The largest city in Kentucky lights up the sky with dazzling fireworks annually, and was home to some iconic figures like writer Hunter S. Thmpson, boxing legend Muhammad Ali and NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas. Culturally alive, Louisville sits along the Indiana and Kentucky border in close proximity to the Ohio River.
No matter what reason you have for considering a move to Louisville, take a look at the following guide for helpful tips and information that can aid your decision. Here at Movers.com, we want your move to be as seamless as possible.
Louisville Climate
The city has four distinct seasons and is considered a humid subtropical climate. Winter falls between December and February and averages temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Winter in Louisville is also known for a lot of rain, sleet and snow, while summer is hot and humid. Average temperatures in the summer range from lows in the 80s to highs in the 90s.
Louisville is also characteristic of extreme weather conditions like tornados, a few freezes during winter and heavy rainfall.
Louisville Neighborhoods
For a sense of quaint nostalgia, the 48-block Old Louisville neighborhood is the largest historic preservation that only has Victorian homes in the country. Most of its structures are made from brick, and many residential homes in the neighborhood have stained glass windows. And every first weekend in October, the area celebrates the St. James Court Art Show.
Downtown Louisville, on the other hand, is the largest central business district in Kentucky. The area is divided into the West Main District, East Main District, Medical Center, Fourth St. District and the Civic Center. The area features the Louis Link, a glass skywalk spanning six blocks and links the Kentucky International Convention Center and Fourth Street Live! And there are over 2,000 hotel rooms within Galt House Hotel & Suites, the Marriott and the Hyatt Regency. Recently, the area has been undergoing reconstruction to double the housing available.
Registering Your Car
Upon becoming a resident of Kentucky, you have 10 days to register your vehicle within the state. If your car is not leased and you have no liens on the vehicle, you will need to bring a certified inspection from the sheriff's office from the county of your new residence, original title, original registration receipt, original proof of Kentucky insurance, proof of sales and tax paid to previous state, driver's license and money for fees to the county clerk's office.
For transferring your out-of-state license to Kentucky, you will have 30 days to do so. You will need to go to your local Circuit Court Clerk's office with proof of your Kentucky residency, birth certificate, Social Security card, and out of state license. As long as your out of state license is valid, you will not have to retake any driving tests. If you do not have your out of state license, you will need your driving record from your previous state.
Louisville Schools
If you have children in need of a public school system, Jefferson County Public Schools serves the city, and has approximately 100,000 students enrolled between 89 elementary, 23 middle, 19 high schools and 24 specialized learning centers. Over 83 percent of the district's teaching staff has a master's degree or higher, with an average experience of 11 years per teacher.
When it comes to higher education, Louisville has several opportunities. Students have five four-year universities to choose from, including University of Louisville, Bellarmine University, Spalding University, Sullivan University and Simmons College of Kentucky. For two-year or technical schools, the city offers Louisville Bible College, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Spencerian College, ITT Technical Institute, Strayer University and Louisville Technical Institute.
Louisville Employment
In recent history, Louisville's economy has shifted towards a focus on health care and medical science industries. Some of the health care advancements in the city include cancer treatment and heart surgery. The shipping industry is also a major part of the city's economy, with Worldport's global airfreight hub for UPS located at Louisville International Airport.
Some top corporations and employers in the city are: Brown-Forman, CafePress, Inc., Humana, Kindred Healthcare, PharMerica, Norton Health Care, UPS and Ford Motor Company. As of February 2013, the unemployment rate in the city was at approximately 8.4 percent, slightly higher than the national average.
Living Costs in the City
Forbes rates the city (including the surrounding metro area) number 41 in the top 100 Best Places for Business and Careers. The overall cost of living is approximately 7 percent lower than the national average, and the median home price in the area is approximately $130,000, whereas the average listing price is just over $200,000. The median household income is just below $48,000 annually.
Apartments in the area are reasonably priced, depending on where you may be moving from, and begin at around $500 per month for a single bedroom. Utility costs can vary from month to month, but the average range is anywhere from $125 to $200 for electricity, heating, water and garbage. Cable and internet packages can start around $50 per month and upwards depending on the package.
Louisville Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies can help you with your move to Louisville, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Kentucky. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Louisville Transportation
If you are interested in checking out the public transportation in the city, it consists of buses for the most part, and they are run by the Transit Authority of River City (TARC). The buses have routes that serve Downtown Louisville, along with a majority of Jefferson County and some parts of surrounding areas like Oldham County, Bullitt County, and a few Indiana suburbs.
Most residents in Louisville drive personal cars, and use the inner and outer beltways, Interstate 264 and Interstate 265 for their commutes. In addition, commuters have access through Interstate 64, 65 and 71 - all three of which intersect at a place downtown known as "Spaghetti Junction."
If you wish to travel by rail, CSX Transportation serves the city as well as Norfolk Southern - these rails include five major lines that connect Louisville to the rest of the region.
Culture & Contemporary Life
When moving to Louisville, one thing is for sure: you will probably never get bored. This exciting city is jam-packed with annual festivals, independent music, museums and various sporting events from college basketball and football to horse racing.
The Belle of Louisville is the oldest Mississippi-style steamboat in operation in the United States, and has become a big attraction in the area over the years. The West Main District in Downtown Louisville is known as "Museum Row" for housing the Frazier international History Museum, the Louisville Science Center, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft and the Muhammad Ali Center.
If you live in this city, you will be lucky enough to enjoy the two-week long Kentucky Derby Festival that opens with the Thunder Over Louisville firework display, or the annual Beatles Festival, Abbey Road on the River. In September, the city hosts the Bluegrass Balloon Festival featuring vast amounts of colorful hot air balloons, and an attendance of over 200,000.
Get to know your college sports if you move to this city, because the locals are diehard Cardinals fans, and the Louisville Cardinals facilities rank first when it comes to percent to capacity attendance. For horse racing, head to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, or Kentucky Oaks. Valhalla Golf Club hosted a few previous PGA Championships, and Tonky Hawk skates at Louisville Extreme Park.
Louisville Relocation Tips
- The city has a variety of different religious groups practicing, including Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism - if you practice a religion you can reach out to any number of these organizations before or after moving.
- Louisville is a big city, and attracts a lot of tourists for things like the Beatles Festival and the Kentucky Derby Festival - be prepared for heavier traffic during large events and plenty of out of state drivers.
- It can get very hot as well as very cold in Louisville depending on the type of year, make sure you dress appropriately for every season - bundle up in the winter and wear loose, light colored clothes in the summer to keep you cool.