Once home to the world’s largest producer of gunpowder, Charlestown is a bucolic Indiana suburb located outside of Louisville, Kentucky. It’s a long-standing rural community, tracing its history back over 200 years. “Charlestown is older than the state of Indiana,” says Michelle Adams, Genealogy and History Coordinator at the Charlestown-Clark County Public Library. “It has a lot of history.” Today, residents see more than just the past there, they see a future for themselves. “It’s got small town vibes with really good schools, and it’s still within 30 minutes of malls and downtown Louisville,” says Samantha Hernandez, Realtor and Team Lead of HDZ Group with RE/MAX First. With amenities including parks, shopping at outdoor markets and holiday celebrations meshing with convenience, Charlestown is a growing community.
Many of the streets in Charlestown are wide, for on street parking.
Charlestown is over 200 years old and older than the State of Indiana.
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From build-to-suit to ranging estates
“Charlestown is a growing area, they have quite a bit of new construction coming up out there,” says Hernandez, “It’s kind of rural.” Homes in Charlestown cover a wide range, with inexpensive lots where residents can build their dream home from the ground up sharing property lines with expansive contemporary traditional estates sporting modern farmhouse cues. Active farms dot the countryside, and homes can be found on vast wooded lots or squeezed together in manicured subdivisions. Manufactured homes and older ranch-style homes generally fetch from $90,000 to $200,000, while single-story and two-story built-to-plan contemporary homes sitting in groomed subdivisions get from $180,000 to $400,000. Outside of the planned subdivisions, there are plenty of split-level and ranch-style homes from the mid- to late-1900s, as well as sprawling countryside estates — these generally get from $300,000 up to, and sometimes exceeding, $900,000.
Charlestown has some newer multi-story homes.
This is a new bungalow style home in Charlestown Indiana.
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Top-tier schools with career pathways
Greater Clark County Schools serve Charlestown and the surrounding region. The concentrated population in Charlestown is served by two elementary schools in a pipeline, unlike the rest of the school district, which is served by single elementary schools. Pleasant Ridge Elementary School houses kindergarten through second grade, and receives an A-minus; Jonathan Jennings Elementary School is home to third through fifth grade and gets a B-minus. Charlestown Middle School and Charlestown High School are also both ranked with a B-minus. Charlestown High is a Project Lead the Way site, setting up students for success in Engineering and Biomedical Science pathways. Private schools like St. John Paul II Catholic School are an available option.
Charlestown Middle School scored a B-minus on Niche.
Charlestown High School scored a B-minus on Niche.
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Diners and diversity
Given the small-town vibes, it may surprise people the first time they are in Charlestown that there is a diverse restaurant scene with global flavors. Lebrang Food Mart is a local favorite, and one of the few restaurants in the region serving authentic Indian cuisine. South-of-the-border flavors can be found at the San Pedro Mexican Restaurant or La Pasadita, while Yamato — a Japanese steakhouse — and the China Garden Buffet offer tastes of Asia. An old school diner serving country comfort food classics has the heart of most residents though, says Adams, “My favorite restaurant is Copper Kettle. It’s been around a long time, and it really gives you a feel for what life is like in Charlestown.” Residents can pick up groceries at the Jay C or DG Market, while everyday essentials and home improvement are found at Ace Hardware, Family Dollar and Walgreens. Local retailers are limited, but the women’s clothing store, Plum Polka Dots Boutique, is popular.
The menu at Copper Kettle offers customers in Charlestown breakfast all day.
San Pedro's Mexican Restaurant in Charlestown serves traditional fare in a bright environment.
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Community green spaces
“I like to go hiking at Charlestown State Park,” says Adams. “But there are a lot of popular parks in the area. Greenway Park just got expanded, and people have been enjoying that.” The expansion of Charlestown’s centralized and most-used park included the addition of an inclusive, ADA-approved playground for children of all ability levels. Eight pocket parks are sprinkled throughout the neighborhood, including amenities like a dog park, skatepark, Little League Park and Family Activities Park, with the latter being popular in the summer for its splash pad, putt-putt golf and roller skating.
Family Activities Park in Charlestown is a popular hangout in the summer.
Charlestown State Park, one of the state's busiest state parks, is located along the Ohio River.
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One of the most popular Indiana State Parks
“Charlestown State Park is one of the big attractions, they have seven hiking trails,” says Hernandez. Charlestown State Park borders the community, as does the Ohio River. Spanning 5,100 acres and known for its birdwatching, the Charlestown State Park attracts locals and visitors alike with its hiking trails, fishing and overnight campsites. It’s a demonstration of constructive reuse — from 1941 through 1992 it operated as the country’s largest smokeless powder and ammunition plant. Today, it’s one of the most popular parks in Indiana, demonstrating a commitment to giving land back to the people to enjoy.
There's plenty of green space and tree canopy in Charlestown and its environs.
Charlestown State Park has trails for casual strollers and serious hikers.
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Year-round community events
“There’s a little town square there, it’s pretty cute; they do a little Christmas town with a trolley during the winter,” says Hernandez. Part of the Light Up Charlestown celebration at Christmastime, the highlight is the illumination of a 50-foot tall Christmas tree in Greenway Park. This is put on as part of Charlestown’s parks program that fosters community throughout the year. In the spring, residents enjoy a town Easter egg hunt; in the summer, there’s a big back-to-school party; and in the fall, kids trick or treat at a Halloween art fair. Throughout the year, locals enjoy Saturdays on the Square with live music and vendors, and the Arts and Enrichment Center hosts regular arts and fitness classes, social events for seniors and a community theater program for elementary through high school students.
At Christmastime, the town lights a 50-foot tree for its Light Up Charlestown celebration.
Greenway Park in Charlestown has a festive holiday season.
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Convenience in the region, but it’ll take a drive
The Ohio River Scenic Byway runs through Charlestown, offering residents a scenic route in and out of town. While the town itself has some walkability, particularly around the town square, as a whole it’s not walkable and biking is only for recreation. Public transport is limited, so almost every resident uses a car to get around. This rural community is a fair distance from the nearest 24-hour emergency care — Norton Clark Hospital in Jeffersonville is the closest about 20 miles away. Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport is the nearest major airport roughly 24 miles away.
This aerial context of Charlestown is an example of the neighborhoods in the area.
The Ohio River is located near Charlestown, with river traffic providing visual scenery.
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