Warwick Village, St. Matthews, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warwick Village
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Subdivision
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Country | United States |
State | Kentucky |
County | Jefferson |
Elevation | 538 ft (164 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Area code(s) | 502 |
Warwick Village is a friendly neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. It's located just outside the Watterson Expressway. This area is part of the city of St. Matthews. Its borders are roughly New La Grange Road, Washburn Avenue, and Columbia Avenue. Many streets in Warwick Village are close to Warwick Park. This park is also known as Warwick-Villa Park Playground.
Over time, Warwick Village has been called by a few different names. These include Warwick Villa, Warwich Villa, Warwick, and Warrick Village.
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Where is Warwick Village?
Warwick Village is located at 38°15′26.186″N 85°36′58.365″W / 38.25727389°N 85.61621250°W. This means it's in the state of Kentucky in the United States.
A Look Back: History of Warwick Village
Warwick Villa Subdivision was once thought to be the very first subdivision in Kentucky. A subdivision is a large area of land divided into smaller pieces for building homes. Warwick Village stretches from LaGrange Road, along Washburn Avenue, and even crosses the old L. & N. Railroad tracks. It now includes an area called Fountain Avenue.
Early Plans and Challenges
Before the year 1900, a train stop connected west Lyndon to Louisville. A man named George R. Washburn tried to develop his 50 acres of land near the tracks. He called it Warwick Villa. He hoped it would be "the beautiful little suburb on the high tide of prosperity." However, a financial crisis in 1893 caused problems. Because of this, only a few houses were built.
George R. Washburn then asked a developer named Colonel Hunter for help. Colonel Hunter was supposed to build Warwick Village on land mostly owned by the Washburn family. But it was still too far from the city to grow much. Before electric streetcars (interurbans) started running, the railroad was the only way to travel to Louisville. This railroad ran next to Vine Crest Avenue. People say that a path of colorful, octagon-shaped stones once went from Warwick Villa all the way to LaGrange Road.
Growing the Community
In 1928, Washburn sold the original lots to Henry Holzheimer Sr. These lots were just west of Lyndon. Henry Holzheimer Sr. successfully developed a Warwick Villa subdivision in St. Matthews. The Washburn family had owned this land since 1815. The Washburn House, a two-story wooden home built in the 1830s, is still on Fountain Avenue. It is now surrounded by newer houses.
Old Hotels and Mineral Wells
The Warwick Villa Hotel was located near Washburn Avenue. It faced the railroad tracks. This hotel was a popular summer spot in the early 1900s. People would travel from Louisville and other parts of Kentucky by train. They came to enjoy the fresh country air and the hotel's famous delicious meals. The hotel had 20 rooms. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.
Across the road from the Warwick Villa interurban station on LaGrange Road was the Indian Mineral Wells. Colonel Harris ran this business. He sold and delivered mineral water until the late 1940s. Another mineral well with a pump was in front of Robinson's grocery. This was at the corner of Lyndon Lane and Vine Crest Avenue, next to the railroad. LaGrange Road was also known as Zimmerman Lane. A grave marker for one of the Zimmerman family members used to be in a curve of the road near the Mineral Wells site. The stone was knocked down and destroyed. The remains were moved and buried elsewhere when LaGrange Road was made into a four-lane highway.
Homes in Warwick Village
Warwick Village is known for its charming homes. Many of them are one-and-a-half-story Cape Cod style houses. These homes are attractive and cozy. St Matthews, including Warwick Village, has smaller, single-family homes. These cottage-like houses are on streets lined with trees. They have a lot of unique character. Homes for sale in the village can range in price. They typically sell for between $115,000 and $260,000. The average size of these homes is from 650 to 1800 square feet.
Warwick Park: A Place to Play
Warwick Park is a great place for everyone to enjoy. It was updated in May 2007. This park is 8.4 acres big. It has many cool features. You can find shady picnic areas under trees and a large covered pavilion. There are also basketball courts and two baseball fields. Grills and water fountains are available. Portable restrooms are on site too.
The park has an asphalt walking track around its edge. If you walk 2.3 laps, you will have walked one mile! There's also an updated play area. It's recommended for children aged 4 to 12 years. This area has swings and benches for adults to sit on. The middle of the park is an open space. It's perfect for flying kites or throwing discs. Local schools and sports groups also use it for soccer practices and games in the spring and fall.
You can walk into the park from Virginia Avenue. Free parking areas are available at the entrances off Columbia, Kentucky, and Washburn Avenue. Warwick Park is designed for all ages. You can even reserve the pavilion and baseball field for free!