Clay County, Kentucky-18th poorest county in the nation (Louisville: rent, buying)

[Future Trooper]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 24,556 people, 8,556 households, and 6,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 9,439 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.92% White, 4.80% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,556 households out of which 36.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 111.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $16,271, and the median income for a family was $18,925. Males had a median income of $24,164 versus $17,816 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,716. About 35.40% of families and 39.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.60% of those under age 18 and 31.30% of those age 65 or over. The county's per-capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States


Is anything being done to counteract this problem which i know is rampant throughout Kentucky/West Virginia/and parts of Virgina is the government doing anything to help the people?

[Davart]

Is anything being done to counteract this problem which i know is rampant throughout Kentucky/West Virginia/and parts of Virgina is the government doing anything to help the people?

The quick answer is "No"

Kentucky has 16 of the top 100 poorest counties in the US, 2nd only to Texas with 17 who has 259 counties. So Kentucky is #1 in poorest counties at 13.3% of the 100 poor counties. Yeah, we're number 1 ...

As long as city and county leader are content with the status quo and as long as we have these life long politicians like Mitch McConnell, who is among the top 25 riches congressman according to Forbes. Spend most of their time lining their pockets and playing politics in Washington and not helping the people that elected them we will stay #1 in poor counties.
The mountain areas are by far the most neglected counties in the state, I complain I live in political Siberia here in far western KY, but clearly southeastern KY has the poorest access, fewest interstates (geography dictates this) which leads to fewer job and less enterprise, and with our newly elected Governor raising taxes and threating to cut park spending the mountain areas which are beautiful will suffer even more. Plus the increase in gas prices will hurt tourist travel, which again is a large part of the mountain economy albeit small at that.
We need leaders at the city, county and state levels that care. And we need leaders at the Federal level that care about all 120 counties and not just the 1 county they are from. Jim Bunning northern KY, lots of growth. Mitch McConnell from Louisville, lots of growth ... what about the rest of the state?
Recently McConnell was here in western KY stumping and I saw him in a restaurant, he was walking shaking hands, asking for votes ... so I asked him, "Senator, I have one question, what have you done for Kentucky?" and I cited facts like Kentucky being very poor, slow growth etc etc ... and in typical political talk he gave a non answer and more or less passed it off on state and local government. To which I replied ... "Senator, that's not an acceptable answer, try to remember who you work for." to which he found a quick exit to that encounter.
So in short the people need to seek out new leadership at all levels of government and if they fail to perform, then get new ones the next go around. I don't care what party they are from as long as they act in the best interest of the people they represent.

ok enough of my rant ...

[dixiegirl7]

All of those counties are in Eastern Kentucky in the Appalachian area. The rest of Kentucky is not that impoverished. As high as our taxes are I find it deplorable how some people are living in that area. I am sure it is not as bad as it once was but there should have been more progress made through the years. When Kentucky wanted to start the lottery, that was supposed to bring all of this money for schools and roads, I can't see that it did anything but make the poor poorer and the rich richer. Now the new governor wants to put casinos all over Kentucky. That is not the answer to the poverty issue. It just gives people who aren't too bright to begin with another place to throw away what little money they have.

[censusdata]

The simply answer is that Eastern Kentucky is overpopulated. The mining jobs that drew people there are gone, and the mountainous land simply can't support that many people with no large cities or farmland.

[marmac]

very little difference between Clay County and McCreary County.

[Davart]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

It just gives people who aren't bright to begin with another place to throw away what little money they have.

Not being judgmental are we? I don't think undereducated people are limited to eastern KY or Kentucky in general. I believe every state has their fair share.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by Davart

Not being judgmental are we? I don't think undereducated people are limited to eastern KY or Kentucky in general. I believe every state has their fair share.

I wasn't speaking of people only in Eastern Ky of even in Ky, but of those who sit and feed their paychecks into slot machines when their kids don't have food yet or their rent is not paid. I just love to see people at the convenience markets with a car full of kids buying cigarettes, beer and lottery tickets, when the children don't have proper clothes to wear and may not have food, except their free school lunch and breakfast. I see it all of the time and I don't live in Eastern Kentucky.

[Davart]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

I wasn't speaking of people only in Eastern Ky of even in Ky, but of those who sit and feed their paychecks into slot machines when their kids don't have food yet or their rent is not paid. I just love to see people at the convenience markets with a car full of kids buying cigarettes, beer and lottery tickets, when the children don't have proper clothes to wear and may not have food, except their free school lunch and breakfast. I see it all of the time and I don't live in Eastern Kentucky.

That I agree with, but you're going to get me on a entitlement rant ... and no one wants that.

[The Village Idiot]

I would love to see a state university in southeastern Kentucky, but I know there's probably little chance of that with the current state budget. I was also hoping that the proposed I-74 extension could be built in eastern Kentucky, but I guess it's going to follow US 52 in West Virginia when it's finally built in 100 years or so.

A college and interstate highway access can't solve every problem, but they can provide opportunities for growth. I see the results every time I travel up I-79 in West Virginia. You travel through the middle of nowhere and then all of the sudden there's a bunch of high-tech businesses and research facilities. I'm guessing that WVU in Morgantown is a large reason why those employers are there.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by Davart

That I agree with, but you're going to get me on a entitlement rant ... and no one wants that.

The main point I am making is that the lottery did nothing for the poor in Kentucky and the idea that casinos will help them is a joke also.