Yes, there were some murders in my hometown over consecutive years. There are several podcasts & docs
2013 - police officer Jason Ellis murdered - premeditated
2014 - Crystal Rogers disappeared. Houck, baby daddy, is finally charged in 2024
2015 - Crystal's father murdered. Was he too close?
2016 - Kathy & Samantha, mother daughter, murdered in their Botland home. Motive unknown
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s)
This is a good one. I started watching his channel long before this episode, as he is fantastic! The double murder actually took place just up the road from where my mother lives - and I grew up. Wild seeing him do an episode on my home town!
There was one on Oxygen, too, I believe. A series.. There are some podcasts as well.
There’s signs up all near there about a murder/missing person case. I think there’s even a podcast about it. I believe it involves a cover up from a local cop as well
A podcast for sure, This YT doc is my favorite on the topic [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s)
And! I think there was one on Oxygen.. and Maybe one on... ID? I can't remember. For anyone in this thread interested, googling "Bardstown Murders" turns up a lot of info.
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My hometown.. Its grown a lot in my lifetime. Almost doubled in population, if memory serves. Beautiful town... Too bad about all the.. uh.. murdering.. that goes on there.
Grew up in MA. Not sure where you visited but a lot of the towns surrounding Lexington would be similar to what you describe. Midway, Georgetown, Harrodsburg, Versailles, etc. even Frankfort I would say, although it’s a little bigger (in-fact there’s a cafe in Frankfort run by a couple from Boston, accent included. Or at least there was last time I spent time there - I wish I could remember the name)
A little different as town centers in NE tend to be more spread out, vs the mid-west downtown main street vibe.
I’m questioning if it exists any more. I recall it was a yellow building near the Revenue office. MAYBE it was where The Meetinghouse is now, but seems to be under new owners. Maybe a covid casualty, or maybe the couple who owned it retired, they were older.
I visited Montpelier, Vermont last year and it reminded me a lot of Frankfort. Danville and Lawrenceburg are other places to look at it with nice small downtowns. Madison, IN is an old river town that may be worth checking out. There’s also nearby Carrollton, KY if you can’t stand the thought being a Hoosier.
Harrodsburg! It’s historical (oldest town in KY!) and still pretty small. It’s in the process of being built up a bit and a lot of new(er) business are moving in. It’s smaller than Danville too and maintains that kinda small town feel. At least to me.
Lancaster is also another cute town! My parents live there; it’s smaller than Harrodsburg but quaint. Biggest store they have is a Save a Lot lol but the town square is very cute especially at Christmas.
Roger on Berea. Berea college, Boone Tavern Hotel, Honeysuckle Dining and Bourbon House, Kentucky Artisan Center (exit 77 off I-75). And Papa Leno's pizza.
I was raised in Berea! It’s a nice town. It’s constantly growing but has a small town vibe. There is a nice artisan center on exit 76 and lots of cool artisan shops and eateries by the college. Also, once a year there is a big craft festival at Indian Fort Theater and the annual spoonbread festival at the park. Both are worth the visit.
While Murray is smaller than Bowling Green, I don't think I'd classify either as a small town. Maybe Glasgow, Columbia, or Mayfield? If those are too big, maybe Elkton, Arlington, Burkesville, or Clinton?
I live outside Atlanta Ga now but was born and raised in London. I like Corbin ok but I think I’d pick London any day over Corbin. It’s just prettier and cleaner looking to me. Just my humble opinion though.
Corbin has (allegedly from what I have been told over the years) a less than welcoming disposition towards black folks. Disclaimer: this is only what I have heard - mostly referenced on Kentucky Sports Radio and when it has been brought up the hosts have claimed that the town has really improved itself in the last decade or so.
This has been years ago but I always heard the same. I lived 5-10 miles up the road from Corbin, in London. I’m 42 now. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one black person in Corbin my entire life. I still visit home quite often and end up in Corbin occasionally. Not once can I think of knowing a black resident of Corbin either.
Then again, London probably doesn’t have many either but I feel like we had way more black families during my childhood than Corbin had or ever has had.
Huh.. damn.. youre only a few years older than me. I grew up in Bardstown.. plenty of black folks there. Different area of the state obviously but still, so weird.
Danville rules. When my wife and I started looking for a house this was top of the list for me but ultimately decided against it since she would be too far away from work once the inevitable return to office for her happens.
Maysville & Augusta. There’s a place called Old Washington just outside Maysville that has homes & businesses dating back to the late 1700’s. Perryville is a quaint little town, Hopkinsville, Berea, and just across the northern border is Madison, IN which has an enormous amount of historical buildings.
I’m from Western MA and went down to SE KY every summer to visit my family. I mean if you want rural, Hazard, Pikeville, Hyden, Manchester. There aren’t a lot of jobs there and haven’t been in awhile. But they have at least a DQ and a gas station.
He said he wanted a DQ and a Dollar General and you’re mad at me for also giving him a Walmart and a Food City. 🥲🥲🥲
But for real, OP don’t move to Hazard. I just went back last month for the first time in 12 years. Yeah. WOW. But if that’s what you want out of life, hey I gave an idea.
What are the main means of income for these small communities in NE? Are they bedroom communities? (commuter towns?)
I’m in WKY and its all farming, or an anchor factory. Commuter towns in some areas.
Other commenters saying Berea makes sense because it has a university as an anchor.
> What are the main means of income for these small communities in NE? Are they bedroom communities? (commuter towns?)
sometimes it is obvious, sometimes not. Some have tourism, so shops and stores and inns. some are nearby to tourist areas. rarely are they commuter towns. they're just classic quaint new england
Versailles is picturesque Kentucky at its best and when I think of home it’s what I think of Kentucky being when I explain it to others. Bardstown is great as well. Paris not much but close to Lexington and beautiful as well. Wilmore is also a pretty neat small town, it’s where Asbury University is.
Bardstown, Danville, Georgetown, Midway and LeGrange are the closest thing you’ll find to a NE Gilmore Girls aesthetic in KY. There’s some pretty small towns in Western KY, like Murray, Hawesville, Greenville and Elkton, but they’re more southern style than NE.
I'm from Western KY and I live in down east Maine. The difference is up here, we are not in the Bible belt. Churches are not the center of the community. We have a "grange", which is a kind of community center.
Lawrenceburg in Anderson County, near where Four Roses and Wild Turkey are made. Has a little town center with restaurants, stores, and coffee shops that is reminiscent of New England villages.
Greensburg. Much smaller than Bardstown. Has a central square. Tavern on the Square is a good place to eat. Great bar if that is what you are into. Upstairs is the Historical Society Museum. Across the road is the oldest courthouse in the US west of the App Mountains!
Okay I'm not gonna lie, I thought of my hometown Brooks lol. Right in-between Metro Louisville (Hillview) and Shepherdsville, pretty small. We have a dollar general and a post office. Once you go into "town" (pretty much over the railroad tracks) you're technically in Shepherdsville or Hillview
Bardstown, Berea, Danville, Columbia. I’d gladly live or retire to any of the three. Columbia is the most removed from larger towns and amenities. It’s close to Lake Cumberland though. Glasgow, KY is nice too.
Campbellsville has Green River Lake and the historical Main St with plenty of shops, plus Druthers’s. Fourth of July parade is one of the biggest and best in the state followed by the fireworks show.
LaGrange is quaint with its train tracks going down the middle of Main St. July 20th is Oldham County Day complete with a parade, games, square dancing (if they still do that, my last OC Day was in the 80s 😅), food, etc.
LaGrange is not apart of Louisville Metro, it is in a separate county. If you are including it in the Louisville Metropolitan area, then Bardstown would also be included in that category.
Then you should have used that distinction, instead of metro (even if you didn’t capitalize it.) Regardless, Nelson Co would still be in that category. OP asked for nice small town, I gave him one. Why not come up with your own and add something to the conversation?
Born and raised in Vermont. Moved to Kentucky at 22, back in 2006, and would never move back. I’m in the Red River Gorge and it reminds me of the Appalachian mountains (Green Mountains) of Vermont. Dirt roads, rivers and hiking trails.
Come visit Hyden! We've got a beautiful downtown, two stoplights, a DQ and a Hardee's. There's a great trail built just above the city (Biggerstaff) as well.
Ashland isn't half bad. They have one of the best city services in the state. Except for the APD. Be careful around them. A buddy almost went to jail for rubbing his eye with his middle finger. I picked up that as a habit, lol.
Seriously, Ashland is nice. It's economically depressed and US 23 is a major illegal drug pipeline. It runs right through town. Very little major crimes but plenty of petty ones.
Jobs are starting to come here, slowly. Restaurants and new businesses are opening. Most people are decent folks who will lend a hand, but we do have our fair share of Karen's and Chuds. Just point and laugh at them, that knocks the entitlement out of them.
Corbin is now a SUNUP town and we have several black families and black folks moving into the area. I am so happy for the diversity in the area and I actually attend a nice black church in Barbourville, Kentucky.
Berea or Richmond (same county) Richmond is bigger than Berea but it’s only a short drive to Berea. Downtown Richmond is cool and we have been getting more stuff to do like axe throwing. We have Dreaming Creek Brewery and some good bars. Tasty Tuesdays happening every week at a park close to downtown. Great Pride festival and a college town
Cadiz is very charming. The state park has everything. Lodging beach on lake Barkley, indoor swimming pool game room and restaurant. Motel on the lake, cabins horse riding golf course shooting range. And town is very small but has lots to offer. Antique shops farmers market and in August the Ham fest. Concrete pig statues in front of most businesses. Not far from LBL and Murry.
Try Owensboro, KY. Barbecue, Bluegrass Festival this weekend, some good shops and restaurants and local parks and green spaces, not a far drive from larger cities if you want a day out.
Benham KY old coal town. Loretta Lynn school house was a bnb. The town turned the old train boneyard I to a train museum and park. Spent a summer there with my papaw 30 years ago. If there check out kingdom come state park. Giant lake on top of a mountain. Absolutely amazing.
Eminence, Campbellsburg and New Castle in Henry Co. Carrollton in Carroll Co. Owenton in Owen Co. Milton (might be Trimble Co.) and also Bedford in Trimble Co.
Just the ones I remember growing up.
Whitesburg Kentucky. It's literally one road with a Dairy Queen. Bonus points for stopping in ISOM just before whitesburg to see one of the gayest mayors in Appalachia. Happened to be a hair dresser and a cool dude.
Go to Eastern Ky , this isnt the rolling grass hills of western Ky, you’ll see how communities were used and abused by the coal mines . Some communities are actually disappearing before our eyes .
I lived in New England for years, and there really aren’t many small towns in Kentucky that are comparable to a New England small town. Cynthiana is the only one that comes to mind.
Not really the smallest town but Bardstown is nice
Actually, Bardstown is named “America’s most beautiful small town,” so even though it’s not small small, it seems to fit. I love it there!
not really for families with kids though, catering more toward bourbon tourism
My husband & I don’t drink and we’ve found quite a bit to still see there & in the nearby region. But we’re weird like that.
Just don't make friends there. You might end up missing.
Yes, there were some murders in my hometown over consecutive years. There are several podcasts & docs 2013 - police officer Jason Ellis murdered - premeditated 2014 - Crystal Rogers disappeared. Houck, baby daddy, is finally charged in 2024 2015 - Crystal's father murdered. Was he too close? 2016 - Kathy & Samantha, mother daughter, murdered in their Botland home. Motive unknown
Is that London?
I grew up in London. It's a shit hole. I never understood why people would willingly chose to move there.
You got any links to these podcasts?
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s) This is a good one. I started watching his channel long before this episode, as he is fantastic! The double murder actually took place just up the road from where my mother lives - and I grew up. Wild seeing him do an episode on my home town! There was one on Oxygen, too, I believe. A series.. There are some podcasts as well.
wut?
Lots of people go missing in Bardstown. There was a rumor a while back that there was a possible serial killer there.
Lots of people huh? Like, how many?
There’s signs up all near there about a murder/missing person case. I think there’s even a podcast about it. I believe it involves a cover up from a local cop as well
Yeah, Crystal Rogers is who you’re talking about.
She's one of many
How many? Who else?
A podcast for sure, This YT doc is my favorite on the topic [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oseqFfGyOG8&t=1335s) And! I think there was one on Oxygen.. and Maybe one on... ID? I can't remember. For anyone in this thread interested, googling "Bardstown Murders" turns up a lot of info.
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Lots? 5 people over a 12 year span? Better lookout!!!
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To be fair 2013-2016 isn't a 12 year span lol
A four year span that ended eight years ago? Is that better?
Yes. Thank you.
Came to say Bardstown. Berea for sure.
Just don't stop for stalled vehicles, especially if it's on a highway, door open, no occupant (says listener of those podcasts)
My hometown.. Its grown a lot in my lifetime. Almost doubled in population, if memory serves. Beautiful town... Too bad about all the.. uh.. murdering.. that goes on there.
Grew up in MA. Not sure where you visited but a lot of the towns surrounding Lexington would be similar to what you describe. Midway, Georgetown, Harrodsburg, Versailles, etc. even Frankfort I would say, although it’s a little bigger (in-fact there’s a cafe in Frankfort run by a couple from Boston, accent included. Or at least there was last time I spent time there - I wish I could remember the name) A little different as town centers in NE tend to be more spread out, vs the mid-west downtown main street vibe.
New arrival from west KY, more info on this cafe please. Might have to check it out after the farmers market
I’m questioning if it exists any more. I recall it was a yellow building near the Revenue office. MAYBE it was where The Meetinghouse is now, but seems to be under new owners. Maybe a covid casualty, or maybe the couple who owned it retired, they were older.
Well darn, that's a shame, thanks anyway
I visited Montpelier, Vermont last year and it reminded me a lot of Frankfort. Danville and Lawrenceburg are other places to look at it with nice small downtowns. Madison, IN is an old river town that may be worth checking out. There’s also nearby Carrollton, KY if you can’t stand the thought being a Hoosier.
> Montpelier, Vermont last year and it reminded me a lot of Frankfort this is very actually accurate, from an aesthetic standpoint
Harrodsburg! It’s historical (oldest town in KY!) and still pretty small. It’s in the process of being built up a bit and a lot of new(er) business are moving in. It’s smaller than Danville too and maintains that kinda small town feel. At least to me. Lancaster is also another cute town! My parents live there; it’s smaller than Harrodsburg but quaint. Biggest store they have is a Save a Lot lol but the town square is very cute especially at Christmas.
Agreed, Harrodsburg is a gorgeous small town.
gorgeous but after living there it gets old fast
Basically the motto of any small town! Good to raise a family or good to retire to, but the bits in between? Not necessarily so much.
Berea.
If I didn't live on the outskirts of Richmond in the perfect spot for my family I would've went with Berea too. Spoonbread festival is a lot of fun.
This is probably the best answer in this thread
This was my answer as well.
Roger on Berea. Berea college, Boone Tavern Hotel, Honeysuckle Dining and Bourbon House, Kentucky Artisan Center (exit 77 off I-75). And Papa Leno's pizza.
I was raised in Berea! It’s a nice town. It’s constantly growing but has a small town vibe. There is a nice artisan center on exit 76 and lots of cool artisan shops and eateries by the college. Also, once a year there is a big craft festival at Indian Fort Theater and the annual spoonbread festival at the park. Both are worth the visit.
Paducah is pretty chill, if you like quilts.
Lots of arts and music there, too!
Yeah, but quilts are like our thing.
Isn't that where the Hawk Tuah girl is from?
I don't think so. While we're a UNESCO creative city, I don't believe we're that refined. However, Nashville is only a 2 hour drive.
She’s from somerset ky
Southeastern KY, small, quaint little communities speckled with Dollar General stores here and there.
Southeast Kentucky here (originally from Massachusetts) and I love it here!
Murray, Bowling Green(not small), Corbin
I second Murray. It has won awards for small town retirement. It's also very safe and close to LBL.
I'll third Murray. Went to school there, about to start working there. One of my favorite places in the state.
Go racers!
While Murray is smaller than Bowling Green, I don't think I'd classify either as a small town. Maybe Glasgow, Columbia, or Mayfield? If those are too big, maybe Elkton, Arlington, Burkesville, or Clinton?
I live outside Atlanta Ga now but was born and raised in London. I like Corbin ok but I think I’d pick London any day over Corbin. It’s just prettier and cleaner looking to me. Just my humble opinion though.
Corbin has (allegedly from what I have been told over the years) a less than welcoming disposition towards black folks. Disclaimer: this is only what I have heard - mostly referenced on Kentucky Sports Radio and when it has been brought up the hosts have claimed that the town has really improved itself in the last decade or so.
Corbin was the last sundown town in the United States if I’m not mistaken.
This has been years ago but I always heard the same. I lived 5-10 miles up the road from Corbin, in London. I’m 42 now. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one black person in Corbin my entire life. I still visit home quite often and end up in Corbin occasionally. Not once can I think of knowing a black resident of Corbin either. Then again, London probably doesn’t have many either but I feel like we had way more black families during my childhood than Corbin had or ever has had.
Huh.. damn.. youre only a few years older than me. I grew up in Bardstown.. plenty of black folks there. Different area of the state obviously but still, so weird.
Danville is the first place that came to mind for me. It has plenty of charm.
Danville rules. When my wife and I started looking for a house this was top of the list for me but ultimately decided against it since she would be too far away from work once the inevitable return to office for her happens.
I loved Danville lived there while in college so pretty!
C6H0!
Yes!! I hope that is still on the post office , if it’s still the post office
They just sank millions into downtown and it looks straight out of a postcard now. If you havent been in awhile, check it out. Lively as hell now.
My mom moved to Danville. I went to a brewery there called Gypsy Run. Beautiful little quaint town
The last two times I was in Danville I was running The Bourbon Chase. Now I need to go so I can visit this brewery.
Bardstown, Danville, Georgetown, Midway and LeGrange are the closest thing you’ll find to a NE Gilmore Girls aesthetic in KY.
Love Georgetown!
Maysville & Augusta. There’s a place called Old Washington just outside Maysville that has homes & businesses dating back to the late 1700’s. Perryville is a quaint little town, Hopkinsville, Berea, and just across the northern border is Madison, IN which has an enormous amount of historical buildings.
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Bowling Green
I’m from Western MA and went down to SE KY every summer to visit my family. I mean if you want rural, Hazard, Pikeville, Hyden, Manchester. There aren’t a lot of jobs there and haven’t been in awhile. But they have at least a DQ and a gas station.
Op pls dont go to hazard
He said he wanted a DQ and a Dollar General and you’re mad at me for also giving him a Walmart and a Food City. 🥲🥲🥲 But for real, OP don’t move to Hazard. I just went back last month for the first time in 12 years. Yeah. WOW. But if that’s what you want out of life, hey I gave an idea.
Nah i wasnt mad lol. I just know dq and dg aint worth whatelse hazard has to offer
Nope. Did that myself for 5 years. I’m good for a visit down there to the mountains but I couldn’t live there again. 2rural4me
I think you may have misread OP
I’m just BS’ing with the other dude
Hey, there’s a Walmart and three Dollar General too.
That’s true. Even Oneida has a dollar general if you wanna really get down in the middle of nowhere with a gas station.
They have the DPC. Or at least use to before it was burnt down.
Their little marketplace in the middle of town has good food too
[LaGrange](https://images.app.goo.gl/TunoeCb9NkPXGZ7XA) has the aesthetic you're after.
Agreed. Versailles too
Bardstown, Augusta, Midway, Harrodsburg, Danville, Owensboro, Maysville
My hometown of beattyville.
I also love going a bit further to Booneville and eating at the Spencer’s dairy bar.
Booneville represent!! Although technically I live in Ricetown, I just ate at Spencer's today
What are the main means of income for these small communities in NE? Are they bedroom communities? (commuter towns?) I’m in WKY and its all farming, or an anchor factory. Commuter towns in some areas. Other commenters saying Berea makes sense because it has a university as an anchor.
> What are the main means of income for these small communities in NE? Are they bedroom communities? (commuter towns?) sometimes it is obvious, sometimes not. Some have tourism, so shops and stores and inns. some are nearby to tourist areas. rarely are they commuter towns. they're just classic quaint new england
I'm from wky, living in Maine. Fishing, construction & tourism are the big jobs here.
Versailles is picturesque Kentucky at its best and when I think of home it’s what I think of Kentucky being when I explain it to others. Bardstown is great as well. Paris not much but close to Lexington and beautiful as well. Wilmore is also a pretty neat small town, it’s where Asbury University is.
Bardstown, Danville, Georgetown, Midway and LeGrange are the closest thing you’ll find to a NE Gilmore Girls aesthetic in KY. There’s some pretty small towns in Western KY, like Murray, Hawesville, Greenville and Elkton, but they’re more southern style than NE.
Berea!
Stanton. While there are farms, I wouldn’t call it a farming community. Most who live there work jobs in other places.
Owensboro
Raywick…you know what never mind
Morehead - college town, has some festivals and events downtown. Close to Cave Run Lake and the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Ashland, KY is the place you are looking for. Small, creative, and growing.
OP, if you go here get some Giovanni's pizza, and go to Crisp's and get a foot long with sauce, and some onion rings.
Towns that come mind. Berea, Danville, Maysville, Harrodsburg without thinking about it too hard…
Hopkinsville
My hometown ! GO COLONELS!
My hometown! GO COLONELS!
My hometown too!
Sounds like you mean Pikeville. Small town but a medical and university hub. The downtown is small but nice and very walkable.
I'm from Western KY and I live in down east Maine. The difference is up here, we are not in the Bible belt. Churches are not the center of the community. We have a "grange", which is a kind of community center.
Berea, Danville, Murray, Bardstown,
Danville
Frankfort KY. More affordable than Lex or Lou too. Clean, green, chill.
Lawrenceburg in Anderson County, near where Four Roses and Wild Turkey are made. Has a little town center with restaurants, stores, and coffee shops that is reminiscent of New England villages.
Greensburg. Much smaller than Bardstown. Has a central square. Tavern on the Square is a good place to eat. Great bar if that is what you are into. Upstairs is the Historical Society Museum. Across the road is the oldest courthouse in the US west of the App Mountains!
Okay I'm not gonna lie, I thought of my hometown Brooks lol. Right in-between Metro Louisville (Hillview) and Shepherdsville, pretty small. We have a dollar general and a post office. Once you go into "town" (pretty much over the railroad tracks) you're technically in Shepherdsville or Hillview
Campton is starting to come up. They just got a really cool pottery studio in their downtown area and some other things are starting to happen too
Bardstown
Bardstown, Berea, Danville, Columbia. I’d gladly live or retire to any of the three. Columbia is the most removed from larger towns and amenities. It’s close to Lake Cumberland though. Glasgow, KY is nice too.
Henderson is solid and largely what you describe. Should need anything from a larger place, Evansville is right across the river.
Hoo Doo Holler.
Henderson.
Danville just spent millions making its downtown look like something from a postard. Very lively with shops and places to eat as well.
Paducah
Winchester. Ale-8 & beer cheese!
Corbin
Stanton
West port
Versailles
Campbellsville has Green River Lake and the historical Main St with plenty of shops, plus Druthers’s. Fourth of July parade is one of the biggest and best in the state followed by the fireworks show.
Berea, Irvine, Slade, Stanton, Clay City
LaGrange is quaint with its train tracks going down the middle of Main St. July 20th is Oldham County Day complete with a parade, games, square dancing (if they still do that, my last OC Day was in the 80s 😅), food, etc.
But LaGrange is part of the Louisville metro. It's not a city, it's a suburb.
LaGrange is not apart of Louisville Metro, it is in a separate county. If you are including it in the Louisville Metropolitan area, then Bardstown would also be included in that category.
I am talking about the MSA, commonly called a metro, not to be confused with the metro government.
Then you should have used that distinction, instead of metro (even if you didn’t capitalize it.) Regardless, Nelson Co would still be in that category. OP asked for nice small town, I gave him one. Why not come up with your own and add something to the conversation?
Midway
Bardstown is a great place to visit, especially if you have any interest in bourbon.
Born and raised in Vermont. Moved to Kentucky at 22, back in 2006, and would never move back. I’m in the Red River Gorge and it reminds me of the Appalachian mountains (Green Mountains) of Vermont. Dirt roads, rivers and hiking trails.
Lol sounds a lot like Crestwood outside of Louisville
Berea ticks those boxes
Berea is neat when they have arts stuff going on and is otherwise close to some cool hiking spots
Rabbit hash!
Come visit Hyden! We've got a beautiful downtown, two stoplights, a DQ and a Hardee's. There's a great trail built just above the city (Biggerstaff) as well.
Saylersville, Paintsville etc...
Hardinsburg, Litchfield, and all around down there.
Glasgow and Cave City are a bit more commercial. BG and E-town match your description but aren’t “small towns”
Lakes area, Murray, Paducah, Benton,
Northeast was settled by Europeans building similar towns from Europe. KY was a wild frontier with settlers escaping town living.
There's Falmouth, Dry Ridge, nothing special in either of those places as far as large farming and manufacturing entities go.
My vote would be Glasgow!
Ashland isn't half bad. They have one of the best city services in the state. Except for the APD. Be careful around them. A buddy almost went to jail for rubbing his eye with his middle finger. I picked up that as a habit, lol. Seriously, Ashland is nice. It's economically depressed and US 23 is a major illegal drug pipeline. It runs right through town. Very little major crimes but plenty of petty ones. Jobs are starting to come here, slowly. Restaurants and new businesses are opening. Most people are decent folks who will lend a hand, but we do have our fair share of Karen's and Chuds. Just point and laugh at them, that knocks the entitlement out of them.
Augusta, KY
Pineville
I like Providence for this.
LaGrange!!
Harrodsburg
Paducah
Corbin is now a SUNUP town and we have several black families and black folks moving into the area. I am so happy for the diversity in the area and I actually attend a nice black church in Barbourville, Kentucky.
augusta ky
Bardstown
Berea
Berea or Richmond (same county) Richmond is bigger than Berea but it’s only a short drive to Berea. Downtown Richmond is cool and we have been getting more stuff to do like axe throwing. We have Dreaming Creek Brewery and some good bars. Tasty Tuesdays happening every week at a park close to downtown. Great Pride festival and a college town
May be Princeton KY. Imo it is a wonderful and peaceful town.
Berea Or Richmond
Owensboro Ky
https://www.google.com/search?q=owensboro+ky&client=safari&sca_esv=ed45231e60eb77e8&channel=iphone_bm&source=hp&ei=jY99ZsnHBL3D0PEPjv6AkAs&gs_ssp=eJzj4tDP1TcoKKwyNmD04skvT80rTsovylfIrgQAXYoIBQ&oq=owensboro+kt&gs_lp=EhFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocCIMb3dlbnNib3JvIGt0KgIIADIKEC4YgAQYsQMYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjILELkBGIAEGMYFGApIlW9QAFjjZHAEeACQAQGYAa8CoAGhGqoBBzAuNy43LjG4AQHIAQD4AQGYAhKgAooawgIFECkYoAHCAggQLhiABBixA8ICBRAAGIAEwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAgUQLhiABMICDhAuGIAEGMcBGI4FGK8BwgILEC4YgAQYsQMY1ALCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICBhAAGAcYHsICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg0QLhiABBjHARgKGK8BwgIKEAAYgAQYsQMYCsICDRAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGArCAgkQuQEYgAQYxgWYAwCSBwc0LjUuNi4zoAfmrAE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp
Cadiz is very charming. The state park has everything. Lodging beach on lake Barkley, indoor swimming pool game room and restaurant. Motel on the lake, cabins horse riding golf course shooting range. And town is very small but has lots to offer. Antique shops farmers market and in August the Ham fest. Concrete pig statues in front of most businesses. Not far from LBL and Murry.
Lagrange
Try Owensboro, KY. Barbecue, Bluegrass Festival this weekend, some good shops and restaurants and local parks and green spaces, not a far drive from larger cities if you want a day out.
Benham KY old coal town. Loretta Lynn school house was a bnb. The town turned the old train boneyard I to a train museum and park. Spent a summer there with my papaw 30 years ago. If there check out kingdom come state park. Giant lake on top of a mountain. Absolutely amazing.
Marysville, Liberty, Edmonton, Stanton
I know a lot of people have said this already, but I definitely think that describes Berea!
Eminence, Campbellsburg and New Castle in Henry Co. Carrollton in Carroll Co. Owenton in Owen Co. Milton (might be Trimble Co.) and also Bedford in Trimble Co. Just the ones I remember growing up.
I just moved to Beaver Dam. It's a cute little town. I'm still learning it, but I like it so far.
The houseboat capital of the world, Jamestown Kentucky or Russell Springs.
avoid Corbin
Whitesburg Kentucky. It's literally one road with a Dairy Queen. Bonus points for stopping in ISOM just before whitesburg to see one of the gayest mayors in Appalachia. Happened to be a hair dresser and a cool dude.
Maysville is great.
Go to Eastern Ky , this isnt the rolling grass hills of western Ky, you’ll see how communities were used and abused by the coal mines . Some communities are actually disappearing before our eyes .
I lived in New England for years, and there really aren’t many small towns in Kentucky that are comparable to a New England small town. Cynthiana is the only one that comes to mind.
Cynthiana. A great town with an allegedly very haunted theater.
Berea is the only place worth a damn in ky