Louisville, Kentucky, includes Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Meade and Nelson counties. In addition, Louisville is part of Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties. Louisville, Kentucky received its name after Louis XVI. Its founder was George Rogers Clark.

Originally, Kentucky was part of the Virginia colony, particularly that of the Old Dominion. Shots fired in 1775, made the Kentucky people fight for statehood. In, 1780, the town charter of Louisville was signed by Thomas Jefferson. Fort Nelson appeared in 1781.

Louisville, Kentucky, developed many famous people such as Darrell Griffith, Jimmy Ellis, Denny Crum, Foster Brooks and Helen Hume. Other famous people of Louisville heritage are Mary T. Meagher, Ned Beatty, Pee Wee Reese, Thomas A. Edison and President Zachary Taylor.

Also among the prominent Louisville sports figures are Pat Day, Danny Sullivan, Paul Hornung, Bobby Nichols, Phill Simms, Muhammad Ali and Fuzzy Zoeller.

John Colgan invented chewing gum while residing in Louisville. Also, Joseph Seagram established his famous distillery here. Muhammad Ali won six Golden Glove tournaments while fighting in Louisville; he became famous for his words “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” Gonzo Journalism was invented by Louisville’s Hunter S. Thompson. Louisville’s Diane Sawyer became famous on “60 Minutes.” The Everly Brothers began their career here as well. Louisville also started the secret ballot voting system.

The movies “Gold Finger,” “Stripes” and “The Insider” were filmed in Louisville.

The Galt House was erected during 1834. F. Scott Fitzgerald mentioned Louisville’s Seelbach Hotel in his novel. Louisville is also proud to announce that it has the oldest Mississippi-style sternwheel steamboat, the Belle of Louisville. The first steamboat actually arrived in 1811. During 1830, the Portland Canal opened.

S.F. Austin spoke in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 7, 1836. James Guthrie was responsible for erecting the University of Louisville in 1837; he’s also renowned for building the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1859. The Jefferson County Courthouse doors opened in 1842; several civic rallies occurred here during the Mexican War.

At that time, news came in the form of the “Journal,” “Anzeiger” and the “Courier.” The “Courier” became today’s “Courier-Journal” to represent the peace established between the North and the South after The American Civil War.

Although The Battle of Perryville prevented The Battle of Louisville, the Army of the Cumberland formed a base in Louisville under the command of William Techumseh Sherman.

The Saint James Court was erected during the 1890s. The Southern Exposition fountain resided in the center of the court. Southern Exposition disbanded in 1887.

The Louisville & Nashville Railroad primarily built Mikado locomotives in 1914. Their function was pulling coal trains.

During World War I, Louisville became home to Camp Taylor.

On a more prolific, positive note, Gherswin and Rachmaninoff performed in Louisville during the Roaring Twenties. Moreover, Robert Frost graced Louisville with his poetry.