Central Appalachia

I. Location:• The Appalachia Region touches 13 states– Eastern KY & WV = most economically-depressed– >80% of central App. is rural (58% of App’s pop)

II. Demographics:• 95% = white (75% = U.S.)• 14% = age 65+ (12% = U.S.)• 27% = no high school diploma– Drop out rate = >40%– ½ of adult pop = illiterate – Working poor:• Working people whose incomes fall below a given poverty line• Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, etc.

III. Economics:• 1) Mining = #1 industry until…?

– a) Automation of mining industry– b) Amer’s. switch to anthracitic coal & natural gas

• Difference in coal: – Bituminous coal: low grade soft coal – Anthracitic coal: high grade hard coal – Now = only 2% of pop. works in mining

• 2) Logging has declined b/c of the creation of …? • 3) Tobacco has declined b/c of …? • High Unemployment Rate

– 17.9% (U.S. = 5.8%) • 25% of App. = <$15,000/yr.

IV. Social Issues of Central Appalachia:

• Poverty leads to malnutrition. Why? • Malnutrition leads to – Poor health undermines _______________

• Poor health leads to • Prescription drugs lead to – Prescription drugs are sold illegally on the streets

• Addiction leads to more ______________________

poor health

prescription drugsaddiction

poverty, crime, & despair

productivity

V. So, why is Central Appalachia struggling economically?:

• 1) Lack of employment opps. • 2) Uneducated & unskilled pop.• 3) Low morale (confidence) & lack of motivation• How does Appalachia compare to the Northeast?– Urban vs. rural – Education– Job opportunities – Morale