River City HOA

River City HOA

The River City Story

River City residents have historically demonstrated a strong sense of neighborhood identity. It is a tendency that has roots in the early days of settlement and reflects the dynamic interaction of demographic, technological, economic, social and political patterns.

District Names and Boundaries

Within the River City HOA, there are numerous districts defined as neighborhoods. Many of these neighborhoods have conflicting names and boundaries, one traditional and historical, and one determined by an act of local government.

When the federal government switched from categorical grants to community development block grants in 1974, River City aldermen and officials decided upon neighborhood boundaries. Althought many reflected traditional names such as Butchertown and Portland, some designations were changed, such as from Oakdale to Wyandotte.

Historical Evolution of The River City

The following is a brief chronological snapshot of the evolutional development of the River City (note: not all districts/neighborhoods are specifically referenced in this overview):

* Corn Island residents moved to Fort-on-Shore during the winter of 1778-1779.

* Portland, Shippingport, and the present central business district were among Louisville's earliest neighborhoods.

* Butchertown, Germantown, and Uptown, known today as Phoenix Hill, were indelibly influenced by the influx of German and Irish immigrants between 1830 and 1860.

* Downtown and the Southern Extention, now known as Old Louisville, began for the social and economic elite as early as 1830.

* Shelby Park, Schnitzelburg, and Limerick, what some scholars have called "zones of emergence," were developed by children and grandchildren of immigrants in the post-Civil War era .

* Meriwether (Fort Hill), St. Joseph, Parkhill, and California were industrial neighborhoods dominated physically and economically by heavy industry and industrial workers after the Civil War.

* Smoketown was settled from the beginning by African Americans in the postbellum period.

* Cherokee Triangle and Crescent Hill in the East End, Beechmont and Southern Heights in the South End, and Parkland and Shawnee in the West End were developed largely by real estate developers on the edges of Cherokee, Iroquois, and Shawnee Parks in the decades between 1890 and 1930.

* Audubon Park, itself an incorporated city surrounded by Louisville, and the Highland neighborhoods such as Douglass, Belnap, Cherokee Gardens, and Braeview were developed to combine rural ambiance with urban amentities after World War I.

* Douglass Hills, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews, Shively developed into fourth-class cities to provide a range of municipal services.

* Fairdale, Fern Creek, Okolona, Pleasure Ridge Park, and Fairdale remained unincorporated but differed very little in their overall physical character from comparable neighborhoods in what was the City of Louisville and suburban cities.

About our association

About Us

It is a unique community strongly rooted in the identity of several cultural and social genres within the area.

The River City HOA recognizes this nature, embraces its history, and works to share our roots to current demographic, technological, economic, and social backgrounds.

The River City Vision

As with all communities, external factors leave indeliable impressions throughout historical periods that still influence today's characteristics and quality of life.

The River City HOA explores these periods and attempts to preserve the River City history's for future generations.

The River City HOA explores periods that include, but are not limited to, the postbellum period's influence on neighborhood development, such as the Smoketown area; development of street car systems in providing access to eastern areas; introduction of automobiles and planning pioneer Frederick Law Olmstead rise to Arcadian neighborhoods; growing popularity of television and the availabilty of air-conditioning impact in the decreasing presence of street-oriented social activity; the proliferation of incorporated suburban neighorhoods and the suburbanization of historic unincorporated communities that had once served as rural market centers; the War on Poverty's impact on neighborhood and housing improvment efforts; and the merger of the City of Louisville and Jefferson County.

Goals and Objectives

Working to preserve the area through zoning and education, and general awareness.

Email us
Lisa.franklingray@louisvilleky.gov

Links

Louisville Metro Goverment
Courier Journal
WxUSA Weather Hub
MapQuest
Greater Louisville Inc.