Chapter 12: The Great Plains and Prairies

Tornado's are a natural hazard that Louisville has to face. They are especially likely in the Spring season when warm moist air from the south mixes with cold air from the north creating unstable and dangerous conditions. Louisville has been experiencing tornado's for as far back as we have record. This is because Louisville is located at the NW edge of tornado alley. Tornado alley is an area where tornado's most occur in North America. Tornado warning systems such as sirens are a very important part of Louisville's tornado preparedness.

Picture 1: A tornado in Kentucky.

Picture 2: Tornado Alley

Picture 3: Map of tornado activity in the U.S. between 1950 and 1998. Louisville is covered in dark red which is the highest (>25 F3, F4 an F5 tornado's per 3,700 Sq. Mi).

Picture 4: A tornado siren in Louisville, KY.

Chapter 11: The Agricultural Core

The northern half and portions of the west of Kentucky are part of the agricultural core. The manufacturing core overlaps in a small section of north eastern Kentucky. Louisville specifically is nestled in between lots of lush farmland. The picture shows lush green grass. This is because the area receives an average of more than 30 inches of rain each year. Many farms (especially in and around Louisville) focus on raising thoroughbred horses for racing. 

Picture 1: A lush green farm in the morning; Kentucky.

Picture 2: A thoroughbred horse grazing on a farm near Louisville, KY.

Chapter 10: The Southern Coastlands

Tobacco has historically been a very important part of the Kentucky agricultural economy and culture. In fact, Kentucky is the most tobacco dependent state in the U.S. Although North Carolina surpasses Kentucky in tobacco production, tobacco accounts for a larger percentage of Kentucky's agricultural income. In 2005, Kentucky made more than $342.5 million dollars in sales from tobacco. The 2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture accounted for nearly 87,000 farms in Ketucky, with more than 29,000 growing tobacco!

Photo 1: Curing Tobacco in Kentucky.

Photo 2: A tobacco farm in Kentucky.

Sources: 

http://www.ca.uky.edu

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Kentucky

Chapter 9: The Changing South

Kentucky today is more Appalachian or Upland South rather than Deep South, but there is confusion on whether it is presently considered the south or midwest. Historically it is part of the south, but today most of Kentucky is a transitional area. Most people living in Kentucky do speak with a southern accent and enjoy southern meals such as fried chicken, cornbread and of course sweet tea!

Early Kentucky history was built on the labor of slavery and it was an integral part of the state. Slave populations were greatest in the central "bluegrass" region of the state, which was rich in farmland. These farms were smaller than the plantations of the Deep South, so ownership of large numbers of slaves was uncommon. Kentucky also exported more slaves than did most states.

*Louisville had the first library in the south open to African Americans: the Louisville Western Branch Library.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_Kentucky

Photo 1: Slave Census 1860 (see Louisville in the top center).

Photo2: Advertisement for the sale of slaves in Lexington, KY 1855.

Chapter 8: Appalachia and the Ozarks

Kentucky produced 125.96 million tons of coal in 2006, compared to the record production of 179.4 million tons set in 1990. Kentucky has been one of the top three coal producers in the United States for the last 50 years.

Kentucky has two distinct coal fields, one in Western Kentucky and one in Eastern Kentucky. Louisville is not one of the main areas in Kentucky for coal mining.

Portions of eastern Kentucky are part of a cultura region termed Appalachia.

Sources:

http://www.kentuckycoal.org

Map 1: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center

Map 2: Appalachian Regional Commission

Chapter 7: The Bypassed East

Louisville has many urban activities to offer including a 100-mile trail called the Louisville Loop that encircles the entire community, and the river front park. The river front park is a 72+ acre park located right on the Ohio River. The city currently has one of the nation's largest parks expansions underway, adding 4,000 new acres of park land.

Most people know Louisville, KY for either the Kentucky Derby which takes place in the city, or for the Louisville Slugger Museum with the worlds largest baseball bat. Every year there is a Derby kick-off celebration with over 70 events including the great hot air balloon race, steamboat race, mini-marathon run, and finally the largest event: Thunder Over Louisville. This is the largest annual fireworks display in all of North America! 

Sources:

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Visitors/

Photo 1: Women wearing the traditional Derby hat at the Kentucky Derby.

Photo2: Part of the 100-mile trail.

Photo3: The Louisville Slugger Museum.

Photo4: The great hot air baloon race.

Photo 5: Thunder over Louisville.