Why Kentucky's Fastest Growing City Should Be On Your Radar
Kentucky is most well-known for its Kentucky Derby horse race, held annually in its largest city, Louisville. This event brings in millions of visitors each year, but other places in Kentucky are also worth seeing or living. One such city is Georgetown, which is one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire state. Located north of Lexington, Kentucky, within Scott County, it was named after the first President, George Washington. This city has a long history, beautiful horse farms, an innovative manufacturing facility, historic plantation homes, picturesque distilleries, and much more. Read more about this city's growth, history, and great local attractions to check out. You will see why this fast-growing Kentucky city should be on your radar.
Growth in Georgetown
Georgetown currently has around 37,000 residents (as of the 2020 Census), and its growth has steadily been on the rise since the 1980s. Any town, village, or city needs job opportunities for people to pay their bills and put down roots, and Georgetown first began to see a major boost in growth when Toyota constructed its Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant in 1988.
This plant employs more than 10,000 employees, making it the largest employer in the city by a wide margin. Prior to the plant, Georgetown primarily relied on agriculture for its business, now it has a mixture of manufacturing, small businesses, and big retailers.
Georgetown has also worked closely with Scott, Madison counties, Richmond, and Berea to improve the entire region through an economic development program. Since 2023, these communities have pooled federal, state, and local funds to create new employment opportunities and attract new businesses. The initiative will also develop land for commercial businesses.
Georgetown is also a center for college students via Georgetown College. This college has been in operation since 1829 and focuses on delivering a Christian education for students through its Baptist background.
Lastly, Georgetown has seen a huge number of tourists for its many attractions. In 2022, it was the biggest year for tourists yet. These tourists bring money into the community, which further drives growth.
History of Georgetown
Europeans first visited the area around Georgetown in 1774 when John Floyd, a surveyor working under George Washington, came to explore the region, which was then a part of Virginia.
In 1783, settlers set up a settlement in Johnson Station, and the following year, famed preacher Elijah Craig incorporated Georgetown, then called Lebanon. This name might be familiar, as he was also the first to age whiskey inside of bourbon barrels, creating the drink that Kentucky is famous for.
In 1790, the town was renamed from Lebanon to Georgetown, and the name has remained unchanged to this day. Elijah Craig wasn't done with Georgetown, however. He also set up the first saw, grist, and paper mills and a classical school, which would later become Georgetown University. In 1898, this university became the first coeducational place of learning in the South.
Georgetown also played a major role in Black history. Several African American residents joined the army in the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 23rd and 24th infantry regiments, becoming the first peacetime African American regiments in the US. Native Americans named them Buffalo Soldiers in the 1870s as a term of honor.
Today, the town's long history has left it with a culturally rich historic downtown area to explore.
Historic Structures
In the downtown area, there are a wide variety of buildings, many of which date back to the town's very early days in the 1780s.
One such place is the Julius Blackburn House, commonly called Warwick. Sergeant Julius Blackburn, an American Revolutionary War veteran, lived here in 1799. It consists of both a simple log cabin and a stone section. The oldest home in town is the Branham House, a two-story brick house constructed in the 1790s at the birth of the town.
A bigger 18th-century house is the 11-room brick Buford-Duke House, built in the 1790s for Colonel Abram Buford. He lived here while raising thoroughbred horses.
The most luxurious house to explore was built quite a bit later, in 1856. Ward Hall is a 12,000-square-foot Greek Revival-style mansion that is the pride of the community. It was the home of Sallie Ward, a fashionable woman who loved to shock visitors with her outfits. She was visited by none other than Queen Victoria and Empress Eugenie of France.
Today, residents and visitors alike can tour the grounds of Ward Hall, including ascending its double elliptical staircase.
In addition, it's definitely worth exploring Georgetown College's historic grounds, which include three antebellum structures, including the Greek Revival Giddings Hall.
Lastly, the Georgetown and Scott County Museum offers a comprehensive history of Georgetown. This museum has exhibits about the DeWitt Collection of stagecoaches and Pete the Famous Crow, who confused racehorses during horse races in the 1800s.
Attractions in Georgetown
Georgetown has many attractions beyond historic buildings. For example, the town serves as a wonderful retirement community for former equine participants and winners of the Kentucky Derby. At the Old Friends Retire Thoroughbred Farm, guests can interact or take pictures with around 175 retired horses. Guests can also feed the horse carrots and learn about the races these beautiful creatures participated in.
For those who want to get even closer to horses, rent a horse to ride at the Whispering Woods Riding Stable. This course has 250 acres of trails that one can ride through on horseback, along with pony rides and a petting zoo.
Toyota, Georgetown's biggest employer, also provides a Toyota Kentucky Experience Center for anyone who wants to see how cars are made in America. Guests can take a tram-ride tour through the manufacturing plant and see a 1988 Camry up close.
Outdoor Wonders near Georgetown
The beautiful landscape of Georgetown is worth getting out and about to walk or bike. Georgetown has a fantastic biking spot known as the Skullbuster Trails within the Lytles Fork Recreation Area. These challenging trails have limestone rocks, meadows, climbs, and other challenges for the truly determined biker.
There are also great opportunities for water sports in Georgetown at Elkhorn Creek. This creek is one of Kentucky's most visited streams for those looking to go kayaking, canoeing, or floating. Adventurers will also get a chance to see the historic Switzer Covered Bridge while paddling down the creek. Due to its large smallmouth bass population, fishers love to come here as well.
For hikers, the Toyota Kentucky Biodiversity Trail is worth exploring. It has five trails that display the wonders of native Kentucky wildlife and trees, such as the Eastern Bluebird and chinquapin oak trees.
Lastly, Georgetown has three golf courses in town, each with 18 holes and beautiful scenery. These include the Longview Country Club, Canewood Golf Course, and Cherry Blossom Village Golf & Country Club.
Bourbon and More
For those who partake, Georgetown is one of the best spots in Kentucky to try locally made bourbon. The town is part of the larger Bourbon Trail, a network of distilleries crisscrossing across the state. In Georgetown itself, there is the Limestone Farms Heritage Distilling Co., a fifth-generation business that sells bourbon aged up to six years.
Visitors can enjoy all the best bourbon in Kentucky at the Leaf and Barrel Cigar and Bourbon Lounge, which also regularly features live music.
If whisky isn't your cup of tea, you can try out cider at the Evans Orchard and Cider Mill or enjoy a beer at Country Boy Brewing.
There are plenty of other things one could mention about this growing city, such as its art classes, galleries, country stores, and more. Georgetown delivers a mixture of 18th—and 19th-century heritage with 21st-century car manufacturing and bourbon. Despite its growth, this community keeps its rural feel alive with its horse farms and the lovely Elkhorn Creek. Whether you are considering moving to Georgetown or just want to visit, it is certainly worth staying on your radar.
