Is Eastern/Southeastern Kentucky bad as i hear it is? (Pikeville: insurance, school)

[Future Trooper]

I have been told that areas around Grayson,Pikeville,Hazard and places near by are among the poorest areas in the US according to the poorest 100 communities report if someone could please tell me is the situation down there is bad as i hear? please wright back

[bm2978]

No it isn't that bad.....I don't know where people get their info from. I live in Pikeville and the majority of the people that I know work and have jobs and make decent livings..There are alot of businesses and good people...I think that we get put down because of the location and I guess opinions vary, but most isn't true to what they say..I am glad that you asked this questions that way some people can tell you the truth....I guess when they do these reports they don't talk about the mining and the money that is here with these said mines...It ticks me off but its ok, I can tell anyone who asks the truth....thanks for asking, now you have heard it from someone that actually lives here...

[Blue Grass Fever]

No, it's not as bad as you 'hear'. I can almost guarantee you that.

You have to remember that the word "poor" is subjective!

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by gdude

I have been told that areas around Grayson,Pikeville,Hazard and places near by are among the poorest areas in the US according to the poorest 100 communities report if someone could please tell me is the situation down there is bad as i hear? please wright back

The board isnt allowing me to post a link right now but if you will go to google and search for '100 poorest counties' the first result that comes up is a very good page.

On that page you will read this:

Kentucky contains 16 of the 100 poorest counties in the US by per capita income. This is the second highest of any state behind North Dakota.

According to that same page Kentucky contains 29 of the poorest counties in the US by median household income. That is the most of any state.

If you will look at the accompanying maps on the right side of the page you will see that all of the above mentioned Kentucky counties are located in the south east area of the state.



-----------------------------------

I am originally from Casey County one of the counties in question. Casey is the 63rd poorest county in the nation by median household income.

[rnc76]

^^^As a native, what is your opinion of the area? Do you see any chance in the near future for the region to prosper?

[censusdata]

On a national median family income map, Eastern KY stands out as the poorest region in the US, rivaled only by the Mississippi Delta and Mexican border area.

http://www.raconline.org/maps/mapfiles/income.jpg

Poverty Map: http://www.censusscope.org/us/map_poverty.gif

[lendingheart]

I live in one of the poorest counties in Kentucky. Jackson County. The reason ours is bad is because there is no interstate really close by, ( 35 miles away) Losts of hills and curves, dangerous driving in a bad winter. Truckers dont like it. Only a hand full of factories that because they have no competetion they only pay minimum wage.

Most here draw a check of some kind. Almost everyone is elegable for some kind of government help, welfare, food stamps.

It really is pretty safe, so long as you dont try to mess with someone. Everyone has a gun. Dont mess with thier signifacant other. 80 some churches here. Most people will come running to help in a crisis.

If you are not all about keeping up with the Jones, and like the simple life ... farming ( small) walking in the woods, small stores ( Dollar General) Walmart is 35 miles away... fishing, camping..... then this is a great place.

We are 99.5% White.... i think one black family and a couple mexicans. Pop 16000.
We are getting a new road thou that will make it easier for commerce, we are hoping for more jobs close to home.

Drugs, meth, bootleg liquor is around, dry county.... mainly for the poverty.... kids are bored, parents draw a check,,, bad things happen!

You will struggle with a family... but nicly retire here.

[Future Trooper]

thank you for all your imput ladies and gents!!

[StarvinInKy]

I lived in Pikeville for five years. I couldn't wait to get out of there! There is a handfull of good people but for the most part a bunch of check drawin' pill heads! I ran a business there and finding people that wanted to work or that were not so wacked out was a struggle! I live in Ashalnd now and that is close to grayson! Grayson is great! Pike & Hazzard are over an hour from us...Thank God!

[Miss Blue]

Originally Posted by bm2978

No it isn't that bad.....I don't know where people get their info from. I live in Pikeville and the majority of the people that I know work and have jobs and make decent livings..There are alot of businesses and good people...I think that we get put down because of the location and I guess opinions vary, but most isn't true to what they say..I am glad that you asked this questions that way some people can tell you the truth....I guess when they do these reports they don't talk about the mining and the money that is here with these said mines...It ticks me off but its ok, I can tell anyone who asks the truth....thanks for asking, now you have heard it from someone that actually lives here...

A note from someone else who actually lives here..

My 20 year old grandson works in the mines..He just received his w-2 today..grossed $64,000. Saving money for engineering school so he can be a mine engineer..Another grandson is a quadraplegic, he is going tro Pikeville College..He is studying to be a psychologist and plans to practice here..I have 2 daughters who work at the Medical Center , one in the Heart Unit and one works in a stepdown unit..Both make a decent wage..My Husband retired from a well paying job and has a great retirement plan with medical insurance paid..Most of the people I know are working and contributing to this area..Some of the less fortunate are out of work due to injury, sickness or another personal problem..We help our poor people here by government assistance that our taxes pay for, but mostely we take care of them out of the kindness of neighbor helping neighbor..The criminals and druggies are dealt with swiftly and with maximum sentences..We have drug rehab centers to help those who want help..The people who put us down do not know us..I would never put anyones hometown down based on what I see on tv or read in some poll or website..