Louisville, Kentucky
Seal
Nickname: Derby City, River City, Gateway to the South, Falls City, The 'Ville[1]
Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Coordinates: 38°15′15″N 85°45′37″W / 38.25417, -85.76028
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
County	Jefferson
Government
- Mayor	Jerry E. Abramson (D)
Area
- City	399 sq mi (1,032 km²)
- Land	385 sq mi (997 km²)
- Water	13 sq mi (35 km²)
Elevation	466 ft (142 m)
Population (2007)[2]
- City	709,286 (consolidated) 554,496 (balance)
- Density	4,124.8/sq mi (1,592.6/km²)
- Metro	1,233,735
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	502
FIPS code	21-48000
GNIS feature ID	0509453
Website: www.louisvilleky.gov

Louisville (usually pronounced /ˈluːǝvǝl/ (help· info); see Pronunciation below) is Kentucky's largest city. It is ranked as either the 17th or 27th largest city in the United States depending on how the population is calculated (see Nomenclature, population and ranking below). The settlement that became the City of Louisville was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark and is named after King Louis XVI of France. Louisville is famous as the home of "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports": the Kentucky Derby, the widely watched first race of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Louisville is the name of several places in the United States of America: Louisville, Colorado Louisville, Georgia (a former state capital, and pronounced like Lewisville) Louisville, Illinois Louisville, Kansas Louisville, Kentucky Home of the University of Louisville Louisville, Mississippi Louisville, Nebraska Louisville, New York Louisville, Ohio Louisville, Tennessee Louisville Township... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 338 pixelsFull resolution (1556 × 658 pixel, file size: 207 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Brightened version of Image:LouisvilleDowntownSkyline. ... // A nickname is a name of an entity or thing that is not its proper name. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Map of Kentuckys counties This is a list of the one hundred and twenty counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Jerry E. Abramson Jerry Edwin Abramson (born September 12, 1946) is a Democratic politician who is the longest serving Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... This article is about the physical quantity. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 km² and 10,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Eastern Standard Time redirects here. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Eastern Standard Time redirects here. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating telephone number ranges to countries, regions, areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks such as mobile phone networks. ... Area code 502 serves the state of Kentucky. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... Image File history File links Loouhvull. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... Clark as painted by Matthew Harris Jouett in 1825 George Rogers Clark (November 19, 1752 – February 13, 1818) was a soldier from Virginia and the preeminent American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. ... Louis XVI, born Louis-Auguste de France (23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) ruled as King of France and Navarre from 1774 until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792. ... The Hannah Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. ... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ... The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (although sometimes shortened to Triple Crown, the full name is used to avoid possible confusion with other sports) consists of three races for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. ...

Louisville is situated in north-central Kentucky on the Kentucky-Indiana border at the only natural obstacle in the Ohio River, the Falls of the Ohio. Louisville is the county seat of Jefferson County, and since 2003, the city's borders are coterminous with those of the county due to merger. Because it includes counties in Southern Indiana, the Louisville metropolitan area is regularly referred to as Kentuckiana. A resident of Louisville is referred to as a Louisvillian. Although situated in a Southern state, Louisville is influenced by both Midwestern and Southern culture, and is commonly referred to as either the northernmost Southern city or the southernmost Northern city in the United States.^[3][4] For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national, bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky in the United States, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... In American local government, a consolidated city-county, metropolitan municipality or regional municipality is a city and county that have been merged into one jurisdiction. ... Southern Indiana, in the United States, is notable because it is culturally and geographically more similar to the South than it is to the rest of the state of Indiana. ... The Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 43rd largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States. ... Historic Southern United States. ... This article is about the Midwestern region in the United States. ... Modern definition The states in dark red are almost always included in modern day definitions of the South, while those in medium red are usually included. ...

Louisville has been the site of many important innovations through history. Notable residents have included inventor Thomas Edison, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, newscaster Diane Sawyer, and writer Hunter S. Thompson. Notable events occurring in the city include the first public viewing place of Edison's light bulb, the first library open to African Americans in the South,^[5][6] and medical advances including the first human hand transplant,^[7] the first self-contained artificial heart transplant,^[8] and the development site of the first cervical cancer vaccine.^[9] Edison redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... The Supreme Court of the United States (sometimes colloquially referred to by the acronym SCOTUS[1]) is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. ... Louis Dembitz Brandeis (November 13, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was an American litigator, Supreme Court Justice, advocate of privacy, and developer of the Brandeis Brief. ... For other meanings of these words, see boxing (disambiguation) or boxer. ... For other persons named Muhammad Ali, see Muhammad Ali (disambiguation). ... Diane Sawyer is a television journalist for the U.S. network ABC News and co-anchor of ABCs Good Morning America, along with with Robin Roberts. ... Hunter Stockton Thompson (18 July 1937 – 20 February 2005) was an American journalist and author, famous for his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. ... Portion of advertisement for 1884 Southern Exposition The Southern Exposition was a five-year series of Worlds Fairs held in the city of Louisville, Kentucky from 1883 to 1887 in what is now Louisvilles Old Louisville neighborhood. ... The incandescent light bulb or incandescent lamp is a source of artificial light that works by incandescence, (a general term for heat-driven light emissions which includes the simple case of black body radiation). ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Hand transplantation is a surgical procedure to transplant a hand from one human to another. ... An artificial heart is a device that is implanted into the body to replace the original biological heart. ... Gardasil (Merck & Co. ...

Nomenclature, population and ranking

As of the 2000 Census, Louisville had a population of 256,231; which for the first time since 1820 was less than the population of Lexington, a city with a consolidated city-county government. However, on November 7, 2000 voters in Louisville and Jefferson County approved their own ballot measure to merge into a consolidated city-county government named Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government (official long form) and Louisville Metro (official short form), which took effect January 1, 2003. The Jefferson County-Louisville merger has a population more than twice as large as Lexington-Fayette. 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Nickname: Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky Coordinates: , Country United States State Kentucky Counties Fayette Government  - Mayor Jim Newberry (D) Area  - City  285. ... In American local government, a consolidated city-county, metropolitan municipality or regional municipality is a city and county that have been merged into one jurisdiction. ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A referendum (plural referendums or referenda), ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The U.S. Census Bureau gives two different population figures for Louisville: for the consolidated Louisville-Jefferson County it lists the 2006 estimated population as 701,500 (17th largest in the nation and equal to that of Jefferson County);^[12][13] for the Louisville-Jefferson County balance it lists the population as 554,496 (27th largest).^[14] The "balance" is a designation created by the Census Bureau to describe the portion of Louisville-Jefferson County that does not include any of the semi-independent separately incorporated places located within Louisville Metro (such as Anchorage, Middletown or Jeffersontown).^[15] Louisville-Jefferson County (balance) is a statistical entity defined by the United States Census Bureau to represent the portion of the consolidated city-county of Louisville-Jefferson County that does not include any of the 83 separate incorporated places (municipalities) located within the city and county. ... Anchorage is a former city located in Jefferson County, Kentucky. ... Middletown is a city located in Jefferson County, Kentucky. ... Jeffersontown is a former city located in Jefferson County, Kentucky. ...

Crescent Centre, a residential complex in Downtown

Census methodology uses balance values in comparing consolidated cities to other cities for ranking purposes, so the lower ranking is the figure officially reported by the Census Bureau. Nevertheless, the higher ranking continues to be claimed by Louisville Metro government and business leaders, widely reported in the local media, and it has even been posted on road signs at the city limits.^[16] The Louisville Skyline Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the state of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. ... Unused traffic signs in Austria Most countries post signage, known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of roads to impart information to road users. ... City limits refers to the defined limits of a citys area. ...

The Louisville metropolitan area (MSA) (not to be confused with Louisville Metro), has a population of 1,233,735 ranking 42nd nationally. The metro area includes Louisville-Jefferson County and 12 surrounding counties, eight in Kentucky and four in Southern Indiana (see Geography below). The Louisville Combined Statistical Area includes the MSA and three additional counties. It has a total population of 1,369,049, which ranks 31st in the U.S.
The Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 43rd largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States. ... There are two official definitions of metropolitan area used today in the United States, metropolitan statistical areas, and combined statistical areas, the former restrictive, the latter more extensive. ... United States of America, showing states, divided into counties. ... Southern Indiana, in the United States, is notable because it is culturally and geographically more similar to the South than it is to the rest of the state of Indiana. ... The Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN CSA The Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area is the 31st largest Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of the United States. ... Map of the Core Based Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico (MSAs in red and μSAs in blue) Map of the Combined Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico // The following sortable table lists the 718 primary census statistical areas[1] of the United States...

Pronunciation

The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau displays many of the common pronunciations of the city's name on its logo.

Most native residents pronounce the city's name /ˈluːǝvǝl/ ( info) (help:Pronunciation) — often this degrades further to /ˈlǝvǝl/ ( info). The name is often pronounced far back in the mouth, in the top of the throat. The standard English pronunciation, however, is /ˈluːiːvɪl/ ( info) (referring to King Louis XVI, for whom the city is named), which is often utilized by political leaders and the media. No matter how Louisville is pronounced, the 's' is always silent. (This contrasts with the name of the following cities: Louisville, Colorado; Louisville, Georgia; Louisville, Mississippi; Louisville, Tennessee; and Louisville, Ohio, all of which are spelled the same, but are pronounced /ˈluːɪsvɪl/ ( info).) Image File history File links As the city has a very active tourist industry, and is a popular for conventions and visitors, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau proudly displays several of the different and varying pronunciations of the city on one of its logos. ... Image File history File links As the city has a very active tourist industry, and is a popular for conventions and visitors, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau proudly displays several of the different and varying pronunciations of the city on one of its logos. ... Image File history File links Loouhvull. ... Image File history File links Luhvull. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Image File history File links Looeevil. ... Louisville (pronounced Lewisville) is a city in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. ... Louisville is a city located in Jefferson County, Georgia. ... Louisville is a city in Winston County, Mississippi, United States. ... Louisville is a city located in Blount County, Tennessee. ... Louisville is a city located in Stark County, Ohio. ... Image File history File links Looisvil. ...

The variability of the local pronunciation of the city's name can perhaps be laid at the feet of the city's location on the border between the Northern and Southern regions of the United States. Louisville's diverse population has traditionally represented elements of both Northern and Southern culture. This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ...

Regional migration patterns and the homogenization of dialect due to electronic media also may be responsible for the incidence of native-born Louisvillians adopting or affecting the standard English pronunciation. Nevertheless, the ['luːǝvǝl] pronunciation is most popular among residents and is, with few exceptions, used by news and sports reporters. Net migration rates for 2006: positive (blue), negative (orange) and stable (green). ... For dialects of programming languages, see Programming language dialect. ... A screenshot of a web page. ... English phonology is the study of the phonology (ie the sound system) of the English language. ...

History

Main article: History of Louisville, Kentucky

See also: History of Kentucky, Louisville in the American Civil War, and The Filson Historical Society

Louisville's founder, George Rogers Clark

The first European settlement made in the vicinity of modern-day Louisville was on Corn Island in 1778 by Col. George Rogers Clark. Today, Clark is recognized as the founder of Louisville, and several landmarks are named after him.^[17] View of Main Street, Louisville, in 1846. ... The history of Kentucky spans hundreds of years, and has been influenced by the states diverse geography and central location. ... Louisville in the American Civil War was a major stronghold of Union forces, which kept Kentucky firmly in the Union. ... The Filson Historical Society building in Old Louisville The Filson Historical Society (originally named the Filson Club) is a historical society in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Clark as painted by Matthew Harris Jouett in 1825 George Rogers Clark (November 19, 1752 – February 13, 1818) was a soldier from Virginia and the preeminent American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. ... Corn Island is a now-vanished island in the Ohio River, at head of the Falls of the Ohio, just north of Louisville, Kentucky. ... Clark as painted by Matthew Harris Jouett in 1825 George Rogers Clark (November 19, 1752 – February 13, 1818) was a soldier from Virginia and the preeminent American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. ...

Two years later, in 1780, the Virginia General Assembly approved the town charter of Louisville. The city was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France, whose soldiers at the time were aiding Americans in the Revolutionary War. Early residents lived in forts due to Indian raids, but were moving out by the late 1780s.^[18] In 1803, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark organized their expedition across America at the Falls of the Ohio in Louisville. The Virginia General Assembly is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state. ... Louis XVI, born Louis-Auguste de France (23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) ruled as King of France and Navarre from 1774 until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792. ... This article is about military actions only. ... Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774–October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana... {{Infobox Person | name = William Clark | image = WilliamClark. ... Lewis and Clark redirects here. ... The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national, bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky in the United States, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ...

View of Main Street, Louisville, in 1846.

The city attributes its early growth to the fact that river boats had to be unloaded and moved downriver before reaching the falls. By 1828, the population had swelled to 7,000 and Louisville became an incorporated city. The city grew rapidly in its formative years.^[19] Download high resolution version (1610x953, 470 KB)View of Main Street, Louisville, in 1846. ... Download high resolution version (1610x953, 470 KB)View of Main Street, Louisville, in 1846. ...

Louisville had one of the largest slave trades in the United States before the Civil War and much of the city's initial growth is attributed to that trade. Louisville was the turning point for many enslaved blacks since Kentucky, although it was to be a border state in the Civil War, was nevertheless a slave state and crossing the Ohio River could lead to freedom in the North. Slavery in the United States began soon after English colonists first settled Virginia and lasted until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... In this map:  Union states  Union territories  Bleeding Kansas  Union border states that permitted slavery  The Confederacy  Union territories that permitted slavery The term border states refers to the five slave states of Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and West Virginia which bordered a free state and aligned with the Union... The free and slave states as of 1861, with free states in blue and slave states in red. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ...

Memorial to the 1890 tornado, on Main Street in Downtown

During the Civil War Louisville was a major stronghold of Union forces, which kept Kentucky firmly in the Union. It was the center of planning, supplies, recruiting and transportation for numerous campaigns. By the end of the war, Louisville itself had not been attacked even once, even though surrounded by skirmishes and battles. After 1865 returning Confederate veterans largely took control of the city, leading to the jibe that it joined the Confederacy after the war was over. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 466 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 772 pixel, file size: 125 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo snapped by Bryan S. Bush, given to me with permission to post on the Wikipedia under the GFDL. I reduced and cropped the image, and... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 466 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 772 pixel, file size: 125 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo snapped by Bryan S. Bush, given to me with permission to post on the Wikipedia under the GFDL. I reduced and cropped the image, and... Memorial to the 1890 tornado, on Main Street in downtown Louisville; images of the destruction, furnished by The Filson Historical Society, ring the structure at pedestrian level The Mid-Mississippi Valley Tornado Outbreak was a major tornado outbreak occurring in the middle United States on March 27, 1890. ... The Louisville Skyline Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the state of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... A group of Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was organized in February 1861 to defend the newly formed Confederate States of America from military action by the United States government during the American Civil War. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia...

Churchill Downs in 1901.

The first Kentucky Derby was held on May 17, 1875, at the Louisville Jockey Club track (later renamed to Churchill Downs). The Derby was originally shepherded by Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., the grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 10,000 spectators were present at the first Derby to watch Aristides win the race. Download high resolution version (912x393, 65 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (912x393, 65 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Composite image of Churchill Downs on Derby Day, 1901 Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, is a thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. ... The Hannah Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Composite image of Churchill Downs on Derby Day, 1901 Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, is a thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. ... Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. ... A horse named Aristides won the very first Kentucky Derby in 1875. ...

On March 27, 1890 the city was devastated and downtown nearly destroyed when an F4 tornado tore through the city at 8:30pm as part of the Mid-Mississippi Valley Tornado Outbreak of March 1890. An estimated 74 to 120 people were killed. The city quickly recovered and signs of the tornado were nearly totally absent within a year. is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... F-scale redirects here. ... This article is about the weather phenomenon. ... Memorial to the 1890 tornado, on Main Street in downtown Louisville; images of the destruction, furnished by The Filson Historical Society, ring the structure at pedestrian level The Mid-Mississippi Valley Tornado Outbreak was a major tornado outbreak occurring in the middle United States on March 27, 1890. ...

Louisville during the "Great Flood of '37"

In late January and February of 1937, a month of heavy rain in which 19" fell prompted what became remembered as the "Great Flood of '37". The flood submerged about 70% of the city, power was lost, and it forced the evacuation of 175,000 residents, and also led to fundamental changes in where residents bought houses. Today, the city is protected by numerous flood walls. After the flood, the areas of high elevation in the eastern part of the city saw decades of growth. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... Flooding near Key West, Florida, United States from Hurricane Wilmas storm surge in October 2005 For other uses, see Flood (disambiguation). ... A floodwall gate at Harlan, Kentucky temporarily opening for train passage. ...

Similar to many other older American cities, Louisville began to experience a flight of people and businesses to the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s. Newly built freeways and interstates helped facilitate this shift. The West End and older areas of the South End in particular began to decline economically as many local factories closed. In 1974 a major (F4) tornado hit Louisville as part of the Super Outbreak of tornadoes that struck 13 states. It covered 21 miles (34 km) and destroyed several hundred homes in the Louisville area but was only responsible for two deaths.^[20] F-scale redirects here. ... 1Time from first tornado to last tornado 2Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita Scale The Super Outbreak is the largest tornado outbreak on record. ...

Fourth Street Live! opened in Downtown in 2004

Jefferson County had a population loss of 31,000 from 1970 to 1990, but has since gained 45,000. The population within the old city limits dropped by 134,000 from its peak in 1970, falling from 33rd nationally to 58th, although its population is now stabilizing.^[21] The large Hard Rock Cafe sign greets visitors to Fourth Street Live! Fourth Street Live! is a major entertainment and retail district located on 4th Street, between Liberty and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. ... The Louisville Skyline Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the state of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. ...

Since the 1980s, many of the city's urban neighborhoods have been revitalized into areas popular with young professionals and college students. The greatest change has occurred along the Bardstown Road corridor, Frankfort Avenue, and the Old Louisville neighborhood. Downtown has also experienced a large amount of growth, including the tripling of its population since 1990, the conversion of waterfront industrial sites into Waterfront Park, and the refurbishing of the former Galleria into the bustling entertainment complex Fourth Street Live!. In San Francisco, during the mid-1960s, the bohemian center of the city shifted from the old Beat enclave of North Beach to Haight-Ashbury (pictured) as a response to gentrification. ... The Highlands is an area of Louisville, Kentucky which contains a high density of night clubs, ecclectic businesses, and many upscale and fast food restaurants. ... Clifton, a neighborhood east of downtown Louisville, Kentucky USA. Clifton was named because of its hilly location on the Ohio River valley escarpment. ... Old Louisville is well known for its elaborate late-19th century Victorian homes Old Louisville is a historic preservation district and neighborhood in central Louisville, Kentucky, USA . ... The Louisville Waterfront Park provides a nice place to relax and have fun amidst the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. ... The large Hard Rock Cafe sign greets visitors to Fourth Street Live! Fourth Street Live! is a major entertainment and retail district located on 4th Street, between Liberty and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Louisville, Kentucky

The 41 acre Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve is located in the heart of the city

Louisville is located at 38°13′44″N, 85°44′58″W (38.228870, -85.749534)^[22]. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Louisville Metro (in 2000 measurements for Jefferson County) has a total area of 399 square miles (1,032 km²), of which, 385 square miles (997 km²) of it is land and 13 square miles (35 km²) of it (3.38%) is water. Louisville is a city in Jefferson County, Kentucky. ... Footbridge over seasonal wetlands in the nature preserve Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve is a 41-acre nature preserve in Louisville, Kentuckys Poplar Level neighborhood, in roughly the central portion of the city. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. ...

Louisville is located in the Bluegrass region, but the city has a greater affinity for its location on the Ohio River, which spurred Louisville's growth from an isolated camp site into a major shipping port. Much of the city is located on a very wide and flat flood plain surrounded by hill country on all sides. Much of the area was swampland and had to be drained as the city grew. In the 1840s most creeks were rerouted or placed in canals to prevent flooding and subsequent disease outbreaks. Regions of Kentucky, with the bluegrass region in green and light green. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... This picture shows the flood plain following a 1 in 10 year flood on the Isle of Wight. ...

New condominium construction along East Main Street

Areas generally east of I-65 are above the flood plain, and are composed of gently rolling hills. The Southernmost parts of Jefferson County are in the scenic and largely undeveloped Knobs region home to Jefferson Memorial Forest. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 470 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) East Main in Lou. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 470 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) East Main in Lou. ... The Knobs is a narrow, horseshoe shaped region consisting of many small, zig zag shaped ridges that separates the Bluegrass region and Pennyroyal region of Kentucky. ... External links Jefferson Memorial Forest official site Categories: US geography stubs | Forests | Louisville, Kentucky ...

The Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the 42nd largest in the United States, includes the Kentucky county of Jefferson (coterminous with Louisville Metro), plus twelve outlying counties — eight in Kentucky and four in Southern Indiana. Between the 1990 Census and 2000 Census, the Louisville MSA's population outgrew Lexington's by 149,415 and Cincinnati's by 23,278. This MSA is included in the Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which also includes the Elizabethtown, KY MSA as well as the Scottsburg, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Louisville CSA ranks 39th in the U.S. in population.^[23] The Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 43rd largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States. ... There are two official definitions of metropolitan area used today in the United States, metropolitan statistical areas, and combined statistical areas, the former restrictive, the latter more extensive. ... Southern Indiana, in the United States, is notable because it is culturally and geographically more similar to the South than it is to the rest of the state of Indiana. ... The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9. ... The Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 109th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States. ... The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky metropolitan area The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky____the worst place on the planet____ metropolitan area is a metropolitan area that includes 15 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. ... The Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN CSA The Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area is the 31st largest Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of the United States. ... Elizabethtown is a city in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. ... Scottsburg is a city in Scott County, Indiana, about 30 miles (47 km) north of Louisville, Kentucky. ... United States micropolitan areas, as defined by the Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget, are areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. ... Map of the Core Based Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico (MSAs in red and μSAs in blue) Map of the Combined Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico // The following sortable table lists the 718 primary census statistical areas[1] of the United States...

Climate

Graph constructed from data located on the NOAA Website.^[24]

Louisville is located on the northern limit of the humid subtropical climate. Summers are typically hot and humid with mildly warm evenings. The mean annual temperature is 56 °F (13 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 16.4 inches (41 cm) and an average annual rainfall of 44.53 inches (1131 mm). The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. During the winter, particularly in January and February, several days of snow can be expected, allowing for winter sports. January is the coldest month with average highs of 41 °F (5 °C) and average lows of 25 °F (5 to −4 °C) and July the hottest month with average high and low temperatures from 87 to 69.8 °F (31 and 21 °C).^[25] The highest recorded temperature was 105 °F (41 °C) on July 14, 1954, and the lowest recorded temperature was −22 °F (−30 °C) on January 19, 1994.^[26] However, in any season, temperatures can vary widely day by day, because of Louisville's location where many fronts often converge. Severe weather is not uncommon; the area is prone to almost all types of non-tropical weather extremes, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, ice storms and extreme heat and cold. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 584 pixel Image in higher resolution (844 × 616 pixel, file size: 11 KB, MIME type: image/gif) This is a graph that I constructed and I am making available under a free license. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 584 pixel Image in higher resolution (844 × 616 pixel, file size: 11 KB, MIME type: image/gif) This is a graph that I constructed and I am making available under a free license. ... The humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ... A winter sport is a sport commonly played during winter. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... NOAA scientists observe severe weather using a mobile doppler radar and a helicopter (in the distance) Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous. ... This article is about the weather phenomenon. ... A shelf cloud associated with a heavy or severe thunderstorm over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... Ice storm could refer to: A type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain. ...

Much like the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, Louisville's Ohio River Valley location traps air pollution. The city is ranked by Environmental Defense as America's 38th worst city for air quality.^[27] Louisville also often exemplifies the heat island effect. Temperatures in commercial areas and in the industrialized areas along interstates are often higher than in the suburbs, particularly the shaded areas, like Anchorage, where temperatures are often five degrees Fahrenheit (3 °C) cooler. San Fernando Valley from its southwestern edge. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... Air pollution is the modification of the natural characteristics of the atmosphere by a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent. ... Environmental Defense (formerly known as the Environmental Defense Fund or EDF), is a US-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group. ... Tokyo, a case of Urban Heat Island. ... Anchorage is a former city located in Jefferson County, Kentucky. ...

Cityscape

Main article: Cityscape of Louisville, Kentucky

See also: Downtown Louisville, Louisville neighborhoods, and List of parks in Louisville, Kentucky

Downtown Louisville at night

East Louisville's Highlands district

The downtown business district of Louisville is located immediately south of the Ohio River, and southeast of the Falls of the Ohio. Major roads extend outwards from the downtown area to all directions, like the spokes of a wheel. The airport is located approximately 6.75 miles (10 km) south of the downtown area. The industrial sections of town are located to the south and west of the airport, while most of the residential areas of the city are located to the southwest, south and east of downtown. The Louisville skyline is slated to be changed with the proposed 62-story Museum Plaza as well as a 22,000-seat waterfront arena. Louisville skyline at night Louisville, Kentucky is home to numerous structures that are noteworthy due to their architectural characteristics or historic associations, the most noteworthy being the Old Louisville neighborhood, the third largest historic preservation district in the United States. ... The Louisville Skyline Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the state of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. ... This is a list of official neighborhoods in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Following is a list of parks, forests and nature preserves in the metropolitan area of Louisville, Kentucky: // The Olmsted Park System in Louisville was the last of five such systems designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. ... Image File history File links LouisvilleNightSkyline2-small. ... Image File history File links LouisvilleNightSkyline2-small. ... The Louisville Skyline Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the state of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 426 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Scene along Bardstown Road in Louisville Kentucky File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 426 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Scene along Bardstown Road in Louisville Kentucky File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old... The Louisville Skyline Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the state of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. ... For other uses, see South (disambiguation). ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... Cardinal point redirects here. ... The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national, bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky in the United States, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ... A residential area is a type of land use where the predominant use is residential. ... Museum Plaza is a planned 62-story skyscraper in Louisville, Kentucky. ... The Louisville waterfront arena is a proposed basketball and multipurpose arena slated to open in 2010 on the Ohio River Waterfront in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.. Its primary tenant will be the University of Louisville mens and womens basketball teams. ...

Another primary business and industrial district is located in the suburban area east of the city on Hurstbourne Parkway.^[28] Louisville's late 19th and early 20th century development was spurred by three large suburban parks built at the edges of the city in 1890. Industrial district is a term used to describe an area where workers of a monolithic heavy industry (ship-building, coal mining, steel-working, ceramics, etc) live within walking-distance of their places of work. ...

The city's architecture contains a blend of old and new. The Old Louisville neighborhood is the largest historic preservation district solely featuring Victorian homes and buildings in the United States, it is also the third largest such district overall. There are many modern skyscrapers downtown, as well as older preserved structures. The buildings of West Main Street in downtown Louisville boast the largest collection of cast iron facades of anywhere outside of New York's SoHo district.^[29] This article is about building architecture. ... Old Louisville is well known for its elaborate late-19th century Victorian homes Old Louisville is a historic preservation district and neighborhood in central Louisville, Kentucky, USA . ... Demolition of the former Penn Station concourse raised public awareness about preservation Historic preservation is the act of maintaining and repairing existing historic materials and the retention of a propertys form as it has evolved over time. ... Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ... Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but can mean any of a group of iron-based alloys containing more than 2% carbon (alloys with less carbon are carbon steel by definition). ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Cast-iron architecture in Greene Street SoHo is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. ...

Werne's Row in Old Louisville