Kentucky: Smaller Cities with Big City Amenities? (Lexington, Louisville: job market, community college)

[hdhick2]

I am a law student looking for a job for next year. I would love to stay in Lexington, but it's the most competitive job market in the state, so I need to be prepared to move. I am looking for cities with a reasonably large population (or at least a bigger town feel). I also want to live near a mall and a decent variety of restaurants. A college town would be ideal. I'm very keen on Richmond and Bowling Green, but what else is out there? I do NOT want to live in eastern KY (I grew up there and want something different). Thanks.

[dixiegirl7]

Sounds like Bowling Green is just what you are looking for to me.

[kentuckydad95]

How about Owensboro? Do they still have a mall?

[hdhick2]

Owensboro seems pretty isolated to me...no interstate access and I hear it's been in decline for years...but then again, I've never been there.

[kentuckydad95]

You would be better off in Tennessee. Clarksville, Knoxville, Jackson, Chattanooga would serve pretty good.

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

You would be better off in Tennessee. Clarksville, Knoxville, Jackson, Chattanooga would serve pretty good.

Please explain because that makes no sense...

[kentuckydad95]

Originally Posted by InLondon

Please explain because that makes no sense...

Well let's see. He/she said no Eastern KY. That leaves what? Richmond, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Paducah that are small cities with malls and colleges. Kentucky doesn't have many cities with malls. Hell, Paducah is a stretch because they have a community college only. I am going off what he/she wants. Tennessee has quite a few smaller cities with colleges and malls. Don't hate me because it's true.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

Well let's see. He/she said no Eastern KY. That leaves what? Richmond, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Paducah that are small cities with malls and colleges. Kentucky doesn't have many cities with malls. Hell, Paducah is a stretch because they have a community college only. I am going off what he/she wants. Tennessee has quite a few smaller cities with colleges and malls. Don't hate me because it's true.

Why not consider the areas in Northern Kentucky outside of I-275? Say, Florence, Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Highland Heights, those areas.

Otherwise, I think kentuckydad95 is right. If anything, your other best bet might actually be Frankfort; it's close to the small city of Lexington, but still close to the larger city of Louisville. Frankfort has a decent arts and cultural scene for a town of its size by virtue of being the state capital. And maybe Bowling Green simply b/c of its proximity to Nashville, but that doesn't offer a great deal of large city amenities itself.

Richmond, Murray, Morehead, Pikeville, etc. are all out of the question. I'd look into places in surrounding states to meet the criteria you're looking for. Just my honest $.02 ...and I'm a rural Kentucky native myself.

[hdhick2]

I'm looking to stay in KY...I know there are cities in state that I could live in. Richmond (and perhaps even Murray) are certainly not out of the question...Morehead and Pikeville, however, are.

[timelesschild]

You know, you might just look at Frankfort - that's a good idea.