Louisa, Kentucky
Louisa is a city of 2,580 people in Lawrence County, Kentucky, founded in December 11, 1822.
Why visit Louisa
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 2 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Atkins–Carter House and Big Sandy Milling Company.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Louisa
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Louisa
Louisa is a home-rule class city in Lawrence County, Kentucky, United States, of which it is the county seat. It is at the merger of the Levisa and Tug Forks into the Big Sandy River, which forms part of the state's border with West Virginia. The population was 2,679 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Louisa, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks5
Atkins–Carter House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Louisa, United States of America
Big Sandy Milling Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Gristmill in Louisa, Kentucky
Captain Freese House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Louisa, United States of America
Fred M. Vinson Birthplace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Louisa, Kentucky, NRHP-listed in Lawrence County
Louisa Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes2
Arby's
Fast food · Sandwich · 1.0 mi
100 Denison Drive, Louisa
Mo-Th 10:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-22:00
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 1.2 mi
18199 Old US Hwy 23
Mo-Fr 04:30-23:00; Sa 04:30-23:30; Su 05:00-23:00
Where to stay1
Best Western Plus Louisa
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
18199 Old US Highway 23, Louisa
History
The origin of the city's name is unclear. Theories include that it was named for Louisa County, Virginia, after Louisa Swetnam, one of the first white children born in the area, or after a corruption of the original name of the Levisa Fork, as it was originally written and spoken as the "Louisa Fork." An 1856 map still shows the river under the name "Louisa." Virginia, Carolina and other English colonial-linked settlement attempts began as early as 1790 but did not take hold until 1818. Louisa became the county seat in 1822 and a city in 1823.
About 1792, Vancouver's Station, which had been destroyed by the Native Americans in 1790, on the tongue of land between the Levisa and Tug Forks of the Big Sandy, was reestablished. A few years later this settlement was known as "Balclutha" and is so designated on early maps of the state.
During the Civil War, Union troops under future president James A. Garfield occupied the city from December 1861 until the end of the war, despite several Confederate takeover attempts.
The Chattaroi Railroad (now a part of CSX) connected to Louisa in 1881. The city is also served by U.S. Route 23. The first needle dam constructed in the United States was completed just north of town in 1896. The Big Sandy News, headquartered in Louisa, profiled the town in March 1888.
From the History section of Louisa, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship5
First United Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Louisa United Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Saint Jude Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.4 mi
1121 Meadowbrook Lane, Louisa
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare1
Map of Louisa
32 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 22°F | 3.3 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 2.9 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 30°F | 4.0 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 39°F | 4.6 in |
| May | 76°F | 49°F | 4.6 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 58°F | 4.7 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 4.7 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 53°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 41°F | 3.1 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 30°F | 3.1 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 26°F | 3.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Charley 2 Sw (13 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lawrence County has had 36 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
- 2024-11-26: Remnants Of Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Huntington Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field (HTS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Cannonsburg 19 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Burlington 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Catlettsburg 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- South Point 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Huntington 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
- Paintsville 23 mi southwest, about 36 min by car
- Grayson 23 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Chesapeake 23 mi north, about 38 min by car
- Ashland 24 mi north, about 39 min by car
- Westwood 26 mi north, about 41 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Main Cross in downtown Louisa, Nyttend, Public domain
- Louisa First UMC, Nyttend, Public domain
- Big Sandy Milling Company site, Nyttend, Public domain
- Atkins-Carter House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Louisa UMC, Nyttend, Public domain
- Captain Freese House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Fred Vinson Birthplace, Nyttend, Public domain
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