Back to the Louisville Cardinals Newsfeed

Bringing back Portland: a louisville neighborhood revisited

Brooke Moody–

When the average Louisville resident thinks of the Portland neighborhood they imagine rundown houses, drug addicts, and empty streets. Portland residents on the other hand see a neighborhood rich with history that has been built by a diverse working class.

The area, originally settled over 200 years ago, thrived as a river port until the 1937 when a flood devastated the area. Much of the neighborhood was submerged for nearly a month and by the time the city provided relief to Portland many industries had already left, taking with them their owners and workers.

For over 70 years the neighborhood has seen a steady decline as residents have moved out, houses have become abandoned, and businesses have shutdown.