022 |
| Jennifer Reynolds[83] | 11th | 2022 |
| Kathy Plomin[84] | 12th | 2022 |
Third District Council Member Jake Gibbs died unexpectedly on March 3, 2020. Mayor Linda Gorton appointed Mark Swanson[85] to complete Gibbs' term.[86][87]
Law enforcement[edit]
Primary law enforcement duties within Lexington-Fayette County are the responsibility of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Police. As of July 1, 2021, the Division of Police (also called Lexington Police Department) is authorized for 639 sworn police officers and 16 traffic safety officers. The Division of Police resulted from the merger of the Lexington Police Department with the Fayette County Patrol in 1974. The Fayette County Sheriff's Office is responsible for court service, including court security, prisoner transport, process and warrant service, and property tax collection. The 1974 merger also consolidated the office of city jailer into the office of county jailer, a constitutional position. In 1992 (effective 1993), the Kentucky General Assembly enabled a correctional services division to be established by ordinance, making employees civil-service employees rather than political appointees.[88]
Fire protection[edit]
All fire/rescue protection within Lexington-Fayette County (with the exception of the Blue Grass Airport) is provided by the Lexington Fire Department. The current department was formed with the merger of the county and city fire departments in 1973. Lexington Fire Department is the largest single fire department in Kentucky with over 600 personnel and 24 individual fire stations broken into five districts (battalions).[89]
Education[edit]
According to the United States Census, of Lexington's population over the age of 25, 22.4% hold a bachelor's degree, 11.4% hold a master's degree, 3.1% hold a professional degree, and 2.6% hold a doctoral degree.
The city is served by the Fayette County Public Schools. The system currently consists of six district high schools, along with multiple smaller multidistrict high schools, 12 middle schools, one combined middle/high school, and 37 elementary schools, and is supplemented with many private schools. FCPS opened two new elementary schools in August 2016, and opened a new high school in August 2017.[90][91][92]
The two traditional colleges are the University of Kentucky, which is the state's flagship public university, and Transylvania University, which is the state's oldest four-year university and the first university west of the Alleghenies.[93]
Media[edit]
Lexington's largest daily circulating newspaper is the Lexington Herald-Leader. Business Lexington[94] is a monthly business newspaper. The Chevy Chaser Magazine[95] and Southsider Magazine[96] are two community publications.
The region is also served by eight primary television stations, including WLEX, WKYT, WDKY, WTVQ, WLJC, WUPX, WKLE, WKON, and online news agency KyForward.com.[97] The state's public television network, Kentucky Educational Television, is headquartered in Lexington and is one of the nation's largest public networks, reaching all 1.6 million television households in the state.[98]
Transportation[edit]
Highways[edit]
Interstate 75 runs north–south on the edge of Lexington. Interstate 64 runs east–west on the northern edge of the city. Lexington itself is at the confluence of US Route 25, US Route 27, US Route 60, US Route 68 and US Route 421.
Lexington suffers considerable traffic congestion for a city of its size due to the lack of freeways, the proximity of the University of Kentucky to downtown, and the substantial number of commuters from outlying towns.[citation needed] For traffic relief on northern New Circle Road, Citation Boulevard is planned.[99]
Railroads[edit]
The Southern Railway, well into the 1960s, ran passenger trains through its Lexington station on a Cincinnati-Florida route: the Ponce de Leon and the Royal Palm, as well as the railroad's Carolina Special to various points in North and South Carolina.[100] The last remnant of the Royal Palm left Lexington in 1970. Union Station, open from 1907 and demolished in March 1960, hosted the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and the Louisville and Nashville.[101] The C&O's Louisville-Ashland connector train to the company's George Washington[102] ran until 1970.
Airport[edit]
The Blue Grass Airport is on the west side of Lexington on US Route 60. It has passenger flights by four carriers: Allegiant, American, Delta and United.[103]
Modal characteristics[edit]
In 2019, 79.3% of working Lexingtonians commuted by driving alone, 9.3% carpooled, 2.0% used public transportation, and 3.0% walked. 1.9% of commuters used all other forms of transportation, including taxi, bicycle, and motorcycle. About 4.4% worked from home.[104]
In 2015, 7.2 percent of city of Lexington households were without a car, which increased slightly to 7.4 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Lexington averaged 1.7 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8 per household.[105]
Notable people[edit]
Sister cities[edit]
Lexington has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
Deauville, Calvados, Normandy, France (since 1957)[106]
County Kildare, Leinster, Ireland (since 1984)[106]
Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom (since 2003)[106][107]
Shinhidaka, Hokkaido, Japan (since 2006)
See also[edit]
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Notes[edit]
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ^ Official records for Lexington were kept at the State College on South Limestone Street from October 1872 to July 1876 before closing, the Tower State College Building on the University of Kentucky campus from September 1888 to July 1915 after reopening downtown in 1887, various locations near downtown from July 1915 to July 1944, and Blue Grass Airport since July 1944. For more information, see [1].
References[edit]
- ^ "Athens of the West". National Register of Historic Places (Essay). National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. May 2, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Lexington, Kentucky". Accessed September 18, 2013.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ Ramsay, Robert L. (1952). Our Storehouse of Missouri Place Names. University of Missouri Press. p. 16. ISBN 9780826205865.
- ^ Of these 45 original co-founders, the most common surnames were Wymore (4) and Thompson (3), while Johnson, Niblack, Collins, McDonald, Lindsay, Shannon, Stevenson, and Martin have two signees per name. The Lexington "Articles of Agreement" can be found in the Pogue Library of Murray State University, Murray, KY.
- ^ Paul L. Trovillion, Jr., A History and Genealogy of the Wymores of Southern Illinois,' pp. 1-4, 'Silver Horse: Paducah, KY, 1998.
- ^ Copies of the full Lexington "Articles of Agreement" may be found in the Pogue Library, Murray State University, and in Fayette County, Kentucky Records, Vol. 1: pp. 356-357, by Michael L. Cook, C.G. & Betty Cummings Cook, C.G. Cook Publications, 3318 Wimberg, Evansville, IN 47712.
- ^ Paul L. Trovillion, Jr., A History and Genealogy of the Wymores," p. 6.
- ^ George Washington Ranck (1910). The Travelling Church: An Account of the Baptist Exodus from Virginia to Kentucky in 1781 under the Leadership of Rev. Lewis Craig and Capt. William Ellis. Louisville, KY. p. 22. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ a b "First African Baptist Church", Lexington: The Athens of the West, National Park Service. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ a b c H. E. Nutter, "A Brief History of the First Baptist Church (Black) Lexington, Kentucky", in Souvenir, Sesqui-Centennial Celebration, 1790–1940, Lexington, KY: 1940, accessed August 22, 2010
- ^ Espy, Josiah. "Memorandums of a Tour in Ohio and Kentucky in 1805". Espy - Morehead, Phil and Pat. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ "Athens of the West;" Lexington, Kentucky: The Athens of the West – A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary; National Park Service; 2009
- ^ Hammack, Jr., James W. (1976). Kentucky and the Second American Revolution: The War of 1812. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
- ^ Coleman, J. Winston (1981). Lexington, the Athens of the West. Lexington, Ky.: Winburn Press. p. 28.
- ^ Lindsey, Helen B. (July 1944). "The Lexington Light Infantry Company War of 1812". Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society. 42 (140): 263–266.
- ^ "Christ Church Episcopal", Lexington, National Park Service. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Race Riot of 1917 (Lexington, KY) · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database". nkaa.uky.edu. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ Peter Brackney (January 20, 2020). The Murder of Geneva Hardman and Lexington's Mob Riot of 1920 (True Crime). The History Press. pp. 89–100, 103–120. ISBN 978-1-4671-4396-7.
- ^ "History of the Addiction Research Center". Drugabuse.gov. May 15, 1935. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
- ^ "Need in Kentucky". The Indianapolis Star. November 21, 1937. Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Fayette County". QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ a b c "\"Greenbrier Small Area Plan\" (PDF)" (PDF) (Press release). Lexington-Fayette Urban County, Kentucky. April 17, 2003. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Planning History" (Press release). Lexington-Fayette Urban County, Kentucky. Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
- ^ How Stuff Works Archived October 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine map of American climate zones. Retrieved on January 31, 2010
- ^ United States Department of Agriculture. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". United States National Arboretum. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Station Name: KY LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "Information About Asthma, Allergies, Food Allergies and More!". Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. July 2015. Archived from the original (CSV) on February 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
- ^ "Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". 2015 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2015. Archived from the original (CSV) on February 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (CBSA-EST2006-02)". 2006 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. April 5, 2007. Archived from the original (CSV) on September 14, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
- ^ Hillery Jr., George A. (1966). Population Growth in Kentucky, 1820–1960. University of Kentucky Agriculture Experiment Station.
- ^ 1970 Census of the Population, Volume 1: Characteristics of the Population, Part 19, Kentucky. United States Government Printing Office. 1973.
- ^ 1980 Census of the Population, Volume 1: Characteristics of the Population, Part 19, Kentucky. United States Government Printing Office. 1982.
- ^ "KSDC News". Kentucky State Data Center. Spring 1997.
- ^ "Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky – Population finder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
- ^ "A Fortified Economy" (PDF). delta-sky.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
- ^ "Lexington-Fayette, KY Economy at a Glance". www.bls.gov.
- ^ a b "Major Employers". Commerce Lexington. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Fun Tidbits". The J.M. Smucker Co. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
- ^ "Company Overview - Lexmark United States". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "ABOUT ~ Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "About Big Ass Solutions - Big Ass Fans". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "Lexington, KY local and state news by the Lexington Herald-Leader - Kentucky.com". kentucky.com.
- ^ "Fazoli's Company Info". fazolis.com. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Major Regional Employers". Commerce Lexington. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ ""It's a Grand Night for Singing!" Turns 21". uknow.uky.edu. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ a b Mead, Andy (November 7, 2010). "Lexington to become third-largest U.S. city with an openly-gay mayor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Woodland Arts Fair". lexingtonartleague.org. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Holiday Admission Discount Coupon". kyhorsepark.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ North Limestone Community Development Corporation on Facebook
- ^ "The Lexington Philharmonic Online". Lexington, Kentucky, USA: lexphil.org. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "LexArts Hop 2018". lexarts.org. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ "Lexington Opera House". Lexington Opera House. Lexington Opera House. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ "University of Kentucky Art Museum". Uky.edu. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
- ^ "Downtown Lexington's Next Loss: Woolworth's". Preservation Magazine. August 2004. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "SEC History". secsports.com.
- ^ "'Uk2k' shirt a surprise winner". December 23, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2010. Herald-Leader [Lexington]
- ^ "Legends join the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball". The Lane Report. February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "Lexington Legends part of proposed downsizing". kentucky.com. Kentucky.com. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Red Mile and Keeneland Joint Venture - Red Mile - Lexington, Kentucky". October 13, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games". Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Fun Guide 2007. City of Lexington, Kentucky, Division of Parks and Recreation. 2007.
- ^ "Parks – Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government". Archived from the original on February 19, 2016.
- ^ a b "Parks – Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government". Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved August 31, 2006.
- ^ "Councilmembers | City of Lexington". Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "Vice Mayor". Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "Council-at-large 1st member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "Council-at-large 2nd member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "1st district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "2nd district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "3rd district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "4th district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "5th district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "6th district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "7th district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "8th district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "9th district council member". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "Council District 10, Amanda Mays Bledsoe". Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "Council District 11, Jennifer Reynolds". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ "12th district council member". Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ "Lexington Council District 3". Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Jake Gibbs, member of the Urban County Council, has died". WKYT-TV. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ^ Musgrave, Beth (March 3, 2020). "Public downtown memorial set for Lexington Councilman Jake Gibbs who died unexpectedly". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ^ KRS 67A.028
- ^ "Lexington". www.kentuckyfiretrucks.com. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Honeycutt Spears, Valarie (August 4, 2016). "Fayette County Schools: What you need to know about new school year". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ^ "Fayette County redistricting plans posted for elementary and middle schools". WKYT-TV. January 30, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ Honeycutt Spears, Valarie (February 4, 2015). "State approves a new Fayette County high school; construction could begin in June". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ Transylvania University. 2016. https://www.transy.edu/about/our-history
- ^ Business Lexington
- ^ Chevy Chaser Magazine
- ^ Southsider Magazine
- ^ KyForward.com
- ^ "KET Annual Report FY 2017". issuu. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ Aretakis, Rachel (August 7, 2013). "Citation Boulevard extension begins". Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Official Guide of the Railways, July 1965, Southern Railway section, Tables L, M, O, P
- ^ Official Guide of the Railways, December 1951, Index of Railroad Stations
- ^ C&O/B&O timetable, April 26, 1964, Table 3 https://streamlinermemories.info/Eastern/C&OB&O64TT.pdf
- ^ https://bluegrassairport.com/airlines.html.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Means of Transportation to Work by Age". Census Reporter. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ "Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map". Governing. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "sister cities". Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "Newmarket, England". Lexington Sister Cities.
Further reading[edit]
- Gelbert, Doug. A Walking Tour of Lexington, Kentucky (2011) excerpt and text search
- Leet, Karen M. et al. Civil War Lexington, KY: Bluegrass Breeding Ground of Power (2011) excerpt and text search
- Hollingsworth, Randolph (2004). Lexington: Queen of the Bluegrass. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press. ISBN 9780738524665.
- Jillson, Willard Rouse (October 1929). "The Founding of Lexington, Kentucky". Filson Club History Quarterly. 3 (5).
- Klotter, James C.; Rowland, Daniel, eds. (2012). Bluegrass Renaissance: The History and Culture of Central Kentucky, 1792–1852. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813136073. (emphasis on the architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe and "neoclassical" Lexington)
- Smith, Gerald L. Lexington Kentucky (KY) (Black America) (2002)
- Wilson, Samuel M. (January 1930). "Date of the First Settlement of Lexington, Kentucky". Filson Club History Quarterly. 4 (1).
- Wright, John D., Jr. Lexington: Heart of the Bluegrass (1994); 244pp; a history
External links[edit]
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Travel guides from Wikivoyage
Resources from Wikiversity
- Official website of Lexington, Kentucky
- Official website of Downtown Lexington Corporation
- Official website of the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Lexington Kentucky: The Athens of the West, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Downloadable PDF and Plain text versions of George Washington Ranck's 1872 book, History of Lexington, Kentucky
- Digitized images from the Ethel Williams collection on Lexington, Kentucky, 1902–1909, housed at the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections research Center
- Digitized images from A Review of Lexington, Kentucky, as she is: her wealth and industry, her wonderful growth and admirable enterprise, her great business concerns, her manufacturing advances, and commercial resources, housed at the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center
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What to consider when choosing a fire and damage restoration company
Certified experts
It is imperative to make certain that the company in question has all the required state and local certifications to complete the restoration job. These certifications should also be up-to-date.
• Certification: Look for credentials from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, also known as the IICRC, for well-trained fire and water damage experts.
• Sub-certifications: The IICRC has additional specializations such as mold remediation or structural and commercial Drying. Ask the company for details about their sub-certifications.
• Restoration vs. reconstruction: Note that the IICRC refers to restoration, not reconstruction. If the damage is to severe that contractors are required to partially or completely rebuild/reconstruct properties, make sure that they have all the proper local licenses and certifications necessary.
Experience
Every disaster is unique and requires the utmost care. If a company begins operating from the wrong starting assumptions, it can prolong or completely derail the restoration project unnecessarily.
• Relevant experience: Make sure that the company providing restoration has dealt with many previous situations that are similar to the current task at hand. For example, standing water from a flood could become contaminated with chemicals or substances that make it a biohazard. Make sure the company knows what they are dealing with before they come out to avoid added confusion that slows down the job.
• Comprehensive evaluations: Don't hold back any information. Even details that don't seem to be significant initially can greatly impact the company's professional evaluation of the restoration requirements or the extent of structural damage.
Asset protection
Different kinds of materials - such as furniture, computers, floors, etc. - require different treatments under very specific timetables.
• High-priority assets: Decide which assets have the highest priority and then look for the company that specializes in that particular area.
• Practicality: Replacing property or recreating data may be less expensive than restoration. Don't compromise your practicality.
• Pre-inspection reports: Some types of leases require a pre-inspection report by qualified restoration personnel to establish insurability levels.
Time to recovery
Hours, and sometimes minutes, can make all the difference in what is recoverable. Make sure the company will be ready the moment disaster strikes.
• Rapid response: The first few hours after a disaster can make all the difference in terms of what is recoverable. Look for rapid response times. Also critical, is advice on what to do immediately and what needs attention within the first 24 hours.
• Schedules: Look for a company that can give a full, detailed schedule of steps that they will need to perform before an estimated completion date.
• Variable costs: Be prepared for costs to vary greatly based on factors that aren't obvious at first, such as structural damage and the extent of smoke damage.
Storage facilities
Some restoration companies offer storage facilities. Find out how much space the company has to house your undamaged assets and what their storage rates are.
• Storage conditions: Make sure that storage facilities are nearby and adequate in terms of factors like temperature control and security.
• Packing services: Ask if they provide packing services, which means that they can thoroughly clean property before packing it up and putting it into the company's storage facility.
• Record keeping: Make sure to take photographic records of the condition of your property before it goes into storage.
Referrals
Ask for names of commercial or governmental agencies that the company has worked for and look for referrals.
• Referral limitations: Don't discount a company just because its referrals aren't perfect. Some items simply aren't restorable, and that fact creates disappointment.