WELCOME TO LOUISVILLE

World-famous as the home of the Kentucky Derby and the greatest two minutes in sports, Louisville and the surrounding metropolitan region offer much more than the sound of thundering hooves during racing season. Fascinating museums and famous historic sites, world-class performing and visual arts, charming historic districts, and fashionable shopping centers are just a few of the amenities that guarantee excitement 365 days out of the year. Those who enjoy fine dining will find more than 2,500 choices in the Louisville area, where five-star restaurants harmonize with ethnic cuisine, casual eateries, charming cafes, and family fare.

Newcomers will be able to explore a virtually unlimited number of settings and lifestyles, from neighborhoods nestled in the heart of the city to suburban Indiana communities across the Ohio River or small towns in rural Kentucky. Elegant, well-preserved historic homes shaded by ancient trees join country manors, sprawling ranches, and new residential villages in this panoramic region.

Smaller towns and rural communities in outlying counties in Kentucky and Indiana provide a close-knit atmosphere where shopkeepers know each customer by name. Close to home, the dazzling attractions in downtown Louisville draw residents to major sports events and wonderful venues. Many of the cities surrounding Louisville are experiencing rapid growth and quality development, adding their own unique amenities to the metropolitan scene.

Services
One of the advantages most new residents notice immediately is the comparatively low cost of living in contrast to the exceptional quality of life. Major hospitals and medical centers dot the region, providing state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment in a caring and compassionate setting. Within the City of Louisville are respected institutions like Baptist Hospital East, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Kosair Children’s Hospital, Norton Hospitals, the University of Louisville Hospital, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Those who settle in the counties surrounding Louisville will find a leading healthcare facility close to home, including Baptist Hospital Northeast in La Grange, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, Jewish Hospital-Shelbyville, Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, and Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.

Metropolitan Louisville serves as a leading center for education, home to a quality public education system, a wide selection of private schools, and several institutions of higher education. An affordable start on a four-year degree or specialized training is available at two-year institutions that include Elizabethtown Community College, Jefferson Community College, Jefferson Technical College, and Elizabethtown Technical College. Seven institutions of higher education in the metropolitan area allow students attending any one of the schools to access the educational resources of all consortium members. Indiana and Kentucky have also developed a reciprocal tuition agreement between institutions of higher education in participating counties. On every level of education in Metropolitan Louisville, nationally recognized reform initiatives, innovation, cooperation, and a commitment to excellence are evident.