Fayette County, Kentucky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fayette County
Consolidated city-county
Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Complex in Lexington
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1780
Named for	Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Seat	Lexington
Largest city	Lexington
Area
• Total	286 sq mi (740 km2)
• Land	284 sq mi (740 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (5 km2)  0.7%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	322,570
• Estimate  (2023)	320,154
• Density	1,127.9/sq mi (435.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th

Fayette County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky and is consolidated with the city of Lexington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 322,570, making it the second-most populous county in the commonwealth. Since 1974, its territory, population and government have been shared with Lexington. Fayette County is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Fayette County was formed in 1780, when the Virginia General Assembly partitioned Kentucky County.

Fayette County—originally Fayette County, Virginia—was established by the Virginia General Assembly in June 1780, when it abolished and subdivided Kentucky County into three counties: Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln. Together, these counties and those set off from them later in that decade separated from Virginia in 1792 to become the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Originally, Fayette County included land which makes up 37 present-day counties and parts of 7 others. It was reduced to its present boundaries in 1799. The county is named for the Marquis de LaFayette, who came to America to support the rebelling English colonies in the American Revolutionary War.

On January 1, 1974, Fayette County merged its government with that of its county seat of Lexington, creating a consolidated city-county governed by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km²), of which 284 square miles (740 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (0.7%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Scott County (north)
• Bourbon County (northeast)
• Clark County (east)
• Madison County (south)
• Jessamine County (south)
• Woodford County (west)

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 295,803 people, 123,043 households, and 69,661 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,034 inhabitants per square mile (399/km²). There were 135,160 housing units at an average density of 473 per square mile (183/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.7% White, 14.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 6.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 123,043 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 21, and 62.4% from 21 to 65. 10.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. 50.8% of the population was female.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,469, and the median income for a family was $66,690. Males had a median income of $44,343 versus $35,716 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,345. About 11.1% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public high schools

Schools in the county are operated by Fayette County Public Schools.

• Henry Clay High School
• Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
• Frederick Douglass High School
• Bryan Station High School
• Lafayette High School
• Tates Creek High School
• STEAM Academy

Private middle and elementary schools

• The Lexington School
• Sayre School
• Lexington Christian Academy
• Christ the King School
• Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School
• Saints Peter and Paul School
• Seton Catholic School
• Blue Grass Baptist School
• Redwood Cooperative School

Private high schools

• Lexington Catholic High School
• Lexington Christian Academy
• Sayre School
• Trinity Christian Academy
• Blue Grass Baptist School

Colleges and universities

Communities

City

• Lexington

Unincorporated communities

Historically black hamlets

• Bracktown
• Cadentown
• Jimtown
• Smithtown
• Little Georgetown
• Pralltown

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Fayette (Kentucky) para niños