Creating Appalachia
The Nations of Appalachia
The Appalachian mountain range expands over 1,600 miles from Mississippi to Maine forming a natural barrier between the coastal plain of the Eastern Seaboard and the Great Plains. This region makes up 420 counties and extends over 14 states. Because of the massive expanse of the region, one must proceed with caution when categorizing Appalachia and its residents as one singular culture. Contrary to popular assumptions, The Appalachian Magazine insists on a pluralistic description of the region, asserting that, “often the residents of its small towns and hollers have very little in common with folks in the neighboring county, whereas at other times the cultural similarities span over 500 miles”. Within Appalachia, there exists 7 ‘nations’, each with their own unique way of life or means of production. From the gritty Appalachian Coalfields to the lush farmlands of ‘Agrilachia’, this economic region of the United States has had an impactful, historical role in the expansion and development of our nation. The upstate of South Carolina, in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, lies on the outskirts of ‘Dixielachia’, a ‘nation’ not dependent on a single industry, that is characterized by economic diversity and an ever-growing population.