The West End Opportunity Partnership is a significant economic investment initiative launching in the
West End to overcome challenges stemming from the intergenerational effects of racial prejudice and
segregation, which have hindered progress for African Americans in Louisville.
The historic Portland neighborhood of Louisville is one of the largest West End neighborhoods with a population of approximately 13,000 residents. On land, it is bordered by the Shawnee, Downtown Louisville, and Russell neighborhoods; but, to the north, it sits on the bank of the Ohio River. When the Portland area was first established in 1811, it was an independent river town– the largest of six settlements around the Falls of the Ohio, in fact. It was annexed by Louisville first in 1837 and again in 1850 for the second time after residents had previously voted to return to being independent. Their location on the Ohio River allowed for a lot of success in its history. Because The Falls of the Ohio are a natural obstacle that required burgeoning steamboats to unload their freight onto another boat, Portland was a hub of taverns, warehouses, and shipyards that sailors and businesses frequented. Unfortunately, as the presence of the steamboat disappeared in the 1920s, Portland’s business also decreased, and the Floods of 1937 and 1940 that destroyed the Portland Wharf and many of the historic buildings on the bank drove residents out of the neighborhood before the flood wall was built.
Still, the area remains a hotspot for historic architecture. Portland has retained several pre-Civil War buildings, mansions, and shotgun houses of a past age, such as the Squire Earrick House, on the oldest structures in Jefferson County. The neighborhood was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Furthemore, First Lady Laura Bush named Portland as a Preserve America community in 2006, which makes the neighborhood eligible for grants through the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Now, Portland is a diverse and growing neighborhood full of artists and a young population. Residents can enjoy the Portland Museum and the Portland Warehouse District, which hosts the Tim Faulkner Gallery, Louisville Visual Art, and the University of Louisville Hite Art Institute. The Molly Leonard Portland Community Center also offers a Dare to Care Kids Cafe meal program for children ages 18 and under, a gym open year-round with courts for basketball, volleyball, and other court sports, a fitness center, and a public computer lab with free wifi. The Portland branch of the Louisville Free Public Library is also within the boundaries of the neighborhood and there are several parks in the area, including Westonia Park, Charles D. Young Park, LaPorte Park, and Boone Square Park.
The Portland neighborhood has several exciting projects for revitalization. The two most recent projects include the Portland Wharf Park, which will function as an educational and heritage tourism venue, and the rehabilitation of the historic Marine Hospital, a national landmark that is transforming into an interpretive center and training center for healthcare workers. Portland is well on its way to becoming a residential and commercial success in the West End of Louisville. Its location on the waterfront grants residents plenty of transit opportunities, and children in the area have access to the Louisville Public Schools of:
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Creating opportunities for Louisville communities, by Louisville communities, in Louisville communities.
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Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 303-5251
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