Life in Louisville
Choosing a Neighborhood
Despite Louisville’s controversial history, it remains one of the cheapest places to live in the US. It has a rich history and has some beautiful architecture and natural parks. However, due to extensive redlining and racism, the boundary between a “nice” neighborhood and a “not-so-nice” neighborhood may be a mere intersection or an overpass. This feature makes living in Louisville Proper difficult in terms of insurance rates, crime and safety, and cost of living. A house described as being in Germantown may be on that border of Germantown and Smoketown. While neither are inherently “bad” per se, Smoketown has a higher overall crime rate and poverty rate compared to that of higher-class Germantown. Louisville Metro’s Urban Planning Division has developed a database of maps that can help you to decide on a place to live. This database is called Lojic. See below for a links to Lojic maps that might be helpful when moving to Louisville.
Service Map (Libraries, Recycling, etc.)
The University of Louisville rests very close to downtown. The surrounding neighborhoods include Taylor Berry, South Louisville, Algonquin, Shelby Park, and Old Louisville, home to the largest collection of gothic homes in the world.
Commuting
It takes approximately 20 minutes to get anywhere in Louisville. This is true for most things, especially for those living near downtown. Louisville is very car dependent. While the city has a decent bus system (TARC), it is not super reliable in that there are regularly delays and the intervals between stops can be very long. With that being said, many students use the TARC to commute from nearby neighborhoods such as Taylor Berry and Old Louisville.
Louisville is also getting better about providing bicycle infrastructure. Many roads are being redesigned with bicycles in mind. Cycling to the university is a very common form of transportation and is very feasible.
If you must drive a car to the university, students have the option of purchasing a blue pass or black pass.
For more information about parking at UofL or to purchase a permit, visit the University Parking & Transportation Services website.
Weather and Climate
Kentucky is considered the northern-most southern state and the southern-most northern state. Yet, it is also somewhat a midwestern state. Kentucky is a temperate state on the eastern half of the United States. It is dominated by the Eastern Deciduous Forest and is characterized by mountains to the east and hills statewide. The Ohio River marks the northern border of the state. Across the river lies Indiana. Further to the east is Ohio and further to the west is Illinois. The southern border is shared with Tennessee. A stream called Tug Fork marks the eastern border of the state. Across Tug Fork is West Virginia to the north and Virginia to the south. The westernmost border of the state is set by the Mississippi River. Across the Mississippi lies Missouri.
USDA zone
Average rainfalls
Average temps
Spring
Spring in Louisville is accompanied by plenty of rain and thus tends to be very humid. Sometimes, it will rain for days on end, then go for weeks without. In addition, the temperatures tend to fluctuate greatly not just during the month or week but during the day as well. The day may begin at 40 degrees in the morning and end in the 70s in the evening. The average temperature for spring (March-May) is approximately 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high is ~67 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low is ~49 degrees Fahrenheit. The average rainfall is 4.16 inches (105.66 mm). Late frosts (around April and even May) are becoming more and more frequent.
You'll need rainboots or waterproof shoes/boots that are at least ankle height for puddles around campus and the city. You'll want a warm, wind-proof and waterproof jacket. An umbrella might be a wise choice, but they often flip inside out or become a burden to carry around. Louisville is an unpleasantly windy city in storms. Usually, a raincoat is the easier choice.
Summer
Summers in Louisville are Hot and Humid. The city is right on top of the Ohio River which only makes the humidity worse. The UV index gets very high - expect levels around 8-10 during these months (June-August). The average temperature for summer is approximately 77.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high is ~85.6 and the average low is ~68.6 degrees Fahrenheit, although those averages are rising more and more every year. The average rainfall is 3.26 inches (82.80 mm). Kentucky has been experiencing severe droughts year after year each summer. Each year seems to be worse than the last. For more information about droughts in Kentucky, visit the Kentucky Drought Viewer.
You'll be comfortable wearing shorts and a t-shirt during the summer months. You'll definitely want to make sure to wear sunscreen because the sun can be seriously damaging (favorite sunscreens: [1], [2], [3], [4]).
Autumn
Autumn in Louisville is dry and cool. Because of its prime location in the Eastern Deciduous Forest, the changing leaves paint Kentucky's hills in splendid reds and oranges and yellows. The weather gets cold quickly after the autumnal equinox. But do not let the rapid change in temperature fool you - this just marks First Fall. Next comes the "Tricked Ya Summer." This is when the weather warms up again shortly after a period of cold temperatures. After a week or so of "Tricked Ya Summer," there is the "Made Ya Look Autumn" which is another period of cold temperatures, sprinkled with warm days or hours. This period is often characterized by cool mornings and warm evenings. After "Made Ya Look Autumn," we finally get "Okay For Real This Time Autumn." During this period, the weather stays consistently cool and typically marks the beginnings of winter. The average temperature is approximately 59 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high is ~68 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low is ~50 degrees Fahrenheit. The average rainfall is 3.1 inches (78.74 mm).
This is sweater weather! But it is also "wear a short-sleeve under your sweatshirt" weather due to the unpredictability. You'll want to begin wearing pants and start putting away the sandals and tank tops. A light jacket or sweater is appropriate here. Though, expect to shed your jacket around the afternoon.
Winter
Winter in Louisville is very dry, but mildly cold. While we do not receive extreme amounts of snow, we do experience bouts of ice. Ice and freezing rain can create hazardous conditions for drivers (black ice) as well as compromising structural integrity of trees, roofs, and powerlines (source). Kentucky is equipped to dealing with ice, however. We preemptively salt our roads and sidewalks which aids in thawing and preventing ice. The average temperature is approximately 36.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high is ~45.3 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low is ~30.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The average rainfall is 2.9 inches (73.66 mm). The average snowfall is approximately 2.46 inches (63.48 mm).
The winter months will definitely demand warm clothing. You'll want to invest in a pair of shoes with good traction for walking on ice, especially. A thick coat, warm socks, gloves, scarves and hats will all be necessary during the colder season. Tis the season of layers! If you plan on spending a lot of time outside, it might be worth purchasing a set of thermal underwear. Unless you plan on heading somewhere extra snowy or cold, snow pants and snow boots will not be necessary. The bitter cold only lasts for a few weeks. The rest of the winter is just unpleasantly cold.
If you have a car, you'll want to ensure that you have good tires in that they still have good tread life and are suitable for wet and icy weather in addition to being free of dry rot and any cracking ([1], [2], [3], [4]). Kentucky does a fairly good job of icing roads and sidewalks to prevent and treat ice buildup. The downside to the salt is it can rapidly increase rust buildup on your car. The best way to avoid rust is to take your car to a car wash or spray the salt off with a hose. When you wash the salt off, make sure you're washing off the undercarriage of the vehicle especially. This is where most rusting occurs and where most of the exposure to salt occurs!
Driving in Winter
If you're new to driving in winter seasons, the best thing to do when it's really snowy or icy is simply stay off the roads. Don't drive! But if you have to drive, stick to the highways as much as possible - these are more likely to have been de-iced. Side roads receive less traffic and are therefore less likely to be salted. If possible, carpool! The fewer vehicles on the road, the better. Do not be afraid to drive slower than you otherwise would. Don't drive so slowly that you pose a threat to other drivers but be careful and watch your speed. It is too easy to lose traction on ice and snow. If you happen to lose traction and begin to spin, always turn your wheel into the spin. If you turn against the spin, you will fishtail, and things just get worse. TURN INTO THE SPIN. If you have all-wheel drive and you lose traction, pump your brakes hard. The AWD system is often able to stabilize itself rather quickly. It's not an instant fix, but it will help stabilize your car in addition to turning into the spin. Visit this website for more information on safe driving in winter conditions.