History

George Rogers Clark founded Louisville as far back as in 1778. A number of landmarks in the city are also named after him. Corn Island in the vicinity of the modern day Louisville was the sight of the first European settlement. The barrier to river travel created by the rapids on the Ohio River encouraged settlements at the stopping point at Falls of the Ohio.

The Town charter of Louisville was approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 1780 and the city came to be named after King Louis XVI of France whose soldiers were actively aiding the Americans in the Revolutionary War at that point in time. Before the civil war erupted, Louisville was among the largest center for slave trade and the initial growth of the city is largely attributed to this.

During the period of the Civil War the Union forces had a major stronghold on Louisville and this in turn helped in keeping Kentucky firmly in the Union. Louisville was spared from the attacks during the war and in the post war era, Louisville joined the Confederacy.

Wiki pages on Louisville history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky

Louisville time line history

http://www.louisville.cc/

1875 saw the first Kentucky Derby and in 1890 the city experienced major devastation consequent to a tornado claiming the lives of over 100 people. The city however was able to recover rapidly and the damaged areas were rebuilt in an year. Misfortune again fell on Louisville in 1937, this time around, in the form of the "Great Flood" submerging almost two thirds of the downtown area. Over 175,000 people were evacuated. The aftermath of the floods caused significant changes in the location of residential areas. The modern day Louisville which you will experience during your Louisville travel is protected by a number of 'flood walls'.

In more recent times, the period between 1960 and 1970 majority of Louisville population moved out into the suburbs due to economic considerations and the greater facility to commute to work from distant neighborhoods. This also lead to an economic decline for Louisville. 1974 brought with it another catastrophe for Louisville in the form of an F4 tornado covering 21 miles and destroying several hundred homes. However, only 2 people lost their lives during this incident.

The 1980s and the 1990s brought about significant revitalization initiatives leading to a surge in population, particularly during the 1990s. The redundant industrial sites at the waterfront were converted into the Waterfront Park.

During the same period the vibrant entertainment destination Fourth Street Live also came into existence. The modern day Louisville has traveled a long way through its chequered history and is a vibrant metropolis in America today offering a slew of attractions to visitors who travel Louisville.

History of Kentucky

http://louisvillehistory.org/

Brief history of Louisville

http://www.gotolouisville.com/explore-louisville/louisville-history/index.aspx