The Appalachian Region

The Appalachia region covers an area of ​​200,000 square miles and extends from southern New York to the state of Mississippi. After the Appalachian Mountains, the area consists of 410 counties. Appalachia is the poorest region in our country. About 42% of the population of 23 million people live in rural areas. The northern and southern counties have poverty rates of about 16, and the central poverty rate is about 27%. Appalachians are poor areas that have fallen into the depths of poverty. This site is designed to introduce visitors to the poverty of our house.

According to the Appalachian Regional Council, the geographic area contains 420 counties that comprise 13 provinces in the Appalachian province. The Appalachian Regional Council (ARC) is a federal and state partnership dedicated to stimulating economic development. The ARC consists of 13 Appalachian Governors and the Federal Co-Chairs appointed by the President. Participation in the region is made through regional development zones in multiple regions. The 13 states included in this area are Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia. A complete list of all 420 qualified counties can be found on the ARC website.

The South Appalachians are mainly defined by mountainous areas. Therefore, its boundary is ambiguous and its definition is different for each purpose. In this discussion, South Appalachians include West Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Kentucky Eastern, Tennessee, North Carolina Western and South Carolina, Northern Georgia, Northeast Alabama. Figure 1) This is mainly due to the example of social definition following Appalachian Regional Council (1973) and climbers and guerrillas (Mastran and Lowerre 1983). Although all areas of the South Appalachian Mountains can be said to be part of other regions and countries, common features and identities as regions need investigation in the South Appalachian Mountains. In addition to the mountain landscape, these areas have a common history, cultural exchange and prehistoric isolation are alternately repeated.

In addition to being the oldest mountain range in North America, the South Appalachian region is full of ancient traditions, enriching diverse people and culture. From quilting to agriculture, arts and crafts, these long traditions have been inherited throughout the region including music. Asheville and West Carolina may be known for their prosperous contemporary music scene, but the old stringed instrument, folk songs and bluegrass tradition dates back to the 18th century. Banjo - originally brought to the United States by slavery Africans - originally made of gourd or potted plants, covered with animal skin. Prior to the Civil War, banjo, usually paired with the violin, was a popular instrument for white and black musicians living in the Appalachian mountains.