About 30 miles south of Lexington, Richmond is the fourth-largest city in the Kentucky Bluegrass, a region known for its horses, distilleries and rich history. “I’ve heard that when the sun shines on bluegrass, you can actually see a blue cast,” says Tina Witt, a local real estate agent with Keller Williams Legacy Group. “The name is strongly associated with how pretty Kentucky is in the summer. There are green pastures, hills and a whole lot of horses.” Named after the state capital of Virginia, Richmond’s roots date back to the 18th century when English settler Daniel Boone forged a path through the land. Today, his statue stands tall at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, where students traditionally rub his right foot for good luck. “People like Richmond because it’s down-to-earth,” Witt says. “There’s not so much hustle and bustle, and it’s big enough that you have everything you need. But if you’d rather go to Macy’s than JCPenney, you just drive 25 minutes up to Lexington.”
About 30 miles south of Lexington, Richmond is the fourth-largest city in the Kentucky Bluegrass.
Eastern Kentucky University enrolls over 10,000 students in central Richmond.
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Lot sizes increase along Richmond’s rural outskirts
The median price for a single-family home in Richmond sits around $300,000, which is slightly lower than Lexington's median. New traditional architecture is common in Richmond since most properties were constructed in the early 2000s. Though 19th-century homes populate the downtown area, homebuyers are more likely to find modern farmhouses, ranch-style homes and bilevels in subdivisions like Magnolia Pointe and Arbor Woods. Sprawling fields of farmland fan across the city’s outskirts, studded with large estates on lots of an acre or more. Properties like these line the way to Lexington, where Boone’s Trace National Golf Club is one of many modern communities still developing just south of the county line. “Clay’s Ferry Bridge separates Madison County from Fayette County,” Witt says. “So, a lot of people will purchase a home in northern Richmond to get more bang for their buck while still being close enough to Lexington.”
The median price for a single-family home in Richmond sits around $300,000.
Homebuyers can expect to spend around $169 per square foot in Richmond.
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From hiking to horseback riding in Madison County
Richmond has hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters. “Kentucky weather is a bit of a joke among everybody who lives here,” Witt says. “It’ll be winter in the morning and summer by evening. But you can always tell when it’s fall because the leaves change; and when it’s spring because everything is so green.”
When the warmer months hit, many residents head to Fort Boonesborough State Park for its hiking trails and historic landmarks, including a replica of Daniel Boone’s original fort with historical reenactors. Hikers might also head to Camp Catalpa Park, across the water from the Lake Reba Recreational Complex. “That’s where all the little league teams play,” Witt continues. “They have a public pool and the Gibson Bay Golf Course, where they have fireworks on the Fourth of July. People can come out with their lawn chairs to watch.” Lake Reba is a hot spot for fishing and kayaking. Farther north, Stepping Stone Ranch offers horseback riding throughout the area’s rural trails.
Richmond little league teams play games at the Lake Reba Recreational Complex.
Fort Boonesborough State Park features areas for camping, boating, hiking, and swimming.
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Shopping & dining along the Eastern Bypass
Downtown Richmond is characterized by small businesses inside charming Queen Anne buildings. Witt notes how government offices, boutiques, coffee shops and eateries surround the towering, white courthouse overlooking Main Street. On Irvine Street, Dreaming Creek Brewery was named for the historic stream that runs from Eastern Kentucky University all the way west to the Kentucky River. Richmond’s Eastern Bypass curves through the city like a horseshoe, lined with big-name retailers and grocers. There’s one particular area called Richmond Centre,” Witt says. “That’s where you have your Meijer, Michaels, JCPenney and that sort of thing.” She explains that other major retailers, like Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s, sit closer to the university.
Richmond residents shop for fresh produce and home goods at Walmart.
Dreaming Creek Brewery in Richmond was named for the historic stream that runs from EKU all the way west to the Kentucky River.
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Richmond’s scarlet begonias & fresh produce
Scarlet begonias line the walkway at Millstone Park, where residents gather each autumn for Richmond’s annual Millstone Festival. “It’s only been going on for a few years,” Witt says. “It all began with this local in town who collects millstones. He made this little park on Main Street for people to walk through, and from that came the festival.” From food vendors to antique cars, live music and crafts, the Millstone Festival is now one of the most prominent gatherings in Richmond.
The city’s rural outskirts offer several attractions, including the 500-acre Chennault Vineyard. Similarly, Baldwin Farms is known for its fresh produce. Guests can purchase local honey in the summer, pick pumpkins in the fall and return in the winter to cut their own Douglas fir Christmas trees. The city is also home to the Madison County Fairgrounds.
Richmond residents frequent the 500-acre Chenault Vineyard for local wine.
Scarlet begonias line the walkway at Millstone Park during summer months in Richmond.
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EKU football games at Roy Kidd Stadium
Richmond students attend the Madison County School District, which earns a B on Niche. The district operates two vocational schools for students seeking to sharpen their trade skills: Ignite Academy North Campus, located along the Eastern Bypass, and Ignite Academy South Campus, located in Berea.
Eastern Kentucky University enrolls over 10,000 students in central Richmond. “The football team is really popular, and a lot of people tailgate before going to the games,” Witt says. “It’s got one of the best criminal justice programs around, and people come from everywhere to enroll in it. But it’s also popular for nursing—I’m a nurse, and that’s where I went to nursing school!”
Ignite Academy North serves 560 students in 9th through 12th grades in Richmond.
Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs.
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Commuting to Lexington & Louisville
According to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, some of the region’s largest employers include Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center and NACCO Industries, among other holding and manufacturing companies. “Lexington is where the University of Kentucky is and many of our hospitals,” Witt says. “So, a lot of nurses and doctors often live in Richmond and commute north every day.”
Interstate 75 is a central thoroughfare that heads north into Lexington and south toward Knoxville, Tennessee. Commuters are typically car-dependent, while Richmond Transit provides localized bus service. Travelers can take domestic flights from Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport or fly internationally from Louisville International Airport, about 100 miles northwest.
Crime statistics in Richmond
According to FBI data, violent crime in Richmond rose by about 17 percent from 2021 to 2023; the most recent year data is available. Property crime has also increased slightly since then, but has fallen by 34% since its peak in 2016.
Written By
Dana Chesser
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Minion
Video By
Conar McDaniel
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Oxana Lopetegui-Pineda,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Richmond, KY sell after 83 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Richmond, KY over the last 12 months is $310,000.
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