Population

With a population nearing seven thousand, Pikeville is the most populous Kentucky city within about a two hour drive, and it is the county seat in the 16th most populous county in Kentucky. 

 

Regional Economic Hub

Pikeville has become a regional hub for healthcare, education, entertainment, and legal and financial services. It has also become a destination retail center for the nearly quarter million people living within our service area.

Pikeville Medical Center is a state of the art hospital that employs over three thousand people and offers first rate care. It routinely is recognized nationally for its quality of care and includes a cancer center, heart health center, and is a Level 2 trauma center—one of the few hospitals in Kentucky with that certification.

The University of Pikeville is a liberal arts college which includes various undergraduate and graduate programs, the only college of optometry in Kentucky, and the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine which is one of the highest rated programs in the country for graduates entering primary care residencies. Big Sandy Community and Technical College also has a campus located in downtown Pikeville.

Pikeville also boasts Appalachian Wireless Arena, a seven thousand seat arena, that regularly hosts conferences, athletic events, and concerts of all types. Tyler Childers recently sold out three consecutive shows leading up to New Years’ Eve. The Appalachian Center for the Art is located on second street and is the premiere center for visual and performing arts in Eastern Kentucky. And, throughout the summer, Main Street Live features free concerts occur on the Arena Plaza at least one Friday night each month. 

Pikeville’s retail area has grown drastically in recent years with development of the Pikeville Commons. This retail development includes many nationally known brand name stores such as Hobby Lobby, Rack Room Shoes, Marshalls, PetCo and many more. Pikeville is a destination in for quality dining and shopping with many people coming outside of the area to visit our numerous stores and restaurants.

 

Broadband Initiative, Innovation, and Goals

The City is partnering with Gearhart Communications to bring fiber-to-the-home throughout the City. The first phase of this project is set to begin construction during the summer of 2021, and we hope to have it completed by the end of 2022. This will bring gigabit speeds to all residents and businesses in the heart of Pikeville (and eventually, all of Pikeville). We believe that capability will help foster the innovative business environment we are pursuing.

The broadband project ties in with our overall Economic Development goals. We want to promote an innovation-driven economy while making sure that our existing and traditional businesses aren’t left behind. Our further aim is to be inclusive and to create a healthy, robust, and supportive small business environment while leaving room for larger players that are willing to take advantage of our hard-working, educated work force.