Appalachian Americans
 | This article may contain original research. (October 2011) |
 Areas included under the Appalachian Regional Commission's charter | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 25.7 million[1] (Appalachian Regional Commission, 2019 estimate) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States, especially West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio; historical populations in Illinois, Indiana | |
| Languages | |
| English (including Appalachian English) | |
| Religion | |
| Southern Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, American Baptist | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| German Americans, Irish Americans, English Americans, Affrilachians, Scotch-Irish Americans, Italian Americans, Okies, Melungeons |
Appalachian Americans, or simply Appalachians, are an American cultural group living in the geocultural area of Appalachia in the eastern United States, or their descendants.[2][3]
Appalachian Land
[edit]The Appalachian Land is known for a number of reasons. Notable attributes include having one of the oldest and largest mountain range in the world, an intense biodiversity, and rich reserves for bituminous coal.
Biodiversity
[edit]The Appalachian region is home to more than 1800 endangered species. The region is a hot spot for migration because of its connected forests that assist climate adaptation.
Coal Industry
[edit]The coal industry in the Appalachian region had thrived from the 1800s through the 1970s, with its biggest surge being post civil war. The reason the coal industry is so successful is being the coal is generally low in sulfur and ash and high in carbon content. This is ideal for fuel, making the coal higher in desire and value.
Appalachian Demographics
[edit]While not an official demographic used or recognized by the United States Census Bureau, The term ‘Appalachian Americans’ has seen growing usage in recent years, possibly in opposition to the use of hillbilly, which is still often used to describe people of the region.[4]
Attributes of Appalachians
[edit]Furthermore, many colleges and universities now grant degrees in Appalachian studies, as well as scholarship programs for Appalachian students.[5][6]
Culture of Appalachians
[edit]Due to various factors, Appalachians have developed their own distinct culture within larger social groupings. Included are their own dialect, music, folklore, and even sports teams as in the case of the Appalachian League.
Notable people
[edit]Arts and entertainment
[edit]- Tyler Childers (1991–present), singer, songwriter
- Luke Combs (1990–present), singer, songwriter
- Eric Church (1977–present), singer, songwriter
- Ernest "Tennessee Ernie" Ford (1919–1991), country, pop, and gospel singer and television host
- Loretta Lynn (1932–2022), country music singer-songwriter
- Emma Bell Miles (1879–1919), poet, author, artist
- Jim Wayne Miller (1936–1996), poet, author, educator
- Dolly Parton (1946–present), singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businesswoman, humanitarian
- Earl Scruggs (1924–2012), bluegrass musician and banjo player noted for popularizing a three-finger picking style, now called "Scruggs style”
- Effie Waller Smith (1879–1960), poet
- Doc Watson (1923–2012), guitarist, songwriter, singer
- Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938), author
- Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024), poet, writer, activist
Politicians
[edit]- Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924), 28th President of the United States, serving during World War I
- Charles Gates Dawes (1865–1951), banker, general, diplomat, composer, and 30th vice president of the United States under Calvin Coolidge
- Jim Broyhill (1927–2023), businessman, United States representative, United States senator
- Joe Manchin (1947–present), United States senator, politician, businessman
- Shelley Moore Capito (1953-present), United States senator, educator
- Thomas Massie (1971–present), United States representative, businessman, engineer
Military
[edit]- Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824–1863), United States military leader serving in the Mexican–American War, and later a prominent Confederate military leader during the American Civil War
- Alvin York (1887–1964), highly decorated United States soldier serving in World War I, receiving the Medal of Honor as well as numerous other awards from France, Italy, and Montenegro
Folk heroes and historical figures
[edit]- Daniel Boone (1734–1820), pioneer, explorer
- Davy Crockett (1786–1836), frontiersman, soldier, politician
- John Gordon (1759–1819), pioneer, trader, planter, militia captain
- Devil Anse Hatfield (1839–1921), patriarch of the Hatfield family of the Hatfield–McCoy feud
Sports
[edit]- Roy Williams (1950–present), college basketball coach, 3-time NCAA champion
- Jerry West (1938–2024), professional basketball player, NBA champion, Medal of Freedom recipient
- Katie Smith (1974–present), retired professional women's basketball player, 3-time gold medalist, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
- Madison Bumgarner (1989–present), professional baseball player (SP), 3-time World Series champion, World Series MVP
Miscellaneous
[edit]- Francis Asbury (1745–1816), Methodist Episcopal bishop
- Weaver family (North Carolina), locally prominent pioneer family
See also
[edit]- Affrilachia
- Appalachian stereotypes
- Appalachian Studies Association
- Appalachian Trail
- Bluegrass music
- Hillbilly
- Hillbilly Highway
- History of the Appalachian people in Baltimore
- Melungeons
- Mountain white
- Social and economic stratification in Appalachia
- Urban Appalachians
Further reading
[edit]- Aitchison, Peter; Cassell, Andrew (2017). The Lowland Clearances: Scotland's Silent Revolution, 1760–1830. Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. ISBN 978-1780274454.
References
[edit]- ^ The Appalachian Population Archived 2022-07-22 at the Wayback Machine by the Appalachian Regional Commission, 2019 estimate. The Appalachian population is estimated at 25.7 million, excluding Appalachian diaspora outside of the Appalachian region, and including transplants and immigrants to the region.
- ^ Billings, Dwight; Walls, David (1980). "Appalachians". In Thernstrom, Stephan; Orlov, Ann; Handlin, Oscar (eds.). Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups. Harvard University Press. pp. 125–128. ISBN 0674375122. OCLC 1038430174.
- ^ Paul R. Magocsi, ed. Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples (1999) excerpt and text search
- ^ Harkins, Anthony (November 20, 2003). Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195146318.
- ^ Appalachian Studies Association, "US Programs in Appalachian Studies""U.S. Programs in Appalachian Studies :: ASA ::". Archived from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2009-07-11. Appalachian Studies Association Website. 2000–2005. Retrieved July 11, 2009
- ^ "Appalachian Scholars General Scholarship Endowment | Ohio University". give.ohio.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
6. The Appalachian Coalfield in Historical Context, www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2021/nrs_2021_zipper_001.pdf. Accessed Apr. 2026.
7. “The Appalachians.” Center for Large Landscape Conservation, 27 Jan. 2026, largelandscapes.org/appalachians/.
8. Driscoll, David L, et al. “Assessing and Addressing the Determinants of Appalachian Population Health: A Scoping Review.” Journal of Appalachian Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Dec. 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11110904/.
9. “Material Culture.” Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, www.appalachianforestnha.org/material-culture. Accessed Apr. 2026.
10. An Overview of Coal and the Economy in Appalachia Fourth Quarter 2020 Update, www.arc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Coal-and-the-Economy-in-Appalachia_Q4_2020-Update.pdf. Accessed Apr. 2026.
11. “Tribal Communities in the Appalachian Region.” Appalachian Regional Commission, 11 Mar. 2026, www.arc.gov/tribal-communities-in-the-appalachian-region/.
