History Hazard, Kentucky

coal miners children cross footbridge hazard, kentucky, july 1940. photograph marion post wolcott.

long isolated surrounding mountains, hazard opened outside world arrival of railroad in 1912. access valley had been 45 miles down north fork of kentucky river or two-week trip on surrounding mountains. railroad brought boom times town, great depression saw prosperity end had begun.

the song high sheriff of hazard written tom paxton in reference coal miner s strike in 1964.

in 1981, several cast members of television series dukes of hazzard – viz., catherine bach, james best, sorrell booke , rick hurst – visited hazard during black gold festival. afterwards, series stars tom wopat , john schneider made appearances in hazard.

although there has been steady decline in hazard s population since 1950s, there have been numerous commercial , residential developments within city. city actively working on downtown renaissance plan rejuvenate business district. nonetheless, in july 1999, hazard first stop on president bill clinton s tour of poverty-stricken communities had failed share in boom of 1990s. hillary clinton visited hazard on november 2, 2008, @ political rally democratic u.s. senate candidate bruce lunsford.