Filed under Living on October 23rd, 2008:
Louisville Kentucky Living Guide
With over 250,000 residents, Louisville is one of the largest cities in the state of Kentucky and is known as “The Derby City” for good reason as it is famous for hosting the the Triple Crown and Kentucky Derby.
The city is also known for its rapid growth contributed to its location on the Ohio River making it into a major shipping port. The economy thrives and welcomes headquarters of Fortune 500 companies such as Kindred Healthcare, Humana, and Yum! Brands, Inc.
Besides the wealth of career opportunities, Louisiville’s mild climate also attracts many residents with warm summers and cold, snowy winters offering year round outdoor recreation opportunities. For more information about Louisville, check out the interesting facts, top restaurants, apartments and more listed below!
Interesting Facts About Louisville, Kentucky
- The baseball glove inside the Louisville Slugger Museum is made of 17 tons of Kentucky limestone.
- Louisville is home to the 10th busiest airport in the world and the 5th busiest cargo airport in the United States.
- The Louisville Zoo is 134-acres and home to 1,300 animals.
- The largest collection of Victorian homes in the United States is located in Old Louisville.
- Nearly 90% of the disco balls produced in the United States come from Louisville manufacturers.
- Thunder Over Louisville is North America’s largest annual pyrotechnics show.
- Papa John’s Pizza’s headquarters are in Louisville, Kentucky.
- University of Louisville researchers are responsible for the development the world’s first cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil.
- Cassius Clay, better known now as Muhammad Ali, was born in Louisville in 1942.
Top 10 Cultural Activities in Louisville
Louisville is home to a diverse community of residents and interests. In the downtown area you can find a strip of museums and galleries known as “Museum Row,” and throughout the year residents enjoy a variety of annual festivals:
- Kentucky Derby Festival
- Thunder Over Louisville
- Bluegrass Balloon Festival
- Kentucky State Fair
- Abbey Road on the River
- Kentucky Shakespeare Festival
- Muhammad Ali Center
- Frazier International History Museum
- Louisville Science Center
- Speed Art Museum
Top 10 Louisville Restaurants
One of the best things about Louisville is its local flavor. Check out a few of these eateries that you can only find in Louisville:
- Jack Fry’s – $$$$
- Lotsa Pasta – $$
- Proof on Main – $$$$
- Mark’s Feed Store BBQ – $$
- The Irish Rover – $$
- Sapporo Grill and Sushi – $$
- Havana Rumba Cuban Restaurant – $$
- L&N Wine Bar and Bistro – $$$
- Toast on the Market – $$
- Wick’s Pizza Parlor – $$
University of Louisville
For the sports fan, you can’t be happy without a home team to cheer for. If you’re looking for college sports, one of the best places to get in on some NCAA action is the University of Louisville. Most sports fans know about the Cardinals since they’re known as one of the winningest teams in Division I basketball. And, football fans might have noticed the recent emergence of Louisville’s football team as a worthy opponent in the Big East. Track and Field, hockey and soccer are all known to bring home the trophies as well.
However, you can’t talk about the University of Louisville without mentioning the university’s academic achievements. The school enrolls almost 20,000 students. Undergrads can choose from over 70 majors, and over 100 fields of study are available for graduate students. The school is also famous for several “World’s first” including first ever cervical cancer vaccine and self-contained artificial heart transplant. The university’s law and business schools are also both nationally acclaimed.
Top Louisville Apartments
ApartmentGuide.com offers over 120 apartment listings in Louisville, but to help you narrow down your search results, below is a list of apartments according to price range and amenities.
Pet-Friendly Louisville Apartments
- The Overlook at St. Thomas Apartments – $675-$2175
- Hustbourne Grand Apartments – $497-$1197
- Crescent Centre Apartments – $630-$810
Luxury Louisville Apartments
Cheap Louisville Apartments
- Preston Oaks Apartments – Starting at $450
- University Park Apartments – Starting at $450
- Greenwood Place Apartments – Starting at $465
Be sure to head on over to Apartment Guide if you’re searching for Louisville apartments. Also, if you’re researching neighborhoods be sure to checkout the new living guide where you can find the best Louisville apartments for rent.
If you’d like to share your favorite spots in Louisville or offer advice on where to find the best apartments, just let us know in the comments!