WEST LOUISVILLE – JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY
City/County Offices
Louisville Metro Hall
527 W. Jefferson
Louisville 502-574-2003
www.louisvilleky.gov
Chamber of Commerce
614 W. Main Street
Louisville 502-625-0000
www.greaterlouisville.com
Major Highways
Interstates 64, 264;
U.S. Highway 60
Ideally situated within a single day’s drive from nearly half of the nation’s population, Jefferson County and the city of Louisville are served by an excellent transportation network of interstate, state, and federal highways and Louisville International Airport. Several of the western Louisville neighborhoods were originally the choice of the city’s wealthy residents, home to elegant mansions graced by distinctive architecture. In spite of changes over the decades, active homeowner’s associations are now infusing renewed vitality into vintage neighborhoods like Shawnee. Western Jefferson County is also home to friendly small communities like Pleasure Ridge Park and Shivley.
Services
The healthcare services and facilities that are readily accessible to residents of this region ensure access to state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment anchored by major hospitals that are close to home. The metropolitan area features a number of well-managed health systems like Alliant Health System, Baptist Healthcare System, Caritas Health Services, Jewish Hospital Health Networks, and major teaching institutions such as the University of Louisville hospital. Emergency clinics, rehab centers, long-term care centers, and professionals in every major specialty form a healthcare network capable of meeting every need. Health screenings, support groups, and seminars are designed to help community members to enjoy full and healthy lives.
Well-served by the Jefferson County Public School System, area youth receive a quality education in modern schools that emphasize individual attention with pupil-teacher ratios as low as 18 to 1. Strong public support for education is evidenced in the high per-pupil expenditure, making it possible for students to enjoy high-tech labs and libraries that offer access to more than 17,000 computers. Throughout Metro Louisville, opportunities for higher education range from vocational and career institutes and community colleges to leading colleges and universities.
Cooperative efforts and collaborations also bring unique educational advantages. The innovative Kentuckiana Metroversity offers a consortium of seven schools that allow students who are enrolled in one institution to take advantage of courses and resources that are available throughout the system. True to the spirit of “Kentuckiana,” the states of Indiana and Kentucky have developed a tuition reciprocity agreement. Students who are residents of Indiana’s Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, and Scott counties as well as those who reside in Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham counties in Kentucky can pay in-state tuition rates at select state-supported institutions in the other state.
Lifestyle
The Louisville Metropolitan region offers more than the excitement of thoroughbred racing. The region’s brisk tourism industry has encouraged the development of world-class attractions that appeal to people across a wide spectrum of interests and age groups, from the Louisville Zoo and the Louisville Slugger Museum to the Louisville Science Center and the spectacular Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Opera, orchestra, ballet, Broadway, dinner theatre, Shakespeare, repertory theatre, and children’s theatre are among the cultural jewels. Stellar attractions like Churchhill Downs, the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville Motor Speedway, the Kentucky Derby Museum, and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom amusement park and waterpark are close to western Louisville addresses. Louisville International Airport, Jefferson Mall, shopping plazas, lush parks, and golf courses are also convenient. Fine museums, riverboat cruises, great restaurants, a floating casino, festivals and celebrations, tennis courts, swimming pools, and fishing lakes are only minutes away.
Revitalization within the Louisville core neighborhoods complements a number of exciting projects including the spectacular new Ali Center, the $20 million Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage, and the Frazier Historical Arms Museum. Throughout western Jefferson County, new residents will discover a peerless quality of life and a comparatively low cost of living that includes “more home for the dollar.” The housing selection is abundant, from cozy bungalows in the heart of a small town to vibrant new subdivisions.
LOUISVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS
Russell
Municipal Offices
Louisville Metro Hall
502-574-2003
www.louisvilleky.gov
Chamber of Commerce
502-625-0000
www.greaterlouisville.com
In its heyday, the Louisville neighborhood of Russell was a magnet for entrepreneurs and big-name entertainers. Although the area’s popularity began to fade during the 1960s and many of the magnificent homes were no longer meticulously maintained, residents are actively working to draw new residents who are interested in restoring these character vintage homes. Renovation of the residential properties is also stirring new interest in commercial redevelopment. New-home construction harmonizes well with the revitalization efforts by organizations and individuals. Some large older homes have remained single-family residences while others have been divided into handsome apartment buildings. Local residents are enthusiastic about the future of this historic neighborhood that offers easy access to downtown attractions.
Shawnee
Municipal Offices
Louisville Metro Hall
502-574-2003
www.louisvilleky.gov
Chamber of Commerce
502-625-0000
www.greaterlouisville.com
Characterized by elegant Victorian homes, the Shawnee neighborhood showcases well-manicured lawns and streets canopied by oak trees. This long-established area borders Shawnee Park on the west, Broadway on the south, Parker Street on the north, and 34th Street on the east. Once an address for the affluent, Shawnee grew into a popular neighborhood for middle-class families during the 1930s. Today, proud residents of Shawnee are keenly aware of the value of their unique corner of Louisville. Many are looking toward a renaissance in this enclave that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Few areas can offer a greater potential for revitalization considering the rich legacy of impressive buildings. Some of Louisville’s finest examples of late 19th century architecture including Italianate, Renaissance Revival, and Victorian Gothic styles are nestled in Shawnee. The sweeping and scenic open space of Shawnee Park and the Shawnee Park Golf Course provide a local recreational oasis.
SUBURBAN JEFFERSON COUNTY
Shively
Municipal Offices
502-449-5000
https://shivelyky.gov
Chamber of Commerce
502-625-0000
www.greaterlouisville.com
Incorporated in 1938, the community of Shively lies just southwest of Louisville in Jefferson County near the Dixie Highway corridor. The very heart of the city is nearly a century old, the historic landmark of St. Helen’s Catholic Church. The first settlers were farmers who were drawn to the area’s rich soil, and many of them were German Catholics. Clustered around the focal point of St. Helen’s grew a small community that appropriately named itself after the church. At the turn of the century, residents wanted to formalize the name. Unfortunately, the name had been selected so they decided to call the area Shively after one of the first settlers, Christian Shively. After World War II, an abundance of subdivisions began to spring up, with brisk expansion continuing well into the 1960s. Modern Shively is a stable, attractive, and well-maintained hometown. Residents tend to identify strongly with their community and demonstrate a great deal of pride in their properties.
