Louisville, Kentucky, USA
1854 - Louisville

Louisville, a city and port of entry of Kentucky, and seat of justice of Jefferson county, is situated on the Ohio river, at the head of the falls, at the mouth of Beargrass creek, 130 miles below Cincinnati, and 53 miles W. from Frankfort, and 690 miles from Washington. It is the largest town in the state, and one of the most important places on the Ohio river. The population in 1830 was 10,341 ; in 1840. 21,210; in 1850, 43,196; and in 1853 it amounts to 51,726. A railroad, 98 miles long, connects it with Frankfort and Lexington, and several others are in course of construction from this place to Danville, Nashville, &c. The situation and surrounding scenery are remarkably beautiful. Some parts of the city present delightful views of the Ohio river, which is here about one mile wide ; of the rocky rapids, and of the town of New Albany, a few miles below. Louisville stands on a plain elevated about 70 feet above low water, and is regularly laid out. Eight handsome streets extend nearly 2 miles in length parallel with the river, which here flows from east to west. These vary in width from 60 to 120 feet, and are intersected, at right angles, by more than 80 others, with a uniform width of 60 feet. The streets are generally paved and lighted with gas, and bordered with ornamental trees. The public buildings most remarkable for size and splendor are the city hall, lately erected, the court house, the first Presbyterian church, St. Paul's church, (Episcopal,) the medical institute, and the University of Louisville, which is now in successful operation. The medical institute, which ranks high among the public institutions of Louisville, was founded by an ordinance of the city council, which appropriated $50,000 for the library, buildings, &c. The number of students in 1852 was 356. The asylum for the blind, established by the state, occupies a commodious and handsome building, erected by joint contributions of the state and the citizens of Louisville. The Mercantile Library Association bus a library containing from 4000 to 5000 volumes. The Historical Society of this place has collected valuable documents relating to the early history of the state. Louisville also contains a marine asylum, founded by the state, 2 orphan asylums, about 40 churches, 2 synagogues, a prison, 4 market houses, 6 banks, and 4 large public school houses. Six daily, seven weekly newspapers and 1 monthly medical journal are published here.

Louisville may be said to owe its existence to the falls, which arrested the course of navigation at this point. In 1883 a canal 2 1/ 2 miles long was opened around these falls, with a total lockage of 22 feet. It was cut through the solid limestone rock, at a cost of $760,000. The dimensions having been found too small to admit the passage of the largest steamers now built for the New Or leans trade, a railway has been projected on the Indiana side, the object of which is to transport such vessels around the rapids by means of a stationary engine and pulleys. The stock has been taken, and the work will doubtless shortly be completed. In 1850 the entire trade of Louisville was estimated at $50,000,000. (De Bow's Review.) The whole sale business has increased rapidly since that period. There are now near 100 houses doing an exclusively wholesale business, the amount of which is computed at $20,321,400...

There are in the vicinity a great variety of manufactories, including iron foundries, with machine shops, ropewalks. large bagging factories, cotton and woollen factories, glass works, 2 white- lead factories, 6 flouring mills, several extensive potteries, &c.


A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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