LEX'INGTON. A city and the county-seat of Payette County, Ky., 98 miles south of Cincin nati. Ohio: on the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Lexington and Eastern. the Louisville and Nash ville, the Queen and Crescent Route, the South ern, and other railroads (Map: Kentucky. G 2). It is the centre of the widely celebrated 'blue grass region.' is well built, and has a pub lic library, the State Asylum for the Insane. Ken lucky Reform School. Kentucky University (Christian), organized in 1836, State Agricul tural and Mechanical College, Sayre Female In stitute. Hamilton and McClelland female col leges, Saint Catherine's Academy (Roman Catho lic.), and other educational institutions. Other points of interest are Woodland Park, the race tracks, and several noted stock farms. Lexing ton is commercially important as the market for the 'blue grass' district, and is well known also fur the manufacture of Bourbon whisky. The manufactures include also flour, saddlery and harness, carriages and wagons. canned goods,
and planing-mill, foundry, and machine-shop products. The government is administered under a charter of 1894, by a mayor, elected every four years, a bicameral council, and subordinate of ficials, the majority of whom are chosen by the people. Population, in 1890, 21,567; in 1900, 26.369.
In 1775 several hunters, including Robert Pat terson, Simon Kenton, and William McConnell, stopped on the site of Lexington, gave it its pres ent name to commemorate the battle of Lexing ton, and built a cabin to confirm their title to the land. A permanent settlement was made by Patterson four years later. In 1782 the town was incorporated by the Virginia Legislature. From 1792 to 1793 it was the capital of Ken tucky, and here, in 1792. assembled the first State Legislature. In 1832 a city charter was secured. It was the home from 1797 until his death of Henry Clay. in memory of whom a noteworthy monument has been erected.