Cumberland, KY

Cumberland sits in a narrow valley in Harlan County, flanked by the steep ridges of Pine Mountain and the waters of the Poor Fork river. First settled in the 1830s as Poor Fork, the community expanded during the region's coal boom and later adopted its current name. Its location between the wooded slopes gives the town a peaceful, tucked-away setting with mountain views in almost every direction.

ATTRvirginiaretail / CC BY 2.0

Just above town, Kingdom Come State Park offers easy access to hiking trails, rock formations, fishing, and scenic overlooks from the crest of Pine Mountain. In town, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College maintains a local campus that provides degree programs, job training, and community events like the Kingdom Come Swappin' Meetin' heritage festival. With a local library, essential everyday shops, and quick access to the outdoors, Cumberland makes a quiet home base for life in the mountains.