Cattle farms surround Stanford, a rural area in horse country
Stanford is a rural, agricultural community with rolling hills in Kentucky’s horse country region. “The lay of the land really lends itself well to pastures for cattle, [and] there is flatter land around you can do crops on,” says Kim Hurst, the owner and a broker at Kentucky Properties Realty Group, with over 26 years of experience. “It’s not as close to the big city of Lexington, so housing and land prices are a little better. It’s that slow Mayberry type of atmosphere. We get a lot of out-of-state people who love to come to these small towns, and our farmland is relatively cheap if you’re coming from the West. In this area, many people have over a half-acre to multiple acres.”
Local farm contributions, a downtown district and national chains
Downtown’s Main Street has many historic Italianate-style brick buildings home to local shops, ranging from Kentucky Soaps & Such to the Morgan’s on Main boutique. Local restaurants in the area include Mama Devechio’s Pizzeria. Bluebird serves southern dishes and partners with local farmers to incorporate locally sourced ingredients in its food. Durham’s Grocery is an independent store on Lancaster Street. A Walmart and fast food restaurant chains are in Stanford’s northern region near U.S. Highway.
Blue Grass South Stockyards hosts cattle sales every Monday and Thursday morning, and it has additional cow sales on the third Friday of every month. “With the beef industry around there, there are so many places to go to and get fresh beef. Many people will get half a cow processed, so they’re not always going to chain grocery stores to get their beef,” Hurst says. CoveyChase Farm Company on US-27 has a wait list for its half-cow orders. It also sells freezer grass-fed lamb and pastured chickens.
Homes vary from historic to ranch-style homes in subdivisions
Minimal Traditional homes and bilevels with Colonial Revival influence are common, and many predate 1980. Some of these homes are over a century old, and depending on factors like their condition and size, prices range from about $30,000 to $320,000. Some multi-story historic homes can go up to about $500,000. Many ranch-style homes and contemporary farmhouses were erected from 1980 onward, some in subdivisions. These more recent builds have prices between about $110,000 and $460,000. Many homes have properties that span a half acre up to 5 acres. “There are restrictions on the developments, and typically, you can't have a horse on an acre, but 5-acre tracks, there are usually horses, and in the rural areas, there are no restrictions on those, so we do see one acre with horses,” Hurst says.
Flooding is a regional concern, and homebuyers are advised to research their flood zone and get proper insurance.
Ball fields and fishing to disc golf and the Dix River Golf Course
First Southern Veteran’s Park on U.S. Highway 150 has a walking path that loops around its soccer complex and baseball fields. Recreational leagues use these facilities for practices and games. About 6 miles from central Stanford, Logan Hubble Park spans 400 acres with a 12-acre fishing lake, a disc golf course and a playground. Some paths wind through the park’s nature preserve, and others are bike- and horse-friendly. Dix River Golf Course is a public 18-hole course in the region. Bass fishing is popular at Cedar Creek Lake, about a 10-mile drive away.
Learning in Lincoln County Schools and high school sports
Lincoln County Schools district serves Stanford and allows out-of-district students to transfer into the district’s schools. Some residences are in the Stanford Elementary School attendance boundary. The school earns a B-minus from Niche. Lincoln County Middle School receives a C overall, and Lincoln County High School scores a C-plus. The high school has various sports teams, including those for archery and bass fishing.
A hospital and highways that tie the area to Danville and Lexington
Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital is at the intersection of US-150 and US-27 in Stanford’s northern region. US-150 connects the area to Danville, and US-27 leads to Lexington, about 45 miles away. Blue Grass Airport and Keeneland, a horse racing track, are at similar distances.
