What defines a region? What are the factors that unite people and places to form a recognizable sense of place and community? And what are the unique qualities that ensure each individual town and county an indelible place of their own?

These and other questions are key to understanding what defines the Bluegrass. Equipping decision-makers, elected officials, and businesses with solid information and valuable opinion data is critical to the future economic and social health of the region. Leaders in the region should know where we’re heading and plan for how best to facilitate strong, smart growth that benefits citizens in all of the Bluegrass Region.

REALTORS® understand smart growth. There is no group better equipped to be the information source throughout the region as leaders wrestle with how to continue ensuring that the Bluegrass is a great place to live for generations to come. Click here for the results of the 2009 Bluegrass Regional Study

The best way to know a region is to ask those who live in the region how they define themselves. The LBAR Regionalism Project is designed to accomplish three primary tasks:

  1. Understand the region factually
  2. Ask citizens how they define the region
  3. Lead efforts in maximizing the assets of the region to benefit all

And the project is designed in two phases:

  1. Information Gathering
  2. Strategic Direction and Implementation

To begin reviewing the data, please select a county to the right. Top-line statistics from across the region can be found in the table below.
Map.
Regional Party Totals
Regional Age Group Totals
Regional Gender Totals
CountyPopulation (2008) Growth rateHousehold income (2008) Average Home Sale Price (2008)
Anderson21,446 12.2%$55,192.00 $125,517.00
Bourbon19,988 3.2%$43,021.00 $140,155.00
Clark35,944 8.5%$49,923.00 $134,844.00
Fayette275,298 5.7%$51,437.00 $190,148.00
Franklin48,286 1.3%$40,693.00 $135,259.00
Jessamine46,641 19.5%$49,580.00 $189,407.00
Madison80,915 14.2%$38,760.00 $172,789.00
Montgomery25,623 13.6%$39,039.00 $113,318.00
Scott44,320 34.1%$61,230.00 $181,636.00
Woodford24,751 6.7%$60,641.00 $200,323.00
2009 Bluegrass Regional Study Full Results

The Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS® has embarked on a landmark study of the region. A major part of that is gathering public opinion from the people who live, work and play in the ten counties LBAR serves. What follows are selected results from two rounds of surveys, totaling more than 6,000 responses from your neighbors and fellow Bluegrass residents.

From the first round of surveys, several conclusions were drawn.

  1. The region is not clearly cohesive and a majority of residents do not view the Bluegrass as a working, cooperating body of citizens and leaders but instead simply a geographic region.
  2. Residents are unsure about what could or should unite the region further.
  3. Counties surrounding Fayette have an uncertain and tense, yet not necessarily negative relationship with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and the prominence of Lexington.
  4. Economic development and job creation is clearly the number one priority for the largest number of people throughout the region.
  5. Citizens of the Bluegrass are open to more regional cooperation but see no clear leadership stepping up on that front.
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Direction of Kentucky

Right Direction
Wrong Direction
Unsure/ Refused
36.8%
45.7%
17.4%
33.3%
45.7%
21.0%
25.9%
53.5%
20.6%
36.5%
48.2%
15.3%
42.0%
40.1%
17.9%
36.6%
53.2%
10.3%
40.6%
39.6%
19.8%
45.9%
38.8%
15.3%
30.0%
49.5%
20.6%
36.8%
46.1%
17.1%
40.7%
42.9%
16.4%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Direction of County

Right Direction
Wrong Direction
Unsure/ Refused
50.4%
34.5%
15.1%
44.9%
37.6%
17.5%
45.6%
37.1%
17.3%
46.0%
38.3%
15.7%
49.5%
38.2%
12.3%
48.3%
38.5%
13.2%
61.6%
20.3%
18.1%
67.5%
18.8%
13.7%
53.0%
32.8%
14.2%
41.1%
42.7%
16.1%
46.4%
40.3%
13.3%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

LFUCG Approval

Approve/ Strongly
Approve
Disapprove
Disapprove/ Strongly
Unsure/ Refused
8.5%
23.2%
11.3%
8.6%
48.4%
4.3%
18.3%
8.7%
4.8%
64.0%
10.5%
20.1%
11.3%
10.0%
48.1%
7.6%
19.7%
9.3%
9.2%
54.2%
13.0%
45.3%
16.2%
11.6%
13.8%
6.0%
18.1%
9.4%
9.3%
57.2%
8.1%
20.7%
11.0%
10.6%
49.6%
9.7%
18.1%
9.7%
5.8%
56.8%
4.1%
19.2%
10.9%
6.3%
59.5%
11.8%
18.7%
7.5%
7.5%
54.5%
10.2%
34.2%
18.6%
10.6%
26.5%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Issues Line-up

Substance Abuse & Drugs
Preserve History
Economic Development
Environment
Water Supply
Education
Unsure
18.8%
2.2%
40.6%
5.0%
3.4%
25.9%
4.1%
19.9%
1.7%
46.0%
4.3%
3.2%
22.7%
2.2%
31.0%
1.9%
32.4%
3.1%
2.5%
25.0%
4.3%
25.0%
1.2%
38.3%
1.7%
2.7%
23.4%
7.6%
6.2%
4.3%
43.9%
7.4%
6.1%
29.0%
3.0%
5.2%
4.3%
48.5%
6.3%
3.9%
30.3%
1.5%
20.8%
1.6%
33.9%
5.2%
3.3%
31.0%
4.2%
18.1%
1.1%
42.3%
9.9%
3.1%
22.3%
3.1%
39.9%
0.6%
37.5%
1.8%
2.4%
16.9%
0.9%
11.7%
1.4%
39.5%
3.5%
5.6%
33.3%
4.9%
10.4%
4.3%
43.9%
6.5%
1.7%
24.4%
8.8%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Living Description

City
County
Bluegrass Region
Central Kentucky
Other
Unsure/ Refused
56.5%
10.3%
5.1%
23.6%
3.8%
0.8%
47.1%
16.5%
6.5%
23.9%
5.1%
1.0%
50.1%
17.3%
5.3%
22.1%
3.8%
1.5%
53.4%
10.5%
7.9%
23.6%
3.5%
1.1%
80.9%
4.0%
2.8%
9.9%
1.7%
0.7%
56.1%
7.2%
4.5%
29.6%
1.9%
0.7%
57.3%
9.0%
4.9%
24.4%
4.4%
0.0%
63.9%
4.5%
2.2%
25.8%
2.8%
0.7%
47.3%
13.9%
6.2%
25.1%
7.2%
0.3%
56.7%
9.9%
3.5%
25.0%
3.4%
1.6%
52.8%
9.7%
7.0%
26.5%
4.1%
0.0%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Is the Bluegrass more than geography?

Working, cooperating group of citizens
Just geographic
Unsure/ Refused
34.7%
56.1%
9.2%
30.8%
61.5%
7.7%
31.8%
56.3%
12.0%
32.3%
58.3%
9.4%
34.6%
58.5%
6.9%
34.3%
61.4%
4.3%
39.2%
50.3%
10.5%
34.4%
56.0%
9.6%
42.0%
46.6%
11.5%
32.9%
56.9%
10.1%
34.6%
55.5%
9.9%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Regional Factors

Elected Officials
Business Leaders
UK
Horse Industry
Shared resources like water and electricity
History
The City of Lexington
Other
Unsure/ Refused
23.7%
14.8%
16.7%
11.5%
7.8%
6.0%
9.7%
4.6%
5.2%
32.0%
17.7%
17.1%
11.8%
4.3%
4.3%
2.0%
3.3%
7.5%
21.7%
17.8%
19.3%
19.6%
4.2%
1.7%
8.5%
1.8%
5.4%
24.0%
13.0%
20.9%
6.8%
7.4%
3.8%
9.8%
6.9%
7.5%
16.1%
12.2%
14.8%
15.2%
6.7%
2.3%
25.6%
2.8%
4.4%
10.3%
13.2%
14.3%
12.5%
19.1%
16.2%
4.2%
4.7%
5.5%
30.0%
16.1%
12.0%
7.6%
7.7%
7.1%
11.1%
2.8%
5.5%
26.2%
14.3%
21.1%
4.3%
8.5%
6.6%
8.7%
7.9%
2.3%
32.5%
14.9%
18.4%
8.3%
8.0%
3.3%
6.6%
2.1%
5.8%
15.0%
14.6%
22.5%
10.4%
4.0%
6.9%
12.6%
10.2%
3.7%
26.3%
4.4%
22.1%
2.0%
20.4%
6.9%
6.2%
7.2%
4.6%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

County Relationship to KBR

Unique/ Shouldn't worry about region
Somewhat Impacted/ Not too concerned
Significantly Impacted/ Cooperate closely
Unsure/ Refused
5.5%
13.8%
75.8%
4.9%
5.2%
17.0%
74.6%
0.3%
8.9%
10.8%
69.1%
11.2%
6.3%
15.5%
72.7%
5.5%
5.1%
9.8%
79.3%
5.8%
7.2%
13.0%
74.1%
5.7%
2.1%
15.2%
79.9%
2.8%
4.7%
12.7%
78.6%
3.9%
4.8%
9.9%
80.4%
4.8%
1.5%
21.9%
73.1%
3.5%
8.8%
11.9%
76.4%
2.9%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Part of the Bluegrass Region

Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Unsure/ Refused
69.9%
25.7%
2.5%
1.1%
0.8%
55.5%
36.4%
5.2%
1.3%
1.5%
71.5%
23.4%
2.4%
2.0%
0.7%
63.9%
31.8%
3.0%
1.1%
0.2%
75.0%
22.8%
0.7%
0.7%
0.9%
71.4%
22.3%
4.2%
1.9%
0.3%
77.8%
19.6%
1.8%
0.6%
0.3%
65.4%
31.1%
1.5%
1.2%
0.8%
61.6%
31.8%
3.2%
2.1%
1.4%
80.7%
15.4%
1.9%
0.3%
1.8%
76.6%
22.7%
0.8%
0.0%
0.0%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

The only real voice in the Bluegrass Region is the LFUCG

Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Unsure/ Refused
16.8%
22.3%
28.2%
28.0%
4.7%
20.9%
21.0%
26.1%
26.8%
5.2%
18.4%
25.9%
29.6%
20.9%
5.2%
22.3%
28.0%
22.6%
22.8%
4.3%
13.1%
21.7%
36.3%
26.9%
2.0%
11.5%
15.2%
30.7%
38.1%
4.5%
16.5%
29.3%
27.0%
25.3%
2.0%
18.3%
20.6%
31.3%
25.7%
4.1%
19.0%
21.7%
27.9%
23.4%
7.9%
16.0%
26.9%
26.3%
26.2%
4.6%
11.6%
12.5%
24.7%
44.0%
7.2%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Better jobs in other counties

Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Unsure/ Refused
41.8%
26.6%
16.6%
9.5%
5.5%
72.7%
17.8%
4.6%
2.0%
2.9%
53.8%
35.9%
5.8%
1.6%
2.9%
54.9%
31.5%
7.3%
4.1%
2.3%
7.3%
17.3%
36.5%
23.7%
15.1%
31.0%
26.8%
25.0%
14.1%
3.0%
42.4%
30.3%
14.3%
6.9%
6.1%
38.5%
29.4%
17.0%
8.8%
6.4%
52.4%
24.5%
12.9%
5.8%
4.4%
20.4%
28.5%
27.8%
18.2%
5.2%
44.4%
24.1%
14.7%
9.9%
7.0%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Standard of Living

Very Good
Somewhat Good
Neither Good nor Bad
Somewhat Bad
Very Bad
Unsure/ Refused
33.3%
45.5%
13.0%
5.6%
2.2%
0.5%
26.7%
47.6%
18.8%
3.9%
2.6%
0.3%
28.9%
44.2%
15.9%
7.4%
3.5%
0.0%
31.3%
48.6%
11.9%
5.0%
2.4%
0.9%
33.9%
46.9%
11.0%
7.3%
0.8%
0.3%
42.1%
39.9%
12.3%
3.4%
1.7%
0.5%
34.6%
49.8%
9.2%
4.7%
1.2%
0.5%
35.6%
42.6%
12.2%
7.3%
2.3%
0.0%
24.2%
46.9%
13.5%
9.9%
4.5%
0.9%
35.4%
45.8%
12.4%
3.8%
2.1%
0.6%
39.8%
42.7%
12.7%
3.5%
0.6%
0.8%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Quality of Life

Good/ Getting Better
Good/ Staying the Same
Bad/ Getting Better
Bad/ Staying the Same
Bad/ Getting Worse
Unsure/ Refused
31.3%
41.2%
7.8%
5.3%
10.7%
3.6%
26.5%
42.5%
5.9%
8.9%
12.9%
3.3%
29.0%
42.1%
6.9%
6.9%
11.7%
3.3%
28.6%
38.5%
11.2%
6.4%
13.4%
1.8%
35.9%
41.0%
7.5%
4.6%
8.0%
3.0%
31.3%
43.7%
4.7%
3.7%
11.7%
4.9%
36.6%
40.6%
6.2%
3.2%
9.9%
3.6%
36.4%
36.4%
8.0%
5.3%
9.4%
4.6%
28.2%
31.0%
14.5%
7.6%
13.5%
5.2%
26.2%
50.0%
7.6%
3.9%
8.3%
4.0%
34.7%
46.4%
5.9%
2.9%
7.7%
2.4%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Local economy vs. national economy

Much Better
Somewhat Better
Somewhat Worse
Much Worse
Unsure/ Refused
7.7%
58.6%
18.9%
4.8%
9.9%
4.6%
49.1%
29.0%
4.5%
12.8%
5.9%
54.0%
25.8%
7.9%
6.4%
6.7%
54.6%
22.0%
8.3%
8.5%
10.2%
70.3%
10.7%
1.8%
7.0%
5.1%
63.4%
16.2%
7.9%
7.4%
7.7%
61.4%
17.3%
2.4%
11.2%
7.4%
58.1%
18.6%
5.1%
10.7%
3.9%
47.5%
28.7%
7.2%
12.8%
12.5%
60.4%
12.3%
1.5%
13.3%
13.4%
67.6%
8.4%
2.0%
8.6%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Growth/ Expansion

Limit Growth/ Strongly
Limit Growth
Economic Expansion
Economic Expansion/ Strongly
Unsure/ Refused
11.3%
11.4%
28.1%
42.8%
6.4%
9.1%
14.5%
29.7%
43.1%
3.5%
8.5%
5.6%
33.0%
43.9%
9.1%
9.1%
8.6%
34.6%
41.8%
5.9%
13.9%
18.5%
30.6%
26.2%
10.9%
11.7%
13.3%
18.4%
52.7%
3.9%
15.3%
11.3%
29.5%
36.2%
7.7%
11.3%
7.0%
26.3%
48.8%
6.6%
2.4%
7.5%
25.0%
61.9%
3.2%
16.7%
11.1%
27.3%
38.1%
6.9%
15.1%
17.1%
26.8%
35.1%
5.9%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Commerce Lexington

Know/ Favorable
Know/ Unfavorable
Know/ No Opinion
Never Heard Of
Refused
16.8%
3.0%
20.8%
58.9%
0.5%
10.4%
3.3%
27.1%
59.2%
0.0%
15.3%
1.7%
17.7%
65.2%
0.0%
16.2%
2.7%
20.9%
60.0%
0.2%
28.9%
3.7%
19.9%
47.6%
0.0%
9.7%
4.1%
17.6%
68.2%
0.4%
14.3%
2.9%
24.1%
57.8%
0.8%
14.6%
3.4%
16.3%
64.9%
0.8%
14.1%
3.2%
27.0%
55.8%
0.0%
20.5%
2.6%
20.7%
53.7%
2.6%
24.3%
1.9%
16.7%
57.2%
0.0%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Bluegrass Area Development District

Know/ Favorable
Know/ Unfavorable
Know/ No Opinion
Never Heard Of
Refused
26.1%
5.3%
28.7%
39.3%
0.6%
24.6%
4.6%
35.7%
34.8%
0.3%
27.1%
7.9%
29.4%
35.6%
0.0%
23.3%
5.4%
31.3%
40.0%
0.0%
24.2%
6.6%
27.9%
41.4%
0.0%
32.9%
5.7%
21.3%
39.4%
0.7%
22.8%
7.8%
27.4%
41.5%
0.5%
22.5%
3.8%
23.9%
48.9%
0.9%
29.9%
1.8%
35.1%
33.1%
0.0%
24.2%
4.9%
27.9%
39.8%
3.2%
29.7%
4.6%
27.4%
38.3%
0.0%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors

Know/ Favorable
Know/ Unfavorable
Know/ No Opinion
Never Heard Of
Refused
34.2%
7.3%
37.6%
20.4%
0.5%
26.9%
8.1%
45.2%
19.7%
0.0%
31.1%
5.0%
43.0%
20.5%
0.4%
36.1%
6.0%
33.5%
23.1%
1.3%
50.1%
7.2%
30.0%
12.7%
0.0%
23.0%
5.3%
40.4%
30.5%
0.8%
40.2%
9.4%
38.4%
12.0%
0.0%
28.6%
10.7%
33.0%
27.2%
0.6%
26.1%
6.2%
41.6%
26.1%
0.0%
40.1%
7.7%
32.8%
18.1%
1.3%
39.9%
7.6%
38.5%
13.8%
0.2%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Kentucky Bluegrass Alliance

Know/ Favorable
Know/ Unfavorable
Know/ No Opinion
Never Heard Of
Refused
17.5%
2.9%
36.6%
42.5%
0.5%
15.6%
5.5%
42.3%
36.5%
0.0%
20.7%
1.9%
29.8%
47.5%
0.0%
19.0%
2.5%
32.1%
46.2%
0.2%
16.9%
4.3%
29.6%
49.1%
0.0%
19.3%
3.7%
29.6%
47.1%
0.4%
16.0%
2.1%
31.9%
49.7%
0.4%
17.0%
3.0%
25.9%
53.5%
0.6%
15.6%
2.8%
37.5%
44.1%
0.0%
17.1%
1.5%
27.3%
51.4%
2.8%
17.7%
2.1%
32.9%
46.7%
0.6%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Moving Out

Yes
No
Unsure/ Refused
25.1%
74.3%
0.6%
24.3%
75.7%
0.0%
22.7%
76.7%
0.6%
25.0%
74.3%
0.7%
24.7%
73.6%
1.7%
21.8%
77.5%
0.7%
33.7%
66.0%
0.3%
26.1%
73.7%
0.2%
21.4%
76.9%
1.7%
28.4%
71.6%
0.0%
22.8%
77.0%
0.2%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Moving Location

Inside Kentucky
Out of State
Unsure/Refused
49.7%
40.9%
9.5%
64.2%
27.9%
7.9%
46.1%
38.5%
15.4%
54.3%
40.7%
5.0%
44.3%
32.4%
23.3%
43.4%
43.8%
12.9%
77.0%
20.2%
2.8%
42.4%
51.9%
5.7%
46.3%
43.0%
10.6%
49.3%
44.8%
5.9%
43.2%
48.3%
8.5%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

Information Source

Friends/ Family
TV News
Newspapers
Internet News
Public Officials
Radio
Unions/ Trade Associations
Other
Unsure/ Refused
15.8%
34.7%
17.6%
17.6%
2.1%
7.2%
0.4%
3.1%
1.5%
17.4%
45.4%
15.0%
12.6%
1.3%
5.1%
0.9%
1.3%
1.0%
10.6%
43.7%
16.9%
15.7%
3.1%
5.9%
0.4%
1.2%
2.4%
17.0%
32.8%
16.5%
19.9%
1.7%
6.9%
0.4%
3.1%
1.7%
16.6%
27.7%
18.2%
18.9%
2.0%
9.8%
0.2%
4.4%
2.3%
15.3%
29.4%
24.8%
19.0%
1.3%
6.5%
0.3%
2.8%
0.7%
17.4%
31.3%
17.2%
16.2%
3.2%
9.6%
0.2%
2.2%
2.5%
14.3%
31.0%
17.1%
23.1%
1.4%
7.5%
0.6%
4.8%
0.2%
21.3%
47.6%
12.1%
9.6%
2.0%
5.1%
0.0%
1.1%
1.2%
15.5%
27.3%
15.5%
23.0%
1.9%
7.9%
0.4%
6.6%
2.0%
12.7%
30.4%
23.0%
17.6%
3.6%
7.3%
0.9%
3.3%
1.1%
QuestionAnswers Bluegrass Region Anderson Bourbon Clark Fayette Franklin Jessamine Madison Montgomery Scott Woodford

What defines you?

Religion
Family
Career
Where I live now
Where I grew up
Other
Unsure/ Refused
27.3%
44.9%
7.8%
5.5%
10.5%
2.3%
1.6%
29.0%
45.8%
6.4%
5.2%
11.3%
1.3%
0.9%
22.3%
45.2%
6.1%
5.9%
15.7%
2.8%
2.0%
29.7%
41.7%
7.7%
3.3%
12.4%
4.2%
1.1%
23.0%
49.0%
10.3%
5.1%
7.7%
2.8%
2.2%
19.8%
50.7%
8.9%
7.6%
10.2%
2.0%
0.8%
36.3%
38.8%
6.3%
5.2%
10.7%
1.3%
1.4%
24.1%
42.7%
13.3%
7.9%
9.4%
1.5%
1.1%
36.7%
41.7%
3.0%
3.5%
11.1%
1.4%
2.6%
27.7%
48.4%
8.5%
3.9%
8.1%
1.8%
1.7%
24.1%
45.5%
7.9%
7.2%
9.1%
3.9%
2.3%