Originally a part of Thomas Byrd's 1,000 acre (4 km2) land grant from Virginia in 1787, James Bennett Wilder bought the land in 1870 and built a home which he named Bashford Manor, after his family's home in England.
He sold the property to George James Long in 1888, who turned it into a horse farm which produced three early Kentucky Derby winners: Azra, Manuel and Sir Huon.
Many residential developments began at this time, the first being Harold Miller's Bashford Manor gardens in 1952.
Apartment complexes were built during the 1960s, and commercial developments such as Watterson City in 1965.
By the 1970s Watterson City was Louisville's largest suburban commercial center, and Bashford Manor Mall was built in the area.