Hazard, KY Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Hazard, KY: What You Need to Know

Despite its peculiar name, Hazard is anything but hazardous. The city lies in the Cumberland foothills of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Kentucky.

Local History

Elijah Combs of Virginia settled in the area in 1795. The town was originally called Perry Court House when it became the seat of Perry County in 1821. It was incorporated as Hazard in 1884. Both the city and the county were named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry of Rhode Island, a naval hero of the War of 1812. Hazard became a major coal-mining center in the southeastern coalfields after the train arrived in the area in 1912.

Things to Do in Hazard, KY

Hazard’s location on the North Fork of the Kentucky River makes it a great place for outdoor recreation. Hazard is one of the officially designated Kentucky Trail Towns, chosen for their scenic hiking, water, or rail trails. The city has several ramps for access to the river. Thousands attend the Black Gold Festival held downtown every year. The event celebrates the mountain way of life and the area’s coal, Kentucky’s black gold. The festival includes a parade, live music and entertainment, carnival, lots of food, and arts and crafts.

Cost of Living

Hazard is a home-rule-class city, which means it has more freedom to take action as long as they are not prohibited by state or federal laws. Hazard is a highly affordable place to live. Its cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 14.3%, 21.8%, and 48.7% lower than the national average respectively. The Bluegrass State collects 5% in income tax and 6% in sales tax. Kentucky is one of the few states that charge an inheritance tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Hazard is home to 5,046 people. As small as it is, other towns in Perry County are even smaller. Almost half (49%) of city residents are renters. Hazard has the highest-ranked public schools in the county. Pikeville in Pike County is slightly bigger than Hazard, with higher-ranked schools. It’s 69 miles away.

Weather and Climate

It doesn’t snow much in Hazard – about 13 inches annually versus the national average of 28 inches. However, it receives 46 inches of rain a year compared with the U.S. average of 38 inches. Heavy rainfall sometimes leads to flooding. On Feb. 6-7,2020, areas in Hazard and Perry County near Kentucky River experienced flooding and mudslides that resulted in road closures. The water level crested at 26.6 feet, one of the worst floods in the county.