Martin, drug problem? (Lexington, Pikeville, Prestonsburg: renting, crime, house)

[ioneoskay]

How is the drug problem and other crime statistics in the area around there? Cost of living? Friendlyness to Californians?

[desiree253]

Hey there, saw your link yesterday, but didn't answer, since I'm unfamiliar with Martin, KY itself. Here's my two cents regarding Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and being a Californian here.
I was born and raised in Cali for over 21 years before moving to KY in 1991. We loved every minute of it. I think you will be very, VERY pleased with the move to KY. You however WILL be in for a major culture shock most likely, so be prepared. It is not a scary thing, but will astound you in so many little ways. It takes time to get used to, but well worth it. I could go on and on about the differences, but will try and keep it short here.. if you'd like more, just let me know... I can talk forever! YOUR accent will be made fun of! That's right, YOUR accent :c) In that rural of an area, it might take you a while before you understand what some/most people are saying, as the twange will be very thick. They have a problem understanding Californians, as we tend to talk very fast and it's confusing with the slang we tend to use. Life if much slower paced in Ky and will "at first" seem very, very boring, but it is so precious once you realize all the LIFE you'd been missing and didn't even know it, until nice friendly Ky folk show by example, what life SHOULD be about. Simple things such as a wave or kind word, mean a great deal to Ky people and will to you after living there a short while! You will see a lot of poverty, especially moving to Eastern, Ky. That is a sad fact in rural KY, but if you help your neighbors in any way you can, you will be rewarded by them in countless neighbourly ways! I hate the stereo-type of Kentuckians, while it fits some, most Kentucky families are NOT stupid hillbillies. Some just have the misfortune of lower education and poverty due to circumstance. Give them a break, give them a try and I promise you, you'll never regret relocating!

Cost of living in any part of Rural Kentucky is going to seem like absolute paradise compared to California! (Imagine renting a 4 or 5 Bedroom NICE house for only $400 a month!!!) That's rural Kentucky!

The drug problem... hrmmm..... drugs unfortunately are rampant everywhere. Meth is getting ridiculous and of course marijuana is a prime drug for Kentucky people to grow, especially in these rural areas. Sorry, but must be truthful. Oh and moonshiners still exist, believe it or not. You'll be fine though! :c) If you want any other specifics, please just ask me!

P.S. This Northern Cali transplant is proud to now sport a new name for myself, I'm a Califorkian! (You can't ever take the Cali out, but I've added the Kentucky IN and I'm dern proud of that, Y'All !!!!)

[Miss Blue]

Originally Posted by ioneoskay

How is the drug problem and other crime statistics in the area around there? Cost of living? Friendlyness to Californians?

If you are already living in Martin ,I say a great big welcome . I'm right up the road in Pikeville. Drop in and sit awhile!! (I'm just a couple miles from Walmart) The posters who answered your questions were amazingly correct in the good things they had to say about us!!!

[movax0]

Martin is a coal mining town. They love folks from CA, (The locals say they taste like chicken) Really thought folks are friendly. Drugs are like they are everywhere else. Violent drug crime is probably lower than what you are used to, depending
where you live in CA.

[highliner]

What on Jehovah's sweet earth would inspire you to move to Martin , Ky? I mean, its very small, with extremely high poverty and few employment opportunities, and is quite isolated from shopping and other amenities. Not to throw you off, but really, why Martin? Pikeville,for instance, would be a major improvement over that area! I am truly amazed that anyone not from 'these parts' would even consider moving here. I've seen Pike and Floyd counties' best and worst sides, over the last forty-plus years, and won't consider moving back, even temporarily.

[michele36]

I have lived in Pike County my whole life.. I have never seen a homeless person laying on the street.. I have never went hungry... I have never seen a crime being committed.. I would say that says a lot.... Growing up, I never knew that eastern kentuckians lived in poverty... I know that they are not as well off as some.. and they are over worked, but I think in some cases it is more of a lifestyle choice... we don't have the jobs that we need around here.. but I know people here who have an annual income of 60,000 and if you followed them home you would never know it.. it is a lifestyle choice also.. not everyone lives on welfare...

[highliner]

Well, maybe if you look a little harder, you just might see some of the homeless in town. They just don't seem to congregate out around Hurricane Creek. As far as the prevalence of serious crime goes, just compare the size of the police staffing levels in Pike County to departments in non-Appalachian communities of similar population, and you'll probably get a nasty surprise. I'll admit that Pikeville is no Bangladesh, but the area is well known for its endemic poverty and overwhelming narcotics activity-and oh yes, as I've stated elsewhere- I grew up walking along Cline Street long before Walt Hambley absconded with the name.

[michele36]

Every place has its problems.. we have one homeless shelter and I am aware that we have a small homeless population, that move in and out from time to time. I lived on Hurricane Creek Rd. for a few years.. don't know what you are talking about there..
The brand new social security office is sitting on the corner of cline street now...yes the front is toward Hambley blvd.. I drive by there every other day.. If any one is intersted in taking a look at Pikeville for themselves, they can access the city at:

ads.jpg

there are some beautiful pictures here that speak for themselves..
To me, having lived here all my life, I think that the quality of life has improved over that past 15 years. Pikeville and Pike county both have changed, for the better in my opinion.

But everyone is entitled to their own opinion, that is what makes a forum good.. you get to here the good and the bad impressions.

[Visvaldis]

Two years ago I had a courier driver job. Every Monday thru Friday, for five months, I started in Lexington and drove down to Pikeville on the Mountain Parkway which is a scenic road. I had to make stops in Elkhorn City, Virgie, South Williamson, Pikeville (2 stops), Martin, and finally Prestonsburg before returning to Lexington. The people I met on a daily basis were friendly and the scenery made the drive very pleasant. I always enjoyed the wonderful view from the top of Rt 23 on the way to Virgie. Also, Rt 119 to South Williamson was great too. I have forgotten the name of the town several miles from rt 23 on the way to Martin, but it looked very bleak and economically depressed. Pikeville, itself, seemed somewhat narrow, squeezed into a valley, but the buildings and streets were clean and well maintained. The Mayo Trail was always full of traffic, including many coal trucks, and seemed to be little more than just strip malls and nothing else.
Sometimes, for no reason, I'd smile and beep the horn slightly and wave to pedestrians on the streets. Always, they smiled back and returned the greeting. During my 5 months on this job I never had an unpleasant encounter with anyone in that area.

[jerryclick]

Originally Posted by movax0

Martin is a coal mining town. They love folks from CA, (The locals say they taste like chicken) Really thought folks are friendly. Drugs are like they are everywhere else. Violent drug crime is probably lower than what you are used to, depending
where you live in CA.

I stumbled on this forum while looking for crime statistics. I'm FROM Martin and moved (with my parents) to California. I now live in rural Washington state which is a lot like KY only colder.
I think you are going to love KY after you get over the culture shock. Opposite side of the story: In school in So Cal I was called an Okie.