Our state is known for horse racing, bourbon and beauty, but where is the best place to call home? In 2016, Livability recognized Lexington as #81 out of the 100 best U.S. cities to live in. This beautiful and historic community in the midst of horse country thrives with a vibrancy and ambition that includes its citizens, businesses and community structure. The source's overall decision was based on populations between 20,000 and 350,000, along with data collected according to the NYU School of Professional Studies, "Initiative for Creativity and Innovation in Cities". The data utilized included; cost of living, household income. crime rate, education, health care, entertainment options, along with a few other things. Lexington has made a regular appearance on the Livability top 100 list since 2013.

There are an abundance of great reasons to live in Lexington Kentucky, and here are 13 of them:

13. Sports

If you are a college sports fan, this is one of the best places for you. The University of Kentucky Wildcats are a favored team in our state, which is relatively obvious. If locals wear blue, it is likely UK blue. You will find some of the most spirited sports fans in our state are right at home in Lexington. The right pub on game night will embrace fellow Wildcat lovers like a fraternity. If you are not into sports… avoid any bar, pub or lounge with a television on game nights.

12. Healthcare

Lexington is home to not one, but four of the top hospitals. St Joseph Health Systems has ranked 18 times in the top 100 best hospitals in the nation according to Thomson Reuters. Central Baptist Hospital is renowned for cancer treatment and earned a Gold Seal of Approval via American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for excellence in practices. The UK HealthCare and Shriners Hospitals for Children are also renowned for high standards and practices. If you have to get sick, Lexington is likely the safest place to do it when it comes to quality healthcare.

11. Above average intelligence

More than 40% of Lexington’s residents have a Bachelor Degree or higher accommodation. The public education system here is rated a 7 by Great Schools. In a time where the mentality of public schools is often questioned, that is something to be proud of.

10. Renters versus homeowners

Some people just want to ride down the street for a visit, while others fall in love with Lexington, deciding to grow older and retire here. More than 54% of the population actually owns their homes, which is a big commitment. The other 46% are renters, many of which are students attending one of the three universities. Occasionally a clown pops in, but they usually don’t stick around…

9. Art

Lexington is a great place to be when it comes to arts and entertainment. With a college student population of well over 25,000, the art scene is booming here. The city has some wonderful galleries and art centers such as the Lexington Art League, Lyric Theater and Cultural Center, Tuska Center for Contemporary Art, and the Morlan Gallery. The Art Museum at the University of Kentucky is also an inspiring place to visit.

8. Friendly people

The majority of the citizens of Lexington are good hearted people that represent the unbridled spirit of Kentucky. New residents find kindness to be contagious, despite the size of the city.

7. Small town feel

Lexington is certainly no small town with more than 304,000 residents. Despite the population, the residents somehow manage to maintain the feeling of community often found in smaller towns.

6. History

Lexington is rich in history. Visitors can see the Pope Villa, circa 1811, Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, The Headley Whitney Museum, Kentucky Theater, Mary Todd Lincoln House, Lexington Cemetery, and the renowned Transylvania University, just to name a few. It is also part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

5. College town

Lexington is home to the Bluegrass Community and Technical College, University of Kentucky College and Transylvania University. Being the home of three esteemed universities, Lexington has to keep up with modern themes as well as maintaining local history. The city maintains a harmonious balance between the modern and the traditional.

4. Housing

Finding a nice home is not a challenge in Lexington. Those looking to buy will find the average cost of a 3 bedroom home to be less than $150,000. That is a much lower cost than other states in the U.S., unless you look in impoverished communities. It is possible to find a powerless shack, AKA shed/trailer for less than $3,000 on Craigslist.

3. The beauty of nature

Not only is Lexington scattered with rolling hills and farmland, there are 122 public parks for residents to enjoy. You don’t have to wander far before you run into a nice spot to relax for a picnic and a game of Frisbee. Several favorites among the locals include the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary along the Kentucky River Palisades, Coldstream Dog Park, Smith Street Park, Masterson Station Park, and the Kentucky Horse Park, which offers acres of natural beauty along with plenty of equestrian activities.

2. Horse capital of the world

When most people think horse racing, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby come to mind. However, Lexington has the official title, and the renowned Keeneland Track, which has been around since 1936. Keeneland is on the Register for Historic Places and was rated the #1 Thoroughbred Racing Track in the United States during 2009. The track is home to the world’s largest thoroughbred auction, and the 2015 "Breeder’s Cup" was held there. Not to mention, the racing scenes from "Seabiscuit" were filmed at Keeneland in 1997.

1. Cleanliness is next to...

The city of Lexington, despite being the second largest city in Kentucky, is ranked as one of the cleanest cities in America, according to Forbes Magazine. Forbes doesn’t give out recognition lightly, so this is something the Bluegrass State should take great pride in.

Those who live in Lexington Kentucky know why it’s a great place to call home. Livability recognized the positive aspects of our second largest city, and I’m passing them along to you. We have plenty of fantastic towns to live in all across this state, but Lexington has got the numbers since 2013. What is your favorite thing about Lexington? Or, what city do you think should have been recognized instead?