Despite the lack of consensus about the physical location of Appalachia, there is some geographical aspect that can be incorporated when defining this region. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) considers Appalachia as a geographical region covering the Appalachian Mountains and parts of northern Mississippi (“The Appalachian Region,” n.d.). This definition gives a person an insight into the geographical overview of a region. One can tell that it covers parts of the states such as South and North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, New York, and Ohio. Even though Appalachia only covers parts of these regions, one can rely on the map provided by ARC as a guideline for an overview of this region. Some authors disprove the idea of defining Appalachia using maps, but a person who has never been to the region needs a map to get a rough idea of the place.
Apart from the geographical perspective, Appalachia can be defined based on its economy. Over the years, Appalachia has recorded significant economic growth in areas such as mining, forestry, heavy industry, and agriculture (“The Appalachian Region,” n.d.). This development has resulted in a decrease in poverty levels. Initially, the region was overlooked due to being associated with cultural stereotypes such as laziness and drunkenness. However, one notices that Appalachia cannot be defined using these outdated stereotypes since not everyone in the region engages in these vices; they are not uniting factors or shared values of the residents. This region is full of resources, such as timber, and hence the reason it is considered as a significant contributor to the overall growth of the US economy (Wilkey, 2017). While there are people still living in poverty, Appalachia is full of potential for further economic growth. Due to the presence of diverse cultures, including Cherokee Indians and African Americans, the Appalachian region cannot be defined using a cultural perspective. The only elements that can define Appalachia are its economy and geographical location.
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References
The Appalachian Region. (n.d.). Appalachian Regional Commission. https://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/theappalachianregion.asp
Wilkey, J. (2017 April 27). What/where/who is Appalachia? This Appalachia Life. https://www.thisappalachialife.com/single-post/2017/04/27/WhatWhereWho-is-Appalachia
