What are the most over- and under-rated cities in Kentucky and why? (Lexington: crime, houses)

[Jdfess6]

Underrated, Covington. Although I would disagree with Kentuckyguy. I'd say it the other way around, it is a smaller town with a pretty urban feel in some parts. It depends where you are. It has a pretty dense core, in relation to the city.
The most overrated BY FAR, in my opinion. Is FLORENCE!! Ughh! It is an ugly, sprawled out, big box store, cookie cutter houses, with absolutely no grid or sense to it's streets. They cannot handle their growth. It looks like somebody threw up concrete all over the city and it formed their streets and roads. You can't walk many places in the city because it's so spread out. Florence is a growing city who's growth could have been handled soooooooo much better.
Haha sorry, I don't like FLorence much.

[JimmyJohnWilson]

Originally Posted by Jamie40829

There is much more to being a city than a large population......

no, i would pretty much say thats about all it takes. A city is a large and densely populated urban area, that may include several independent administrative districts

so pretty much without a large population it is a town. not say that is bad by any means, though.

[Capt. Dan]

I think the mountain towns like Pikeville,Hazard and Harlan are underrated and get a bad reputation because people think they are only inhabited by toothless, ignorant and illiterate hillbillies. Having visited these towns many times, I have found this to be very untrue. The people are friendly and helpful. The old timers seem to enjoy telling stories of long ago days "in dem thar hills." They have all the different stores and services anyone could need. The mountains are beautiful. And while walking thru Walmart picking up fishing gear I realized that the place was plum full of some very beautiful women. Lots of beautiful women! So when I read or hear things about eastern Kentucky being stuck in 30s and 40s I can only assume that the people saying these things have never been there.

[Kentuckyguy]

Originally Posted by Jdfess6

Underrated, Covington. Although I would disagree with Kentuckyguy. I'd say it the other way around, it is a smaller town with a pretty urban feel in some parts. It depends where you are. It has a pretty dense core, in relation to the city.
The most overrated BY FAR, in my opinion. Is FLORENCE!! Ughh! It is an ugly, sprawled out, big box store, cookie cutter houses, with absolutely no grid or sense to it's streets. They cannot handle their growth. It looks like somebody threw up concrete all over the city and it formed their streets and roads. You can't walk many places in the city because it's so spread out. Florence is a growing city who's growth could have been handled soooooooo much better.
Haha sorry, I don't like FLorence much.

Although I respect your opinion, I disagree. Covington's population is at 43,370 and is the fifth-most populous city in Kentucky. If you are going to say that Covington is just a small town then I guess you would have to say that about the entire Northern Kentucky Region. I don't know many small towns that have there own International Airport, 3 malls (Crestview Hills Towne Center, Newport on the Levee, and the Florence Mall) and don't forget the skyline in Covington! In additon the entire Northern Kentucky Region has over 500,000 people.

I know what you mean about the Florence area though. I personally like the Florence area, but know that some people don't. You should however check out Old Florence which is much more historic.

[Packersnut21]

When I lived in Richmond I loved it, also agree with those who said Berea being underrated. Richmond was small enough but had enough places to shop, nice park, place to golf.

I think Lexington is overrated. Alot of traffic stores are crowed, has some nice things but don't out weigh the negatives IMO.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by Kentuckyguy

Although I respect your opinion, I disagree. Covington's population is at 43,370 and is the fifth-most populous city in Kentucky. If you are going to say that Covington is just a small town then I guess you would have to say that about the entire Northern Kentucky Region. I don't know many small towns that have there own International Airport, 3 malls (Crestview Hills Towne Center, Newport on the Levee, and the Florence Mall) and don't forget the skyline in Covington! In additon the entire Northern Kentucky Region has over 500,000 people.

I know what you mean about the Florence area though. I personally like the Florence area, but know that some people don't. You should however check out Old Florence which is much more historic.

Agreed! NKY is my favorite part of KY, hands down...b/c it's nothing like the rest of KY!

[Hey_Hey]

I agree with Covington being an underrated city. Its proximity to Cincy and the beauty of central Kentucky are great, and it has its own urban feel to it.

I would definitely add Paducah to the list of underrated cities. While it's not booming economically like Bowling Green it has a strong regional economy. I'm amazed at the "big city" expectations that many have there despite the fact that it isn't a big city. In terms of medical offerings, visual arts, performing arts, retail, and eateries it's second to none in the state per capita and in absolute terms is probably only behind Lexington and Louisville. The one thing that it is sorely lacking is a solid 4-year university.

In general, I believe KY is a vastly underrated state. There are many states that would kill to have the natural resources and beauty of KY. Logistically it is located in a perfect spot between the industrialized midwest and the booming sunbelt. It has a great mid-to-large city in Louisville, great suburbs of a large city in NKY, and a great mid-sized city in Lexington. It has wonderful small cities. Kentucky has two great research universities as well that will increasingly play a prominent role in revolutionizing the states economy. The smaller regional universities provide strong access to higher education, and the states several strong liberal arts schools add that element of higher education that is vitally important.

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by Hey_Hey

I agree with Covington being an underrated city. Its proximity to Cincy and the beauty of central Kentucky are great, and it has its own urban feel to it.

I would definitely add Paducah to the list of underrated cities. While it's not booming economically like Bowling Green it has a strong regional economy. I'm amazed at the "big city" expectations that many have there despite the fact that it isn't a big city. In terms of medical offerings, visual arts, performing arts, retail, and eateries it's second to none in the state per capita and in absolute terms is probably only behind Lexington and Louisville. The one thing that it is sorely lacking is a solid 4-year university.

In general, I believe KY is a vastly underrated state. There are many states that would kill to have the natural resources and beauty of KY. Logistically it is located in a perfect spot between the industrialized midwest and the booming sunbelt. It has a great mid-to-large city in Louisville, great suburbs of a large city in NKY, and a great mid-sized city in Lexington. It has wonderful small cities. Kentucky has two great research universities as well that will increasingly play a prominent role in revolutionizing the states economy. The smaller regional universities provide strong access to higher education, and the states several strong liberal arts schools add that element of higher education that is vitally important.

Very well said!

[klwilson 60]

The description of Florence as a city/town/hamlet/suburb or whatever thas has failed to manage its growth is chilling. Have their state leaders visit ORLANDO, pronto, to see their future in a few years. We have no decent metro transportation. You can't walk anywhere safely. (Cars, I mean.) the main commuter road, I-4, is a parking lot during both rush hours. Our schools are underfunded. Yet we are building three new giant structures downtown to draw more people downtown so I-4 can spend ALL day as a parking lot. It seems that any green patch is seized and plowed over for more houses, strip malls, or hotels. You might pull up Orlando as a mid-sized city but there is no break between Orlando and the towns surrounding it--Winter Park, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs, Apopka and Windemere. It is actually one giant metro area of over 1 million people. This may be Florence's future if steps are not taken NOW to plan for growth and how it will be managed. I lived in Orlando in the 60s --before Mickey--and it was entirely different only ten years later after Disney had been open a few years. Sprawl can get away from a town too quickly. Orlando is now one of the most violent cities in the country--and deserves to be on that list. I would hate to see the same thing happen to any of Kentucky's beautiful places--and that includes the west part of the state as well as the east.

[Jdfess6]

Kentuckyguy,
I didn't mean my post to come off as saying that I think Covington is a small town. I don't mean that at all. I live in a suburb of Covington, and I know for a fact that it's no small town. I was just saying that, relative to it's size, I think that it's rather dense for it's size. The city's a beautiful city and I hope that it continues to grow and stay an urban center.
I really hope that Florence does get their act together. They could really be a powerhouse in the future if they started some real CITY planning. And by this I mean a real city, not a big suburb.
I love the old part of Florence. I live rather close to it, but in Kenton County. It looks as if someone had the foresite to plan the city like a real city, with a grid and all. But apparently that someone got kicked out and the King of Cul-de-Sac took over.