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Lexington History:

Lexington is rich in tradition and history. Well-known explorer Daniel Boone established nearby Boonesboro, one of the first settlements in the state, in 1775. It helped pave the way for others to follow and settle an area known as McConnell Springs, Lexington’s birthplace. The settlers later named the area after the site of the opening battle of the Revolutionary War at Lexington, Massachusetts. Fayette County was named in honor of Marquis de Lafayette, France’s largest supporter of the American Revolution in 1780.

Once a part of Virginia, Lexington was granted 710 acres by the Virginia General Assembly in 1782. Ten years later, Virginia released Kentucky, and it assumed statehood, making Frankfort its state capital.

In 1812, Henry Clay, who is known as “The Great Compromiser,” built Ashland, a 400-acre estate. Lexington opened its first city school in 1834. When the 1890’s rolled around, tobacco replaced hemp as the major cash crop in the Bluegrass. By the early 1900’s, Lexington became the world’s largest burley tobacco market.

In 1924, William Monroe Wright, founder of Calumet Baking Powder, joined with a number of farms to form Calumet Farm, home of eight Kentucky Derby champion Thoroughbreds. Legendary Keeneland Race Course opened to huge crowds in 1936, while planes began taking off from nearby Blue Grass Airport in 1942.

In 1974, the city of Lexington and Fayette County merged, creating Kentucky’s only urban county government until recently, when Louisville merged its city and county governments.

HELPFUL LINKS:
Experience History in Lexington
Lexington Public Library

Lexington History Museum
Kentucky Historical Society

Upcoming Events:

Copyright © 2023 Commerce Lexington Inc., all rights reserved.
COMMERCE LEXINGTON® and the Commerce Lexington logo are registered trademarks of Commerce Lexington.
330 East Main Street, Suite 100, Lexington, Kentucky, 40507
Phone: (859) 254-4447  |  Fax: (859) 233-3304
  • About
    • Message from the Board Chair
    • President's Message
    • Top Investors
    • Board of Directors
    • Racial Equity Pledge
    • Staff Directory
    • Find Our Offices | Parking
    • NEWS
  • Do Business
    • Business Directory
    • Economic Development
    • Minority Business Development >
      • Minority Business Directory
      • Procurement Opportunities
    • Business & Education Network
    • Resources >
      • Start a Business
      • Relocate a Business
      • Funding & Financing
      • Publications
  • Live & Work
    • Relocation Guide
    • Job Openings
    • Getting Around
    • Demographics
    • Cost of Living
    • Lexington History
    • Lexington Rankings
    • Education >
      • Public Education
      • Private Education
    • Health Care
  • Advocacy
    • About Public Policy
    • Your Government >
      • Local
      • State
      • Federal
    • Policy Statements & Key Issues
  • Membership
    • Member Benefits
    • Member Discounts
    • Member News
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • JOIN
  • Events
    • Commerce Lexington Events Calendar
    • Community Calendar
    • Submit an Event
    • An Evening With Commerce Lexington
    • EMERGE 2023 >
      • EMERGE Breakouts
      • Speakers
      • Agenda
    • Leadership Visit >
      • Grand Rapids 2023
      • Impact
      • Past Trips >
        • Tampa-St. Petersburg 2022
        • Austin 2021
        • Raleigh 2019
    • Portugal 2023
    • Regional Summit
    • Washington Fly-In
    • Salute to Small Business >
      • Nominate a Business
      • Award Categories
      • Small Business Awards Application
      • Past Award Winners
  • Connect
    • Become a Member
    • Peer Programming >
      • Business Owners Advisory Boards (BOAB)
      • Peer Groups
    • Emerging Leaders of the Bluegrass
    • Leadership Development >
      • Leadership Lexington >
        • Application
        • Class Roster
        • Class Projects
        • Steering Committee
        • Alumni
      • Leadership Central Kentucky >
        • Class Roster
        • Board of Directors
        • LCK Alumni
    • Ambassador Program