Cityscape of Louisville, Kentucky facts for kids

Louisville's skyline at night

Louisville, Kentucky is a city known for its interesting buildings and history. One of its most famous areas is Old Louisville. This neighborhood has the third largest collection of historic buildings in the United States! Louisville also has modern buildings like the Humana Building. Its growing Waterfront Park has helped make the riverfront look much nicer than before.

Louisville's Business Areas

Louisville's main business area, called downtown, is right next to the Ohio River. The city's airport is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) south of downtown. It's easy to reach from most parts of the city using major highways. The biggest industrial areas are south and west of the airport. Most homes are located southwest, south, and east of downtown.

Another important business area is in the eastern part of the city, on Hurstbourne Parkway. This area is like a "mini-city" outside the main downtown. It has lots of businesses, shops, and fun places. Louisville also has many green spaces. There are 122 parks covering over 14,000 acres (57 km²)!

How People Get Around Louisville

An aerial view of the Watterson Expressway

Louisville has four road bridges that cross the Ohio River into Indiana. These include the Sherman Minton Bridge (I-64), the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge (I-65), and the Abraham Lincoln Bridge. Another bridge was recently opened to connect I-265 in Indiana and Kentucky. Major roads spread out from downtown like spokes on a wheel. Many of these roads, like Bardstown Road, used to be toll roads. The city made them free in 1901.

In older parts of the city, like downtown, some of these "spoke roads" were changed to fit a grid pattern. But in other areas, they stayed curvy, following old paths. Smaller roads were built between them as farms turned into neighborhoods. Some newer areas have curvy roads with many cul-de-sacs (dead-end streets).

Louisville's Architecture and Buildings

The fountain at St. James Court in Old Louisville

Louisville's buildings show a mix of old and new styles. The Old Louisville neighborhood is famous for having the largest collection of Victorian homes in the U.S. Other neighborhoods like Butchertown and Portland are known for their unique shotgun houses.

The Louisville City Hall looks like an old French palace. The Jefferson County Courthouse shows off Greek Revival style, with its grand columns. Many downtown buildings also feature Greek, Italian Renaissance, or French Renaissance designs. These older styles blend well with the city's modern skyscrapers. The West Main District downtown has the most cast iron building fronts outside of New York City's SoHo area.

Different Sides of Town

The Colonial Gardens restaurant complex in Louisville's South End

Louisville is often thought of as having three main parts: the West End, the South End, and the East End. Generally, the West and South Ends have lower home values. The East End, especially north of Interstate 64, has the highest home values. Many immigrants from Southeast Asia have settled in the South End. People from Eastern Europe often live in the East End.

The Highlands neighborhood is known for its unique shops and nightlife.

The wealthiest neighborhoods are usually to the east of downtown. These areas started as summer getaways for rich Louisvillians in the 1800s. Mockingbird Valley is one of the richest areas. Anchorage and Glenview are two of the oldest and most well-known eastern cities.

Some areas are a mix of different "sides." For example, the area east of I-65 and west of Bardstown Road is sometimes seen as part of both the East and South sides. There's also an "Inner East side" that includes areas like Old Louisville and The Highlands. These neighborhoods have become popular with young professionals. They are known for being walkable, with many unique shops, and are often part of historic districts.

Louisville's Tallest Buildings

All five of Louisville's tallest buildings are located in downtown.

There are also some tall buildings outside of downtown. These include 1400 Willow Avenue, a 21-story apartment building, and Baptist Towers, a 17-story retirement community in Old Louisville. Other tall buildings are Wright Tower, Watterson Towers, and the historic Commodore Apartment Building.

Future Plans for Louisville

View of Downtown Louisville

Louisville has many exciting projects planned or underway for the coming years.

New Parks and Trails

The city is planning a "ring of parks" that will connect the waterfront, bike trails, and several state parks. This will create a huge green space for everyone to enjoy. One big project already finished was turning the old Big Four railroad bridge over the Ohio River into a long bridge just for walkers and bikers. There are also plans to add a walking path to another railroad bridge, connecting Louisville's Riverwalk to a new trail in Indiana.

Road Improvements

A major road project is the $3.9 billion Ohio River Bridges Project. This project is rebuilding the "Kennedy Interchange," where three major interstates (I-64, I-65, and I-71) meet. It also includes building a new bridge for I-265 and improving the I-65 downtown bridge.

City Development Projects

• RiverPark Place is a large development with apartments and condos along the Ohio River. It will also have a marina and a wide walkway connecting to Waterfront Park.
• Park DuValle is a project that has completely changed an old neighborhood. It used to be a large public housing area. Now, it's a mixed-income community with new homes, parks, and civic spaces designed to be friendly for walkers. This project is now finished.
• Norton Commons is a large mixed-use development northeast of downtown. It's designed like a traditional town, with homes, shops, and parks all within walking distance. It's still being built, with plans for many homes and businesses.
• Liberty Green is another big project in the Phoenix Hill neighborhood. It will have many rental apartments and homes for sale, plus a recreation center.
• KFC Yum! Center is a huge 22,000-seat arena downtown. It's the home for the University of Louisville's men's and women's basketball teams. This arena opened in 2010.
• Lynn Family Stadium is a soccer stadium in the Butchertown neighborhood, just east of downtown. It opened in 2020 and is home to Louisville's professional soccer teams, Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC.
• Nucleus Research Park is a medical research park created by the University of Louisville. It's located downtown and has a large research building that opened in 2013.