City of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Louisville (Kentucky) Louisville Kentucky

Louisville - largest city in Kentucky. The population of Louisville in 2010 was estimated at 741 thousand people. If you do not take into account settlements that have semi-autonomous status, then the urban population is 597 thousand people. In total, over 1.3 million people live in the urban agglomeration, the center of which is Louisville (in Kentucky and Indiana). Until 2003, when additional territories were included in Louisville (the area increased 6 times), the population within the city limits was estimated at only 245 thousand residents.

Due to its geographical location, Louisville is considered the northernmost city in the US South. The city was influenced by both Southern and Midwestern culture.

It is worth noting that there are several pronunciation options for the name of the city: Luvel, Luvel, Lavel. However, in none of them is the letter “c” pronounced.

The settlement that eventually became Louisville was founded in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. The city's founder is considered to be Colonel George Rogers Clark, who led a military campaign against British troops north of the Ohio River. The city was named after King Louis XVI of France, whose soldiers assisted the Americans in the Revolutionary War.

The development of Louisville is largely due to the existence of a series of river rapids, nicknamed “falls” (Falls of the Ohio). The rapids were a serious obstacle to navigation, so the help of people who knew the area was required to ensure safe navigation along the 3-km stretch. In many cases, it was necessary to unload ships, which was provided by the forces of local colonies.

In its early days, Louisville's economy was based on river shipping. Louisville became an important link between industrialized cities in the north and the south. Today, Louisville continues to be an important transportation hub. In addition to river transport, air and rail transport are developed. There are 2 large Ford automobile plants in the region. A third of all Bourbon whiskey is produced in Louisville. In the general structure of labor resources, 3/4 of city residents are blue collar workers (working class), 1/4 are white collar workers.

Downtown Louisville is located on the south bank of the Ohio River near the river rapids. The city of Jeffersonville is located on the north bank of the river in Indiana. Residential areas of Louisville are located to the southwest, south and east of downtown. The city is conventionally divided into 3 parts: West End, South End and East End. Historically, the West End is an African-American area, the South End is white. The East End is the most prestigious area where the middle and wealthy class lives. As you might expect, the West End is the area with the lowest per capita income and the highest crime rate. Louisville Airport is located approximately 10 km south of downtown. Even further south and also to the west of the airport lie industrial areas. Louisville's urban core is relatively large for a city of its size.

The main event in the life of the city takes place annually on the first Saturday of May. This is when the Kentucky Derby takes place. For Louisville, this is not a simple sports competition, but an important sociocultural event. The Kentucky Derby Museum is also located there.

The Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious race in which 3-year-old thoroughbred horses compete. The racetrack is located south of downtown in Churchill Downs. The race on the 2km oval track is known as the "fastest 2 minutes in sport".

Louisville's park system was designed by Frederick Law Olmstad, the “father” of American landscape design and creator of New York City's Central Park. Main city parks: Cherokee Park, Iroquois Park, Shawnee Park, Waterfront Park.

The climate in Louisville is humid subtropical. In winter, both snow and rain and slush are possible. Heavy snowfalls are rare. The average daily temperature in January is 0.6 C. Summer is usually hot and stuffy. Periods of prolonged high temperature are common. The average daily temperature in July is 25.8 C. Louisville is located in a region with a potential for tornadoes. During its history, the city was hit by this element several times.

Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky. The population of Louisville in 2010 was estimated at 741 thousand people. If you do not take into account settlements that have semi-autonomous status, then the urban population is 597 thousand people. In total, over 1.3 million people live in the urban agglomeration, the center of which is Louisville (in Kentucky and Indiana). Until 2003, when additional territories were included in Louisville (the area increased 6 times), the population within the city limits was estimated at only 245 thousand residents.

Due to its geographical location, Louisville is considered the northernmost city in the US South. The city was influenced by both Southern and Midwestern culture.

It is worth noting that there are several pronunciation options for the name of the city: Luvel, Luvel, Lavel. However, in none of them is the letter “c” pronounced.

The racial composition of Louisville's population as of 2010 is:

white - 68.3%
African Americans - 22.9%
Asians - 2.2%
mixed races - 2.3%
Indians - 0.3%
Hispanics of any race make up 4.5% of the population.

Socio-economic indicators:

average income per person (2009) - $21,274
population living below the poverty line (as of 2009) - 21.6%
unemployment in the region (as of March 2012) - 9.2%
cost of living index (as of March 2012) - 89.5 (10% below the US average).

Attractions

The Kentucky Derby is preceded by celebratory events. The Kentucky Derby Festival takes place for 2 weeks leading up to the Derby and includes:

Thunder Over Louisville is a Thunder Over Louisville show that attracts an audience of 800,000 to the banks of the Ohio River. The daytime air show traditionally ends with a grand half-hour fireworks display during which over 60 tons of fireworks are used.
A hot air balloon festival usually held the week before the derby.
Marathon and mini-marathon in downtown Louisville.
A steamboat race on the Ohio River, among the participants is the Belle of Louisville, one of the oldest paddle steamers in operation.
Festive parade Pegasus Parade.

Since 2002, the city has hosted the summer music festival Forecastle Festival, which over the years has grown into a significant event on a serious scale.

Other attractions and interesting places

Old Louisville is the historical part of the city, an area of Victorian red brick houses.
Muhammad Ali Center is a Muhammad Ali museum dedicated to this famous heavyweight boxer, a native of Louisville.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is a company that produces baseball bats, including those for MLB professionals. More than half of players use Louisville Slugger brand bats.
Louisville Megan Cavern - artificial caves located under the city.
Louisville Science Center is a science museum.
Fourth Street Live! - a shopping and entertainment complex in the city center with many cafes, bars and clubs.
Frazier History Museum is a historical museum.

Louisville's park system was designed by Frederick Law Olmstad, the “father” of American landscape design, the creator of the central park in New York. Main city parks: Cherokee Park, Iroquois Park, Shawnee Park, Waterfront Park.

Louisville (English: Louisville, [ˈluːǝvǝl] or [ˈluːiːvɪl]; sometimes spelled Louisville in Russian) is the largest city in the American state of Kentucky. It is considered to have the 17th or 27th largest population in the United States, depending on how you count it. The settlement, which later became the city of Louisville, was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark and was named after the French King Louis XVI. Louisville is located in the center of northern Kentucky on the Indiana border, near the Ohio River's only natural obstacle, the Falls of the Ohio. Louisville is the center of Jefferson County; since 2003, after their unification, the city's boundaries began to coincide with the boundaries of the county. Because the area includes portions of southern Indiana counties, the Louisville metropolitan area is often referred to as "Kentuckiana." Despite the fact that Louisville is located at the intersection of the Midwest and the south of the country, the city is classified as a “southern” city in the United States. Due to its geographical location, the city is often called either the "northernmost southern city" or the "southernmost northern city" in the United States. Louisville is famous for the "Two Most Exciting Moments in Sports" - the Kentucky Derby, the most popular horse race of the American Triple Crown. Famous natives of the city were: writer and journalist, founder of gonzo journalism Hunter S. Thompson, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, actress Jennifer Lawrence and director Gus Van Sant; inventor Thomas Edison lived in Louisville for a long time. Some of the events that have happened in this city: Edison's light bulb was shown to the public for the first time, the first library was opened to African Americans, the first living human hand transplant, the first closed artificial heart transplant, and a vaccine against uterine cancer is currently being developed here.

Pronunciation

Most of the local population pronounces the name of the city "Louiville", very often this pronunciation goes as far as "Louiville". The name is pronounced at the top of the larynx. The standard English pronunciation of "Louiville" (traced to King Louis XVI - the English pronunciation of "Louis") is used by journalists, politicians, and officials. Despite the difference in pronunciation, the "s" sound is never pronounced. The tradition of this pronunciation contradicts the typical practice of using the names of the cities of Louisville in speech: in the state of Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi and in the state of Tennessee. All of them, despite the same spelling, are pronounced "Louisville". Differences in local pronunciation have their origins in the city's geographic location on the border between the northern and southern regions of the United States. The city's diverse population traditionally includes elements of northern and southern culture. Patterns of population migration in the region and the homogenization of the dialect from the influence of electronic media can be considered responsible for the influence on some natives of the city who use standard English pronunciation. Despite this, the pronunciation "Louiville" is the most popular among residents...

The largest city in Kentucky is . Many of our compatriots rarely get there. Somehow it turns out that the city falls out of tourist routes. And completely undeserved. We will try to correct this mistake and tell you, the reader, about an unusually beautiful city, very clean and harmonious, with a taste of classics and antiquity, so to speak, we will show it in all its glory. Americans know it as the city that hosts the exciting Kentucky Derby horse race and the “capital” of delicious bourbon, which has been produced in Louisville for more than two centuries. It's time for us to get to know him.

City named after the French king

If you are in , you will definitely notice this feature: when locals pronounce the name of the city, they say “Louiville”, even “Louville”. The fact is that the city has French roots; it was named in honor of the King of France Louis XIV, simply Louis. So residents miss the letter “s” in the pronunciation of the city’s name - in the French manner. How did the French end up in Kentucky and what do they have to do with it? The most direct. The founder of the city was the American commander George Rogers Clark, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. And French volunteers took an active part in this war. In all likelihood, the city was named Louisville.

And even before the war, the city was the center of the slave trade in the United States, which served as the initial growth of the city. During the war, it was a place for recruiting and transporting soldiers, and a center for planning military operations. It is also surprising that during the War of Independence the city was never attacked or destroyed. But if the war did not do this, then the forces of nature intervened. At the end of the 19th century, a tornado passed through Louisville, which practically destroyed it, and after 40 years, a month of continuous rains brought the “Great Flood”. These events radically changed life in the city. But he did not give up, and over the course of several decades he was rebuilt.

A city with architecture for every taste

Louisville is made up of several neighborhoods, each of which is special. Probably the most beautiful Old Louisville. It miraculously preserved buildings from the 19th century. You just walk around the block, and along the street there are old houses, more like medieval castles and estates: some were built in the Victorian style, others in the Gothic style, others in the colonial style, and others in the neo-Renaissance style.

Beautiful. True, real estate prices in this area are prohibitive. The area is full of antique shops and top-notch restaurants.

A completely different neighborhood Downtown. By the way, it is very different from those areas of other American cities. There are not many office buildings and premises here, but there are plenty of recreation areas for citizens, concert venues and entertainment venues. The authorities decided in this way to “infuse” life into the business center of Louisville. There are many modern buildings, typical for the USA - skyscrapers, and many beautiful historical buildings.

Among them is the Seelbach Hotel, which was described by F.S. Fitzgerald in the novel “The Great Gatsby”. It contains a secret room in which in the 20-30s of the last century Al Capone met with his “colleagues” and discussed the supply of alcohol throughout their country during Prohibition.

Young people and “bohemians” prefer to live in Highlands. There are not only a lot of nightclubs here, but also quite a lot of brand stores. When you enter this area, you see the inscription: "Keep Louisville Mysterious". Louisville's official residential neighborhoods are the East End (the most prestigious, home to the city's richest people), the South End (white, working-class neighborhood), and the West End (African-American neighborhood). But no matter which of these areas you stay in, you should not fear for your safety: Louisville is one of the calmest cities, the number of crimes in the city is two times lower than in similar metropolitan areas.

"The two most exciting minutes of sport"

If it weren't for tourism and exciting horse racing, Louisville would remain an ordinary American city. But 1875 changed the life of the city: the first horse races took place there! It was a boom among Americans! Now, for just two minutes of single horse racing, thousands of gamblers and tourists flock to the city. It's like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, like the Oscars in Los Angeles - the biggest event in the city. On the first Saturday in May, an exciting race for horses over 4 years old called "Kentucky Derby"

The entire elite gathers to watch this action. It is noteworthy that on this day the people wear a special uniform - outfits made of Indian striped linen fabric. The unofficial drink of the races is served - mint juleps (a mixture of bourbon, fresh mint, ice cubes and sugar). The anthem sounds and the races begin. The stakes for the winner are high. As a result, the winner receives a prize - a silver horseshoe. If you would like to learn more about the history of these competitions, visit Kentucky Derby Museum, which is located near the venue of the horse racing itself.

Louisville Attractions and Museums

There is so much to do and see in Louisville. If you are a lover of painting and sculpture - head to James Speed Art Museum, which features the work of Renaissance brush and marble artists, is one of the oldest in Kentucky. Baseball Fans - Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum Louisville Slugger Museum. Next to it is a bit factory. Directly in front of the museum is a traditional baseball bat, a monument to sports equipment 36 meters high.

There is another interesting museum in Louisville. This . After all, as you know, this legendary boxer was born in this city.

Not far from the city center is located one of the largest and most beautiful burial grounds in the United States -. It is surrounded by a green park area with lawns and an artificial pond in which ducks swim. So, if walking among the graves (although they are worth seeing) is not your thing, you can have a great time in the park itself.

There is an interesting museum in Louisville that has a large exhibition of weapons, armor and various historical artifacts found during excavations. It's called Fraser International History Museum.

There are also some historical buildings in the city. For example, the old one, which is still on the move, the old Marin Hospital of Louisville, which was built before the Civil War. 50 km from Louisville there is a federal depository of gold bullion, where educational excursions are held - Fort Knox. A George Rogers Clark House Museum will tell his guests about the founder of the city and the first settlers of Louisville.

About James Bond's favorite drink

Louisville corn whiskey is famous throughout America - bourbon. It is manufactured by Brown-Forman Corporation. One third of the world's bourbon is produced in Louisville. It differs from the European one in that the main component is not barley, but corn. It infuses for a long time in oak barrels, which are calcined inside using a special technology. This is exactly the kind of bourbon that the Bond movie hero, James Bond, likes to consume (and Americans and Europeans too).

By the way, if you drive through the state of Kentucky, you will certainly notice that there are corn fields everywhere. Corn is America's favorite food. And they know how to cook it in different ways - some boil it, some grill it, some make delicious porridge.

There are many recreational and amusement parks, a city zoo, and the stunning Falls of Ohio conservation area. Live performances by musicians take place at the city's concert venues. The Kentucky Center hosts theatrical performances - opera, ballet, and academic orchestra concerts. The elegant Louisville Palace Theater in the city's theater district hosts performances by the Louisville Orchestra and film screenings.

The city's baseball stadium, Louisville Slugger Field, hosts friendly matches for the beloved Louisville Bats and American football championships. Some of the city's most notable events are the Kentucky State Fair and the World's Horse Show, which also take place in Louisville.

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Welcome to the United States of America!

General information:

Full title: Louisville (also Louisville)
State:
Year of foundation: 1778
Population (with surrounding areas): 1.307 million people
Square: 1032 sq. km.

The city of Louisville can be called a city of the past, a city with a tart taste of classics and antiquity. At one time, the city became famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby horse race. In addition, Louisville has its own secrets for producing delicious whiskey, which has been produced in the city for a good two centuries.

Louisville Photos

The city's economy was boosted by the production of alcohol and tobacco. During wartime, Louisville received good dividends from the production of synthetic rubber products. But when production throughout the country fell into decline, Louisville suffered a heavy share. At that time, the city faced extraordinary economic difficulties.

Tourism contributed to the restoration of the city. So, since 1875, horse racing has been held in Louisville, also known as “The Two Most Exciting Minutes of Sports.” These are two-minute single horse races that constantly attract a large number of tourists and gamblers. Therefore, today the entertainment and sports industries are developing harmoniously in Louisville.

Nowadays, Louisville is considered a very important air transport hub. The educational system is developing in the city, here students have the opportunity to receive education at reputable colleges and universities. Louisville also produces quality baseball bats. The city built the Fraser International History Museum. Today's Louisville is a successful, fast-growing city.

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