Does rural Kentucky hate Louisville? (Lexington, Murray: crime, high school, college)

[missymomof3]

I read yesterday that alot of rural Kentuckians see Louisville as "sin city" and full of "Northern Values" and don't like us. Is that true? It breaks my heart to think that the state that I love so much doesn't love me back

[teebird1012]

I can tell you a lot of people I know in Lexington don't like Louisville (not rural but still outside of L'ville)- mostly because of the sports rivalry, but also because Lexington just lies in the shadow of both Cincinnati and Louisville. I don't know about rural towns though.

[Miss Blue]

I love Louisville and think it is beautiful..I like Lexington also because it is not a large city and is very easy to get around in..I prefer the quiet rural life though, but like to visit your cities

[DisplacedCowgirl]

I have lived in Lexington and very rural areas of Kentucky, and I think if there is any negativity towards Louisville, it is more linked to it being a big city than to Louisville itself. For me, it's a fun place to visit, but I would never want to live in ANY larger city, Louisville or anywhere else. People who are from smaller areas may think "gahlee, I would never want to live in such a big city!", but they don't dislike Louisvillians or anything like that.

[kentuckydad95]

I can't speak for everyone in the Jackson Purchase/Murray area, but many of us don't even think about Louisville. Why? Because we are closer to Nashville, St Louis and possible Memphis. Hell, we even get all of the Nashville tv stations on our cable systems here in Murray. You can barely find the Courier Journal in this area.

[censusdata]

It seems like people in areas roughly east of US 127 seem to associate more with Lexington, and areas west of US 127 tend to associate more with the city of Louisville.

For example, go to any of the small cities in Western Kentucky it is evenly divided between U of L & UK, while Eastern Kentucky is 99% Blue

[Davart]

Where's Louisville? Is that in Utah?

[rnc76]

In my experience, I think rural KY in general is scared and leary of large cities. The people talk of them as crime filled, dirty, expensive places with no trees. I realize I am generalizing, but I remember many people speaking of Louisville (and other large cities) in that manner when I was growing up. I guess it is the rural vs urban lifestyle. Also, kids look to move to larger cities after high school or college for jobs. In some parts of rural KY, breaking up the family is a cardinal sin so any place that would lure their beloved children with the promise of jobs, opportunity and entertainment must be evil!

[Off Topic]

Again, we're just generalizing, and there is almost always a city-rural split in every state. But my personal experience is that there is a deep-seeded dislike of Louisville in most of the rural areas of Kentucky. From my big-city perspective, I like to think it's jealousy or just a basketball rivalry taken to extremes. But it is certainly there, imo.

And in all fairness, we return that feeling in large part. Many Louisvillians I know have expressed the feeling that the rest of the state is holding us back. For example, we put in far more tax dollars into the state budget than we receive in return. And on too many occasions, state legislators from rural areas will pass laws to undo local regulations that we pass here in Louisville, even though it doesn't effect them. (Or will allow certain laws to be passed so long as they only apply in Jefferson County.)

Just some political examples: the Jefferson County area went for Kerry in the 2002 presidential election. The rest of the state went overwhelming for Bush. The two most liberal politicians in the state by far are Jerry Abramson and John Yarmuth, and both were elected in Jefferson County. You'd have a hard time convincing me that they could win state-wide elections.

There are a lot of cultural differences, to say the least.

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by Off Topic

Just one more example: the Jefferson County area went for Kerry in the 2002 presidential election. The rest of the state went overwhelming for Bush. There are a lot of cultural differences, to say the least.

Not true. Many counties in Eastern Kentucky also voted in majority for Kerry. And Kerry only won Jefferson by a ~10% margin