Why Residents Love Living in Northern Kentucky

Drawn to the Image

Living in Northern Kentucky offers the best of both worlds – small-town charm paired with big-city amenities found right across the river in the Cincinnati region. And with affordable housing, ample job opportunities and plenty of recreation options available, it’s a great place to put down roots. 

‘Home Away From Home’ 

Manny Hernandez, commercial relationship manager at First Financial Bank, lives in Bellevue and travels between Covington and downtown Cincinnati for work. Hernandez moved to the U.S. from Mexico City in 2010 to pursue his dream of becoming a chef. 

He attended the culinary program at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and worked in the industry for three years before realizing it would impact balancing family life. 

“That moment led me to change course, and I decided to go back to school, enrolling at Northern Kentucky University,” Hernandez says. “In 2014, I moved from Guilford, Indiana, to Northern Kentucky, and since then, it has become my home away from home.” 

Hernandez considers working in Northern Kentucky a privilege. He even co-founded a nonprofit called Emerging Leaders of NKY, which helps young professionals in the region connect and thrive through partnerships, professional development and deep personal connections. 

“I’m raising my kids here, and I’m committed to making this region even better for future generations,” Hernandez says. “My goal is for my kids to never feel the need to leave due to a lack of opportunity. The potential for growth in Northern Kentucky is immense, as seen in the revitalization of the riverfront, the expansion of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and the new Brent Spence companion bridge.” 

Plus, Eons, a 1,000-acre adventure park is planned for Erlanger. It will include 20 miles of mountain biking trails as well as a network of tree canopy trails. 

But what Hernandez appreciates most about living in Northern Kentucky is its strong community feel. 

“The Northern Kentucky community is truly special,” Hernandez says. “Despite not being from this region, I’ve been able to build a successful career here. But more importantly, I’ve built deep connections and friendships that have helped me thrive both personally and professionally.” 

Nathan Lambrecht

‘So Much Opportunity’ 

Patrice Brooks, a senior human resources generalist at grocery retailer Kroger Co., attended Northern Kentucky University and fell for the area. 

“I’m from Richmond, Kentucky, which is a really small town,” Brooks says. “I enjoyed being close to Cincinnati and having more to do, so that was the original reason that I stayed. And then over time, my career continued to progress.” 

Brooks lives and works in Union in Northern Kentucky. In her free time, she enjoys visiting museums and restaurants. 

“Covington and downtown Cincinnati have really transformed with the eateries,” Brooks says. “I spend a lot of my time checking out new restaurants, rooftops and all of that good stuff.” 

Brooks is a big sports fan and loves being able to drive just 30 minutes to a Bengals or Reds game. 

“I enjoy being near a bigger city,” Brooks says. “There’s so much opportunity here.” 

Courtesy of The Carnegie

‘Northern Kentucky Is Evolving’ 

Family ties connect Drew Boehmker to Northern Kentucky. He grew up in the region and still lives in Independence. 

“My entire family lives within a 15-mile radius,” Boehmker says. “My brother and sister-in-law live two houses down, so I’ve gotten to see my niece and nephew grow up.” 

Boehmker studied at Northern Kentucky University and currently works as a digital account supervisor at Scooter Media in Covington, a short 20-minute commute from home. 

Boehmker appreciates living in Northern Kentucky because of the resources available.

“We have the best library ever,” he says. “I love the Kenton County Public Library. They do a great job with their programming and just being a good community partner.” 

Boehmker also serves as the communications director of the NKY Pride Center, an organization that has served the community since 2015. In 2021, it opened doors on a physical location in Covington. 

“That’s a good example of how Northern Kentucky is evolving,” he says. “Just the fact that we’re able to offer programming and have a lot of community partners and support is really awesome to me.” 

Living in Northern Kentucky brings a lot of fun. Boehmker likes attending events at the MegaCorp Pavilion concert venue in Newport as well as exploring all the cool things that Covington has to offer. 

“I go to a lot of events for work, the Pride Center and just for fun,” Boehmker says. “There’s a lot to do. No matter what you’re interested in, you can find a community here.”