40 years ago I landed in Kentucky as a doctoral student and instructor and got to travel some. The southeastern part of the state, down past Pikeville was a trip out of (not back in) time. Unbelieveable poverty. No education. Persons who were amazed over electricity and running water other than in a stream. Entire settlements or mini-communities with no roads in to them. Seriously. Valleys of people who had literally never been to the highway.
Their only luck in life was to be in this geographic area. It is a treasure of beauty.