Anyone here from Pikeville? (Lexington, Louisville: crime, houses, unemployment)

[jessjoy4]

"We're not ashamed to say that we are from Pikeville, it's just that
we don't want to live there again."

[900 TALKRADIO]

The negativity of this thread is amazing.
I have lived all over the country and have lived in Pikeville for the last 20 years.
Did you know...Pikeville is home to the #1 KY owned bank in the state???
Did You know...Pikeville is home to the #4 ranked school system in the state?
Did you know...Pikeville is home to a new 7500 seat arena which hosts nationally known events?
Did you know...Pikeville is home to a four year college??
Did you know... Pikeville is home to a medical school???
Did you know...Pikeville was voted one of America's 100 best small towns?

These are just a few of the many positives.
Yes, there are negatives...aren't there everywhere???

[Ridgerunner]

I grew up in southwest Virginia not far from Pikeville. I'm convinced that Pikeville is better off than most Cumberland Plateau communities. The town and county are experiencing population growth. Residents no longer have to shop in Kingsport or Huntington. Median home values are much higher than the overall region's. If you think Pikeville is isolated, take a trip to Montana or West Texas. Someone mentioned the 7-story jail. Two bad it isn't 20 stories. Think of how many oxycontin dealers could be locked up. And if you think Pikeville is depressing, you really should see many other towns on the Plateau. During the past 40 years, "tax and spend" politicians have poured billions of dollars into the region and in the process have created three generations of welfare dependency. If only a fraction of that money had been spent on education and small business incentives, Pikeville might now be the norm instead of the exception.

[Miss Blue]

Where in the world are these people getting their information about a seven story jail in Pikeville!!!!If they had ever been here and if they can count, they would know that the Hall if Justice is a three story building. Also Billions of dollars have not been poured into the area. Instead our coal severence money has been mostely sent to other parts of Kentucky!!!!We are proud, hard working people here!!There are people on welfare all over this country, some deserving, some not! It hurts to see us portrayed as toothless,dirty, lazy, etc. Television and movies are not portraying us right. You people who have lived here make fun of us when you move away( Is it so you will feel accepted in your new environment?) By the way, I was not born or raised here, I am from a large northern city, but Pikeville is my home and I am proud of it, and love the friendly people who live here....

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by blue62

Where in the world are these people getting their information about a seven story jail in Pikeville!!!!If they had ever been here and if they can count, they would know that the Hall if Justice is a three story building. Also Billions of dollars have not been poured into the area. Instead our coal severence money has been mostely sent to other parts of Kentucky!!!!We are proud, hard working people here!!There are people on welfare all over this country, some deserving, some not! It hurts to see us portrayed as toothless,dirty, lazy, etc. Television and movies are not portraying us right. You people who have lived here make fun of us when you move away( Is it so you will feel accepted in your new environment?) By the way, I was not born or raised here, I am from a large northern city, but Pikeville is my home and I am proud of it, and love the friendly people who live here....

Please allow me to clarify my earlier statements. In 1965 the U.S. Congress established the Appalachian Regional Commission. Since then, the program has indeed spent billions of federal dollars in its service area which includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states. I was not implying that all the money was spent in eastern Kentucky.

[Ender]

I've lived in Kentucky my entire life. I'm nineteen now and although I used to hate this place because of how small and boring it can be...the older I get the more I appreciate growing up in a place like Pikeville. Really the only thing it needs is a mall. And judging by the growth of businesses etc. lately a mall probably isn't far off.

[Miss Blue]

Originally Posted by Ender

I've lived in Kentucky my entire life. I'm nineteen now and although I used to hate this place because of how small and boring it can be...the older I get the more I appreciate growing up in a place like Pikeville. Really the only thing it needs is a mall. And judging by the growth of businesses etc. lately a mall probably isn't far off.

Thanks Ender!! We have taken a beatin' in this thread. I am proud of Pikeville, which has a few problems, but hey, what town doesn't! I wanna mall,too!!

[highliner]

to Blue62/Lodger777: My bias comes from 40-plus years of living and working, and watching sadly what has happened to Pike county in general. There were almost 90k people in the county when I was a kid, but now the number has dropped to about 62k. So much for all that growth you were just talking about. Read US Census Quickfacts-you'll see- or Naco.org. I've worked in law enforcement, on and off since 1989, and have agonized over the deplorable narcotics epidemic centered in Pikeville. Please don't bother to attack my posts- it gives me no pleasure to describe the slow death, of a place that I once considered home. If only you had seen Pike county in its heyday years of the late '60's and early '70's, then you would know how much it has fallen away from being a terrific mountain community.

[highliner]

Funny, I counted seven stories! Did somebody lop off the remaining four? Pikeville, as it is now, stinks so badly, that it even makes Buckner look better by comparison!

[Miss Blue]

Originally Posted by highliner

to Blue62/Lodger777: My bias comes from 40-plus years of living and working, and watching sadly what has happened to Pike county in general. There were almost 90k people in the county when I was a kid, but now the number has dropped to about 62k. So much for all that growth you were just talking about. Read US Census Quickfacts-you'll see- or Naco.org. I've worked in law enforcement, on and off since 1989, and have agonized over the deplorable narcotics epidemic centered in Pikeville. Please don't bother to attack my posts- it gives me no pleasure to describe the slow death, of a place that I once considered home. If only you had seen Pike county in its heyday years of the late '60's and early '70's, then you would know how much it has fallen away from being a terrific mountain community.

I have been in Pikeville (living here) since 1973, the "heyday" you speak about is nothing compared to the growth going on now. Just curious to know when was the last time you REALLY were in Pikeville or East. Ky. Even though you don't like the area ,the people here will welcome you, be kind and make you feel at home. I have just read all your posts and find you to be quite a remarkable person! Very well traveled and a lot of knowledge about everything, I respect your intelligence .I will not attack any post you make, just read them and either applaud them , shake my head or roll my eyes.