Louisville is a city in Kentucky, US. Part of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, the city overlooks the Ohio River, and lies west of the Appalachian Mountains. It has a population of more than 770,000, and is the 29th most densely populated city in the US. It is one of two cities in Kentucky which enjoy a first-class status – the other city being Lexington. It has a humid subtropical climate characterised by cool winters and humid summers.
The history of Louisville dates back hundreds of years. The earliest settlement came in 1778, when the city was located on Corn Island. Two years later, Louiseville was granted a town charter. The city derives its name from King Louis XVI of France, whose soldiers supported the Americans in the Revolutionary War.
In the 19th century, Louisville experienced considerable growth. Its population rose to 7,000, and the city was transformed into a major shipping port. It also became a centre for recruiting, transportation, planning and supplies.
During the Second World War, the city was a hub for factory war production, and put out lots of wartime aircraft. In the decades that followed, more and more people moved into the city, and, with that, a number of new businesses opened. From the late ‘90s onwards, Louisville has experienced considerable tourist, residential and retail growth, with the opening of various museums, galleries and entertainment facilities.
Today, Louisville is an uber cool city home to parks, gardens, distilleries and speciality museums. Points of an interest include Louisville Mega Cavern, Conrad-Caldwell House, Angel’s Envy Distillery and the Big Four Bridge. Other spots worth seeing are the Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville Palace Theatre and the Speed Art Museum. Louisville’s downtown district is made up of five main areas, and is home to the city’s largest buildings. There you’ll find the famous 400 West Market skyscraper, along with the National City Tower.
The main mode of transport in Louisville is cars. The city is linked by inner and outer interstate beltways which collectively form a “Spaghetti Junction”. It’s also served by various bridges. A number of buses run through Louisville and are mainly provided by the Transit Authority of River City. These buses cover the majority of Louisville’s Downtown area, as well as numerous Kentucky suburbs. Louisville’s main airport is Louisville International Airport.
Complete your trip to Louisville with a stay in a SilverDoor serviced apartment.
