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Discover the backcountry of Clay County, the Gateway to the Elk & Redbud Capitals of Kentucky and the Land of Swinging Bridges! Camp, hike, bike or ride. Learn about our rich Appalachian history and culture. Picnic and play at our parks, golf at Big Hickory Golf Course, view abundant wildlife and weathered barns on scenic country drives, navigate miles of ATV trails. Step back in time with our historic towns and old swinging bridges.

Come explore the beautiful Appalachian mountains, Daniel Boone National Forest and the Bert T. Combs Lake & Recreational Park. Stay for a day, maybe two, and take home a memory that will last a lifetime. Swinging bridges would span a wide river without the need for foundation pillars in the middle. This meant there was no obstruction to river traffic and no danger of the pier being damaged during floods. They were also cheaper to build than pier designs. Typical construction would start with a ball of twine to judge the curve and distance.

The upright piers were constructed first before being pulled into position by men in boats or on horses or mules. The cable was then dragged across by hand using a wheel or pulley. Men would mix cement and haul river gravel and timbers from local farms.

Is a tightly-packed little town arranged around the town square, Court House hill and north and south entries. The town has an old-fashioned, 'real town' feel about it, but is also graced with handsome, modern structures on all sides. Visit the city parks, Veterans Memorial, Town Square, shops and restaurants. Heritage Pavilion and Goose Salt Works contain interpretive signs outlining the county's history. An ongoing mural project depicts the county's rich Appalachian heritage, visitors can brave the Goose Creek Swinging Bridge and a community folk-life theater, Monkey Dumplin's, empowers individuals to capture and tell their family stories. Discover Appalachia off the beaten trail in wonderfully wild, breathtakingly beautiful.

Home to the world renowned Oneida Baptist Institute and, Goose Creek and the Red Bird River confluence here to form the South Fork of the Kentucky River. Winding mountain roads feature family farms, roadside stands, small country stores, hilltop cemeteries, historic weathered barns and swinging bridges. Oneida is a natural, backcountry paradise for those who want to experience the peace and adventures of raw, untamed nature. A hamlet, or unincorporated community, is a small settlement in a rural area. These historic gems are home to early structures, unbridled natural beauty, wildlife, family businesses and farms, and the people who have preserved the customs of their ancestors. Natural wonders and fascinating, warm, friendly people await you. Clay County Kentucky historic hamlets include Alger, Ammie, Ashers Fork, Barcreek, Benge, Bernice, Big Creek, Bluehole, Botto, Brightshade, Brutus, Burning Springs, Chestnutburg, Cottongim, Creekville, Deer Lick, Eriline, Fall Rock, Felty, Fogertown, Gardner, Garrard, Goose Rock, Grace, Hector, Hensley, Hima, Hooker, Jacks Creek, Larue, Laurel Creek, Lincoln, Littleton, Marcum, Mill Pond, Ogle, Oneida, Panco, Peabody, Pigeonroost, Plank, Portersburg, Queendale, Sextons Creek, Shepherdtown, Sibert, Sidell, Spring Creek, Spurlock, Tanksley, Teges, Trixie, Urban, Vine and Wild Cat.

The key to the historic park system is the River Walk Trail that begins on the north end of town at Rawlings/ Stinson Park, and ends at the south end at the Goose Creek Salt Works Pioneer Village. This unique trail is anchored at the north by the famous Red Bird Petgroglyph, the large rock of national reknown that contains ancient inscriptions by either European explorers, or Indians, or both. The trail itself follows the route of the Warrior's Path, one of the most historically significant trails in American History. Created by buffalo searching for salt deposits, the route was used for countless years by Indians traveling between the Smoky Mountains in the south and the wilderness north of the Ohio River. The trail was used by long hunters and explorers, including Dr. Thomas Walker who followed it in this section of Goose Creek in 1750, and by Daniel Boone 19 years later in 1769.

Begin your riverside journey at the north end of Rawlings/Stinson Park, home to the world famous Red Bird River Shelter Petroglyphs. A park sign marks the trail. Enjoy a scenic walk along Goose Creek on the River Walk Trail. The views of the river and woods are breathtaking.

Pass by the Manchester Goose Creek Swinging Bridge, or enjoy an exciting diversion by crossing this fascinating relic of Appalachian heritage. Lovingly restored, this footbridge leads to the historic village of Downtown Manchester featuring Heritage Pavilion with interpretive signs of the county’s history.

Just past the swinging bridge lies Riverside Park overlooking Goose Creek. Goose Creek itself was one of the most important waterways in early Kentucky history.

The state legislature recognized its importance as a way to transport extremely valuable salt from the salt works early on and passed several acts to help improve it for navigation for salt barges. The walker will have to use his imagination to visualize 60-foot barges loaded with salt barrels floating down the river during 'salt tides' -- so called spring and winter floods. Finally, at the south end of the trail is the recreation of the Goose Creek Salt Works, which was located at this spot beginning in the mid 1790s when it was known as the Langford Works. The small community here was designated by the State Legislature to serve as the county seat when the county was created in April 1807. The first court met in the cabin of Robert Baker, most likely very similar to the Cotton Cabin seen here now, which according to several sources was built before the county was formed. It was moved here from its original location on the 'Cotton Bend' downstream, where salt barge maker Jesse Cotton lived in it with his wife Jane.

The north end of the historic River Walk Trail walking path, anchored by the nationally known Red Bird Petroglyph rock with ancient inscriptions. Features include a crumb rubber walking track that circles the park, a large covered stage for outdoor concerts, a playground, a wedding gazebo, Clay County Veterans Memorial, large shelter houses with grills, a concrete boat ramp on Goose Creek, and a shaded walking trail along beautiful and historic Goose Creek that connects Rawlings/Stinson Park to the Goose Creek Swinging Bridge, Riverside Park and Goose Creek Salt Works. This beautiful trail along the river follows the route of the famous Warrior's Path, the ancient trail made by buffalo then by Indians for countless years before being used by explorers such as Dr.

Thomas Walker, who passed by here in 1750, and Daniel Boone, who also came this way on his first extended hunting trip to Kentucky in 1769. River Walk Trail starts in Rawlings/Stinson Park, passes by the Goose Creek Swinging Bridge connecting to Historic Downtown Manchester, then leads to Riverside Park, followed by Goose Creek Salt Works. Manchester's Goose Creek Swinging Bridge was originally constructed to replace the old wagon bridge that was washed away in the Flood of 1947. This unique icon of cultural heritage literally connects the area's history.the Warrior's Path on Goose Creek to the Heritage Pavilion on Manchester on the Square.

Walking the Goose Creek Swinging Bridge takes you back in time. The Goose Creek Swinging Bridge, recently restored, connects Clay County with the historical narratives of the whole state of Kentucky. Located in the center of Clay County, Bert T. Combs City Park offers nonmotorized boating opportunities, while the park offers a large swimming pool, playground, covered picnic pavilions, hot showers and restrooms. This park, one of the best-kept secrets in the Daniel Boone National Forest, is nestled in a beautiful mountain valley at the forks of the head waters of Beech Creek, about three and a half miles northeast of Manchester on Beech Creek Road.

Governor’s RV Park & Campground offers mountain scenery and features trails that take those hardy enough to walk or ride horses to the tops of the ridges that define the park. It has 75 campsites, many with electric hook-ups, water and dump station. There is a large community swimming pool and kiddie pool, tennis and basketball courts, and a banquet room complete with kitchen and event facilities.

A large shelter house adjacent to the RV park has room for 250-300 people along with grills and electricity. Combs Lake is a short walk from the park. Located on a hillside adjacent to the center is the final resting place of former Kentucky Governor Bert T. Set in the beautiful Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky, the Bert T. Combs Equestrian Trail offers the area’s best horseback riding. As you ride along the 3 ½ miles of mapped trails (provided by request), plus unlimited miles of trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest and Beech Creek Wildlife Management Area, you will experience nature at its best. The Equestrian Trail offers breathtaking views, wildlife and several picnic areas with amenities for both you and your horses.

There are picnic tables and trash receptacles for you and hitching posts and natural springs to water your horses. Surrounded by the Beech Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Equestrian Trail provides easy access to the 25 acre Bert T.

Situated on a rolling knoll made by the Cotton Bend of historic Goose Creek, the course is surrounded by lush, hardwood forest-covered mountains. The course is owned by the City of Manchester and is accessed off Beech Creek Road (on the way to Bert T. Just follow the signs. Beautiful Big Hickory Golf Course is a challenging 9-hole layout that offers the best golf value in Kentucky. Its beautiful Bermuda fairways and immaculate undulating bent grass greens provide a golfing experience that is a thrill for all ages and skill levels.

It is a 3,000 yard course that plays to a par 36 and includes a variety of holes framed by scenic trees as well as ponds and streams. Its signature hole is the par 4 ninth whose green is fashioned in the shape of the state of Kentucky. Big Hickory Golf Course is located at 521 Big Hickory Rd, Manchester, KY 40962. Call (606) 598-8053 for additional details. Historic Salt Works in Manchester was established due to the presence of many salt springs. Daniel Boone offered a plan to reroute the Wildnerness Road to pass by the headwaters of Goose Creek.

The production of salt led to Manchester becoming a major trade center. During the Civil War and thereafter, the salt works became a point of contention and led to long-term feuds and skirmishes. The Baker-White feud started in the 1820s and continued until 1932. The feud claimed roughly 150 lives; the deadliest such struggle east of the Mississippi. The City of Manchester and the Clay County Genealogical and Historical Society have teamed up to create one of the most exciting historical sites in eastern Kentucky with the re-creation of the famous Goose Creek Salt Works at the site it occupied in the mid-1790s. It was one of the state's most important industries. This was also the site, in April 1807, where the newly formed Clay County came into existence making the salt works the first county seat.

It was the center of government for the huge territory of SE Kentucky that encompassed all the headwaters of the Kentucky River -- North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork -- and their tributeries, including adjacent Goose Creek. The site was situated squarely on the famous Warrior's Path, the early Indian trail used by Kentucky's first explorers, including Dr. Thomas Walker who passed by the site in 1750, and Daniel Boone in 1769.

The Red Bird River Shelter Petroglyphs are a series of petroglyphs, or carvings, on a stone in Manchester, Kentucky. The petroglyphs have been interpreted as inscriptions in at least 8 Old World alphabets, all of which were extinct when Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492. The rock was enrolled on the National Register of Historic Places in September 1989. On December 7, 1994, the 50 ton stone stone fell from a sandstone cliff above the Red Bird River and rolled onto Highway 66 at Lower Red Bird. On December 9, 1994, it was transported to its present location, where it is roofed over and fenced. The alphabets apparently inscribed on the stone include 1st century Greek and Hebrew, as well as Old Libyan, Old Arabic and Iberian-Punic which probably dates from the 9th century BC. Ogam, Germanic Runes, and Tiffinag-Numidian inscriptions have also been identified.

It has been argued that finding eight different languages inscribed in one place is highly unlikely, and that the claims are fanciful interpretations of the evidence. The inscriptions on the rock have been compared to other Cherokee inscriptions in the area, and it has been suggested that those on the rock have been altered in modern times. The interpretation that the petroglyphs represent Old World inscriptions has been linked to 18th century arguments that the Cherokee Nation had no right to live in Kentucky as an ancient white race settled here before them. James Anderson Burns' cabin houses the Oneida Baptist Institute Museum & Gift Shop in the little village of Oneida.

The two room museum offers a glimpse into the rich and fascinating history of Oneida, Ky. A large gift shop includes handmade items by volunteers, Oneida clothing and souvenirs, books, decor, antiques and more. A thrift store is also located nearby with proceeds benefiting the school. The school sits on a knob overlooking the confluence of Goose Creek and the Red Bird River, which forms the South Fork of the Kentucky River.

The Oneida Baptist Institute was founded in 1899 by Professor James Anderson Burns as a way to help stop the feuding at the end of the 19th Century. Burns hoped that by educating the children of the feuders they would find better uses for their time. In 1899, Burns, a former feuder himself, gathered some of the feuding residents of the area and convinced them to support a school. The little boarding school on the knoll overlooking its namesake town has played a large part in the history of Clay County and has attracted students from around the world. The Asher house is a log cabin built around 1799 on the site of what later became the grounds of the Red Bird Community Hospital. Dillion Asher's cabin is one of the oldest structures in Clay County.

The well-preserved structure is thought to have been built around the time Asher located on the waters of upper Red Bird. Asher moved to the area when the only known resident was John Gilbert.

Asher had served as the keeper of the toll gate at Cumberland Ford on the Wilderness Road at Cumberland Ford, the site of present-day Pineville, since the toll gate was established in 1795. Asher was on the grand jury the day the first Clay County court was seated, April 13, 1807. He went on to establish a large clan of Ashers in Clay and Leslie Counties and was a major player in the early development of the timber industry in Clay County. The cabin is located at the Red Bird Mission Hospital at the far southern end of Clay County on KY 66, an especially scenic drive that takes you from Oneida through the sparsely settled Red Bird Purchase Unit of the Daniel Boone National Forest. The first sign is a graphic rendering of the county’s “Historical Trails and Places,” and guides the visitor along the famous Warrior’ Path that traversed the county from north to south and was followed by such early explorers as Dr. Thomas Walker and Daniel Boone in the mid to late 1700s, and countless Indians before them. The graphic also maps out some of the earliest roads funded by the state legislature in the early 1800s that were built expressly for getting salt from several Goose Creek works to customers in the Bluegrass and in other states.

This sign shows the location of several of the salt works, and contains pertinent information. The second sign details the significant Civil War activity that took place within the border of the county from 1861 to 1864. The sign takes the visitor from the raid on the Goose Creek salt works by Rebel forces under the command of Gen.

Felix Zollicoffer before the first battle of the war in Kentucky, and through the years of skirmishing between the armies around Manchester and on Red Bird, and details the destruction of the five major salt works by Union forces that was carried out in order to keep salt out of Confederate hands. Much of the sign details the activities of Clay County’s famous Colonel (later Brigadier General), T. Garrard, in the county. • Brigadier General Theopolis Toulmin Garrard, one of the county’s leading salt makers, and a hero of the Civil War for his brave leadership at the battles of Perryville (Kentucky) and Vicksburg (Mississippi) and numerous other battles. Garrard, who was prominent in local political affairs, continued to wield influence locally and statewide until his death.

• Laura White, who was home schooled at her home at Goose Rock and went on to attain prominence far beyond the borders of Clay County by her pioneering educational activities, which included stints at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Sorbonne in Paris, France. White, after traveling widely in Europe, came back to Clay County to successfully transition her father’s salt business to the emerging timber business toward the end of the 1800s. • Governor Bert T. Combs, widely considered Kentucky’s most progressive governor and a champion of school integration and of education in general. He was born and raised on Beech Creek, schooled at Oneida Baptist Institute, and is buried at the Beech Creek Cemetery, scene of the largest state funeral in Kentucky history upon his death. • General Hugh White, patriarch of the powerful White Family of salt makers, who, with the purchase of the old Collins Salt Works in 1804, was more instrumental than any other with putting the county on the map and establishing what was for a while Kentucky’s most important industry. • David Yancy Lyttle, the famous Manchester lawyer who is credited with being “The Father of Kentucky Education” for his efforts after the Civil War in providing free education to Kentucky’s school children.

• Colonel Daniel Garrard, father of General T. T., son of Kentucky’s second governor, James. He was instrumental (along with General Hugh White) in establishing the salt industry that became famous nation wide. Colonel Garrard distinguished himself by leading a significant number of Clay County men to the northwest territories (near Fort Detroit and into Canada) during the War of 1812. • Martha Hogg, a business woman who donated much of the land where Oneida Baptist Institute and the town of Oneida were built. Hogg, who with her husband C.

Coldiron, owned what became the legendary Webb Hotel in Manchester, went on after Coldiron’s death to become one of the county’s leading business people despite laws that curtailed such activity by women. • Nancy Potter was, like Martha Hogg, was at a disadvantage in business because of her sex. Upon the death of her husband, Robert, she was able to have the courts declare her a “femme sole”, which allowed her to take over the family business that she parlayed into a significant real estate and financial empire in the late 1800s. • Elijah Griffin, one of the county’s relative few free black men in the time of slavery, and who had to be issued a permit even to travel about in 1827, went on to achieve remarkable success in the white business world of Clay County in the early part of the Nineteenth Century.

• Colonel Reuben May, salt maker, postmaster at Mount Welcome (Goose Rock), and an officer in the Eighth Kentucky Infantry in the Civil War. He went on the lead the Seventh Kentucky at Vicksburg after his friend, Colonel T. Garrard, was promoted to Brigadier General. • John White, son of Hugh, was one of the early Manchester lawyers who went on to represent Madison County in the state legislature, then on the U. Congress where he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, perhaps the highest office ever attained by a Clay Countian. • Rooster Branch Swinging Bridge.

This cherished relic of times gone, still in use, hangs above the Kentucky River in a breathtakingly beautiful location. A suspension bridge is an early type of bridge that is supported entirely from anchors at either end, suspended from two high locations over a river or canyon. This type of bridge is also known as a rope bridge due to its historical construction based on the ancient Inca rope bridge. Take HWY 11 north from Oneida 5 miles to Rocky Branch Rd.

Turn right onto Rocky Branch Rd, go about 1.5 miles. The swinging bridge is at the intersection of Rocky Branch and Rooster Branch (dirt road). Captain Adoniram 'Capt. Teges' Allen was one of the early Clay County settlers who arrived around 1806, most likely as a result of a land grant for his services in the Revolution.

He distinguished himself in fighting at the famous Battle of Kings Mountain in North Carolina. Born in 1734, Allen was a contemporary of George Washington and is the oldest known settler to have lived in Clay County, older even than John Gilbert. Allen erected one of the first grist mills in the county on the South Fork near the 'Narrows' that stood for many decades. He is the progenitor of Clay County's extended Allen family. The cemetery is reachable by car on a gravel road. To reach it, take HWY 11 north from Oneida 5 miles to Rocky Branch Rd.

Turn right onto Rocky Branch Rd, go about 1.5 miles to just before the Old Swinging Bridge. Go right, then left, to cross the low water bridge.

Follow the gravel road, New Found Rd, to Laurel Point Cemetery. The cemetery is on the right. The Cedar Valley School stands as an elegant ruin in a setting of unsurpassed beauty on the banks of the South Fork of the Kentucky River in northern Clay County. The school was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The workmanship is a thing to behold.

The remote spot is reachable by car on a gravel road. Take HWY 11 north from Oneida 5 miles to Rocky Branch Rd.

Turn right onto Rocky Branch Rd, go about 1.5 miles to just before the Old Swinging Bridge. Turn right, then left, to cross the low water bridge.

Follow the gravel road, New Found Rd, to Laurel Point Cemetery. Beyond the cemetery, about a mile or so, turn left on Cedar Valley Road and follow it a short distance to the school.

The school ruins will be on the left in a field. Numerous old, weathered bridges swing over the Red Bird River south of Oneida. From Oneida, take HWY 66 South for 4.6 miles to Martin Cemetery Rd. Turn right onto Martin Cemetery Rd. An old swinging bridge is on the left. Another.4 mile south on HWY 66 turn right onto Salmon Rd. Cross the river and veer left for.3 mile to the Swinging Bridge Farms bridge, still in use.

An additional.8 mile south on HWY 66, turn right on Laurel Branch Rd and take Laurel Branch Rd about 1/4 mile. A bridge will be on the left. About 1 more mile south on HWY 66, turn right onto Bar Creek Rd to view another swinging bridge. Continuing south on HWY 66 for 24 miles takes visitors on an especially scenic drive to Red Bird Mission, home of the historic Dillon Asher Cabin and Red Bird Mission Crafts.

Dillon Asher's cabin is one of the oldest structures in Clay County. Red Bird Mission Crafts offers Appalachian crafts including works by gifted artisans in wood carving, weaving, basket-making, toy making and corn shuck flower making.to name a few.

Red Bird Mission has been marketing local crafts since the early 1960’s and continues to be a source of secondary income to mountain families today. This well maintained swinging bridge is located on the south side of the Oneida Baptist Institute campus in Oneida, KY. It connects the ball fields on the campus to OBI Farm Rd. Also on the campus is the James Anderson Burns' Museum & Gift Shop. The two room museum offers a glimpse into the rich and fascinating history of the area. The Oneida Baptist Institute was founded in 1899 by Professor James Anderson Burns as a way to help stop the feuding at the end of the 19th Century.

It has grown into an outreach to young people from around the world. The large gift shop includes handmade items by volunteers. Nearby is the Oneida Park, the South Fork of the Kentucky River and numerous back-roads providing stunning scenery, an abundance of nature and wildlife, family farms, rivers and creeks, rolling mountains and historic weathered barns. From KY-11 near Downtown Oneida, go northeast on KY-66 South/Riner St to 2nd St.

Turn right onto 2nd St. 2nd St becomes Oneida Bottom Rd. Go about.3 mile and turn right on OBI Farm Rd. Follow it around the farm to the swinging bridge.

From Oneida, take HWY 11 N for about 9 miles. Turn left onto KY-577 W and drive about 3.5 miles. A swinging bridge will be on the left.

Continue south for about 1 mile to another swinging bridge; restored with remnants remaining of the original structure. Also nearby is Bishop Bend. While not technically a park, Bishop Bend offers breathtaking views of the river, hiking and ATV opportunities, and scenic nature. Bishop Bend is an old road originally populated by the Bishop Clan that housed the Bishop Bend School. An old cemetery, Bishop Cemetery, is still located on Bishop Bend School Road.

To reach Bishop Bend from the Sexton Creek swinging bridges, turn right on HWY 11 going south, heading back towards Oneida. Go about 1.9 miles.

Bishop Bend will be on the left. From Oneida, take HWY 11 N for about 9 miles.

Turn left onto KY-577 W and drive about 9 miles to the Old Joe Clark Home. The legends are many about Joe Clark, of Sexton Creek. The text on the Kentucky Historical Highway marker refers to just one. He was a soldier in Clay County's Colonel T. Garrard's Seventh Kentucky Infantry in the Civil War and fought in the Battle of Wildcat, the first battle of the war in Kentucky in the fall of 1861.

A mountain ballad sung during World War I, and later wars by soldiers from eastern Kentucky, featured this shiftless and rough mountaineer. His enemies were legion; he was murdered in 1885. In the moonshining days of 1870s, he ran a government-supervised still. From Oneida, head northwest on HWY 66. Continue onto HWY 1482.

Go 7.7 miles to Martin Branch Rd. Turn right onto Martin Branch Rd. An old, weathered swinging bridge lies across scenic Bullskin Creek.

Just minutes from the swinging bridge is one of the area's best kept secrets, Leatherwood Recreation Area. This beautiful picnic area and boating destination offers breathtaking views of the lake and mountains. Continue northeast on HWY 1482. Go 1.6 miles. Turn left onto Hwy 484. Go 5.7 miles.

The road dead ends at the park. Clay County is also the gateway to the 'Redbud Capital of Kentucky.' Each Spring thousands of redbuds bloom in the majestic mountains of eastern Kentucky along Daniel Boone/Hal Rogers Parkway and historic Highway 80, providing a breathtaking drive into the “Redbud Capital of Kentucky'. In the wild, eastern redbud is a frequent native understory tree in mixed forests and hedgerows. The flowers are showy, light to dark magenta pink in color, and appear in clusters from Spring to early Summer on bare stems before the leaves.

The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees such as blueberry bees and carpenter bees. After the redbud bloom, dogwood flowers decorate the county fence rows, followed soon after by sarvis blooms. Is located along the Cumberland Plateau in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky. The forest encompasses over 707,000 acres of mostly rugged terrain.

The land is characterized by steep forested ridges dissected by narrow ravines and over 3,400 miles of sandstone cliffs. Daniel Boone National Forest is one of the most heavily used forests in the South, with over 5 million visitors annually. People come here to backpack, camp, picnic, rock climb, boat, ride and relax. Daniel Boone is comprised of four ranger districts: Cumberland, London, Stearns and Redbird. There is something special about preparing home-cooked meals with fresh fruits and vegetables picked up at a farm market within hours of harvest.

Discover farm fresh foods at Clay County's farm markets, roadside stands and small town grocers.offering the freshest produce and seasonal favorites. From homegrown potatoes, lettuce, corn, beans, cucumbers, broccoli radishes, cider, gourds, and fall squash - to a vast array of fruits - you'll find everything you need for your cooking needs at Clay County's farmers markets and roadside stands. Clay County is known for its abundance of yard sales and roadside tag sales, including the annual East 80 Yard Sale.a 22 mile yard sale! The yard sale route goes through Manchester and London, KY along Hwy 80 each Labor Day Weekend from Thursday through Monday. In addition, several vendors malls and thrift stores dot the county.

Furniture, clothing, antiques, home decor, plants.you never know what you'll find around the county at local yard sales, vendors malls, thrift stores and roadside stands. For over 100 years, Eastern Kentucky University has been creating opportunities and fulfilling dreams. Whether it is through providing the education for a first generation college graduate or offering outreach to communities across EKU’s twenty-two county service region, possibilities are realized at Eastern. Housed in the heart of that service region is the Manchester Regional Campus. Emphasizing Eastern’s commitment to providing educational opportunities to the area, the campus serves students from Clay, Bell, Laurel, Owsley, Perry, Knox, Jackson, Leslie and the surrounding area. EKU Manchester offers more than 100 classes each semester to more than 300 students.

Own your own wildlife sanctuary and mountain deep inside the Daniel Boone National Forest. Situated on over 27 acres along the Cumberland Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky, this unique property includes two homes, 4 camping cabins, an office/efficiency apartment, a large garage, professional landscaping, a bamboo 'forest', a pond, creeks, bridges, waterfalls, trails, picnic areas and many nearby attractions.

Located along a well maintained paved state highway, the gated sanctuary is nestled in a hollow.offering private seclusion with its own private road. Use as a year-round residence, vacation home, family retreat, church retreat, camp or turn-key cabin rental business. You won't find a more beautiful location than Oneida, Ky in Daniel Boone Forest! The property houses a two bedroom, one bath cabin; a one bedroom, one bath historic home; 4 camping cabins with electric, air, ceiling fans, heat, cathedral ceilings, finished walls and floors; an office/efficiency apartment with two full bathrooms; a 2 ½ car garage; a large goldfish pond; several creeks and waterfalls; fenced areas; picnic areas; arbors; and numerous hiking/ATV trails.

Most buildings on the property are newer construction. The hollow is professionally landscaped with stunningly beautiful, yet low-maintenance flowers, plants and trees. The property features dozens of established fruit trees, fruit bushes, a bamboo 'forest', a large chicken coop and fenced area. City water and well water are located on the property, as well as cable and high speed internet.

Louisville's founder, The rapids at the created a barrier to river travel, and as a result, settlements grew up at this stopping point. The first European settlement in the vicinity of modern-day Louisville was on in 1778 by Col. George Rogers Clark, credited as the founder of Louisville. Several landmarks in the community are named after him. Two years later, in 1780, the approved the town charter of Louisville.

The city was named in honor of, whose soldiers were then. Early residents lived in to protect themselves from Indian raids, but moved out by the late 1780s. In 1803, explorers and organized their in the town of at the present-day Falls of the Ohio opposite Louisville, Kentucky. 19th century [ ].

View of Main Street Louisville in 1846 The city's early growth was influenced by the fact that river boats had to be unloaded and moved downriver before reaching the falls. By 1828, the population had swelled to 7,000 and Louisville became an incorporated city. The city grew rapidly in its formative years. Louisville was a major shipping port and slaves worked in a variety of associated trades. The city was often a point of escape for slaves to the north, as Indiana was a free state., Louisville was a major stronghold of, which kept Kentucky firmly in the Union. It was the center of planning, supplies, recruiting, and transportation for numerous campaigns, especially in the.

By the end of the war, Louisville had not been attacked, although skirmishes and battles, including the battles of and, took place nearby. After Reconstruction, returning veterans largely took political control of the city, leading to the jibe that Louisville joined the after the war was over. In 1901 The first was held on May 17, 1875, at the Louisville Jockey Club track (later renamed ). The Derby was originally shepherded by, the grandson of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and grandnephew of the city's founder George Rogers Clark. Horse racing had a strong tradition in Kentucky, whose had been a center of breeding high-quality livestock throughout the 19th century. Ten thousand spectators watched the first Derby, which won.

On March 27, 1890, the city was devastated and its downtown nearly destroyed when an tore through as part of the. An estimated 74 to 120 people were killed. 20th and 21st centuries [ ] Throughout January 1937, 19.17 inches (48.7 cm) of rain fell in Louisville, and by January 27, the Ohio River crested at a record 57.15 feet (17.42 m), almost 30 feet (9.1 m) above flood stage. These events triggered the, which lasted into early February. The submerged 60–70% of the city, caused complete loss of power for four days, and forced the evacuation of 175,000 or 230,000 residents, depending on sources.

Ninety people died as a result of the flood. It led to dramatic changes in where residents lived. Today, the city is protected by numerous. After the flood, the areas of high elevation in the eastern part of the city had decades of residential growth. Louisville was a center for factory war production during World War II.

In May 1942, the U.S. Government assigned the Aircraft Company, a war plant located at Louisville's air field, for wartime aircraft production. The factory produced the cargo plane, among other aircraft. In 1946, the factory was sold to, which began large-scale production of tractors and agricultural equipment. In 1950, the Census Bureau reported Louisville's population as 84.3% white and 15.6% black. Similar to many other older American cities, Louisville began to experience a movement of people and businesses to the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s. Middle class residents used newly built freeways and interstate highways to commute to work, moving into more distant but newer housing.

Because of tax laws, businesses found it cheaper to build new rather than renovate older buildings. Economic changes included a decline in local manufacturing.

The West End and older areas of the South End, in particular, began to decline economically as many local factories closed. Entrance to the entertainment complex in Louisville, featuring the marquee of the In 1974, a major (F4) tornado hit Louisville as part of the of tornadoes that struck 13 states. It covered 21 miles (34 km) and destroyed several hundred homes in the Louisville area. Only two people died. Since the 1980s, many of the city's urban neighborhoods have been into areas popular with young professionals and college students. The greatest change has occurred along the and corridors as well as the neighborhood. In recent years, such change has also occurred in the (NuLu).

Since the late 1990s, has experienced significant residential, tourist and retail growth, including the addition of major sports complexes and, conversion of waterfront industrial sites into, openings of varied museums (see below), and the refurbishing of the former Galleria into the bustling entertainment complex, which opened in 2004. Geography [ ]. Hilly terrain blankets the southwest part of the city Louisville and Jefferson County have a combined area of 397.68 square miles (1,030.0 km 2), of which 380.46 square miles (985.4 km 2) is land and 17.23 square miles (44.6 km 2) (4.33%) is covered by water. Louisville is southeasterly situated along the border between Kentucky and, the, in north-central Kentucky at the. Although situated in a, Louisville is influenced by both and.

It is sometimes referred to as either one of the northernmost Southern cities or as one of the southernmost Northern cities in the United States. Louisville is located in Kentucky's outer. Its development has been influenced by its location on the Ohio River, which spurred Louisville's growth from an isolated camp site into a major shipping port. Much of the city is located on a very wide and flat surrounded by hill country on all sides. Much of the area was swampland that had to be drained as the city grew. In the 1840s, most creeks were rerouted or placed in canals to prevent flooding and disease outbreaks.

Areas generally east of are above the flood plain, and are composed of gently rolling hills. The southernmost parts of Jefferson County are in the scenic and largely undeveloped, which is home to. The (MSA), the in the United States, includes the Kentucky county of Jefferson ( with Louisville Metro), plus twelve outlying counties—seven in Kentucky and five in. Louisville's MSA is included in the (CSA), which also includes the MSA, as well as the. The Louisville area is near several other urban areas, especially (the state's capital), (the two cities' metropolitan statistical areas almost border each other),, and the area (especially, to the north of Southern Indiana). Cityscape [ ]. East Louisville's, specifically, the neighborhood.

The of Louisville is located immediately south of the Ohio River and southeast of the Falls of the Ohio. Major roads extend outwards from the downtown area in all directions, like the spokes of a wheel. The is about 6.75 miles (10.86 km) south of the downtown area. The sections of town are to the south and west of the airport, while most of the of the city are to the southwest, south, and east of downtown. In 2010, the 22,000-seat was completed.

Twelve of the 15 buildings in Kentucky over 300 feet (91 m) are located in downtown Louisville. Another primary business and is located in the suburban area east of the city on Hurstbourne Parkway. Louisville's late 19th- and early 20th-century development was spurred by three large suburban parks built at the edges of the city in 1890. The city's contains a blend of old and new. The neighborhood is the largest district solely featuring homes and buildings in the United States; it is also the third-largest such district overall.

Many modern skyscrapers are located downtown, as well as older preserved structures, such as the building. The buildings of West Main Street in downtown Louisville have the largest collection of facades of anywhere outside of New York's district.

Broadway and 3rd Street in Since the mid-20th century, Louisville has in some ways been divided into three sides of town: the West End, the South End, and the East End. In 2003, Bill Dakan, a geography professor, said that the West End, west of 7th Street and north of Algonquin Parkway, is 'a for the African American part of town' although he points out that this belief is not entirely true, and most African Americans no longer live in areas where more than 80% of residents are black. Nevertheless, he says the perception is still strong. The South End has long had a reputation as a white, part of town, while the East End has been seen as middle and.

According to the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors, the area with the lowest median home sales price is west of Interstate 65, in the West and South Ends, the middle range of home sales prices are between Interstates 64 and 65 in the South and East Ends, and the highest median home sales price are north of Interstate 64 in the East End. From tend to settle in the South End, while immigrants from settle in the East End.

Panoramic views [ ]. Climate [ ] Louisville has a ( Cfa) with four distinct seasons and is located in 6b and 7a. Spring-like conditions typically begin in mid-to-late March, summer from mid-to-late-May to late September, with fall in the October–November period. Seasonal extremes in both temperature and precipitation are not uncommon during early spring and late fall; is not uncommon, with occasional outbreaks in the region. Winter typically brings a mix of rain, sleet, and snow, with occasional heavy snowfall and icing.

Louisville averages 4.5 days with low temperatures dipping to 10 °F (−12 °C); the first and last freezes of the season on average fall on November 2 and April 5, respectively. Summer is typically hazy, hot, and humid with long periods of 90–100 °F (32–38 °C) temperatures and drought conditions at times.

Louisville averages 38 days a year with high temperatures at or above 90 °F (32 °C). The mean annual temperature is 58.2 °F (14.6 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 12.7 inches (32 cm) and an average annual rainfall of 44.9 inches (1,140 mm). The wettest seasons are spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant year round.

During the winter, particularly in January and February, several days of snow can be expected. January is the coldest month, with a mean temperature of 34.9 °F (1.6 °C). July is the average hottest month with a mean of 79.3 °F (26.3 °C). The highest recorded temperature was 107 °F (42 °C), which last occurred on July 14, 1936, and the was −22 °F (−30 °C) on January 19, 1994. In 2012, Louisville had the fourth-hottest summer on record, with the temperature rising up to 106 °F (41 °C) in July and the June all-time monthly record high temperature being broken on two consecutive days. As the city exemplifies the effect, temperatures in commercial areas and in the industrialized areas along interstates are often higher than in the suburbs, often as much as 5 °F (2.8 °C).

Unless otherwise noted, all demographics refer to the consolidated Louisville Metro, including the within it. As of the, Louisville Metro held a population of 741,096, while the ' area of Louisville proper included 597,337. Due to the city-county merger in 2003, the city's population had greatly expanded from the premerger area of Louisville, which held only 245,315 people in 2007. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky, with 17.1% of the state's total population as of 2010; the balance's percentage was 13.8%. In 2010, over one-third of the population growth in Kentucky was in Louisville's CSA counties.

Map of racial distribution in Louisville, 2010 U.S. Each dot is 25 people: White, Black, Asian, Hispanic or Other (yellow) The 2007 demographic breakdown for the entire Louisville Metro area was 74.8% White (71.7% non-Hispanic), 22.2% Black, 0.6% American Indian, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Hawaiian or Pacific islander, 1.4% other, and 1.6% multiracial. About 2.9% of the total population was identified as Hispanic of any race. During the same year, the area of premerger Louisville consisted 60.1% White, 35.2% African American, 1.9% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, and 3.0% other, with 2.4% identified as Hispanic of any race. Of the 287,012 households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were not families. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution is 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The for a household is $39,457 and for a family was $49,161. Males had a median income of $36,484 versus $26,255 for females. The for the county was $22,352. About 9.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those ages 65 or over. Religion [ ]. Louisville's Louisville hosts religious institutions of various faiths, including,,,,, and. The 135,421 Louisvillians are part of the, covering 24 counties in central Kentucky, and consisting of 121 parishes and missions spread over 8,124 square miles (21,040 km 2).

The in downtown Louisville is the seat of the Archdiocese of Louisville., the monastic home of Catholic writer, is in nearby, and also in the archdiocese. Most of Louisville's Roman Catholic population is of German descent, the result of large-scale 19th-century immigration. And in Louisville are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

One in three Louisvillians is, belonging to one of 147 local congregations. This denomination increased in number when large numbers of people moved into Louisville in the early 20th century from rural Kentucky and to work in the city's factories; some of these migrants also formed and and. In the 19th century brought not only a large Catholic population, but also the and faiths, which are represented today in Louisville by the, the, and the, respectively.

The city is home to two., with its main campus in and three others in the surrounding region, is, as of 2013, the seventh-largest church in the United States. Is the 38th largest in the US, and has the largest African American congregation in Kentucky. The city is home to several religious institutions: the,,, and the denominational headquarters of the. The population of around 8,500 in the city is served by five. Most Jewish families emigrated from at the start of the 20th century; around 800 have moved to Louisville since 1991.

Jewish immigrants founded Jewish Hospital in what was once the center of the city's Jewish district. From 2005 to 2012, Jewish Hospital merged with two Kentucky-based Catholic to form, which later in 2012 announced a partnership with the Hospital.

A significant focal point for Louisville's Jewish community is located near, where there are two Orthodox synagogues (including, founded in 1893), the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family and Career Services, and an affordable housing complex. Since 1996, every May, the Festival of Faiths, a five-day national gathering, is held featuring music, poetry, film, art and dialogue with internationally renowned spiritual leaders, thinkers and practitioners. The festival is organized by the Center for Interfaith Relations and is held. Bourbon bottle, 19th century: One-third of all comes from Louisville. Louisville today is home to across several. However, the underpinning of the city's economy since its earliest days has been the shipping and cargo industries. Its strategic location at the Falls of the Ohio, and its unique position in the central United States (within one day's road travel to 60% of the cities in the continental U.S.) make it a practical location for the transfer of cargo along its route to other destinations.

The and the were important links in water and rail transportation. Louisville's importance to the continues today with the presence of the global air-freight hub for. Louisville's location at the crossroads of three major (,, and ) also contributes to its modern-day strategic importance to the shipping and cargo industry. In addition, the Port of Louisville continues Louisville's river shipping presence.

As of 2003, Louisville ranks as the seventh-largest in the United States. From left to right, Building,,, and the in downtown Louisville Louisville has emerged as a major center for the and industries. It has been central to advancements in and, as well as. Some of the earliest and transplants were conducted in Louisville.

Its thriving downtown medical research campus includes a new $88 million and a research and commercialization park, that in partnership with the, has lured nearly 70 top scientists and researchers. [ ] Louisville is also home to, one of the nation's largest companies. Louisville is a significant center of manufacturing, with two major plants, and the headquarters and major factory of (a subsidiary of ). The city is also a major center of the industry, with about one-third of all coming from Louisville., one of the major makers of American whiskey, is headquartered in Louisville and operates a distillery in the Louisville suburb of. The current primary distillery site operated by, called the distillery, is also located in Louisville near Brown-Forman's distillery. Other distilleries and related businesses can also be found in neighboring cities in Kentucky, such as,,, and. Similar to the that links these central Kentucky locations, Louisville offers tourists its own 'Urban Bourbon Trail', where people can stop at nearly 20 'area bars and restaurants, all offering at least 50 labels of America's only native spirit.'

Not typically known for outside of the previously identified industries, the city in the 2010s has been at or near the forefront of some high-tech-related developments. In April 2017, confirmed that Louisville will be wired for its ultrafast network. Meanwhile, since October 2016, Fiber has been building out its similar service in the city as well as neighboring counties in Indiana. Beyond networking, the city, through its called, recognized by President, is aiding area residents in the learning of software coding skills. Louisville for a long time was also home to the, at its peak one of the largest manufacturers and wholesale distributors of hardware in the United States, as well as, the third-largest company in the before merging with in 2004 to form the Company. Brown & Williamson, one of the subjects of the tobacco industry of the 1990s, was the focus of, a shot around the Louisville area. Louisville prides itself in its large assortment of small, independent businesses and restaurants, some of which have become known for their ingenuity and creativity.

In 1926, the became the home of the 'sandwich'. A few blocks away, the, which references in, is also famous for a secret back room where would regularly meet with associates during the era. The drink the was invented in Louisville's. Several major motion pictures have also been filmed in or near Louisville, including The Insider,,,,,, and. 2006 fireworks display as seen from the Kentucky side of the Louisville is home to many annual cultural events. Perhaps most well-known is the, held annually during the first Saturday of May. The Derby is preceded by a two-week-long, which starts with the annual, the largest annual in North America.

The Kentucky Derby Festival also features notable events such as the Pegasus Parade,, Great, a combined / and about seventy events in total. Has called the Kentucky Derby 'the biggest party in the south.'

Usually beginning in late February or early March is the at, an internationally acclaimed new-play festival that lasts approximately six weeks. On weekend, Louisville hosts the largest annual Festival in the world,. The festival lasts five days and is located on the in downtown Louisville. The summer season in Louisville also features a series of cultural events such as the (commonly called ), held in July of every year and features free plays in in. Also in July, the draws 35,000 visitors annually to in celebration of the best in music, art and environmental activism. Past performers include,,,,, and hundreds more. The is held every August at the in Louisville as well, featuring an array of culture from all areas of Kentucky.

In places, the African American community celebrates commemorating June 19, 1865, when slaves in the western territories learned of their freedom. In September, in nearby, is the annual, which celebrates the history and art of distilling. The suburb of is also the home of the annual, a series of events spread over a week.

Attendance is approximately 200,000 for the week. The month of October features the in. Thousands of artists gather on the streets and in the courtyard to exhibit and sell their wares, and the event is attended by many art collectors and enthusiasts. The show is the second most-attended event next to the Derby. Another art-related event that occurs every month is the. A free bus takes art lovers to many downtown area (especially /NuLu) independent art galleries on the first Friday of every month. Indie scene [ ] Louisville has blossomed as a booming center for independent art, music and business.

A Louisville locale that highlights this scene is, an area located in the heart of the. Bardstown Road is known for its cultural diversity and local trade. The majority of the businesses along Bardstown Road, such as coffee shops, clothing stores and art galleries, are locally owned and operated businesses.

Though it is only about one mile (1.6 km) long, this strip of Bardstown Road constitutes much of the city's culture and diverse lifestyle, contributing to the unofficial ' slogan. In downtown Louisville,, a hotel that showcases contemporary art installations and exhibitions throughout its public spaces, and features a red penguin on its roof, is, according to The New York Times, 'an innovative concept with strong execution and prompt and enthusiastic service.'

Louisville is home to a thriving with bands such as,,,,,,, and. Acclaimed singer-songwriters, who performs under the moniker 'Bonnie 'Prince' Billy', is a resident, as was country/rock singer-songwriter. Cellist splits his time between Louisville and Lexington.

Long running rock/jazz fusion band also formed in Louisville in the late 1960s as well as 1980s band. Band, at one time including future breakout pop star, formed in Louisville in the mid-1990s. The Louisville music scene reaches a crescendo every July during the, a three-day music, art and environmental activism festival taking place.

Especially catering to Louisville's music scene is 91.9 Radio Louisville, a local station funded, in part, from local listeners. The station features not only national and international musicians common to public radio, but also local and regional talent. The station also hosts summer concerts on the waterfront from April until July, where up-and-coming alternative artists are brought to stage. Museums, galleries and interpretive centers [ ]. See also: and The in features what is locally known as 'Museum Row'. In this area is the, which opened its doors in 2004 as an armaments museum, featuring the only collection of artifacts outside of the United Kingdom.

Since then the Frazier has expanded its focus to broader history. The Frazier Museum has three floors of exhibits, an education center and a tournament ring, which presents daily performances, as well as event spaces available for rent, including a rooftop garden featuring native plants and 4th floor loft-style space that accommodates up to 360 people seated. The Center, alongside on Louisville's riverfront.

The (SAR) is a patriotic, historical, and educational non-profit organization and a leading male lineage society that perpetuates the ideals of the American war for independence and the founding of the United States. The SAR opened its in 2010 along Louisville's Museum Row next door to its national headquarters, with an on-site American Revolutionary War Education Center expected to be completed soon. The opened in 1927 and is the oldest and largest in the state of Kentucky.

Located adjacent to the, the museum features over 12,000 pieces of art in its permanent collection and hosts traveling exhibitions. Multiple art galleries are located in the city, but they are especially concentrated in the (NuLu), immediately to the east of downtown. This row of galleries, plus others in the West Main District, are prominently featured in the monthly First Friday Hop. Several museums can be found in the Louisville area. The most prominent among them is, founded in 1884, which has holdings exceeding 1.5 million manuscript items and over 50,000 volumes in the library. The Filson's extensive collections focus on Kentucky, the and the, and contain a large collection of portraiture and over 10,000 museum artifacts. Other local history museums include the,,, the (), () and the ().

The Falls interpretive center, part of the, also functions as a museum, covering findings in the nearby exposed bed. The There are also several historical properties and items of interest in the area, including the, the oldest -style in operation in the United States. The is considered by the to be the best remaining hospital in the United States.

It was designed by, who is best known as the designer of the., spread out among, and Counties (two of which are in the ), is home to the and the. The previously mentioned Locust Grove, former home of Louisville Founder, portrays life in the early days of the city. Other notable properties include the (home of the famous Speed family), and the restored, which opened in 1891.

The Louisville area is also home to the, a (20th) that was originally built to accommodate patients, and subsequently has been reported and sensationalized to be haunted. The maintains historical records of local spinning and weaving patterns and techniques, and also offers tours, hands-on activities, and professional-level classes and materials.

Performing arts [ ]. See also: and, dedicated in 1983, located in the downtown hotel and entertainment district, features a variety of plays and concerts. This is also the home of the,,,,, which operates the oldest professional outdoor Shakespeare festival, and the, which is the twelfth oldest in the United States. The Louisville Orchestra was founded in 1937 by conductor and, then Mayor of Louisville, and was a world leader in commissioning and recording contemporary works for orchestra from the 1950s to 1980s. The Louisville Orchestra today performs more than 125 concerts per year with a core of salaried musicians and is recognized as a cornerstone of the Louisville arts community., is in the city's urban cultural district and hosts the each spring.

It presents approximately six hundred performances of about thirty productions during its year-round season, composed of a diverse array of contemporary and classical fare. Louisville is home to a fast-growing independent theatre scene. Theatre 502, Savage Rose Classical Theatre, The Bard's Town Theatre Company, The Liminal Playhouse, Looking For Lilith, Bunbury Theatre Company, Louisville Repertory Theatre, Louisville Improvisors, Pandora Productions, Eve Theatre Company, and Baby Horse Theatre all curate full seasons of contemporary, classical and experimental work., the official venue for the Louisville Orchestra, is an ornate theatre in 's so-called theatre district.

In addition to orchestra performances, the theatre shows and hosts concerts. Is the home of the renovated Iroquois Amphitheater, which hosts a variety of musical concerts in a partially covered outdoor setting. Main article: are popular in the Louisville area.

The have competed as members of the (ACC), since joining that league in July 2014. Is particularly popular. The 's averaged sellouts for 10 straight years and the downtown following suit with regular sellouts.

The Cardinals ranked third nationally in attendance in, the most recent of the program's three national championship seasons. The Cardinals also hold the Big East conference women's basketball paid attendance record with nearly 17,000 attending the game against the in 2008. The Louisville market has ranked first in ratings for the NCAA men's basketball tournament every year since 1999. The used to play an annual game in Freedom Hall. The team has played in the.

The team has produced successful NFL players such as,,,, and. The Cardinals won the, the, and the.

In 2016, sophomore quarterback took the football team to new heights. Lamar was the school's first winner, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player during that season. He was also one of the youngest players to ever receive the award. The team also matched their highest ranking in school history, coming in at #3 after their blow out win against the. Louisville Football is now a top school in not only the but on the national scale.

University of Louisville baseball team advanced to the in Omaha in,, and, as one of the final eight teams to compete for the national championship. The in progress. Horse racing is also a major attraction.

Is home to the, the largest in the state, as well as the which together cap the two-week-long. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned on eight occasions, most recently in 2011. Louisville is also the home of which hosted the, and, the 2004 and the. It is also home to (formerly Louisville Extreme Park), which skateboarder has called one of his top five skate parks. Louisville has seven professional and sports teams, but no major league teams. It is the fourth largest U.S.

City without one, with only, and larger. The are a team playing in the as the Class AAA affiliate of the nearby. The team plays at at the edge of the city's downtown. In 2014, a professional soccer team in the league then known as USL Pro and now as the, was announced.

The team made its debut in 2015, playing home games at Louisville Slugger Field. In its first season, Louisville City was the official reserve side for while making its debut in at the same time. That arrangement ended in 2016, when Orlando City established a directly controlled reserve side in the USL.

Louisville had two professional American football teams in the: the (or Brecks for short) from 1921 to 1924 and the in 1926. See also: and Louisville Metro has 122 city covering more than 13,000 acres (53 km 2). Several of these parks were designed by, who also designed New York City's as well as parks, parkways, college campuses and public facilities in many U.S. The is prominently located on the banks of the near downtown and features large open areas, which often hold free and other.

The, a former railroad bridge spanning 547 feet (167 m) but is now a pedestrian bridge connecting Waterfront Park with 's waterfront park, fully opened in May 2014 with the completion of Jeffersonville's ramp., one of the most visited parks in the nation, features a 2.6-mile (4.2 km) mixed-use loop and many well-known landscaping and architectural features including the. Other notable parks in the system include,, and. Further from the downtown area is the, which at 6,218 acres (25.16 km 2) is the largest municipal in the United States., The forest is designated as a and offers over 30 miles (48 km) of various hiking trails. A section of the bike and pedestrian trail, owned and operated by the, is another large park in nearby. The park's namesake, Otter Creek, winds along the eastern side of the park. A scenic bend in the, which divides Kentucky from, can be seen from northern overlooks within the park. The park is a popular destination, with trails maintained by a local organization.

Other outdoor points of interest in the Louisville area include (the burial location of ), (the burial location of ), the and the. In development is the, a project to create a 110-mile (180 km) continuous paved pedestrian and biking trail called the around Louisville Metro while also adding a large amount of park land.

Current plans call for making approximately 4,000 acres (16 km 2) of the flood plain in eastern into a new park system called, expanding area in the Jefferson Memorial Forest, and adding riverfront land and wharfs along the Riverwalk and Levee Trail, both completed segments of the Louisville Loop. Government and politics [ ]. See also:;; and On January 6, 2003, Louisville its government with that of Jefferson County, forming borders.

Louisville was the second and only other city in the state to merge with its county since merged with in 1974. Louisville Metro is governed by an executive called the and a called the. The second and current Metro Mayor is (), who entered office on January 3, 2011.

The Metro Council consists of 26 seats representing districts apportioned by population throughout the city and county. The residents of the semi-independent municipalities within Louisville Metro are apportioned to districts along with all other county residents. Half (13) of the seats come up for reelection every two years. The council is chaired by a, currently David Yates (D), who is elected by the council members annually. Democrats currently have a 17 to 9 seat majority on the council. Before merger, under the and statutory law Louisville was designated as a city in regard to local laws affecting public safety, alcohol beverage control, revenue options, and various other matters; as of 2014, it is the only such designated city in the state. The Official Seal of the City of Louisville, no longer used following the merger, reflected its history and heritage in the representing French aid given during the and the thirteen stars signifying the original colonies.

The new retains the fleur-de-lis, but has only two stars, one representing the city and the other the county. Encompasses most of Louisville Metro, and is represented by (D). Far eastern portions of the county are part of the, which is represented by (). Public safety and crime [ ]. A cruiser In a 2005 survey, ranked Louisville as the seventh safest large city in the United States.

The 2006 edition of the survey ranked Louisville eighth. In 2004, Louisville recorded 70 murders. The numbers for 2005 ranged from 55 to 59 (FBI says 55, LMPD says 59), which was down 16 percent from 2004. In 2006, Louisville-Jefferson County recorded 50 murders, which was significantly lower than previous years. In 2008, Louisville recorded 79 murders.

The Louisville Metro Area's overall rate was 412.6 per 100,000 residents in 2005. The Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metro Area, which is part of Louisville's Combined Statistical Area, was the 17th safest Metro in the U.S.

Kentucky has the 5th lowest violent crime rate out of the 50 states. Violent crime is most concentrated west of downtown, especially in the neighborhood. The West End, located north of Algonquin Parkway and West of 9th Street, had 32 of the city's 79 murders in 2007. The primary law enforcement agencies are the (LMPD) and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO).

911 are provided by the government as (LMEMS) which responds to about 100,000 calls for service annually. Louisville Metro Department of Corrections operates two facilities housing approximately 2,000 inmates. Louisville has recently been featured on the television show. The show follows LMPD's homicide unit while they try to solve murders. Fire protection, which is not solely a Metro government function, is provided by 20 independent fire departments (most of which are autonomous taxing districts) working in concert through agreements. The only operated by metro government is (formerly before city-county merger in 2003). The independent city of in western possesses a city-run department.

The other 18 fire departments in Louisville-Jefferson County are taxing districts known collectively as the. Education [ ]. The newly completed Medical Office Plaza on the University of Louisville's downtown Health Sciences Campus Two major graduate-professional schools of religion are also located in Louisville. The, with more than 5,300 students, is the flagship institution of the. It was founded in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1859 and moved to Louisville in 1877, occupying its present campus on Lexington Road in 1926., product of a 1901 merger of two predecessor schools founded at in 1853 and in Louisville in 1893, occupied its present campus on Alta Vista Road in 1963. According to the, of Louisville's population over 25, 21.3% (the national average is 24%) hold a or higher and 76.1% (80% nationally) have a or equivalent.

The public school system,, consists of more than 100,000 students in 173 schools. Due to Louisville's large population, there are 27 in the city. The, for all of Kentucky's blind and students, is located on Frankfort Avenue in the neighborhood. Main article: Louisville's of record is. The alternative paper is the progressive (commonly called 'LEO'), which was founded by ()., an affiliate, was Kentucky's first TV station. Another prominent TV station is affiliate, formerly owned by the famous (who also owned The Courier-Journal), which hosts the regionally notable annual fundraiser, the. Affiliate and affiliate (along with its sister stations and ) round out the major television stations in the city.

The most popular is 840 AM, designated by the FCC as a. This station was also formerly owned by the Binghams (now ), and is a station which also broadcasts regional sports.

Infrastructure [ ] Transportation [ ]. Overhead view of the ('Spaghetti Junction') before the ongoing reconstruction as part of the. Louisville has inner and outer beltways, and respectively. Interstates and pass through Louisville, and has its southern terminus in Louisville.

Since all three of these highways intersect at virtually the same location on the east side of, this spot has become known as '. Two bridges carry I-64 and I-65 over the Ohio River, and a carries non-interstate traffic, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Immediately east of downtown is the, a former railroad bridge now renovated as a pedestrian bridge. The, a plan under consideration for decades to construct two new interstate bridges over the Ohio River to connect Louisville to Indiana, including a reconfiguration of Spaghetti Junction, began construction in 2012.

One bridge, the, is located downtown beside the existing for relief of I-65 traffic. The other, named the, connects I-265 between the portions located in southeast and northeast (Louisville Metro).

Both bridges and corresponding construction were finished in 2016. As with any major project, there have been detractors and possible alternatives; one grassroots organization,, has proposed options for downtown revitalization improvements, and a simpler and less expensive roadway design. Louisville's main airport is the centrally located, whose (SDF) reflects its former name of Standiford Field.

The airport is also home to 's global air hub. UPS operates its largest package-handling hub at Louisville International Airport and bases its division there. Over 3.2 million passengers and over 4.7 billion pounds (2,350,000 t) of cargo pass through the airport each year. It is also the third busiest airport in the United States in terms of cargo traffic, and seventh busiest for such in the world. Furthermore, since Louisville is located only around 35 minutes from, the airport is a major hub for armed services personnel traveling to and from the military installation.

The historic but smaller is used mainly for while nearby is used mostly by private jets. The is located on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, near the downtown area. The locks were constructed to allow shipping past the. In 2001 over 55 million tons of commodities passed through the locks.

Toonerville II Trolleys provided transportation in up through 2014, before being replaced by ZeroBus. Consists mainly of buses run by the (TARC). The city buses serve all parts of downtown Louisville and, as well as Kentucky suburbs in,, and the suburbs of, and. In addition to regular city buses, transit throughout the downtown hotel and shopping districts is served by a fleet of called ZeroBus. In late 2014, these vehicles replaced the series of motorized trolleys known as the Toonerville II Trolley. A system has been studied and proposed for the city, but no plan was in development as of 2007. Louisville has historically been a major center for traffic.

The was once headquartered here, before it was purchased. Today the city is served by two major freight railroads, CSX (with a major in the southern part of the metro area) and. Five major main lines connect Louisville to the rest of the region. Two regional railroads, the and the, also serve the city.

With the discontinuance of the stop in Louisville in 2003 for a more northerly route between New York and Chicago, the no longer serves the city; it is thus the fifth largest city in the country with no passenger rail service. In 2016 ranked Louisville 43rd 'most walkable' of 141 U.S. Cities with a population greater than 200,000. Utilities [ ]. Completed in 1860, the is the oldest water tower in the U.S. Electricity is provided to the Louisville Metro area. Water is provided by the, which provides water to more than 800,000 residents in Louisville as well as parts of and counties.

Additionally, they provide wholesale water to the outlying counties of, and. The provides for most of the city's source of. Water is drawn from the river at two points: the at Zorn Avenue and River Road, and the B.E.

Payne Pump Station northeast of. Water is also obtained from a riverbank infiltration well at the Payne Plant.

There are also two serving the Louisville Metro area: The Crescent Hill Treatment Plant and the B.E. Payne Treatment Plant. In June 2008, the Louisville Water Company received the 'Best of the Best' award from the American Water Works Association, citing it as the best-tasting drinking water in the country.

Notable people [ ]. •, Turkey •,, China •, Argentina •,, England, •,, Germany •,,, France •,, Russia •, Ecuador •, Ghana In addition, Leeds has been recognized as a 'friendship city'. The two cities have engaged in many cultural exchange programs, particularly in the fields of nursing and law, and cooperated in several private business developments, including the. On April 15, 2008, it was announced that Louisville would be twinned with the town of in. The two places share a tradition for the distilling of.

The choice of Louisville came after a search of U.S. Cities, followed by an conducted for the public to decide between three finalists, which also included and. See also [ ].

• ^ The United States MSA table excludes the which has a higher population than Louisville. • Based on 2010 data. • 2015 ranking. • ^ Louisville's 'balance' population is considered in determining rank among cities in the U.S. • Under Kentucky's current classification scheme, which went into effect on January 1, 2015, cities with a mayor–alderman form of government are first-class, with the 'home rule class' covering all other forms. This replaced a system in which cities were divided into six classes, nominally by population. • Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e.

The expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. • Official records for Louisville were kept at the Weather Bureau Office from August 1872 to June 1945, from July 1945 to November 1947, Louisville Int'l from December 1947 to October 1995, the Weather Forecast Office ( ) from November 1995 to December 2005, and again at Louisville Int'l since January 2006. For more information, see References [ ]. Retrieved June 11, 2016.

The Virgin Atlantic Blog. January 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2015. • K'Meyer, Tracy E. (January 1, 2010)..:..

Retrieved August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015. View of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, with buildings submerged by floodwater. Neon sign on top of building reads: 'The Gateway to the South Louisville Gas & Electric Co.'

• • Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (March 9, 2016)... Retrieved June 11, 2016. • Forde, Pat (September 10, 2003). 'UofL's bogus billboards don't impress experts'.. United States Census Bureau.

Archived from on July 12, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2015. 2016 Population Estimates., Population Division. Retrieved July 12, 2017. • ^ Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. 'Louisville, Kentucky'. Lg Mouse Scanner Driver Download.

Accessed September 19, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2016. 2014 Population Estimates., Population Division. Retrieved August 16, 2015. 2014 Population Estimates., Population Division. Retrieved August 16, 2015.

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American Legal Publishing Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2009. From the original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2009. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from on April 25, 2007.

Retrieved July 19, 2007. • Yater, George H. Two Hundred Years at the Fall of the Ohio: A History of Louisville and Jefferson County (2nd ed.). Louisville, Kentucky:.

Retrieved July 30, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2009. From the original on July 30, 2009.

Retrieved July 30, 2009. • Purcell, Aaron D. In Kleber, John E..:. Retrieved August 10, 2015. Archived from on June 4, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2015.

Census Bureau. Archived from on August 6, 2012.

• Butler, William S., ed. Butler Books.. Retrieved April 21, 2009. • Meyer, David R. (December 1989).

'Midwestern Industrialization and the American Manufacturing Belt in the Nineteenth Century'. The Journal of Economic History. 49 (4): 921–937... Retrieved February 6, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2009. • Green, Marcus (May 22, 2007)...

• Green, Marcus (April 27, 2007)... • Berzof, Ken (February 26, 2006). 'Office space goes begging'.. Retrieved December 14, 2009. Old Louisville Guide.

Archived from on November 27, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009. February 24, 2006. Archived from on September 29, 2007.

Retrieved July 28, 2009. • Pike, Bill (January 23, 2003). 'Will old names work in 'new' city?'

• Forde, Pat (August 26, 2002). 'Read all about it: Valley has city united'.. June 29, 2007.

Retrieved August 15, 2011. • Cummins, Peggy. 'Continuity and Change in Louisville's Ethnic Communities'.. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2016-11-02.

• Climate information from • Maximum and minimum temperatures from •. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-03-11. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Archived from on May 12, 2015.

Retrieved September 16, 2016. November 17, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2017. •., Population Division. December 30, 2013. Archived from () on August 24, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.

Retrieved July 28, 2009. • Data on Baptist Population from LRA website February 1, 2015, at the.

Retrieved March 15, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2013.

• Katayama, Devin (January 3, 2012)... Retrieved March 15, 2017. • Smith, Peter (September 28, 2003).

'Some synagogues eye broader styles of worship'.. Retrieved August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016. • Blumberg, Antonia (May 6, 2016)... Retrieved August 26, 2016. • Smith, Ethan (May 9, 2015)... Retrieved August 26, 2016.

• Kramer, Carl (1978). Louisville Survey: Central Report. Retrieved April 22, 2017. Archived from (PDF) on January 20, 2013. • Kiniry, Laura (September 2, 2015)... Retrieved September 29, 2015. • Lufkin, Bryan (April 29, 2015)...

Retrieved September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. • Hall, Gregory A. (October 21, 2014)... Retrieved September 29, 2015. Archived from on February 19, 2015.

Retrieved February 20, 2015. • Shafer, Sheldon S. (April 26, 2017)...

Retrieved April 26, 2017. • Sayers, Justin (February 17, 2017)...

Retrieved April 26, 2017. • Lammers, Braden (April 11, 2014).. Louisville Business First.. Retrieved October 16, 2014.

Archived from on May 9, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2010. Archived from on March 20, 2012.

Retrieved July 16, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2016. Archived from on November 7, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2014. April 8, 2008.

Retrieved April 17, 2008. Retrieved 2017-09-16. Skateboarder Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2009. • Biesel, David B. Can You Name that Team?: A Guide to Professional Baseball, Football, Soccer, Hockey, and Basketball Teams and Leagues..

• Loverro, Thom (June 9, 2016)... Retrieved March 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2015. • Shafer, Sheldon (May 16, 2007). 'Big Four Bridge walkway about to be a step closer'.. • Lord, Joseph (May 20, 2014)...

Retrieved June 22, 2014. October 1, 2008. Archived from (PDF) on March 31, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2009.

Kentucky League of Cities. September 2011.

Retrieved August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014. November 21, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2006. • 'Louisville among nation's safest cities'.. October 31, 2006.

Archived from on June 15, 2011. Archived from on June 4, 2012. • ^ Altman, Lawrence K.

(January 26, 1999)... Retrieved August 8, 2015. • ^ Altman, Lawrence K. (July 4, 2001)... Retrieved August 8, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015. • Collier, Rachel (August 24, 2012)...

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March 31, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014. • Gee, Dawne (December 22, 2014)... Retrieved September 29, 2015.

• Green, Marcus (November 29, 2006)... Retrieved January 23, 2007. November 23, 2006.

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Retrieved May 6, 2017. • Data from •. American Water Works Association.

June 10, 2008. Archived from on March 26, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2010.

December 7, 2004. Archived from on January 21, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2009.

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• ' April 27, 2006, at the.' Retrieved June 1, 2006. April 15, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2008.

Further reading [ ] • Bell, Rick (2007).. Louisville, Kentucky: Butler Books.. Retrieved August 9, 2015. • Domer, Dennis; Gregory A. Luhan; David Mohney (2004). The Louisville Guide.

Louisville Then and Now. Butler Books.. • Kleber, John E., ed. Retrieved May 14, 2015.

• Lee, Gary (August 20, 2006)... Retrieved October 1, 2006.

• Nold, Chip; Bob Bahr (1997). Insiders' Guide to Louisville, Kentucky & Southern Indiana... • Sanders, David; Glen Conner (2000)..

Kentucky Climate Center. Archived from on March 19, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2014. • Yater, George H. Two Hundred Years at the Fall of the Ohio: A History of Louisville and Jefferson County (2nd ed.). Louisville, Kentucky:.. External links [ ].