Appalachian Americans
Ethnic group in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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 |
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]
Notable people
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), 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
- 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
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
Further reading
- Aitchison, Peter; Cassell, Andrew (2017). The Lowland Clearances: Scotland's Silent Revolution, 1760–1830. Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. ISBN 978-1780274454.