next_migration | Kentucky

Kentucky is very rural, except for the metro areas of Louisville on the northwestern border (well over a million people) and the Lexington-Frankfort-Fayette area (well over half a million). There are many tiny unincorporated communities and “historically black hamlets.” Most counties are “dry” (still prohibiting alcohol sales) or “moist” (permitting sales only at certain businesses in certain cities, typically businesses owned by the rich or corporations, e.g., only restaurants with 100 seats or more). There are some local intercity bus services, but no central source of information about service. Only Maysville, South Portsmouth and Ashland in the north and the tiny Fulton in the southwest have Amtrak stops, though thruway service from several towns is available. Even Greyhound service is rather meager, with only 15 stops now listed in the state, including Berea.

If you want mountains, Appalachian culture, and conservative government, I think that Tennessee is more appealing. However, Kentucky’s potential for sustainability appears pretty good, following Day and Hall (2016) and Kurtz et al. (2022). The economy in smaller cities in general is not stellar, though usually not terrible. Most small towns with better economic numbers are clustered around the metro areas. Rural Appalachia is known for its insularity and I do not recommend moving to an isolated community unless you have family connections. Midsized to small cities that do not belong to the Louisville, Lexington-Frankfort, or Cincinnati bistate metro areas include the following:

o Bowling Green in the west (72,000 people) has a diverse manufacturing economy and many jobs in health care, higher education, and retail. Home of Western Kentucky University and a community college. Has a Greyhound stop.

o Madisonville (19,000 people) has an economy that emphasizes manufacturing, which has declined in recent years. Some residents complain that good jobs are hard to find. There is a community college that offers some bachelor’s degrees. In a moist county. Has a Greyhound stop.

o Owensboro (60,000 people) in the northwest has major economic sectors including health care, banking, retail, manufacture, and distilling. The town holds barbecue, bluegrass, and pumpkin festivals and weekly outdoor summer concerts. It has a bluegrass museum, a botanical garden, and one of the oldest synagogues in the U.S. Has a Greyhound stop.

o Henderson (28,000 people) to the west of Owensboro employs many people in manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, and government. There is a community college. Known for nearby natural areas and festivals centered on barbecue, bluegrass and folklife, and arts and crafts.

o Elizabethtown (31,000 people) in the central region is near Fort Knox, a major local employer. Elizabethtown has a variety of employers in manufacturing, distribution, health care, education, and retail/services, and has a community college. In a moist county.

o Radcliff (23,000 people) is part of the Elizabethtown metro area and borders Fort Knox, a major employer which is responsible for increasing the town’s ethnic and cultural diversity. Tourism, often military-related, brings in some business. There is a small university and a bourbon distillery.

o Richmond (35,000 people) is 20 minutes south of Lexington and is the home of Eastern Kentucky University. Services and manufacturing are major economic sectors. Has a good reputation as a friendly, affordable small town.

o Berea (15,000 people) is about 15 minutes’ drive from Richmond, where some residents go to shop, especially for alcohol as Berea is dry. It is home to the Kentucky Artisan Center, Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, and Berea College. Berea College, a private Christian liberal arts college, was the first interracial and co-educational college in the South and has a work-study, zero-tuition-bill program. There is some manufacturing in the area, especially of auto parts. Has a Greyhound stop.

o Ashland (21,000 people) in the far northeast is just across the Ohio River from Huntington, West Virginia. The biggest employer is a major medical center; there is a nearby federal prison. There is a community college. The town has been declining for years and the recent closure of a steel mill won’t help, but unemployment is moderate. Poverty and drugs are problems. Has a Greyhound stop and, surprisingly, a local bus service.

o Shelbyville (17,000 people) is between Louisville and Frankfort, about half an hour east of Louisville. Enough commuters use it as a bedroom community that housing prices are not cheap, though rent is still sane. The economy includes retail, service, manufacturing, and agriculture. Shelbyville bills itself as the Saddlebred Capital of the World and holds an annual horse show.

o Campbellsville (over 11,000 people) is home to Campbellsville University, which is about as large as the town. Housing is cheap, but incomes are low. Since industry has declined, the biggest employers include the university, the hospital, and an Amazon fulfillment center. There is also a recently built detention and rehab center; residents complain of increasing drug problems. There is a regional intercity bus service.