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“Kentucky is about three states in one.....eastern, central and western. Western is more southern/Midwest. Eastern is, well, unusual. And central is quite nice.”

My job often takes me to KY, and I agree with your assessment. Eastern KY (especially SE KY) is another world. To say it is “unusual” is being tactful, and generous.

eastern ky = WV

Ok... so Eastern KY.. what’s the scoop here?

Down home folk who haven’t quite given up? Poverty ? Crime ?

My job often takes me to KY, and I agree with your assessment. Eastern KY (especially SE KY) is another world. To say it is “unusual” is being tactful, and generous.

That's no joke. And I should append some additional info to my info dump post about this.

Kentucky really is three states. Western Kentucky is very southern. Western Kentucky may as well be part of Tennessee. There's no real difference.

Central Kentucky's culture is the old school, bluegrass, horses, and bourbon part of Kentucky. When people from other parts of the country think of Kentucky, this is what they are thinking of.

Eastern Kentucky ain't quite right. It was settled by Scots-Irish immigrants initially and those settlers were so isolated from everyone else, they didn't really culturally advance past the tribal stage of the Scottish Highlanders. The effects of that are still felt to this day in that area. The eastern KY hillbillies are not nearly so mean as Hollywood would have you believe, but they are very insular and like to keep to themselves. If they decide you are one of "their" people, it would be hard to find more loyal friends. If they decide you aren't, it would be hard to find more implacable enemies.

Heard a story from a friend of mine who does some business in Eastern KY that illustrates the culture very well. A gentlemen who has a cousin in Eastern KY goes for a visit. He thinks he's in the right tiny little town but isn't sure. He pulls up to this place's only intersection and sees an old guy in a rocking chair outside the general store who looks like he's been in that rocking chair since the 1840s. He asks the guy, "I'm looking for John. Do you know him?" Old man thinks a second and says, "Can't say as I do. Why do you want to know?" Traveler says, "I'm his cousin, just wanted to stop for a visit." "Oh!" the old man perks up. "Well, in that case, he's three doors down mowing his yard. Just go on down thata-way."

True story. Describes the easterners pretty well.

Some Eastern KY churches do, in fact, still do the snake handling thing. They're a minority, but they're still around. And don't give those people the idea that you might be some kind of bill collector or a "revenuer." You won't be popular if you do.