South Louisville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Louisville
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Churchill Downs in South Louisville
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| City | Louisville |
| Established | 1870 |
| Area code(s) | 502 |
South Louisville is a neighborhood located about two miles south of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. Sometimes people also use "South Louisville" or "South Side" to talk about the whole southern part of Louisville.
This area became its own city in 1886. However, the larger city of Louisville wanted to include South Louisville. After a three-year legal battle, Louisville officially took over the area in 1898. In the year 2000, about 4,688 people lived in South Louisville.
Contents
What Makes Up South Louisville?
The South Louisville neighborhood has clear boundaries. These include Industry Road, the CSX railroad tracks, Central Avenue, and Taylor Boulevard. Other streets like Longfield Avenue, Compton Street, Thornberry Avenue, Colorado Avenue, Euclid Avenue, and Lincoln Avenue also mark its edges.
Famous Places in the Neighborhood
South Louisville is home to some very famous spots. The world-renowned Churchill Downs horse racing track is here. This is where the exciting Kentucky Derby takes place every year. You can also visit the Kentucky Derby Museum nearby.
How South Louisville Grew Over Time
The land where South Louisville now stands was first owned by the Churchill family. In the 1870s, streetcar lines were built, making it easier to travel south. This helped the area start to grow.
Early Development and Factories
The population of South Louisville grew a lot in the 1890s. Many factories were built along the railroad lines. One example was the Kentucky Wagon Company. In the early 1900s, the large workshops for the L&N Railroad were also constructed here.
Changes and Challenges
In 1937, a very damaging flood hit the area. Later, in the 1970s, many factories in South Louisville closed down. This caused some people to move away, and the area faced tough times.
A Diverse Community
Today, South Louisville is becoming a very diverse neighborhood. Many families from different parts of the world are moving here. There are large groups of people from Hispanic and Arab backgrounds. Since 2006, new places like a Mosque and several Middle Eastern food stores have opened, showing the community's changing face.
New Growth and University Expansion
South Louisville has started to see new development in recent years. The University of Louisville has been expanding its campus southward.
New Sports Stadiums
The university built a new football stadium in 1998. A baseball stadium was finished in 2005. Most recently, a soccer stadium was completed in 2014. All these new stadiums were built on land that used to be old, unused industrial sites.
Shopping and Future Plans
A new shopping center was also built in 2004. There are even plans to turn some of the old, empty factory buildings into new homes called condominiums. This shows that South Louisville is continuing to grow and change.
