Appalachia for Clinton

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On Monday, the Daily Kos published a fascinating piece by DHinMI on the distribution of precincts that voted heavily for Clinton, and their association with Appalachia. The maps provided can be enhanced now with the voting from West Virginia, which fits very neatly into the paradigm. Lots of comments there and at Washington Monthly.

It’s well worth reading, especially in conjunction with the maps provided.

First, let’s define how we’ll be using “Appalachia.” In the 1960’s, one out of three people in Appalachia lived poverty, per capita income was 23% lower than the national average, and the region was rapidly losing population. In 1963 the Appalachian Regional Commission was created by Congress and President Kennedy to address the problems in the area highlighted in the map. Since the 1960’s counties near Atlanta, Huntsville AL and Pittsburgh have become wealthier much more developed. But much of the region remains well below national standards in most measures of economic and social well-being.

The ethnic and cultural character of this part of the country has been more static since the 19th century than anyplace in America. Outside of some of the new growth areas north of Atlanta or Huntsville, or in some of the college towns, most of the people in Appalachia trace their heritage back to immigrants from the borderlands of Northern Britain who began settling the region over 200 years ago. Outside of the Northern part of Appalachia—Pennsylvania in particular—relatively few Eastern or Southern Europeans from the great waves of immigration that started in the 1880’s have moved in to the area. It’s the most homogeneous region in America. The region is home to few Catholics, and is heavily Baptist and Methodist.

In the 19th century, migrants from Appalachia moved west. People from Appalachia settled and put their stamp on the Ozark region of Missouri and Arkansas, on Okalahoma and the southern Plains, on North Texas, and eventually they were a big part of the initial growth of Southern California.

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Filed under Election 2008, Election 2008 - Presidential, Election 2008 - Primaries

Tags: gummitch @ TPZoo