From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethnic group in the United States
Appalachian Americans Appalachian
25.7 million
[1] (
Appalachian Regional Commission , 2019 estimate ) United States, especially
West Virginia ,
Virginia ,
Kentucky ,
Maryland ,
North Carolina ,
Tennessee ,
Georgia ,
Ohio ; historical populations in
Illinois ,
Indiana English (including
Appalachian English )
Southern Baptist ,
Methodist ,
Catholic ,
American Baptist
German Americans ,
Irish Americans ,
English Americans ,
African Americans ,
Scotch-Irish Americans ,
Italian Americans ,
Okies ,
Melungeons
Appalachian Americans , or simply Appalachians , are Americans 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
Notable people
Arts and Entertainment
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
Thomas 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
J. D. Vance (1984–present), United States senator, author, venture capitalist
Military
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–present), 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
See also
References
^
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
^ 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 .
^ Harkins, Anthony (November 20, 2003).
Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
ISBN
978-0195146318 .
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