Or at least partially Midwest, check out the city's racial history. It was the first city in America to have black libraries. This is no typical "southern city." Here is the link, a good read:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050924/NEWS0102/509240380/1008/NEWS01

What the hell do black libraries have to do with being located in the midwest?

Louisville is not a part of the midwest, end of story, it doesn't matter what the architecture is like, it doesn't matter if they have black libraries, it doesn't matter if the people use a midwestern accent instead of a southern one. Tulsa is also not part of the midwest. Pittsburgh is not midwestern either.

Topeka is midwestern, St. Louis is midwestern, Chicago is midwestern as well.

The thing is, residents of Louisville do have southern accents. I personally think St. Louis has a lot of characteristics in common with East Coast cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia. Does that make St. Louis an East Coast city? No. Louisville is a southern city, even if it has some Midwestern qualities.

Gych Louisville had the one of the largest slaveowning populations in the country. THEY DIDN'T HAVE SLAVES IN THE MIDWEST GYCH!
Another thing Gych you and some other people are getting the term midwestern and river city mixed up. Yes Louisville has a little in common with Cincinnati and STL but those cities have Southern influence and ain't exactly the definition of a midwestern city which would probably be Minneanpolis.
Yes Louisville was an industrial city,But because it was a major shipping port which brought the industry to Louisville just like other Southern cities like Memphis and New Orleans not b/c you say it's midwestern.
Point blank Gych Louisville is in Kentucky (a Southern State) most people in the midwestern states that boarder Kentucky don't even claim the bottom half of the state b/c of it's prodominant Southern influence coming from us.
Yes Louisville has a sizable Catholic population but the vast majority of Louisvillians are SOUTHERN BAPTIST (Kentucky has the 3rd largest Southern baptist population in the country).
And You're saying that neighborhoods like Old Louisville are found throughout the midwest. Those massive Victorian stlye homes are found all throughout Southern cities (Charleston, Memphis, New Orleans, Columbia, Richmond, Savanah,) and RIVER CITIES (STL & CINCINNATI) Not Cleaveland and Des Moines.
Gych the vast majority of Louisvillians have a Southern accent excluding eastern Jefferson County (filled with out of towners and any native can tell you that).
Then Gych compare us to New Orleans (a hardcore Southern city) and Nashville (a Southern city with close proximity to louisville) or Minneanapolis(a hardcore Midwestern city) and Indianapolis( a midwestern city with close proximity to Louisville)you know good and dawn well Louisville has 3x more in common with New Orleans and Nashville. I mean honestly how are you gonna compare of to a region who's residence could give a damn about Derby or have never seem a hamhock in their greens (let alone a hamhock).
So Gych cut the BS Louisville has "River city " influence not midwestern and is a Southern city.

Gych you know good and well Louisville is a Southern city. I know you use to live in Chicago and you were so impressed with their Extreme Urbanism and you want Louisville to be just like them.
But buddy I hate to break it to you but Louisville is a Southern and not a half Southern and half Midwestern (which makes absolutlely no since at all, and you just say that just to even out the playing field so you can call it midwestern). I mean on one thread you tried to say "Louisville is about 45% Southern and 55% midwestern" and then JiveCity shut that little fanticised theory DOWN. What do you see that possecess you categorize Louisville with midwestern cities. It would be a misfit in that category and you know that but just can't handle that fact.
I mean Louisville was built over a damn Swamp. Look at the downtown Louisville says nothin but Southerness. It says Officially Welcome to The SOUTH. So Gych get over that little Southern fobia and midwestern fantacy b/c Louisville is a SOUTHERN city.

Or at least partially Midwest, check out the city's racial history. It was the first city in America to have black libraries. This is no typical "southern city." Here is the link, a good read:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050924/NEWS0102/509240380/1008/NEWS01

Another thing Gych here you go once again trying to include Louisville in with these Midwestern cities and look what everybody's saying Gych. And you know from you rown experiences this happens every time.

I mean you are a pest to just about every midwestern forumer trying to tag Louisville agong on every one of these threads. Just like when you try to compare Louisville to Indianapolis and STL somebody ALWAYS says that Louisville ain't midwestern and keep it out of these threads (Am I right, yeah I'am). I mean you are gone off Indianapolis which it is a fine city, But is very much ahead of us from population to planning and making things happen (just broke ground on Brand new NFL Stadium). I mean I'm not saying the cities better than Louisville, But you embarrass this city when you try a giant compared to us.
So why don't you stick with cities in our tier that we can actually compete with Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham ect. (Notice their is only one midwestern city our size and that's Grand Rapids). So come on Gych it's time for a reality check Louisville is a Southern city that can only compete with cities our size.

When I was in Lousiville the locals pronounced it "Lou ahh vul".

Take what you want from that. Sounds like a pretty Southern accent to me, though the city definately has some major Midwestern accents like any other city stradling the Winn Dixie Line.

What the hell do black libraries have to do with being located in the midwest?

Louisville is not a part of the midwest, end of story, it doesn't matter what the architecture is like, it doesn't matter if they have black libraries, it doesn't matter if the people use a midwestern accent instead of a southern one. Tulsa is also not part of the midwest. Pittsburgh is not midwestern either.

Topeka is midwestern, St. Louis is midwestern, Chicago is midwestern as well.

You guys can have Topeka. I wouldn't even drink the water there.

As far as Tulsa being Midwestern, I have been fighting a "war" on this website for over a year about that. I say it is Southern, as is the rest of my state, but the admin here just lump every Great Plains state except Texas as Midwestern.

Not to call you out or anythang but what is a midwestern accent?

Not really anything, IMO.

Why do you want Louisville to be midwestern so bad? Is the south that bad? Is the midwest that good?

For what it's worth, I've always thought of Louisville as a southern city.

The only area in Louisville that you can say doesn't have an accent is eastern Jefferson county which is a haven for out of towners.
But at the same time alot of redneckish people scared of the city life move out their and I would say they out number the out of towners.
So I know definantly that just about every Louisville native everywhere (except for eastern Jefferson county) has a Southern accent.
The downtown black residence have strong ass Southern accents.

Why do you want Louisville to be midwestern so bad? Is the south that bad? Is the midwest that good?

For what it's worth, I've always thought of Louisville as a southern city.
My point exactly!!!!!!!!!

The city has elements of both, but never mind CASE CLOSED on this thread. And truth be told, I dont like the South OR the midwest. The coasts are where its at. I am only rectifying things and putting them in their proper place.

The city has elements of both, but never mind CASE CLOSED on this thread. And truth be told, I dont like the South OR the midwest. The coasts are where its at. I am only rectifying things and putting them in their proper place.
The south is on the coast too by the way.

Technically, so is the Midwest. The Great Lakes (technically, inland seas) by definition have coasts.

The vast Louisville majority of Louisville's culture is Southern and this is coming from a Native who use to live in GEORGIA for 4 years.
There is no way in hell that midwestern influence in Louisville overshadows it's Southern culture. Gych knows that but like I said he just can't handle it b/c of his Southern fobia.

The city has elements of both, but never mind CASE CLOSED on this thread. And truth be told, I dont like the South OR the midwest. The coasts are where its at. I am only rectifying things and putting them in their proper place.

Well you tried to find some BS on why you think Louisville's midwestern and everybody picked apart your falsified evidence. And you know good and damn well Louisville is a Southern city (with a " very little" midwestern influence), But you just can't handle that fact let alone provide evidence that it's a midwestern city besides some shitty library BS.
I mean Gych look at everybody's post all saying louisville is a Southern city you can't find one midwestern trait in Louisville that over shadows any of it's Southern traits. Go down 7th street, Magnolia, Algonquin, Broadway ect. and just look at everything it says nothing but Southerness you can't say there's any areas in Louisville that resembles a midwestern city. I mean just tell me ten true things that makes Louisville a midwestern city (And don't say Industry b/c that's not just a midwestern thing)
But that's what I mean by your little midwestern fantacy.

[QUOTE - Gych) And truth be told, I dont like the South OR the midwest. The coasts are where its at.[/QUOTE]

With all due respect, I don't entirely agree with this statement. Many of the coastal cities are peaking or past their peak. They are outrageously expensive and clogged with traffic. Many of the inland cities are undervalued and packed with amenities. Also, many of the inland cities are turning their central cities around and young people have the opportunity to buy property and be part of the upswing. Young people are priced out of the central cities in many of the coastal cities and are being forced out to the suburbs. There is incredible opportunity to be had by investing in inland cities that are heading in the right direction.

Can someone please tell me what exactly defines a southern city, or a midwestern city (without using stereotypes).

Oh that's easy...

This image represents what your average Midwestern city looks like:
http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2003/08/14/national/14cnd-power.slide1.jpg

This image represents what your average Southern city looks like:
http://www.imben.net/haha/redneck_sitting_on_toilet.jpg

Yes.

Hudkina should really be able to answer that one, coming from the bustling, growing, and vibrant city that is Deeeeeetroit. ;)

Haha that's funny, at least put a picture of chicago up there, not nyc during a blackout or whatever that is. But still, by no means is the midwest some liberal, vibrant, technologically and socially advanced place and the south is just shit. Which you already know of course.

Louisville is southern, period. Even places that resemble east coast cities like StL., if you really put them next to eachother, you'd find that they really are much different and that it has more in common with a city like Detroit or KC or Chicago.

Tulsa is southern too.

There is a such thing as a midwestern accent, it really is nothing like you all said, but there is a twang that's distiguishable if you're not from the midwest.

And despite these boards being havens for liberals, there's plenty to be proud about being a southern city.

IMO while there's a midatlantic on the east coast that definitely transitions from north to south, that's what southern ohio and indiana and illinois are.

Can someone please tell me what exactly defines a southern city, or a midwestern city (without using stereotypes).

Don't play dumb
You already know what a Southern city is and I listed charcterics found exclusively in Southern cities. And yes Louisville fits that Southern category (not the Midwestern category).
And if you want to know what one is like first hand go to any place in Louisville (espeacially the Downtownish areas) excludin "eastern J-county."

And another thing it has been bugin me for the past year or so "Some" Louisville forumers just seem to hate to be included in the South, and so they can say they aren't Southern say Louisville's a Half and Half city. It makes no since at all!
They know Louisville is a Southern city but they just can't face.
And if Those few Forumers still say that Louisville's midwestern just list ten factual reasons that make it so midwestern (Don't say industry or Urbanism b/c those are found all through the South), And I already listed some of the things that make Louisville Southern so yeah it's yalls turn.

I never said that Louisville isn't southern, all you have to do is look at a map to see this. What I have said is that culturally it has a strong midwestern influence. I have lived in the midwest and the south, that is why I asked that question. Personally, while there are differences, both regions are similiar.
To say that Louisville is midwestern is false, to say that it has no midwestern influence is false as well. While you can't really compare it with Chicago, you can easily see similiarities between Louisville and other mid-sized midwestern cities, such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Dayton, Oklahoma City, etc. I would even go as far as saying that you could see similiarities between Louisville and St.Louis, even though it is a lot bigger.
On the other end you will see more similairities between Louisville and other southern cities. Being a southern city, this would only be natural.
I am not saying that Louisville is not southern, or not even half midwesten, just that it does have a lot of influence from that region. Also I don't hate being southern, or have a obsession with wanting to be midwestern. The fact is I am proud to be southern, I plan to keep it that way. I am only trying to be factual about Louisville's culture.

Out of curiosity I just want to know what are qualities of a midwestern city and how is that influence that strong in Louisville.
I mean honestly I really don't see a "STRONG" midwestern influence in Louisville (not saying there aren't any). On the other hand I do see some similarities with STL and Cincinnati (considering that we are all river cities and they have alillte Southern influence).

Most midwestern cities saw a lot of growth during the industrial revolution, so they retain a industrial, urban, somewhat rustic feel to them. Even in thier older residential areas you notice this. All one has to do is walk around old Louisville, the highlands, downtown, and you get the same feel.

Oh that's easy...

This image represents what your average Southern city looks like:
http://www.imben.net/haha/redneck_sitting_on_toilet.jpg

That's the mayor of Louisville on a conference call!

:runaway:

The funny thing about that picture is that I've seen it before, the guy is actually from Missouri

" THEY DIDN'T HAVE SLAVES IN THE MIDWEST GYCH!"


Wasnt Missouri a slave state?

^Yes, as part of the Missouri Compromise, which allowed slavery in Missouri while maintaining its status as a Union state.

Also Memphis and New Orleans grew during 1800's b/c of their shipping ports that brought Indusrty to those areas. That's another thing indusrty was not exclusive to midwestern cities however the South had very few industrial areas, as aresult of Louisville being a major industrial center at the time it made it a vital region in the South just like New orleans and Memphis.

" THEY DIDN'T HAVE SLAVES IN THE MIDWEST GYCH!"


Wasnt Missouri a slave state?

Yes Missouri was a slave state, But plantations their plantations weren't all over the state they were mostly consontrated in the Southern half of the state. Whereas Kentucky had slaves all over the state from the rural areas to it's largest cities Louisville and Lexington. Louisville had one of the largest slaveownings population in the country and Lexington had a pretty large slave owning population for it's size.

I think New Orleans had the largest slaveowning population at the time and was the Largest city in the South, Louisville was the second largest city in the South and I think it had the Second largest slaveowning population in the country.

Most midwestern cities saw a lot of growth during the industrial revolution, so they retain a industrial, urban, somewhat rustic feel to them. Even in thier older residential areas you notice this. All one has to do is walk around old Louisville, the highlands, downtown, and you get the same feel.
:eek2: Downtown Louisville has a straight up Southern feel there is not one midwestern city (except Cincinnati) that has the same fill that downtown our architecture is totally diffrent from Main street to Broadway it's like a different world in most midwestern cities's downtowns.

And Old Louisville with it's Magnoilias looming over every street and the Architectural style are almost exclusive to the South (with the exception of STL and Cincinnati). I seriously dissagree with you on that statement I mean it's just apparent if you're coming from Indianaplois or any other midwestern city that you are in the South if they drive through old Louisville. I mean seriously that makes absolutly no since at all. You can't name any areas in the midwest that even comes close to that Southern feell you get walking down Old Louisville.
The highlands is just like old Louisville except it's abit more vibrant whereas Old Louisville is a quiet residential area.
And I remember a while back Gych said German Town is a midwestern area please, That area is filled with country slangin hicks living in Shotgun houses. There ain't nothing German about that area it's just another Portland.

I have to say that the times I have been to Louisville, it didn't seem all that southern to me...other than the "twang" when someone speaks.

Well from architecture, history, population, culture, and geaographic location it has 3x more in common with Southern cities than midwestern cities.

I think that sometimes people just have to stop and accept the situation, in this case the argument that Louisville is a southern city. Yes, Louisville has a lot in common with midwestern cities, but it has a whole lot more in common with Southern citites as well. Similarly Indianapolis has a lot in common with East Coast and Southern cities but is undoubtedly in the Midwest because of its geographic and culutural influences. I always considered each major city to have its own unique identity-and Louisville's is simply a blend of regional influences. But I always considered Louisville to be unquestionably southern, though.

Nothing in this world belongs in a neat, tidy little box. All cities have fuzzy characteristics that cannot be classified easily for the benefit of someone who wants to keep the world black and white. Louisville has characteristics that, to some, are Southern, to others, are Midwestern. So what?

This forum is, for convenience, divided into regions. But there shouldn't be any reason that people can't talk about their cities' issues openly in any of the forums if those issues are relevant to that forum.

Segregation promotes stereotypes.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
nicely said.

Aren't these just arbitrary lines? What makes the north bank (Cincy) the north and the south bank (Louisville) the south? After all, those two cities and Pittsburgh grew together as interconnected nodes on the same transportation system. And Louisville shares many spatial distinctions with Midwestern cities, including the same centralized city model. I don't see how you can classify a city that needed the Ohio River for its livelihood--and grew because of the mercantile markets of the Old Northwest--as a Southern city.