[vector]

Eastern KY has no one to blame but themselves, can't speak for the coal areas, but the Ashland area has shot itself in the foot time and time again. Some very recently.

Not gibing the tax incentives to Toyota to build another plant in Boyd, so they went to WV.

Not giving liquor licenses to NASCAR, so they ended up building the Kentucky Speedway elsewhere, the Industrial Parkway was built for one reason, and it was for that track. I've never even watched a NASCAR race, but I can only imagine how many millions of dollars that cost the area.

Ashland Oil, left the area because there was nothing for their executives to do.

Companies won't move into an area if there is nothing to draw them there. So as long as the area remains the way it is, it will continue to wither and die off, with an aging populace as every young successful person escapes the area quickly... I will be gone in 2 years, and honestly don't care to ever return.

Horrible weather, nothing to do, old population, drug addicts everywhere.... exactly why would anyone come to this area?

Get out while you can. There's a reason it is the most depressed, fattest, and unhealthiest area in the entire country.

you forgot the uneducated