Only twice in my sixteen years of schooling—in the fourth and seventh grades—did I thoroughly study Kentucky. I didn’t have the time to enroll in the college elective on Kentucky history.
I studied as much about Kentucky as a 10-year-old’s brain could process in elementary school, and ever since then, I’ve been captivated by small details about the Commonwealth. Kentucky, for instance, features two of the “largest” counties. It is Jefferson County in terms of people and Pike County in terms of size.
The populations of Jefferson County and Pike County are obviously very different; Jefferson County’s is little over 772 thousand, while Pike County’s is just under 56,000.
There’s So Much to Do in Pike County KY
During my one and only visit to Pike County, I discovered, among other things, that people there IMMEDIATELY know someone who isn’t from the area. Everyone stopped and gawked at us when my friend and I went into a Hardee’s to seek for directions to a radio station since she was supposed to be interviewed. They were friendly, though, so that’s not to say they weren’t. And that radio station is located in the center of Pikeville, the county seat, on top of a mountain.
The Country Music Highway
However, Pike County is significantly more interesting than just geography. It is located on the Country Music Highway, commonly known as U.S. Highway 23.
This seemingly musically fertile stretch of road is where legends like Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Tyler Childers, Tom T. Hall, the Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless were born and/or raised. In reality, Yoakam and Loveless are Pike County locals.
The Hatfields and the McCoys
By taking a self-guided driving tour of locations related to the centuries-old narrative, historians can also delve deeply into the fabled Hatfield/McCoy war in Pike County. The cottage where the feud purportedly started would be included. In eastern Pike County, there is a reproduction of the cottage where the Hog Trial was held.
Although there are no longer any animosities between the two families, they nevertheless disagree on a few issues. Hey, without them, there wouldn’t be any fun.
The Grand Canyon of the South
I strongly advise anyone who hasn’t visited the Grand Canyon to do so before the end of time. It is just amazing. But in the interim, have a look at what is referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the South.” Although it is directly across the state line from Pike County, it is really in Virginia. Additionally, it is almost as amazing as it is worth your time.
You’re in the heart of Appalachia once you’re in Pike County, and I can’t stress how much I love being in the mountains. Locate a cabin with a porch and cook outside.
Everybody needs that occasionally.
