Eastern Region, KY Land for Sale

The Eastern Kentucky region, also called the Coalfield region, is part of the Central Appalachian bituminous coalfield, which covers an area from the Allegheny Mountains in the east, to the Cumberland Plateau to the Pottsville Escarpment. The region borders Ohio to the north, West Virginia and Virginia to the east, and Tennessee to the south. The largest city in the region is Ashland, and other large cities include Pikeville, Corbin and Middlesboro. The Daniel Boone National Forest is located in this area, which is east of the Pottsville Escarpment. The Red River Gorge, located in the forest, is a popular destination for rock climbers, with natural arches and sandstone cliffs. The 323-mile Sheltowee National Trail is also in this region, running north and south. There are also nearly 20 historical parks, as well as state resorts and recreational parks. The Black Mountain, the highest point in the state is in this region. Eastern Kentucky is also known for its musical heritage, with a number of famous country music singers and musicians being from the area.

As the name Coalfield suggests, the area is known for its coal mining, which was introduced in the 1940s and 1950s. The economy centers around coal and large amounts of other natural resources available, including timber, natural gas and oil. Recently, tourism has contributed much to economy, with the region's unique cultural history and state parks available for recreation. Morehead State University is in this region, in addition to 12 other private colleges, universities, and community and technical colleges.

Laurel County is located in the southwestern part of the Eastern Kentucky region. Laurel is the only city in the county, and is the county seat, and there are just a handful of other small communities. Part of Laurel River Lake is in the county, and other attractions include Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park, The Daniel Boone Motocross Park, a portion of the Daniel Boone National Forest, Colonel Sanders Caf? and Museum, Camp Wildcat Civil War Battlefield and the annual World Chicken Festival. Laurel County has a cooperative extension, located in London, with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Kentucky State University.

Whitley County is located in the southwest corner of the Eastern Kentucky region. The county is bordered by Tennessee to the south. The county is located within the Cumberland Plateau and is near the Cumberland Mountains, causing elevations to vary widely. The largest city is Corbin, which lies partly in Knox County; Williamsburg is the county seat, and there are around 15 other small communities in Whitley County. Daniel Boone National Forest covers the western part of the county, and Cumberland Falls, located in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, is the largest waterfall in Kentucky. Other significant geographic landmarks are the Cumberland River, Jellico Mountain, Laurel River and Laurel River Lake. The economy of the county has relied on its natural resources, including coal and timber. There are smaller amounts of iron, oil and silver in the county as well. Agriculture is limited by the rough territory created by the Cumberland Mountains, but tobacco and corn are grown in some areas. University of the Cumberlands is located in this county, and a branch of Eastern Kentucky University.

Knox County is also located in the southwestern part of Eastern Kentucky. It was named for General Henry Knox, who served as the first U.S. Secretary of War in the late 1700s. The largest city is Corbin, which lies partly in Whitley County and Barbourville is the county seat. Some attractions in Knox County include Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site, Daniel Boone Memorial Park, a reenactment of the Battle of Barbourville, campgrounds and a local rodeo. Union College, a small liberal arts college is located in this county.