Why is Kentucky’s population not growing? (new home, income)

[nalabama]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

If I wanted to live in a state like Indiana or Tennessee then I would have moved there. I don’t want to trade Kentucky farmlands for dirty industrial factories. What the battery factory is doing to quaint little Glendale is heartbreaking. We are a big nation, it’s nice that states like my sweet, friendly, slow paced Kentucky still exist.

I am in complete agreement with the above.

[StraightTalker2022]

It's too close to W. Virginia . That's a good enough reason for me.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

If I wanted to live in a state like Indiana or Tennessee then I would have moved there. I don’t want to trade Kentucky farmlands for dirty industrial factories. What the battery factory is doing to quaint little Glendale is heartbreaking. We are a big nation, it’s nice that states like my sweet, friendly, slow paced Kentucky still exist.

So true. If KY didn't have the charm, quaint old towns, classic old farm houses, open space and greenery that it does, I probably would have retired somewhere else. There are several states less expensive to live in.

I've always said be careful what you wish for to those trying to make KY into something that it isn't. Some things are best loved and appreciated as they are for as long as possible.

[Indyguy50]

Correct me if im wrong but didn’t the original post asked the question, “why isn’t Kentucky’s population growing’?

[hogsrus]

Well, from my vantage point, I can't see how anyone could even suggest Kentucky's population isn't growing.
I would elaborate but, I would probably offend my neighbors, and like little andy says, we can't be doin that. I'm just glad I'm not in the shoes of my friends in surrounding counties.

Everything you have heard about Eastern Kentucky is all correct...it's a horrible place to be, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. I know, I'm full of BS most of the time but, it's a fact.

I'll put it like this, we are like the Marines, "We're looking for a FEW GOOD Men" and Women.

[recycled]

Originally Posted by marino760

So true. If KY didn't have the charm, quaint old towns, classic old farm houses, open space and greenery that it does, I probably would have retired somewhere else. There are several states less expensive to live in.

I've always said be careful what you wish for to those trying to make KY into something that it isn't. Some things are best loved and appreciated as they are for as long as possible.

Well said. I like KY a lot, and it was high on my list of places to settle down after I returned to the USA a few months ago. I ended up just an hour or so north of KY in a part of Ohio that looks pretty similar to many parts of northern or central KY. I am just renting here, and using it as my home base to get to know the Midwest and upper south. I am a newbie to this region, originally from CA with previous residences in AZ, AL, NJ and a few other countries. It is still a possibility I'll end up in KY.

I think a state like KY needs to maintain a certain amount of new growth and economic opportunity to prevent "brain drain", especially of the best and brightest of the younger residents. If there are not some well paying, challenging and forward-looking jobs in an area, many graduates of Universities will go somewhere else. I am not an expert on what it takes to prevent brain drain of the younger generation, but I hope it is somewhere on the agenda of some of the state's leaders.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by Indyguy50

Correct me if im wrong but didn’t the original post asked the question, “why isn’t Kentucky’s population growing’?

Yes, and some feel what it would take to get that greater growth is not worth the cultural and environmental changes that would have to occur in the state to achieve it.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

If I wanted to live in a state like Indiana or Tennessee then I would have moved there. I don’t want to trade Kentucky farmlands for dirty industrial factories. What the battery factory is doing to quaint little Glendale is heartbreaking. We are a big nation, it’s nice that states like my sweet, friendly, slow paced Kentucky still exist.

The fact of the matter is that the Glendale site of the Blue Oval battery plants were zoned to attract an automotive manufacturer decades ago, but companies picked locations in other states.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

The fact of the matter is that the Glendale site of the Blue Oval battery plants were zoned to attract an automotive manufacturer decades ago, but companies picked locations in other states.

It was about two decades ago, during the last time we were living in the area. I taught at the local middle school. It fell through then because there were two farms in the middle of the area that the courts would not allow to be taken by eminent domain. Zoning doesn’t matter if you can’t purchase the property. Both of the original owners have since died and their heirs were willing to sell this go around. They didn’t want to farm and the land became impossible to sell as farmland because of fear that a smaller factory would purchase portions around it and pollute the area.

Most long term residents in the county are not happy with the changes. It is not helping that the battery factory has already announced the second phase of the factory is indefinitely delayed due to concerns about electric vehicle sales volumes.

[DillyDilly97]

Originally Posted by hogsrus

Well, from my vantage point, I can't see how anyone could even suggest Kentucky's population isn't growing.
I would elaborate but, I would probably offend my neighbors, and like little andy says, we can't be doin that. I'm just glad I'm not in the shoes of my friends in surrounding counties.

Everything you have heard about Eastern Kentucky is all correct...it's a horrible place to be, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. I know, I'm full of BS most of the time but, it's a fact.

I'll put it like this, we are like the Marines, "We're looking for a FEW GOOD Men" and Women.

I guess you are in luck. Considering 70% of Kentucky’s counties are losing population. Not just Eastern Kentucky but also Western and Northwestern Kentucky as well. It’s not projected to change anytime soon. Kentucky has one of the smallest new home construction rates and commercial construction rates in the nation. None of the “old charm” buildings in Kentucky are getting newer, that stuff doesn’t last forever. The average age in Kentucky is above the national average and rapidly increasing as the youth of Kentucky is moving to other states for better job opportunities and definitely better wages. Kentucky will pay a high price for this in the near future. Trees and scenery don’t pay the bills.