RThe Highlands neighborhood in Louisville is so-named because it was founded in on top of a ridge between the south and middle forks of Beargrass Creek - over 60 feet above the flood plain.
The area didn't see significant development until the late 1860's, several years following the beginning of construction on Bardstown Turnpike in 1832. Now Bardstown Road, the Turnpike would become the center for most urban development in the area.
In more recent history, the neighborhood has become the local epicenter for specialty stores and eclectic dining experiences since its commercial explosion in the 1980's. As of late, the area is abound with antique shops, boutique clothing stores, and unique coffee shops and restaurants, making it a favorite weekend destination for many Louisvillians.
In addition to the wide selection of restaurants and shops, the area hosts many festivals throughout the year. Perhaps the foremost is the Original Highlands Art and Music Festival, which is hosted by Barret Avenue every September. In addition, Barret Avenue is the location of several independent art galleries, making it a favorite of local artists and art lovers.
The area is also home to several parks, including the scenic Cherokee Park, which was established in 1891. Designed by renowned municipal park designer Frederick Law Olmsted, the park offers a long list of amenities, including a fishing pond, baseball fields, hiking trails, a civil war battle field, and an archery range, to name but a few.
There are nine distinct neighborhoods in the main Highlands. The Original Highlands neighborhood is home to most of the specialty stores and restaurants, which are mainly located around Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue. Other neighborhoods include Phoenix Hill, Cherokee Park, Tyler Park, Irish Hill, Bonnycastle, Highlands-Douglass, Deer Park, and Belknap, which is home to the University of Louisville's main campus.
As a result of the Highlands' close proximity to the University of Louisville and to the many offices downtown, the area is home to many educated professionals.
Like the neighborhood itself, the architecture of the Highlands is diverse. Mainly, residential buildings in the area consist of affordably priced shotgun houses and many of Louisville's trademarked larger Victorian-era brick homes. The architecture of the main shopping district, around Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue, varies slightly, blending modern and historic storefronts.
In addition to all of this information nowhere is any description to the aspect of "people watching". You could spend an entire day sitting on a parkbench on a weekend and just be entertained by the diversity of this area...young and old, conservative and not so conservative...and then have a great dinner at an extremely wide variety of great restaurants!
With its history, parks, art galleries, and restaurants, the Highlands neighborhood in Louisville offers something to suite almost any personality!
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