I found a rural Kentucky town that is slowly fading away

Описание: Join us on a driving tour through the quiet streets of Morganfield, Kentucky — the county seat of Union County, Kentucky — where time seems to be standing still. In this video we’ll explore the hidden corners and abandoned buildings of the town, and dig into the demographic story behind its changes.

🔍 What you’ll see:
• Old commercial blocks, shuttered storefronts & neglected homes, bearing witness to past eras
• Landmarks in the historic district (for example the Morganfield Commercial District) that recall when Morganfield was more bustling. 
• Detailed commentary on housing vacancy and the built environment
• Census-data overlays showing where the town stands today — population numbers, median age, racial composition, income and poverty rates

📊 Key demographics for Morganfield:
• Estimated population around 3,200 people. 
• The town is experiencing gradual decline; for example, population dropped from 3,255 in 2020 to an estimate of ~3,131 in 2024. 
• Racial breakdown: ~89% White, ~8.7% Black/African-American (based on recent estimates) in the city limits. 
• Housing vacancy rate: ~19% of units unoccupied. 
• Median age ~41.9 years. 
• Median household income recently estimated around $63,546. 

🌆 Why this tour matters:
Morganfield faces many of the same challenges as small rural towns in America — population loss, economic shifts, aging housing stock, and the visible signs of decline. By walking through the town, we get a feel for how these numbers translate into real places: empty storefronts, homes past their prime, and a community that remembers its higher-activity days.

📍 Tour route highlights:
• The historic courthouse area and main streets
• Residential neighborhoods showing a mix of maintained vs. neglected houses
• Un-used or partially abandoned commercial structures in and around the old downtown
• Close-up shots of architectural details and decay that tell the story of Morganfield’s past vitality

🎬 Should you watch this video if…
• You’re curious about rural America and how demographic shifts show up in built form
• You enjoy “urban exploration” or documenting abandoned/neglected places (with respect and care)
• You want to understand how census and economic data connect to lived experience


#abandonedplaces #kentucky #poverty