Middlesborough claims to be the only city in the whole of the U.S. built entirely within an old meteor crater. That's probably a fairly safe claim to make isn't it? You don't see too many cities in craters that often, do you?
Obviously, being built within a crater makes the place interesting, but there's a whole lot more to Middlesborough, Kentucky, than that
Middlesborough claims to be the only city in the whole of the U.S. built entirely within an old meteor crater. That's probably a fairly safe claim to make isn't it? You don't see too many cities in craters that often, do you?
Obviously, being built within a crater makes the place interesting, but there's a whole lot more to Middlesborough, Kentucky, than that. The city is in Bell County, right on the southern border with Tennessee, and to the western edge of the beautiful Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. There are about 10,334 people living in Middlesborough, according to the 2010 census, with Knoxville, the nearest major city in Tennessee, to the south. The city experiences all four seasons. There's snowfall during the winter, beautifully colored foliage during the fall, average highs in summer, and a pleasant warmth in spring.
Middlesborough is very much an isolated city, and there are few settlements of note within the immediate vicinity and certainly nowhere major that can be realistically commuted to for work purposes. The vacancy rate in the city is pretty high, so finding somewhere to live shouldn't be an issue. Expect to find mostly detached houses, making rental housing in Middlesborough easier to find than apartments for rent. Mobile homes account for 10 percent of the market share, so you'll have to look centrally if you want to find an apartment. It's worth noting that if you want a large property with five or more bedrooms, you'll struggle, but anything from zero to four bedrooms, whether in houses or apartments, are perfectly possible to track down.
Middlesborough isn't a major city by any means, and its isolation makes it somewhat cut off from the rest of the state. Consequently, you won't have a choice of neighborhoods when you move there, as you have only one to choose from. The WalkScore throughout the city is listed as 75, so it's very walkable, and amenities are easy to reach. In many ways, it's self-sufficient, and you won't find many people commuting to other areas for work. There are some interesting places of note to mention in the city, including the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport, the Bell County Historical Society, and the Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, all of which can be found centrally. There are lots of amenities in town, including restaurants like New China Express and Conley's, banks, shopping outlets, and entertainments venues, mostly found in the central downtown area.
Middlesborough is a nice place to find a home for rent. Being isolated as it is, you'll quickly become integrated into the local community, where neighbors actually know each other's names and stop to talk with each other on the street. The entire city is open, green, and welcomes the outdoor life with open arms, particularly during the pleasant spring and warm summer months. Right on the doorstep of the city is the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, while not far to the northwest is Kentucky Ridge State Forest. Both are great for beautiful views of the surrounding area, as well as active pursuits like hiking, biking, and hunting. Travel in and out of town is simple enough, with several major routes, such as Routes 32, 58, and 74, all nearby or cutting right through town and offering connections to nearby settlements. So, although the city might have a high walk score, you'll need your own form of transportation for longer trips beyond its boundaries.
