Appalachia

Appalachia is a cultural and geographic region of eastern North America that is closely associated with the Appalachian Mountain range. The mountains extend roughly 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, through the eastern United States to central Alabama. The region spans parts of 13 U.S. states and includes portions of eastern Canada, with landscape ranging from high ridges and deep valleys to broad plateaus.

The name Appalachia is often used interchangeably with the Appalachian Mountains, though the two terms emphasize different aspects of the region. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it is generally linked to the Appalachian Mountains and may derive from the name of an Indigenous group or early European usage. The area is commonly divided into Northern, Central, and Southern Appalachia, reflecting both geography and cultural variation.

Historically, Indigenous peoples inhabited the region for thousands of years before European colonization. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, coal mining, timber, and agriculture shaped the economy, especially in rural and mountainous communities. In modern times, Appalachia has experienced economic restructuring, with growth in tourism, health care, education, manufacturing, and energy development, alongside ongoing challenges in some rural areas.

Culturally, Appalachia is known for distinctive music traditions (such as folk, old-time, and bluegrass), crafts, storytelling, and dialects. Notable features include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail, which runs along a significant portion of the mountains. The region has played a prominent role in American literature, music, and policy, including the work of the Appalachian Regional Commission established in 1965 to address economic development.