Unfortunately, Vicco also saw virtually no population growth in the past decade — they're stuck at a little more than 300 — and sits in a county that averaged an unemployment rate of over 12% last year (the national average was 8%). 

 

When you're small American town is dying, you do everything you can to rescue it. But Vicco's rescuing is officially a lot cooler than others.

Their latest move: starting next month at the earliest, Police Chief Tony Vaughn will start taking his salary in bitcion. The story was first reported by The Hazard Herald's Cris Ritchie. 

 

We just got off the phone with Vaughn. He said he first learned about bitcoin three months ago through his son, and became convinced virtual currencies are the future.