Appalachian Americans

Appalachian Americans
Appalachian

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, Afrilachians, 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]}

While not an official demographic used or recognized by the United States Census Bureau, Appalachian Americans, due to various factors, 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. Furthermore, many colleges and universities now grant degrees in Appalachian studies, as well as scholarship programs for Appalachian students. ^{[4] [5]} The term 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. ^[6]

The sign of the Museum of Appalachia, Norris, Tennessee

The Overmountain Man statue, by Jon-Mark Estep, at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, in Elizabethton, Tennessee

Notable people

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Appalachian Americans.

Arts and entertainment

• 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), writer, poet, artist
• Dolly Parton (1946–present), singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businesswoman, and 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, and singer
• Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938), Author

Politicians

• 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

• 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

• 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
• Belle Starr (1848–1889), notorious outlaw convicted of horse theft

Sports

• 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

• Francis Asbury (1745–1816), Methodist Episcopal bishop
• Weaver family (North Carolina), locally prominent pioneer family

See also

• 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

References

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Paul R. Magocsi, ed. Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples (1999) excerpt and text search
4. 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
5. "Appalachian Scholars General Scholarship Endowment | Ohio University". give.ohio.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
6. Harkins, Anthony (November 20, 2003). Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195146318.