Located just across the Ohio River from Louisville, KY, New Albany, IN, offers residents the chance to live in a smaller town but still be close to the big city. Sometimes called the Sunny Side of Louisville, New Albany also goes by the nicknames of River City and Gateway to the South. The close proximity of Kentucky and Indiana also earned it the nickname Kentuckiana. Plenty of historic sites and the quiet, small-town feel make the region popular with apartment renters.
George Rogers Clark was one of the first owners of land in southwestern Indiana, but he later divided the land into individual plots and sold those plots to settlers. Officially founded in 1813, the town didn't officially become a city until four years later when it also became the county seat of Floyd County. The town grew in part because of its location on the Ohio River and later for the railroads that passed through the area. Though it initially had a population of around 2,000 people, it now boasts more than 36,000 residents.
New Albany attracts a number of visitors each year because of its historic sites. The Culbertson Mansion is one of the oldest buildings still standing in the region. Now used as a bed and breakfast, guests can spend the night or take a private tour of the former home. Those interested in historic sites also enjoy spending time in the downtown neighborhood, which is home to numerous antique stores and restaurants. Visitors also come to the city for the Harvest Homecoming, which is one of the largest festivals in the state.
The Transit Authority of River City, also known as the TARC, provides an easy way for locals to get around the city and take trips to neighborhoods in Jeffersonville and Louisville. Others prefer the freedom of coming and going as they please without waiting around for a bus. Locals can take Interstate 65 across the bridge into Louisville or use smaller local streets to reach neighboring towns.
Many of the apartment renters moving to the area move because of the opportunities available for higher education. A local branch of Indiana University, known as Indiana University Southeast, is within the city limits. Students have access to all the same programs and courses offered on the main campus. Others find themselves looking for a home to rent near the Purdue New Albany campus. This campus is a branch of the College of Technology on the main campus. Others may want to rent homes in the city and commute to nearby Sellersburg to attend classes at Ivy Tech Community College. Ivy Tech started with one college in the state and now has several campuses across Indiana. Sellersburg is less than a 20-minute drive from the city, and the other campuses are within the city limits.
Not everyone moving to New Albany does so because of school. Some of those looking for an apartment to rent do so because they move for work. Though the city is part of Floyd County, the city and the county governments only hire a small number of workers every year. The three largest employers in both the city and the county today are Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health, Beach Mold and Tool, Inc. and Indiana University Southeast. General Mills and Kroger both hire a large number of workers every year from the surrounding area. Apartment renters can easily find a neighborhood with rental properties nearby that meet their needs.