Appalachia

Appalachia is a broad term with many meanings. The Appalachian Mountains extend from Labrador in Canada to Alabama in the southern United States.

In the United States, the Appalachian Region (capitalized) refers to a region of thirteen states from New York to Mississippi designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). ARC's definition includes parts of Mississippi lowland and excludes parts of the Virginian highlands, for various political and economic reasons. Appalachian culture is most often associated with Southern Appalachia, from Georgia to West Virginia. West Virginia is the only state entirely within the Appalachian Region.

Regions

There are 13 states in the Appalachian region:

• Alabama (AL)
• Georgia (GA)
• Kentucky (KY)
• Maryland (MD)
• Mississippi (MS)
• New York (NY)
• North Carolina (NC)
• Ohio (OH)
• Pennsylvania (PA)
• South Carolina (SC)
• Tennessee (TN)
• Virginia (VA)
• West Virginia (WV)

Cities

Major metropolises entirely within the Appalachian Region include Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Birmingham (Alabama), Knoxville (Tennessee), Youngstown (Ohio), Scranton (Pennsylvania), and Chattanooga (Tennessee). Major metropolises partly within the Appalachian Region include Atlanta (Georgia), Cincinnati (Ohio), and Greenville (South Carolina).

Metropolitan areas with at least 10% of population in the Appalachian Region (sorted by population size):

1. Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania)
2. Atlanta (Georgia)
3. Birmingham (Alabama)
4. Knoxville (Tennessee)
5. Youngstown (Ohio)
6. Scranton (Pennsylvania )
7. Greenville (South Carolina)
8. Chattanooga (Tennessee)
9. Winston-Salem (North Carolina)
10. Huntsville (Alabama)
11. Asheville (North Carolina)
12. Charleston (West Virginia)
13. Kingsport (Tennessee)
14. Huntington (West Virginia)
15. Erie (Pennsylvania )
16. Spartanburg (South Carolina)
17. Binghamton (New York)
18. Hagerstown (Maryland)
19. Cincinnati (Ohio)
20. New Castle (Pennsylvania)
21. Hickory (North Carolina)
22. Tuscaloosa (Alabama)
23. Johnson City (Tennessee)

Other destinations

• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park - in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park - in Tennessee and North Carolina

Understand

Appalachians have historically been associated with a wide variety of negative stereotypes, to the point that some cities actually have laws prohibiting discrimination against Appalachians. Appalachia however has a very rich and diverse array of cultures albeit with a long and often troublesome history, including slavery and cruelties against Native Americans. Today many Appalachians are proud of their Appalachian identity, and a variety of institutions work to preserve Appalachian culture and history while maintaining its diversity.

Talk

Appalachia is English-speaking for a large majority. The Appalachian English dialect is found through the Southern mountains, known for its many colorful phrases. Other European and Asian languages can be found in small minority communities. Native American languages are also spoken in Appalachian Native American communities. The word "Appalachia" comes from the Apalachee nation.

"Appalachia" is often pronounced "ah-pah-lah-chah" (with a silent "i") by Appalachians (from Apalachee, "ah-pah-lah-chee"), but the pronunciation of "ah-pah-lay-shuh" is also correct.

Get around

In the mountains, it is most convenient to have a car.

Do

Hike the Appalachian Trail.

Stay safe

Hillbillies, rampant racism and homophobia are amongst the many stereotypes of Appalachia. Most Appalachians exhibit "Southern hospitality" and are decent folk, not racist, though homophobia and transphobia are more common. If you are concerned about discrimination, keep to yourself, be polite, and most people will do the same for you. Every community has its bad apples, though. Not all Appalachian states have laws preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity either. You should be prepared to see your share of Confederate flags south of the Mason-Dixon Line, though the extent to which this is motivated by racism is a controversial topic best not broached during your visit. Historically, most Appalachians were strongly antislavery and many were loyal to and fought for the Union during the Civil War, as witness West Virginia's split from Virginia. Appalachian Tennessee produced more antislavery newspapers than any other place in the country, many doing so at extreme risk. Appalachian Kentucky had racially integrated colleges nearly 100 years before desegregation. Appalachians have always valued freedom, which is actually the West Virginia state motto (montani semper liberi, translated "mountaineers are always free").

If you are staying in a small town or away from an urban area, make sure you know what to do if a black bear makes its way into town or your camp. Bears occasionally come into small towns to forage for food. Other hazards include mountain weather, which can change rapidly and includes tornadoes and blizzards, and landslides on mountain roads. Always make sure you obey the speed limit on winding roads (often down to 15 mph on tight curves), or you may find yourself flying off a cliff.