6 Things to Know Before Moving to Kentucky

The Weather

One of the first considerations to have before moving to Kentucky is the experience of all four seasons. Each season brings its own challenges with snow and ice storms, tornados, and possible flooding. However, many love watching the leaves change colors during the cool, crisp autumn days. During winter, average temperatures hang just around freezing with typical lows hovering around 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring in Kentucky is a gardener’s dream as the majority of the yearly 45-50 inches of rainfall occurs during this time. In summer, highs typically reach a warm, but not stifling, mid-80s.

The Economy

Another brilliant reason to move to Kentucky is the stable job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kentucky’s unemployment rate is generally comparable to the national average at 4.5%. The most common industries of employment in the state include manufacturing, retail, and health care.

It should be noted that the average household income only hangs around the mid-forty thousands, but this should not deter those looking to relocate. This lower income rate balances perfectly against the cost of living, which sits around 10% less than the national average. The median home cost in Kentucky also fares around a completely affordable $140,000.

The Tourism

Tourists from across the country and the globe visit Kentucky for its abundant natural environment. The Appalachian Mountains boast stimulating valleys, peaks, and both coniferous and deciduous trees. In addition, this mountain range houses some of the most characteristic creatures. Natural inhabitants of the wooded areas include the flying squirrel, American copperhead snake, and a great number of owls. In addition, the freshwater streams house an abundance of life including the wood frog, snapping turtles, and the speckled trout.

The liveliness of Kentucky also includes interests in entertainment like the Louisville Slugger Museum. This attraction in Louisville showcases the largest baseball bat in the world, weighing 34 tons and standing at 120 feet tall. They also pay tribute to a sport that is frequently referred to as America’s pastime with memorabilia from baseball’s greatest players.

The History

Kentucky’s rich history features stories of hardworking Americans who built this country. The first commercial coal mine in the country opened in Kentucky in 1820. This was the beginning of Kentucky leading the industry in both underground and surface mining. Today, Kentucky continues to be a major player in this fossil fuel that is the world’s largest energy source. In total, 131.8 million tons of coal were mined in this state in 2010 alone.

Kentucky is also a major component of the American Civil War. This great episode in U.S. combat is often referred to as the bloodiest war in the nation’s history. This battle between states was fought with President Abraham Lincoln representing the northern Union and Jefferson Davis representing the southern Confederate Army. Along with a long list of battles that occurred on the state’s soil, it is also notoriously known because both Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln were born in Kentucky.

The Cuisine

Another factor one should become familiar with before moving to Kentucky is the traditional cuisine. Many favorite dishes of the Bluegrass state are fried in hot oil. Some examples include cornbread hushpuppies, fried catfish, country fried steak, and fried chicken. Kentucky is also famously known for the KFC food chain. In fact, it is the home to the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Before KFC became a franchise phenomenon, Colonel Harland Sanders sold chicken from a diner in Corbin, Kentucky. Today, this café is renewed into a historic establishment that operates as both an eatery of KFC’s finest foods and a museum honoring the Colonel’s legacy.

The People

Colonel Harland Sanders is not the only famous person to come from Kentucky. Some of the greatest stars in television and movies have been born and raised in the unbridled spirit of Kentucky. In addition to Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, actor George Clooney was also born in this state. A proud Kentucky native, Clooney later moved with his family to Augusta, KY before attending 2 years of college at Northern Kentucky University.

In addition, country music icons Loretta Lynn and Wynonna Judd are both native Kentuckians. Some music experts have even considered crediting these two legendary women’s western roots to their inspirational birthplace.