Our current storm water system is defunct. Lexington uses detention and retention basins to control flooding and storm water filtration in its neighborhoods. Because many new homes are built on extremely small lots with poor drainage, it is essential they do their job. Yet, the city has not had enough money to thoroughly maintain these...
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The equine industry is one of the largest industries in Central Kentucky, contributing billions of dollars to Kentucky’s economy each year. The horse industry contributes $3.5 billion to our state’s economy. This signature industry is responsible for 96,000 jobs in the state, and more than 194,000 Kentuckians are involved in the business as horse owners,...
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Fayette County is not only famous for its horses, but also its livestock. Kentucky is the 8th largest cattle-producing state in the US. In our state 38,000 beef farmers raise approximately 2.2 million head of cattle, making it the largest cattle-producing state East of the Mississippi River. In addition to cattle raised for beef, Kentucky...
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Agriculture in Fayette County isn’t just horses, livestock, and crops… it’s also about tourism. In 2010 according to the USDA, Fayette County had farm sales of $504.1 million and was ranked the number one agricultural county in Kentucky. Fayette (one of 120 counties in Kentucky) achieved 10.4% of all agricultural farm sales in the state.[1]...
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Although row crops are one of the smaller agricultural industries in Fayette County, they are still vital to Lexington’s farm economy. There are 46.5 square miles of harvested cropland in Fayette Co. accounting for 16.45% of the county. In 2008, crop receipts in Fayette County totaled $14.4 million, a significant number coming from such a...
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The average household in Lexington has shifted more towards young adults and small units. Our demographics are changing in Lexington. 72% of all new residents in Lexington are singles and childless couples under the age of 30. And, on average, only 2.3 persons live in Fayette County households. In fact, in 2010, nearly 75% of...
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Lexington is a growing city with a changing demographic. Best estimates say that an additional 60,000 people will call Lexington home by 2030. One of the central questions facing our community is not if we grow, but how we grow—and can we do it in a way that positions our built, natural, and social environments...
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There is a shortage of affordable housing in Lexington. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the cost of an “affordable” home—including taxes, maintenance and other costs—should not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income. This is particularly alarming since 18.1% of all renter households in Lexington spend more than 50% of...
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Despite the economic, environmental, and cultural significance of our precious Fayette County farmland…we are losing it at an alarming rate. In 2005 the Inner Bluegrass Region, including Fayette County, was placed on the World Monuments Fund’s list of one of the one hundred most endangered cultural landscapes in the world…because of our alarming loss of...
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Mayor Jim Gray gathered 80 citizens and divided them into transition teams to study the opportunities and problems facing Lexington and its government. Those team reports are now available...
