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The Oldham Era owns two products: The Oldham Era newspaper product and The Market shopper product. The Oldham Era is the local community newspaper for Oldham County. Each week, readers find local government news, school news, sports, obituaries, advertising and other vital information regarding Oldham County. The Market shopper product is delivered free of charge to Oldham and surrounding counties and if full of advertising and regional classfied advertising. The Market is a great resource for local real estate, employment, yard sales and more. Who is Oldham County: Sitting just east of the largest county in the state, Oldham County has been called a bedroom community of Louisville. Its premium location has been a draw to hundreds of professionals who work in the city, but Oldham County isn't just an extension of Louisville. It has a rich beauty and character, distinctly its own. Its 190 square miles is steeped in rural tradition, multi-generation family history, cultural diversity, and political and artistic interests. It is home to farmers, small town families, shop owners, factory workers, artists and executives. As in most communities, the friendly people make the difference. They say hello to strangers as they pass on the sidewalks. It's always a delight to newcomers to find that folks know other folks, or other folks' families from way back. They went to the same school or church. They grew up in the same town. Stories about interesting characters and events are still told in the town centers and small diners and shops. Some family names stand out for their familiarity or community service throughout generations, and some have ancestors who settled here from Switzerland, England, Germany and Ireland in the 18th century. The geography is as diverse as its people. The booming population is clustered around the larger cities of La Grange, Crestwood, Pewee Valley, Goshen and Prospect. Each one has its own distinct personality. There are also rural and suburban areas without city status but with their own historical names and loyal residents. Examples are the countryside of Centerfield, the sprawling suburbia of Buckner, the historic charm of Brownsboro. The village of Westport sits down in a valley and ends at the Ohio River. It was the original county seat in the 19th century when river traffic made it the central location. La Grange is now the largest city and the county seat, housing the county government offices of fiscal court, planning and zoning and the county clerk's office. The downtown historic district also contains the courthouse, the Oldham County Historical Center, and of course, the famous shopping, art gallery and eatery row on Main Street. A tourist's visit is not complete unless a train arrives to amaze onlookers on its way down the middle of the street in the same direction as traffic. First Street in La Grange turns into Ky. 53 and ends on the north side at the scenic byway along U.S. 42, which includes some of the most famous horse farm country anywhere. The mother of the 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fugashai Pegasus saw her first light of day on the Longfield Farm in Goshen. Hermitage Farm holds the thoroughbred horse industry's record for highest priced yearling. Goshen and Prospect represent some of the most expensive land in the state. Some residential lots sell for $250,000. Many of the winding country roads in the North Oldham area end at the river or run to boat and yacht clubs. In recent years, the Oldham County Economic Development Authority was created with the purpose to attract business to Oldham, encourage expansion of current businesses, and create more jobs. OCEDA officials hope more businesses will balance the tax base. Currently, a vast majority of the county's taxes are paid through residential means. Officials hope to see residential taxes account for about 75 percent. Business, combined with the existing agriculture (currently about 6 percent) and oil, mineral and timber rights (currently .1 percent) sectors should account for 25 percent for a proper balance. OCEDA merged with the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce to form Oldham Chamber & Economic Development. The county is growing by leaps and bounds. One reason is its proximity to Louisville, just 25 miles and 25 minutes away from the northern points via Interstate 71. The surge in growth began in 1969 when the interstate reached the area. Until the road expansion, transportation from urban centers was via U.S. 42, Ky. 22 and other two-lane corridors. County government's largest task is dealing with the issues of growth, while clinging to what has been described as the rural character of Oldham. Infrastructure including roads, water and sewer services are continuously assessed and improved. Low road funding in the state has been a crucial challenge in Oldham. The population boomed over the last decade, soaring from 33,263 people in 1990 to 46,178 in 2000, according to the U. S. Census 2000. That made Oldham the state's 19th largest county - up from being the 26th largest in 1990. It is now Kentucky's fifth fastest-growing county. People are drawn by the idea of living in a small town or in the country while being only a quick drive away from work or the city. Just as important has been the high quality of Oldham County schools. Rated, consistently, at the top of the state's lists, Oldham's elementary, middle and high schools have brought an untold number of families to the area over the last several years.