Louisville, Kentucky is a city with a rich and storied history spanning hundreds of years, influenced heavily by the geography of the area around the city. The first settlements were founded due to the rapids found at the Falls of the Ohio River, which created a travel route on the river. The first European settlement in the area of Louisville was founded on Corn Island by Colonel George Clark in 1778. Clark is regarded as the city's original founder.

In 1780, the Virginia General Assembly approved the official city charter for Louisville, naming the city after King Louis XVI of France. The early residents lived in forts but began moving out into residential neighborhoods in the late 1780's. Early growth in the city was influenced by the many river boats forced to unload and move downriver at the falls. The city grew in the formative years, reaching a population of 7,000 by 1828, and becoming an incorporated city. During the Civil War, the city escaped any major damage, remaining relatively unscathed. After the war, the city continued to grow, and it experienced another major boom with the first Kentucky Derby that was held in 1875.

Throughout the years a number of natural disasters struck Louisville, but the city stayed strong. Louisville was a center for production during the second world war, and continued to thrive as a manufacturing city through the 1960s. Today, Louisville is a thriving city full of arts, culture, manufacturing, bustling nightlife and more. Louisville is definitely a city worth visiting for its many historic sights and stunning scenery.