The 13 coal-producing counties of eastern Kentucky have consistently worse poverty than the others, notes Justin Maxson, director of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, a local microfinance group.

ECONOMIST: The poor: The mountain man and the surgeon | The

Already, 55 of Kentucky's 120 counties are federally designated as medically underserved, and an estimated 484, 000 more state residents may be seeking medical care next year.

WSJ: Battles Erupt Over Filling Doctors' Shoes

The majority of Kentucky's 120 counties are still dry or partially dry, despite the state being home to some of the world's best-known liquor brands, such as Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon.

BBC: The slow death of prohibition