My parents were married in Harlan in 1948. They both were raised in Lynch. They left Kentucky in 1956 for Dallas, Texas because the mine had shut down temporarily but never moved back. My grandparents lived there until the 1970’s. Kentucky will always have a special place in my heart. ♥️

My ex was from Harlan, he passed yrs ago, family were miners and sadly all passed on as well.. Wonderful family, they loved me and accepted me (Hawaiian) with open arms and I loved all of tbem right back... Tragedy blew us apart, the suicide of his young son,,, ironically all have now passed on, but they all live in my heart with love and respect.. RIP CONLEY FAMILY... Aloha'oe.💕❣

If u live in a small town buy locally.. Screw Wal-Mart and corporate america

I am in harlan at least 3 days a week. I love the people of harlan and the surrounding area. They are the best of the best. God bless Harlan!!

I'm in Kentucky. Can trace my Roots here over 400 years. Kentuckians are a PROUD people. Thank-You for showing that in this video. Oh, "GO BIG BLUE"!!!!

I love Patti Loveless's version of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive."

Thank you for such a thoughtful presentation of Harlan. It’s a beautiful place. I wish more young people would utilize the older buildings and reawaken the town. It has such character and charm. Keep up the great work. I look forward to more.

Mark my words, Appalachia will be one of the last good places to live in America.

I remember going to that court house to get my drivers license at that court house,she ask me to smile,told her no because it makes me look like there was something wrong with me,so she said please,so I did then two seconds later she said" Honey can we do another and don't smile"

I love your channel so facinating . I'm from Scotland UK but I'm obsessed with this part of the states and the amazing history. I'm dying to visit Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, I often think I must have lived there in a previous life

I grew up in Kentucky. I love this video. Makes me homesick. Great work guys.

Perry County Ky here. Subsistence life is a good life. If you don't raise, fish, hunt, grow what you eat then your just relying on everyone else to live. It's a hard life but the only way to truly live. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I lived in the very most northern Appalachian mountains for 20 years in NY, on the border of Ulster and Delaware counties. Harlan looks like a big city compared to where I lived. Snow covered for 6 months, brutally cold, and cleaved wood to heat my log home. I loved the old timers. I learned the hard way to shut my trap, but they finally accepted the “flatlander”. I miss that life.

Life time residence of Russell County ky.. Ive done a lot of work in Harlan , Hazard, Cumberland, Jackson, London. Manchester....good people

It was a genuine pleasure to watch this video. The beauty of the setting, contrasted with the economic decline, is so very much like where I am from (Thunder Bay, Canada). We all really need to realize just how very much we have in common. I pray that the current vogue for remote work or some insurgent new industries will allow Harlan to thrive once more. Until then, may its history continue to be honoured.

Worked with an older guy in the eaerly 80s that was a security guard. He was well into his 60s. He had been in some on the bloodiest Naval battles in the Pacific during WWII. He was also on the ground during the Japanese occupation. He told me the scardest he had ever been in his life was working a night shift guarding mining equipment during a United Mine Workers strike in KY. He knew the union guys were just waiting for him up on the hill for him to show himself. He knew they wouldn't hesitate shooting him. He said he used the equipment like a tank trying to avoid snipers. May have been in Harlan. Don't know.

Visited Harlan many times, my ex-wife was from Hazard. The most down to earth people in Kentucky than anywhere in the country, A complete stranger would welcome us in for ham and grits, absolutely love this State. Still vacation in Kentucky.Her dad brother in law and 1 brother worked in the coal mines.We lived in Lexington and Finally Winchester.Got to meet Dwight Yocum in person at a little country bar, before he became really famous, sat at our table with us.

Walmart and other big box stores have destroyed small towns for the most part. If not for walmart, Harlan would look like it did 50 years ago. Greed destroyed it.

Thank you for showing us Harlan. My mother was born and raised there. My grandpa, her daddy, was killed in the coal mines and one of the men who fought for union rights.

In the words of Patty Loveless... " you'll never leave Harlan alive"

I’m watching this one again because you did a fabulous job on it and it’s just a wonderful video of small town America. All these old buildings and history just come back to life when you give these tours. Thank you so much!!!!

My favorite version of Never Leave Harlan Alive is Patti Lovelace. Her voice just has the sound of pure Appalachia Mountain music. Probably because she is from Eastern KY and her daddy was a coal miner. He eventually died from black lung disease.

"We dug coal together!" ~ Boyd Crowder

My mom's family were all coal miners for generations in and around Floyd County Kentucky, McDowell to be exact. They are nearly all gone now. I'm a cowboy here in Texas and I am very proud of my family roots in KY. Best people you can meet, feels like home every time I am there.

Ima ole Tennessee girl but I’ve been through Harlen several times. It is beautiful there but there is no jobs. The people are very nice. I can remember when a lot of cities looked like this until the malls and things came in.Kentucky has give us slot of musical people that are awsome. Loretta Lynn is world famous and she’s from Kentucky. If you’ve not been through there and you get a chance it won’t be a waste of time and West Virginia is also a beautiful place when you go into the country. Loved your video thank you for some good memories. God bless.

Fascinating! Can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Hi from Melbourne, Australia. Beautiful little town. Gorgeous houses!! I can't believe how dead it is, though; an equivalent small town in Australia would have lots of people out and about, shops open, cafes with sidewalk dining...

Justified is our most favorite show of all time :)

Interesting to see how beautiful the area is.

Most Beautiful Part Of The U.S is found here and in Virginia and West Virginia, so Beautiful the Beauty will almost take your breath away in the Fall.

My grandparents were lifelong residents of Clay county...Harlan is typical of a lot of the towns in Eastern Kentucky. Really nice people, and a beautiful part of the state.

I was in the army with two guys from Harlan. I lost track of them after we left the army. I always wondered what ever happened to them, the were both good friends and I heard a lot about this city from them. We were at Fort Knox and weekends they would come back from leave with a mason jar of moonshine, the real stuff.

Great to see rural Kentucky! Love the country views! Harlan, the city, looks surprisingly industrial.

I worked on locomotives for the coal companies up there in Ky back in the 1980's. Corbin became like a second home to me during that time. Being from Alabama, these people welcomed me and were very helpful and friendly. Beautiful country, beautiful people.

I'm born and raised in Harlan Kentucky,Good ppl but bout forgotten..

Both of my parents were from Harlan county and it was always a joy as a teenager and a young child to go down there and experience the things that my parents had experienced at that age

Lived 6 months in Hazard KY while working at WYMT in the mid 80’s loved our time there!

My family is one of the founding families. I was born in harlan moved to New Orleans but as soon as I was old enough I went back home.. we're good people. Love our families help our neighbors but we dont take any crap. We remember the old ways, we know what the mountains provide us to eat. Theres no place better in the world.

It is and always be BEAUTIFUL down there. And Friendly people

I listened to Paisley version of the song and loved it, sad song though but that's how life goes sometimes. Let's not forget those who came before us :-)

Thank you for this video. I'm a Kentucky native, but I've been a city boy all of my life - Louisville & Lexington. My grandfather was born & raised in Harlan, along with his 2 brothers and a sister. He graduated from Harlan High, and his family was the first in Harlan where all of the brothers earned college degrees. He didn't mine coal, but was in the business for many years. One of his brothers (my great uncle) lived out his life in Harlan, and his widow died not that long ago in Harlan. Being a movie guy, I'm a huge fan of "Harlan County, USA." It won the Academy Award in 1976 for Best Documentary; Barbara Kopple did a fantastic job with it and put herself in danger while filming - at one point, she & her crew were knocked down and beaten. It seems like a long time ago, but I can still remember 1976 like it was last week. Keep up the great work!

I missed this one for some unknown reason. Harlan looked beautiful in that sunshine and it's hard to reconcile that with its "bloody Harlan" title. Thanks again Shane for showing me a place I may never see but giving it more soul than Google earth ever could!

My Dads family was from Eastern, Ky and worked for a coal mining company in Pardy, Va. I flew a medivac helicopter for Air Evac Lifeteam out of Manchester, Ky. Have flown into the hospital at Harlan an carried the patient to the hospital at Hazard. It was my 2nd or 3rd patient flight and at night with the company. One good thing about the strip mining for us was it opened up some emergency landing areas for us as there are not too many flat places to land. I did leave Harlan alive though, but still get a bit touched by that song.

Just found this. My daddy was from kildav, 1-2 miles from Evarts, and my momma is from Louellen, about 25 min on 38 from Harlan. This brought back memories when we would come home on vacation to visit my papa, and granny. ❤

The real stories are in the Branches. The old coal camps and the people that live up in the hills. You need someone from there to guide you. So much more to this place.

Nice tour. Appreciate you taking us along and for history also. You are so knowledgeable about all the mountain towns. GOD BLESS YOU and keep you well.

It took me all day to watch this video. I paused it to watch a Harlan documentary and several music videos, some history study... This video led me through a good journey!

My Grandpa and Grandma lived in Cawood i spent summers up in those mountain's lots good memories !

When you see these old downtown areas you can imagine the sidewalks filled with people, the department stores, five and dimes, movie theaters and neon signs. It was still like that in the 50s when I was a child. When I describe the downtown where I live to young people they are amazed and most wish it was still there.

I live 15 minutes from the town of Harlan. Nothing like mountains. This use to be the place to be but it's slowly drying up to nothing. love to see it booming again.

That memorial for the miners is sad but so necessary and respectful of the huge sacrifices of the people in that area. I grew up in NY but spent time in KY as we had farms there and in southern Ohio. The people of Kentucky are some of the finest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting: Huge hearts, integrity, hard working, humor and warmth. I miss them.

Great job. would love to see this during the week

I'm glad you recovered and are back at it, looking forward to seeing The Deep Dark Hills of Kentucky. Thank you for another video.

My father grew up there. Born in 1934. Died when I was 10. I remember he liked green dragons. I never new why, now I do. Lol Thank you.

Holy crap, they have a RAX??? That's worth the drive right there. I miss their roast beef deluxe and chocolate chip shakes

Great presentation and so interesting to see Harlan as it is today. Thank You. I may be a Brit but I used to blog America big time back in the day. I won't leave a link, youtube being the disaster it these days, but if you search - Harlan County USA Download There is little wonder Barbara Kopple’s film, Harlan County USA, won the Oscar for best documentary in 1977. But to watch the thing today you almost feel it's worthy of another one. The difference then, it was a contemporary film, today, it is a brilliant piece of social history. Still lots of the original clips still embedded in the 2011 post, which is a wonder these days. My 68 Road Runner, was in fact, a 69. Best, Teddy

"In the deep, dark hills of Eastern Kentucky...That's the place where I traced my bloodlines...And it's there that I read on a hillside gravestone, "You'll never leave Harlan alive..." PATTI LOVELESS MOUNTAIN SOUL I and II" This woman is Kentucky Bluegrass, Country music and vocals at it's finest.... I just love her. I can't help it.

Breaks my heart to see these dried up towns....just sad.

I love Harlen, everyone is so down to earth..we used to go 4 wheeling on Blck mountain yearly, its so brethtaking but u have to respect the dangers of the mountain also..i would love to still b able to ride up that mountain just 1 more time

This video is a wonderful mix of American Labor Movement history including music, Appalachian history through the lense of Harlan County, life in Harlan today, and a little Raylan Givens thrown in - great job Shane!!!

My 101yr old granny grew up there. I took her back a few years ago. I figure it will be her last time.

The colors are just stunning! Beautiful!

My moms side is from Jackson and Dads side is from Monticello. Heading to Monticello and Lake Cumberland for vacation as soon as I get off work!!!

I live in Lexington Kentucky and absolutely love it here. I moved here 3 yrs ago from Florida. The state brings me joy

Compliments. You made a good informative video. Thanks.

I really enjoyed this, thank you! Kentucky is my adopted home state, and Lexington is the town that adopted me. I've spent quite a bit of time in Eastern KY, and I love it... best people anywhere...

I am 80 yrs now. Lord I miss those days, get a lump in my throat. Lord, please bless all these good people Remember us when we come to stand before you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Stumbled upon your video and it's wonderful. Thank for sharing it along with such wealth of information. I just subscribed to your channel and look forward to more videos like this one!

Family is originally from Evarts, just up the road.great grandfather is buried in those hills, he was shot and killed in 1936 in Draper, tried to find his grave once, impossible. He is buried in an abandoned cemetery on top of a mountain, can’t even drive all the way up to it. My dream is to give him a proper marker, he got a raw deal

My Dad was from Hyden, Kentucky in Leslie County. I loved spending my summers with my aunt in the mountains of Kentucky.

I live in Atlanta. Have good friends in Buckhorn, KY and have lived there for 12 - 14 years there and both are originally from Indy. When I visit them ( it's been three times) it's so peaceful there. The drive to and from there is long and fun. As to overall Kentucky...it's beautiful to me. Good filming...nice camera quality.

I watched that Harlen County USA a few years ago on PBS & you are right, it was hard to watch. I can't say that I enjoyed it but I could not stop watching it either. It was tense for sure.

Thanks, really nice video, I enjoyed it.

Glad you're on the mend Shane. Stay well out there.

Wow, beautiful place, fall colors popping, thanks for the ride, have a blessed day sir

This is where my mom and dad were married 78years ago they are not here now. I remember my mom talking about the town.thank you for showing.We wre from Big Stone Gap.

My family is from beattyville in lee county. Some things have changed for the better and some things remain the same for many years now.

My family went to Harlan and wallins creek every summer. That was in the early 60s and 70 s.

My daddy was from Wallins Creek in Harlan I have a lot of people in Harlan worked in Harlan and I loved all my friends and family there Bledsoe is in Harlan across pine mountain I love driving across the mountain it’s a lot of beauty in the mountains

Thank You for the ride along Shane. Love seeing the old school brick architecture. It always amazes me, all the driving around you do here, never see anyone out walking or kids riding on a bicycle, etc. I notice the same thing when doing long motorcycle trips,,riding each day,,you go through a town for the first time,you never see a human being outside. Always wonder if the world come to an end :) Thanks for the history comments also, Interesting to know how some of these towns got started,etc. Keep the videos coming,,,please.

I lived in Harlan County for 10 years I'm thinking about moving back there very soon from Chicago

Glad you're on the mend! My brother lives in Harlan, he's a coal miner. I still live in Norton, my hometown. I love your videos. If you need help with anything historically related to Wise County or the City of Norton, I'd be happy to try and help. I've researched this area for almost 35 years.

Thanks for this! I always enjoy the history.

I totally agree with your opinion on the movie "Harlan County, USA," Real Appalachia. It is one of the best movies I've ever seen. I would encourage everyone to please, please watch it. It's on KZfaq. You will be glued to the screen for the whole length of this story. Amazing. Thanks for recommending it.

My dad was born and raised here. I agree with the people who said that the true stories of Harlan are up in those hills and hollers. My family worked the coal mines - Yancey. As a boy I remember my dad taking me to see the mines in the early 70's. A union worker pulled a shotgun on us. Had to run for our lives. As you climbed up the hills, you would find wild berries and occasionally gravestones. Sometimes tiny ones. That just sticks in my mind. My dad said there was a different law up in the hills. He told a story of a man who had stolen a chicken. The owner chased him down the hills towards the train tracks. Shot him dead in front of my dad. Spit on him and went back home. But no one tells the other side of the story though. Good people. Good neighbors. They help each other. Anyone who climbs those hills or watches the lightning bugs on a hot, humid summer night, will never forget that place or those people.

You said you hadn't seen anything in regards to coal. At 1:23 in the video, you were passing a sign directing you to the Kentucky Coal Academy.

Was there last May. My grandpa mined in Kentucky my dads family is from there. The segment of bloody Harlan really makes you stop and think, If anyone is interested in the coal mining its a great segment. Defiantly want to make another trip down there.

The dark awnings and black windows gave me creepy vibes. It looks like it feels dead inside. I love that harlan song too, and justified. We are watching it at night again, 3rd time in ten years. Have a good year, Sir.

This is amazing, Shane. I really love everything about Kentucky,lalthough I lived there only one year, back in '79. Ever since I dated a "Cawood" girl in Hopkinsville whose family was from a little town called Cawood I have an abiding obsession about Kentucky, particularly Eastern Kentucky. This is a great tour video, I love it, the next best thing to visiting Harlan. Now, I am going to continue reading "Night Comes to teh Cumberland" for the second time, by Harry Caudill. The old music has become a part of me. Can't believe there are no union workers left. Thanks for this. Awesome!

Sorry about your Town ... But without Unions there would never have been a middle class!!! Union fights for people with just a high school education to make a real life wage...Thanks for Sharing....

THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING YOUR LIFE HERE ON KZfaq.

MY SON AND I USE TO LIVE IN CLOSPLINT HWY 38 WE LOVE HARLAN. WE KNOW ALL ABOUT KENTUCKY WE HAVE FAMILY THERE GREAT PLACE

Harlan has some great 4 wheeling trails. A lot of 4 wheel drive clubs travel there to go riding.

Almost every negative stereotype that labels KY nationwide comes from a small hill town like Harlan, which is geographic, not state wide. Some deserved, most pure ignorance. When there were TV specials showing the worst of the worst in 60's, there was the very incorrect impression that was all of KY, which KY is still living down. As can clearly be seen Harlan is a run of the mill small town that just happens to be located in a very pretty mountainous area. In Colorado, it would be viewed very differently. In truth, Harlan is a pretty sophisticated town.

Served a pair of churches over the county line in Leslie county a few years ago. Love the people, geography, and history. Thanks for the tour and nostalgia!

The show Justified is based out of Harlan. Awesome you mentioned that. Great show!!!

I was raised in the mountains of hazard ky love my southern family and I miss leatherwood

Happy you recovered from Covid Shane!! Thank you for the video. I love some eastern Kentucky 😍

I am so happy I discovered your channel. I saw Harlan County USA when it came out; it's one of the best documentaries ever made. As a result, I've always had a special love for Appalachia and its people. Thank you for sharing the history as well as its present and, God willing, its future.

Only found your channel recently. Had to watch this one. Always had a thing for Kentucky. No history though. But tight communities everywhere are facing the same obliteration. And it’s important we don’t forget. Love the traditions you all have. And the work ethic. Sobering reminder that there are so many lost in the mines compared to The Doughboys who came over WWI. I like the version associated with Justified as it was the first one I heard. But I’ve listened to several others and I know the protest song Which Side Are You On Boys, we sang it during the last big miners strike in Britain in the 80’s. I was a Union man myself back then. Just a lowly farm worker but we supported our fellow workers up North, from the South West. A lad came over from Philly at that time and when he returned the States he moved to Kentucky and started up a carpentry business and used to write about his adventures on the Appalachien trails. Unfortunately we lost touch. I always meant to go visit 👊🍀

Glad you are on the mend. My son in law's family battled it too. This includes my daughter and grandsons. Sadly they lost the patriarch and matriarch of the family from it. This stuff, whatever it is, is no joke and is like no flu we have ever seen.