| Official Name: | Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Area |
| Settlement Type: | Metropolitan Area |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Largest city |
| Subdivision Name2: | Lexington |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Blank1 Title: | MSA |
| Area Blank1 Sq Mi: | 1484.07 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 516811 (109th)[1] |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Area Code: | 859, 502 |
The Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area is the 109th-largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States. It was originally formed by the United States Census Bureau in 1950 and consisted solely of Fayette County until 1980 when surrounding counties saw increases in their population densities and the number of their residents employed within Lexington-Fayette, which led to them meeting Census criteria to be added to the MSA.
The Lexington-Fayette MSA is the primary MSA of the Lexington-Fayette–Richmond–Frankfort, KY combined statistical area which includes the Micropolitan Statistical Areas of Frankfort (Franklin and Anderson counties), Mount Sterling (Montgomery, Bath, and Menifee counties), and Richmond–Berea (Madison and Rockcastle counties). The Lexington-Fayette–Frankfort–Richmond, KY combined statistical area has a July 1, 2012 Census Bureau estimated population of 703,271.[2]
The following is a list of cities in the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area with 2021 United States Census Bureau estimates of their population.[3] Principal cities of the metropolitan area are considered by the Census Bureau to represent significant employment centers:[4]
Principal city
Municipalities with more than 10,000 people
Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people
| Geographic Area | 2020 Census | 2010 Census | 2000 Census | 1990 Census | 1980 Census | 1970 Census | 1960 Census | 1950 Census | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette MSA | 516,811 | 472,099 | 408,326 | 348,428 | 317,629 | 174,323 | 131,906 | 100,746 | |
| Bourbon County, Kentucky | 20,252 | 19,985 | 19,360 | 19,236 | 19,405 | 18,476¹ | 18,178¹ | 17,752¹ | |
| Clark County, Kentucky | 36,972 | 35,613 | 33,144 | 29,496 | 28,322 | 24,090¹ | 21,075¹ | 18,898¹ | |
| Fayette County, Kentucky | 322,570 | 295,803 | 260,512 | 225,366 | 204,165 | 174,323 | 131,906 | 100,746 | |
| Jessamine County, Kentucky | 52,991 | 48,586 | 39,041 | 30,508 | 26,146 | 17,430¹ | 13,625¹ | 12,458¹ | |
| Scott County, Kentucky | 57,155 | 47,173 | 33,061 | 23,867 | 21,813 | 19,948¹ | 15,376¹ | 15,141¹ | |
| Woodford County, Kentucky | 26,871 | 24,939 | 23,208 | 19,955 | 17,778 | 14,434¹ | 11,913¹ | 11,212¹ |
¹County was not a part of Lexington-Fayette MSA at the time of this Census and the county's population is not included in MSA total.