Griffytown, Louisville facts for kids

Griffytown is a special neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. It was started way back in 1879. You can find it along Old Harrods Creek Road. People sometimes call it Griffeytown or Griffithtown too. A special sign is there to tell its history, placed by the African American Heritage Committee.

The streets within Griffytown include Bellewood Road, Robert Road, Church Lane, Lincoln Way, Cox Lane, Malcolm Avenue, Plainview Avenue, and Booker Road.

The Story of Griffytown

How Griffytown Began

Griffytown got its start in 1879. A man named Dan Griffith, who was once a slave but became free, bought a small house. He moved this house to the land where he was already living, near Old Harrods Creek Road. It seems the neighborhood was named after him.

Life in Early Griffytown

For many years, until the mid-1970s, Griffytown felt like a very country-like place. Most homes were small, often called "shotgun houses." The roads were dirt, and many families had gardens to grow their own food. They also had small farms.

Back then, many houses in Griffytown didn't have bathrooms or running water inside. People who lived there often worked for rich families in nearby towns like Anchorage and Middletown, Kentucky. They might have been housekeepers, cooks, drivers, or gardeners. This was especially true until the end of World War II.

Changes in the 1970s

In the 1970s, Griffytown went through a big change. This was part of something called "urban renewal." Many old or broken-down houses were taken down. The homes that stayed got new things like indoor plumbing and bathrooms. New houses were also built on empty lots.

Today, Griffytown is still mostly a community of African American families. However, families from other backgrounds live there too. The Louisville and Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee put up a historical marker. It's near 401 Old Harrods Creek Road and shows where the southwest part of the neighborhood begins.