Editing Lexington, Virginia

{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Lexington, Virginia
| settlement_type    = [[Independent city (United States)|Independent city]]
| image_skyline      = South Main Street, Lexington, VA - looking north.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Main Street, Lexington, Virginia
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| pushpin_map        = Shenandoah Valley#USA Virginia#USA
| coordinates        = {{Coord|37|47|2|N|79|26|34|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|1498506|Lexington}}</ref>
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_name2  = None ([[Independent city (United States)|independent city]])
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Frank W Friedman
| leader_title1      = City manager
| leader_name1       = Jim Halasz
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.52
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.50
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 324
| elevation_ft       = 1063
| population_total   = 7320
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 24450
| area_code          = [[Area code 540|540]]
| website            = [http://lexingtonva.gov/ Lexington, Virginia]
| footnotes          = 
| pushpin_label      = Lexington
| leader_title2      = Commissioner of Revenue
| leader_name2       = Karen T. Roundy
| leader_title3      = Treasurer
| leader_name3       = Patricia DeLaney
| leader_title4      = City Attorney
| leader_name4       = Jeremy Carroll, Esquire
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 51-45512<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1498506<ref name=GNIS/>
| area_total_km2     = 6.54
| area_land_km2      = 6.47
| area_water_km2     = 0.07
| population_density_km2 = auto
| image_map          = Lexington-Location.svg
| map_caption        = Lexington in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]]
}}

'''Lexington''' is an [[Independent city (United States)#Virginia|independent city]] in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]], United States. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 7,320.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51678.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232136/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51678.html|archive-date=December 2, 2013}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of [[Rockbridge County, Virginia|Rockbridge County]], although the two are separate jurisdictions, and is combined with it for statistical purposes by the [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Lexington is within the [[Shenandoah Valley]] about {{Convert|57|mi}} east of the [[West Virginia]] border and is about {{Convert|50|mi}} north of [[Roanoke, Virginia]]. First settled in 1778, Lexington is best known as the home of the [[Virginia Military Institute]] and [[Washington and Lee University]].

==History==
Lexington was named in 1778. It was the first of what would be many American places named after [[Lexington, Massachusetts]], known for being the place at which the [[Shot heard round the world|first shot was fired]] in the [[American Revolutionary War|American Revolution]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YbyjamQWtScC&pg=PA16 | title=Our Storehouse of Missouri Place Names | publisher=University of Missouri Press | author=Ramsay, Robert L. | year=1952 | pages=16| isbn=9780826205865 }}</ref>

The [[Union Army|Union]] General [[David Hunter]] led a raid on Virginia Military Institute during the [[American Civil War]]. [[Robert E. Lee]] and [[Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson]] are buried in the city. It is the site of the only house Jackson ever owned, now open to the public as a museum.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stonewall Jackson House|url=https://www.vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/stonewall-jackson-house/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415122235/https://vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/stonewall-jackson-house/|archive-date=April 15, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021|website=[[Virginia Military Institute]]}}</ref> [[Cyrus McCormick]] invented the horse-drawn mechanical reaper at his family's farm in [[Rockbridge County, Virginia|Rockbridge County]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Mitchell|date=February 12, 2021|title=Cyrus McCormick|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cyrus-McCormick|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902041050/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cyrus-McCormick|archive-date=September 2, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> and a statue of McCormick is located on the [[Washington and Lee University]] campus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cyrus McCormick Statue on the grounds of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, 9/29/02, LC-DIG-pplot-13600-01179 (digital file from LC-HS503-348)|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/pplot.13600/?sp=92|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902041348/https://www.loc.gov/resource/pplot.13600/?sp=92|archive-date=September 2, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021|website=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> McCormick Farm is now owned by [[Virginia Tech]] and is a satellite agricultural research center.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Center|url=https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/shenandoah-valley/about.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902041616/https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/shenandoah-valley/about.html|archive-date=September 2, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021|website=[[Virginia Tech]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2}}, virtually all of which is land.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The [[Maury River]], a tributary of the [[James River]], forms the city's northeastern boundary.

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Lexington has a [[humid subtropical climate]], similar to [[Northern Italy]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=678444&cityname=Lexington,+Virginia,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Lexington, Virginia Köppen Climate Classification|website=Weatherbase|access-date=January 13, 2019}}</ref> Average monthly temperatures range from 34.9&nbsp;°F in January to 75.2&nbsp;°F in July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University}}</ref> The [[hardiness zone]] is 7a.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx |title=Interactive Map &#124; USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-date=June 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618111217/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Lexington, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1889–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 79
|year record high F = 105
|Jan high F = 45.2
|Feb high F = 49.3
|Mar high F = 57.4
|Apr high F = 68.4
|May high F = 75.7
|Jun high F = 83.1
|Jul high F = 86.6
|Aug high F = 85.4
|Sep high F = 79.1
|Oct high F = 69.1
|Nov high F = 57.8
|Dec high F = 48.3
|year high F = 67.1
|Jan mean F = 34.2
|Feb mean F = 37.0
|Mar mean F = 44.3
|Apr mean F = 54.4
|May mean F = 63.1
|Jun mean F = 71.2
|Jul mean F = 75.3
|Aug mean F = 74.0
|Sep mean F = 67.3
|Oct mean F = 56.0
|Nov mean F = 44.8
|Dec mean F = 37.3
|year mean F = 54.9
|Jan low F = 23.3
|Feb low F = 24.8
|Mar low F = 31.2
|Apr low F = 40.4
|May low F = 50.5
|Jun low F = 59.4
|Jul low F = 64.0
|Aug low F = 62.6
|Sep low F = 55.5
|Oct low F = 42.9
|Nov low F = 31.9
|Dec low F = 26.4
|year low F = 42.7
|Jan record low F = −16
|Feb record low F = −16
|Mar record low F = -4
|Apr record low F = 14
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 44
|Aug record low F = 39
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 18
|Nov record low F = 1
|Dec record low F = -10
|year record low F = -16
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.15
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.76
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.52
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.71
|May precipitation inch = 4.11
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.80
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.10
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.31
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.67
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.06
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.23
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.47
|year precipitation inch = 42.89
|Jan snow inch = 2.9
|Feb snow inch = 4.7
|Mar snow inch = 2.3
|Apr snow inch = 0.1
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.1
|Dec snow inch = 3.4
|year snow inch = 13.5
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 8.5
|Feb precipitation days = 8.4
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 11.1
|May precipitation days = 12.2
|Jun precipitation days = 11.9
|Jul precipitation days = 11.2
|Aug precipitation days = 11.0
|Sep precipitation days = 8.8
|Oct precipitation days = 7.8
|Nov precipitation days = 7.8
|Dec precipitation days = 9.9
|year precipitation days = 118.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.0
|Feb snow days = 1.8
|Mar snow days = 1.1
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.1
|Dec snow days = 1.7
|year snow days = 6.8
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=rnk
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00444876&format=pdf
| title = Station: Lexington, VA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 2, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1743
|1860= 2135
|1870= 2873
|1880= 2771
|1890= 3059
|1900= 3203
|1910= 2931
|1920= 2870
|1930= 3752
|1940= 3914
|1950= 5976
|1960= 7537
|1970= 7597
|1980= 7292
|1990= 6959
|2000= 6867
|2010= 7042
|2020= 7320
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/><br />2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lexingtoncityvirginia/PST045219|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lexington city, Virginia|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref> 
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Lexington city, Virginia - Demographic Profile'''<br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lexington city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US5145512&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lexington city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US5145512&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|5,807
|6,015
|82.46%
|82.17%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|668
|454
|9.49%
|6.20%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|8
|8
|0.11%
|0.11%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|153
|281
|2.17%
|3.84%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|4
|0
|0.06%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|12
|23
|0.17%
|0.31%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|119
|204
|1.69%
|2.79%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|271
|335
|3.85%
|4.58%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''7,042'''
|'''7,320'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

===2000 Census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2011-05-14 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 6,867 people, 2,232 households, and 1,080 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,753.8 per square mile (,064.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup was 86.01% [[Race (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.38% [[Race (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.92% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] and 0.48% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. [[Race (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 2,232 households, of which 18.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. 41.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 11.0% under the age of 18, 41.4% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 127.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,982, and the median income for a family was $58,529. Males had a median income of $35,288 versus $26,094 for females. The per capita income was $16,497. About 8.4% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:North Main Street, Lexington, VA - from Washington Street intersection.jpg|thumb|View of the [[First Baptist Church (Lexington, Virginia)|First Baptist Church]] along Main Street in the [[Lexington Historic District (Lexington, Virginia)|Lexington Historic District]]]]
Lexington's primary economic activities stem from [[higher education]] and tourism. With its various connections to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Lexington attracts visitors from around the country. Places of interest in Lexington include the [[Stonewall Jackson House]], [[University Chapel]], the [[George Marshall|George C. Marshall]] Library, Virginia Military Institute Museum, Museum of Military Memorabilia, and the [[Lexington Historic District (Lexington, Virginia)|downtown historic district]]. [[Hull's Drive In]] theater attracts visitors to the area and was the first community-owned, non-profit drive-in in the U.S. The non-profit [[Virginia Horse Center]] is a significant regional equestrian event facility.

Lexington also contains a host of small retail businesses, bed and breakfast inns, and restaurants catering to a unique mixture of local, tourist, and collegiate clientele. The historic R. E. Lee Hotel, built in the 1920s, underwent extensive renovation and re-opened its doors late 2014.

== Points of interest ==
[[File:LexingtonVA HighSchool.JPG|thumb|right|Lexington High School, designed by architect Charles M. Robinson and constructed in 1908, was typical of the modern public schools that cities built during the Progressive Era.]]
[[File:Lee Chapel.jpg|thumb|upright|University Chapel]]
* [[George C. Marshall Foundation]]
* [[Robert E. Lee]] grave site, found in [[Lee Chapel]] on the [[Washington and Lee University|W&L]] campus.
* [[Traveller (horse)|Traveller]] (Lee's horse) grave site, found along a walkway just outside [[Lee Chapel]].
* [[Stonewall Jackson|Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson]] grave site, found at [[Oak Grove Cemetery (Lexington, Virginia)|Oak Grove Cemetery]]
*[[Stonewall Jackson House]], residence of [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] general [[Stonewall Jackson|Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson]]
* [[Sam Houston]] place of birth (nearby)
* [[Cyrus McCormick]] Farm, birthplace and museum (nearby)
* [[Kappa Alpha Order]] international headquarters
* [[Omicron Delta Kappa]] national headquarters
* [[Sigma Nu]] international headquarters
* [[Chessie Nature Trail]] follows the former C&O railway bed along the [[Maury River]]
* [[Natural Bridge (Virginia)|Natural Bridge]] (nearby)
* [[Hull's Drive In]], the first non-profit drive-in theater in the U.S. (nearby)
* Gems of the Rockbridge [[geocaching]] trail
* Located near Lexington are a number of properties listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], including:<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref><ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20110617.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=June 17, 2011|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/06/11 through 6/10/11|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> [[Anderson Hollow Archaeological District]], [[Cedar Hill Church and Cemeteries]], [[Chapel Hill (Lexington, Virginia)|Chapel Hill]], [[Church Hill (Lexington, Virginia)|Church Hill]], [[Clifton (Lexington, Virginia)|Clifton]], [[Hamilton Schoolhouse]], [[Liberty Hall Site]], [[Lylburn Downing School]], [[Maple Hall]], [[John Moore House (Lexington, Virginia)|John Moore House]], [[Mountain View Farm (Lexington, Virginia)|Mountain View Farm]], [[Margaret E. Poague House]], [[Springdale (Lexington, Virginia)|Springdale]], [[Stone House (Lexington, Virginia)|Stone House]], [[Sunnyside (Lexington, Virginia)|Sunnyside]], [[Tankersley Tavern]], [[Thorn Hill]], [[Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church]], and [[Willson House]].
* Lexington Carriage Company

== Government ==
{{PresHead|place=Lexington, Virginia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|publisher=[[Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections]]|website=uselectionatlas.org}} Retrieved January 11, 2025.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|1,030|1,795|70|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|906|1,791|65|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|766|1,514|185|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,146|1,486|55|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|914|1,543|22|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|982|1,340|27|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|957|1,048|135|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|850|1,059|136|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|894|1,128|255|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|994|997|33|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,197|946|20|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|956|963|164|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,027|945|63|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,345|695|30|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,170|734|181|Virginia}}
|}<!--closes Pres table-->

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position !! Official
|-
| Mayor || Frank Friedman
|-
| Councilwoman || Marylin Alexander
|-
| Councilman || Charles Aligood
|-
| Councilman || Nicolas Betts
|-
| Councilman || David Sigler
|-
| Councilman || Charles Smith
|-
| Councilwoman || Leslie Straughan
|}

== Media ==
''The [http://www.thenews-gazette.com News-Gazette]'' is the weekly community paper; it also produces a free shopper known as ''The Weekender''. The now-defunct ''The Rockbridge Weekly'', noted for printing police and other local crime reports, was bought by ''The News-Gazette'' in June 2012. ''The Rockbridge Advocate'' is a monthly news magazine with the motto "Independent as a hog on ice". ''[[The Ring-tum Phi]]'', student newspaper of W&L, has been published since 1897 (with a suspension for World War II).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ring-tum Phi Archives|url=https://library.wlu.edu/digitalarchive/category/ring-tum-phi/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Washington and Lee University Digital Archive|date=June 10, 2014 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Lexington is the city of license for radio stations [[WIQR]] (88.7 FM), [[WMRL (FM)|WMRL]] (89.9 FM), and [[WLUR]] (91.5 FM)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radio stations in Lexington, Virginia - Radio Lineup|url=https://www.radiolineup.com/locate/Lexington-VA|access-date=2021-01-23|website=www.radiolineup.com}}</ref> on W&L campus.

==Transportation==
Lexington is located at the intersection of historic [[U.S. Route 11 in Virginia|U.S. Route 11]] and [[U.S. Route 60 in Virginia|U.S. Route 60]] and more modern highways, [[Interstate 64 in Virginia|Interstate 64]] and [[Interstate 81 in Virginia|Interstate 81]]. RADAR Transit operates the Maury Express, which provides local bus service to Lexington and Buena Vista.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Maury Express – RADAR – Paratransit and Senior Transportation Services, Roanoke VA| access-date = 2020-01-20| url = https://radartransit.org/ridership-information/maury-express/}}</ref> The Virginia Breeze provides intercity bus service between [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]] and [[Washington, D.C.]], with a stop in Lexington.<ref>{{Cite web| title = The Virginia Breeze: Bus from Blacksburg to Washington, DC| work = The Virginia Breeze: Bus from Blacksburg to Washington, DC {{!}} DRPT| access-date = 2020-01-20| url = https://virginiabreeze.org/}}</ref>

== Motion pictures ==
The 1938 movie, ''[[Brother Rat]]'', which starred [[Ronald Reagan]], was shot in Lexington. After the release, Reagan was made an honorary VMI cadet. The 1958 ''[[Mardi Gras (1958 film)|Mardi Gras]]'' starred [[Pat Boone]] as a VMI cadet appearing with actress [[Christine Carère]]. ''[[Sommersby]]'' from 1993 starred [[Richard Gere]], [[Bill Pullman]], [[James Earl Jones]], and [[Jodie Foster]]. ''[[Foreign Student]]'', released in 1994, was based on a novel of college life by former W&L student Phillipe Labro with related scenes made in town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Foreign Student|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109828/|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> In Fall 2004, the director [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[Tom Cruise]] filmed scenes for ''[[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds]]'' here, with [[Dakota Fanning]] and [[Tim Robbins]]. In June 2013, filming took place for a movie titled ''[[Field of Lost Shoes]]'' about the [[Battle of New Market]] starring [[Luke Benward]] and [[Lauren Holly]].

Filming for parts of several Civil War films also took place in Lexington, including the documentary ''[[Lee Beyond the Battles]]'' and ''[[Gods and Generals (film)|Gods and Generals]]''.

==Controversies==
===Flag controversy===
<!--PLEASE NOTE: this heading "Flag controversy" is linked to from the article "Modern display of the Confederate flag".  If you change this heading, you'll need to change the link on the other article-->
In 2011, the city erupted in controversy after the City Council passed an ordinance to ban the flying of flags other than the United States flag, the Virginia Flag, and an as-yet-undesigned city flag on city light poles. Various flags of the [[Confederate flag|Confederacy]] had previously been flown on city light poles to commemorate the Virginia holiday, [[Lee–Jackson Day]], which is observed on the Friday before [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Day]].<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite web|last=Associated Press|title=Va. city bans public Confederate flag displays|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/va-city-bans-public-confederate-flag-displays/|work=CBS News|access-date=June 14, 2012}}</ref> About 300 Confederate flag supporters, including members of the [[Sons of Confederate Veterans]], rallied before the City Council meeting,<ref name="Adams">{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Duncan|title=Rebel flags barred from Lexington poles|url=http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/297591|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201143614/http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/297591|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|work=Roanoke Times|access-date=June 14, 2012}}</ref> and after the vote the Sons of Confederate Veterans vowed to challenge the new local ordinance in court.<ref name="Associated Press"/> Previously, flags such as the Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute flags had also been flown on city light poles, but the practice is now discontinued due to the city's ordinance.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In 2014, a large [[Confederate battle flag]] and a number of related state flags were removed from [[Lee Chapel]] at [[Washington and Lee University]]. The flags were moved to a rotating display at the Lee Chapel Museum.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wtvr.com/2014/07/09/virginia-university-to-remove-confederate-flags-from-chapel/|title=Virginia university to remove Confederate flags from chapel|publisher=CNN Wire|date=July 9, 2014|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|title=Washington and Lee University to remove Confederate flags following protests
|last=Shapiro
|first=T. Rees
|date=July 8, 2014
|newspaper=Washington Post
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/washington-and-lee-university-to-remove-confederate-flags-following-protests/2014/07/08/e219e580-06bb-11e4-8a6a-19355c7e870a_story.html
|access-date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>

===Red Hen restaurant controversy===
The Red Hen restaurant was the site of the June 22, 2018, precipitating event for the [[Red Hen restaurant controversy]] in which a restaurant co-owner asked [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] to leave the restaurant by citing Huckabee Sanders' role in the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]].<ref name=WashPostSelk20180625>{{cite news |last1=Selk |first1=Avi |last2=Murray |first2=Sarah |title=The owner of the Red Hen explains why she asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2018/06/23/why-a-small-town-restaurant-owner-asked-sarah-huckabee-sanders-to-leave-and-would-do-it-again/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704024309/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2018/06/23/why-a-small-town-restaurant-owner-asked-sarah-huckabee-sanders-to-leave-and-would-do-it-again/ |archive-date=July 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The incident sparked national controversy.<ref name=WashPostSelk20180625/>

==Notable people==
* [[William H. Armstrong (author)|William H. Armstrong]], children's author and educator best known for his 1969 novel ''Sounder'', which won the [[Newbery Medal]].
*[[Baroness (band)]], American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band whose early members grew up together in Lexington.
*[[Lena Northern Buckner]], social worker
*[[Howard Drew]], competitor in the [[1912 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Howard Drew | website = Sports-reference.com | url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/dr/howard-drew-1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418011201/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/dr/howard-drew-1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 18, 2020 | access-date = March 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Kelly Evans]], journalist and co-presenter for [[CNBC]].
* [[Hilary Hahn]], classical violinist.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=Justin|title=Past Her Prime at 17? : Younger violinists are fast on the heels of Hilary Hahn. But she doesn't feel the heat.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-28-ls-58432-story.html|access-date=4 March 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 28, 1997}}</ref>
* [[Larry Keel]], bandleader and musician.
* [[John Letcher]], 34th Governor of Virginia.<ref>{{cite web | title = Virginia Governor John Letcher | publisher = National Governors Association | url = http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_virginia/col2-content/main-content-list/title_letcher_john.html | access-date = March 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[William Lindsay (Kentucky politician)|William Lindsay]], U.S. Senator from Kentucky.<ref>{{cite dictionary | title = Lindsay, William, (1835 - 1909) | dictionary = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress | url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000327 | access-date = March 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[William A. MacCorkle]], ninth Governor of West Virginia.<ref>{{cite web | title = West Virginia Governor William Alexander MacCorkle | publisher = National Governors Association | url = http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_west_virginia/col2-content/main-content-list/title_maccorkle_william.html | access-date = March 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Sally Mann]], photographer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sally Mann|url=http://sallymann.com/about|website=sallymann.com|access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Gary W. Martini]], posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.<ref>{{cite web | title = Gary Wayne Martini 1948-1967 | publisher = West Virginia Division of Culture and History | url = http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vets/martinigary/martinigary.html | access-date = March 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[William G. McDowell]], Episcopal prelate who served as the fifth [[Bishop of Alabama]].
* [[Robert Paxton]], political scientist and historian.<ref>{{cite web | last = Evans | first = Martin | title = Robert Paxton: The Outsider | work=  History Today | year = 2001 | url = http://www.historytoday.com/martin-evans/robert-paxton-outsider}}</ref>
* [[William N. Pendleton]], Confederate general, longtime chief artilleryman for [[Robert E. Lee]].
* [[John Thomas Lewis Preston]], founder of [[Virginia Military Institute]].<ref>{{cite book |date=1967 |title=The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KuopAQAAMAAJ&q=%22john+t+l+preston%22+born+lexington+1811 |location=New York, NY |publisher=J. T. White |page= 245}}</ref>
* [[Pat Robertson]], founder and chairman of [[Christian Broadcasting Network]].<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Hill | first1 = Samuel S. | last2 = Lippy | first2 = Charles H. | last3 = Wilson | first3 = Charles Reagan | title = Encyclopedia of Religion in the South | publisher = Mercer University | year = 2005 | isbn = 9780865547582 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yx2EarrpKGUC&pg=PR4}}</ref>
* [[Cy Twombly]], artist.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jul/06/cy-twombly-obituary | title="Cy" (Cyclone) Twombly, obituary |work=The Guardian |location=UK | date=July 6, 2011 | author=Masters, Christopher}}</ref>
*[[Reginald H. Ridgely Jr.]], [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]]; born in Lexington.

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lexington, Virginia]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lexington, Virginia}}
{{EB1911 Poster|Lexington (Virginia)|Lexington, Virginia}}
* {{official website|http://www.lexingtonvirginia.com/}}
* [http://lexingtonva.gov/ City of Lexington - Government Site]
* [http://www.LexRockChamber.com/ Chamber Of Commerce]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/VAmainstreet/lex.htm Virginia Main Street Communities: Lexington Historic District]
* [http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Lexington_During_the_Civil_War Lexington During the Civil War in ''Encyclopedia Virginia'']

{{Rockbridge County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lexington, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]
[[Category:Rockbridge County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Flag controversies in the United States]]