This post will appear to be a negative rant of life in Letcher County, Kentucky. These opinions are solely expressed by me alone. Previous experiences and freedom of opinion should be shared even if the truth hurts.
When I moved to Eastern Kentucky back in 2010, the people, the hills and everything within these rural Appalachian Mountains was purely amazing compared to Cook County, Illinois. From the big city of Chicago, to the rural country side, I absolutely fell in love. What seemed like a dream come true is nothing short of illusion and I was very lucky to be witness to the transition of a back-road paradise to a struggle of survival.
Fast forward to 2025 and Letcher County, Kentucky has became a negative haven for the negativity. 80% of the population is hostile with 40% are violent. Racism and discrimination still exist and one thing Eastern Kentucky does not like in 2025 is anyone that was not born in Eastern Kentucky (many folks makes fun of West and Central Kentucky). Whether it is the mental changes of weaponized politics, or climate change disaster’s such as floods, this change has brought lots of negativity to the region. The fear is a constant takeover with many of the population keeps silent. I was one of the many people affected with the floods and my PTSD did not kick in until months later. Although I am the type that is quiet, shy and considered a recluse is because the way I been treated and disrespected almost every day of living in Letcher County.
I currently reside in a town called Neon, but lived in Jenkins, McRoberts and Whitesburg. These are small places where everyone knows everything and everyone. This type of mentally is where issues comes into play because there is a 100% mindset that in order to get a good job, or to be treated with respect, its all according to who you know. Many residents will say this as it is the truth but some citizens will say otherwise. The entire area is a coal mining area which gives favoritism to coal miners. If you speak bad about coal miners, never worked in the coal mines, or speak opinion against anything coal related, you will discriminated on. This hostility and hate comes mostly from the older generation and the rest follows in fear of being rejected and disrespected by the community. Simple minds truly are an invitation of corruption and this corruptions runs deep from local towns to the federal government. Many do not understand Letcher County is under a microscope of fear whether the citizens realize this or not. The same fear keeps people in check while the criminals roam free. As one can imagine, the only criminals that remains behind bars are those that was not born here.
The politicians will always be the blame for the condition of the towns and counties. Back in 2010, I noticed that Letcher County was a poor county with rich people in it. The rich have friends in high places and made laws, regulations and statutes just the way they like it. What happens is the usual loss of employment, more drugs and criminals. The rich people are very much armed with guns as Letcher County is very relaxive on gun control (only to the rich people) and knows the lawyers, judges and law enforcement. They can without legal repercussions, murder anyone and get away with it. This corruption has been brought to light with the shooting death of Judge Mullins from Sheriff Mickey Stines. The criminal behavior law enforcement and the judges was performing proved the tiny area is far from innocent. And many people both was unaware and knew about this corruption. Sounds something like what would happen in a big city? Everything from swinging parties to drug cartel involvement. No one is none the wiser. Would it be fair these same folks who argue silent recluses like myself should be known but their envious vices should not. The ironic play on these type of peoples brings a county full of perverts who they think can talk dirty to girlfriends and wives of good citizens is astonishing but they can easily slip away through the cracks.
For 6 years, I have worked as an essential worker, working at retail stores like Dollar Tree and Walmart to Gas Stations such as Murphy USA and Double Kwik. One gets used to working around these types of people, and I am not talking about coworkers. Regular customers that are high and drunk that knows the judge or police that easily gets free because they know people. Same goes for perverts and criminals of sexual assault. Letcher County is not the nice little town the rest of the United States thinks it is. It is now 2026 and the people I talked to says everything is fine. A county can do be fine if the data and stats shows crime is increasing. This small town has 80% of the population that acts as if they were in a Big City. It is bad enough to have camera’s installed just to drive down to the store just to get food.
For the record, I am not writing a negative post about Eastern Kentucky or Letcher County in general. In order to find the good, one must shed light from the darkness on the bad. Children are growing up entitled, spoiled and corrupted with the same parents that raised them wonders why they are growing up with drugs, prostitution, violence and every other negative aspects of society. Perverted men being perverted to woman and even harassing them. The dope heads that steals catalytic converters and internet lines to make meth not caring for their neighbors well being. Neighbors letting their animals roam free to destroy other neighbors property causing time consuming messes. The list goes on.
I know a good decent amount of people will read this and say this is all false. These are the same people that are constantly high, drunk and will pick fights with anybody that does not agree with their opinion. The many preachers who preach the good book of the Bible but dopes it up with the rest of the county and talk behind good people behind their back which is not very Christian but looks good on their tax returns.
Each day, I always get commented on that “i am not from around here”. It is an everyday thing which gets tiring because you just want to be at peace. These people naturally fear what they see on television and automatically label an individual without knowing a persons background or story. Fear is a very powerful motivator and most people in Letcher County will say they have no fear. This is a lie.
It is ok to disagree on opinions but most people will go as far as shooting each other. Victims are usually the ones instigating the conflicts. Because they knew people to easily get them off court. I do not live in fear but I have grown very bitter and anti-social just because of the 80% of the people in Letcher County.
There is always a good within the horror story of living in the hills of Eastern Kentucky.
Letcher County has great potential in every aspect regardless of what the people think. The location makes it a staple of opportunity along with many areas to grow, expand and development. One of the main reasons why 80% are violent is because there is hardly any jobs and the only employment there is one has to travel. If we can get big industry here, the money will flow and people will be more happier. We need more competition in utilities such as power. There is only a single corporation that has a monopoly in this area (Kentucky Power) that they keep raising electricity each year making families struggle in poverty just to pay for heat and lights.
This post to raise awareness of the extra hardships for those who are just trying to live peacefully in Letcher County and to bring back the sanity that this country once used to have. Bullying others just because we are not born in the same town is in fact racism and not in anyway part of Christianity, but many are afraid of the truth and being violent is the only they know.
If you are from Letcher County, Kentucky and reading this: In order to change the world, it starts with you! Be the example that other people inspire to be and we can make this county wholesome again. We are all in this together.