If you had lived here in the 70's and earlier you would have turned around and went back then. You never traveled the good old USA much have you? I mean besides the high dollar tourist towns etc. You'll find all the conditions described in about all 50 states if you look. I'll tell you what I drove an 18 wheeler across country. I would feel safe pulling into about any east Tennessee town and parking overnight at a company in lets say Bristol or Morristown or for that matter even in Newport.
However in the 1980's when I had runs going into NYC and New Jersey, etc I would park in Allentown ,PA that night and wait on day light to drive in. LA Cali was among the worst as well. Some bad things happen here yes. Bad stuff happens in Kentucky where 6 satanic youth killed 3 family members one night in Greeneville, TN thereabouts. One child of the family survives.
I live in a double wide with a view many would pay good money for. It was a very wise investment as it's paid for. When I became disabled I didn't loose my home as it was nearly paid off and had small payments. Land? Nearly 30 acres. Water? Mine is likely safer than about any in the nation. Neighbors? If anything at any time happened I could call them and help would be there ASAP.
Again I tell you that you know nothing of this region. Many persons being dirt poor living hand to mouth in their youth have stayed here to make the area better.
But I got a better idea why don't you instead of complaining about how bad things are in Bristol do like many have done and change it. I doubt too many persons grew up more poor than Dolly Parton. She is now among the highest paying employer in her home county. So much so a temporary part time job out pays a lot of full time ones.
I don't know what state you came from but I'm guess either well north of the Mason Dixon or from Cali perhaps. Been there and did that in a truck. I'll take East Tennessee any day BY CHOICE. OH BTW say you want to retire in VA? Now in the 70's they had some real strict blue laws. Tennessee for the most part didn't. VA does have a state income tax to pay for all your wish book improvements as well as a required state vehicle inspection to make certain no poorer persons clog to road going to work. You want to put in a new mobile home in about any county in East Tennessee? Good luck with the inspectors. Lived there while in the Navy thank you. Go try Portsmouth Virginia and see how it suits ya also.
I'm from Texas. I have also lived in Virginia and North Carolina. As for traveling, I have seen the entirity of nearly every state in the Union. When I said I was moving over the border, I meant just that... a mile or two. Just far enough to get out of this God-foresaken state, but still enjoy the beauty of Appalachia.
No, other states do not look like this one. Well... Arkansas almost does in certain areas, but not quite.
By your statement, "Now in the 70's they had some real strict blue laws." I realize you didn't even comprehend the meaning of the two billboards which says to me that you haven't been to this area very much or you would know that the Seventh Day Adventists are fighting the Baptists (even posting huge billboards) who hate the Catholics who all but the Catholics hate the Jews who hate... on and on and on. At least you did mention the Satanic Cults who are here in abundance living openly beside the KKK.
Here is a link about our lovely schools. http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/ep/tn_grade.htm
Yes, this is a very friendly area.. as long as you are white. Heaven help you if you are not and drive down 11E letting the police see you.
As for changing it, I've already tried... offering incentives for workers to go to school, when that yielded zero results, cajolling and babysitting their kids to get them to go, I have another child staying with me at the moment whose parents are divorced and argue over whose house the child will sleep... argue as in, "It's your turn." "No, it's your turn." because neither wants to be bothered with him. My son's friend is coming to live with us next semester because his parents don't believe in college and want him to go work at the local oil-changing place for a career so I will be sending him to school instead.
And Dolly Parton? Good God Man! She founded Dollywood to put her family to work that were bumming off her all the time. So I should start a business here and put people to work? Oh nevermind...