THE APPALACHIAN REGION:

A DATA OVERVIEW FROM THE

2008-2012 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

Chartbook

Kelvin Pollard

Linda A. Jacobsen

Population Reference Bureau

Prepared for the Appalachian Regional Commission

Under Contract #CO-16506-R4-13

February 2014

The authors wish to thank Keith Witt of ARC

for his support and guidance.
THE APPALACHIAN REGION: A DATA OVERVIEW FROM THE 2008-2012 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

FOREWORD 3

CHAPTER 1. POPULATION BASICS

Table 1.1: Population, Land Area, and Population Density in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 4

Figure 1.1: Population Distribution in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 5

Figure 1.2: Population per Square Mile of Land Area in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 6

CHAPTER 2. AGE

Table 2.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2008-2012 7

Figure 2.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Under Age 18, 2008-2012 8

Figure 2.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 18 to 24, 2008-2012 9

Figure 2.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 25 to 64, 2008-2012 10

Figure 2.4: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 65 and Over, 2008-2012 11

Figure 2.5: Median Age of Persons in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 12

CHAPTER 3. RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

Table 3.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008-2012 13

Figure 3.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Minority, 2008-2012 14

Figure 3.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not Hispanic, 2008-2012 15

Figure 3.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or Latino, 2008-2012 16

CHAPTER 4. HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE

Table 4.1: Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 17

Figure 4.1: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, 2008-2012 18

Figure 4.2: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, 2008-2012 19

Figure 4.3: Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 20

Figure 4.4: Percent Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 21

CHAPTER 5. EDUCATION

Table 5.1: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 22

Table 5.2: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 23

Table 5.3: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 24

Figure 5.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, 2008-2012 25

Figure 5.2: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma but With No 

Postsecondary Degree, 2008-2012

26

Figure 5.3: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2008-2012 27

Figure 5.4: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, 2008-2012 28

Figure 5.5: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2008-2012 29

Figure 5.6: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2008-2012 30

CHAPTER 6. LABOR FORCE, EMPLOYMENT, AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Table 6.1: Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Status of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian 

Region, 2008-2012

31

Figure 6.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are In the Labor Force, 2008-2012 32

Figure 6.2: Employment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 33

Figure 6.3: Unemployment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 34

CHAPTER 7. INCOME AND POVERTY

Table 7.1: Household, Family, and Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012 35

Table 7.2: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2008-2012 36

1 
PAGE

Table 7.3: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2008-2012 37

Figure 7.1: Mean Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012 38

Figure 7.2: Median Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012 39

Figure 7.3: Mean Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012 40

Figure 7.4: Median Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012 41

Figure 7.5: Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012 42

Figure 7.6: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012 43

Figure 7.7: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012 44

Figure 7.8: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012 45

Figure 7.9: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012 46

CHAPTER 8. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

Table 8.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2008-2012 47

Table 8.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2008-2012 48

Figure 8.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2008-2012 49

Figure 8.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2008-2012 50

Figure 8.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 24 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2008-2012 51

Figure 8.4: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2008-2012 52

CHAPTER 9. DISABILITY STATUS

Table 9.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2008-2012 53

Table 9.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2008-2012 54

Figure 9.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012 55

Figure 9.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012 56

Figure 9.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012 57

Figure 9.4: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012 58

CHAPTER 10. MIGRATION

Table 10.1: Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012 59

Figure 10.1: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Moved in the Past Year, 2008-2012 60

Figure 10.2: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside Their 

County of Residence in the Past Year, 2008-2012

61

Figure 10.3: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside Their 

State of Residence in the Past Year, 2008-2012

62

CHAPTER 11. VETERAN STATUS

Table 11.1: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2008-2012 63

Table 11.2: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region by Gender, 2008-2012 64

Figure 11.1: Percent of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012 65

Figure 11.2: Percent of Civilians Ages 18 to 34 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012 66

Figure 11.3: Percent of Civilians Ages 35 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012 67

Figure 11.4: Percent of Civilians Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012 68

2 
FOREWORD 

The data contained in this chartbook come from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey. While the types of 

demographic and housing data included in Chapters 1 through 4 were also collected in the 2010 decennial census, the 

types of social and economic data included in Chapters 5 through 11 were not. This is because unlike previous 

censuses—which consisted of a “short form” of basic demographic and housing questions and a “long form” (used for a 

sample of households) that also asked detailed questions about social, economic, and housing characteristics—the 

2010 census only had a short form. 

The decennial long form has been replaced by the American Community Survey (ACS), a nationwide study collected 

continuously every year in every county in the United States. The ACS is designed to provide communities with reliable 

and timely demographic, social, economic, and housing data each year. However, the annual sample size of the ACS is 

much smaller than the sample size of the decennial census long form; therefore, data from five years must be combined 

to provide reliable estimates for geographic areas with fewer than 20,000 people. Since a number of counties in the 

Appalachian Region have fewer than 20,000 residents, we must use the 2008-2012 ACS data to have comparable 

statistics for all 420 counties in the Region. 

The five-year ACS estimates for 2008-2012 represent concepts that are fundamentally different from those associated 

with data from the decennial census. While the main function of the census is to provide counts of people for 

congressional apportionment and legislative redistricting, the primary purpose of the ACS is to measure the changing 

characteristics of the U.S. population. Moreover, while the decennial census provides a “snapshot” of the U.S. population 

once every 10 years, the ACS has been described as a “moving video image” that is continually updated. Finally, while 

the census provides “point in time” estimates designed to approximate an area’s characteristics on a specific date, the 

ACS provides “period” estimates that represent data collected over a period of time. The five-year estimates in this 

chartbook, therefore, are data collected over the five-year (or 60-month) period from January 2008 through December 

2012. These ACS estimates are not averages of monthly or annual values, but rather an aggregation of data collected 

over the five-year period. 

For areas with consistent population characteristics throughout the calendar year, ACS period estimates might not 

differ much from those that would result from a point-in-time survey like the decennial census. However, ACS period 

estimates might be noticeably different from point-in-time estimates for areas with seasonal populations or those that 

experience a natural disaster such as a hurricane. For example, a resort community in the upper Midwest might be 

dominated by locals in the winter months and by temporary workers and tourists in the summer months, with a 

corresponding decrease in employment rates during the winter and increase in these rates during the summer. In 

such a community, the ACS period estimate of the percent of persons in the labor force, which is based on data 

across the entire calendar year, would likely be higher than the decennial census point-in-time estimate from April 1.

While five-year ACS data are needed to provide reliable estimates for areas with small populations, they can make it 

difficult to track trends in these areas. The 2008-2012 ACS data illustrate this problem. The 2008-2012 time period 

covers two distinct periods of economic activity: the recession from December 2007 through June 2009; and the first 

three years of economic recovery that followed the downturn. Since the 2008-2012 ACS pools data from both periods, it 

smooths out the extreme variations in economic measures that would be evident in annual data from the recent severe 

recession.

This year’s chartbook contains three new chapters: Chapter 8 focuses on health insurance coverage in the Appalachian 

Region; Chapter 9 is on disability status; and Chapter 11 covers the veteran status of the adult civilian population. The 

ACS introduced a question on health insurance coverage in 2008, which was the same year that significant changes 

were made to the ACS questions on disability status. As a result, the 2008-2012 time period is the first for which fiveyear data on these topics are available.

3 
CHAPTER 1: POPULATION BASICS 

Table 1.1: Population, Land Area, and Population Density in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Population, Land Area, and Density Population,

2008-2012 

Land Area

(Square Miles) 

Population per 

Square Mile of Land 

Area, 2008-2012 

United States 309,138,711 3,531,905 87.5

Appalachian Region 25,233,601 204,452 123.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,377,805 56,980 147.0

North Central Appalachia 2,420,540 29,337 82.5

Central Appalachia 1,915,597 29,773 64.3

South Central Appalachia 4,716,965 34,997 134.8

Southern Appalachia 7,802,694 53,365 146.2

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,780,046 17,579 328.8

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,184,048 50,179 203.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,693,460 18,822 90.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 5,039,432 69,090 72.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,536,615 48,781 52.0

Alabama 4,777,326 50,645 94.3

Appalachian Alabama 3,061,793 25,763 118.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,715,533 24,882 68.9

Georgia 9,714,569 57,513 168.9

Appalachian Georgia 2,939,195 11,378 258.3

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,775,374 46,135 146.9

Kentucky 4,340,167 39,486 109.9

Appalachian Kentucky 1,183,655 18,231 64.9

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,156,512 21,256 148.5

Maryland 5,785,496 9,707 596.0

Appalachian Maryland 252,606 1,529 165.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,532,890 8,178 676.6

Mississippi 2,967,620 46,923 63.2

Appalachian Mississippi 628,451 12,400 50.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,339,169 34,523 67.8

New York 19,398,125 47,126 411.6

Appalachian New York 1,064,968 11,681 91.2

Non-Appalachian New York 18,333,157 35,445 517.2

North Carolina 9,544,249 48,618 196.3

Appalachian North Carolina 1,696,854 11,887 142.7

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,847,395 36,731 213.6

Ohio 11,533,561 40,861 282.3

Appalachian Ohio 2,038,670 15,978 127.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,494,891 24,882 381.6

Pennsylvania 12,699,589 44,743 283.8

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,789,026 36,444 158.8

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,910,563 8,298 832.8

South Carolina 4,630,351 30,061 154.0

Appalachian South Carolina 1,173,255 3,824 306.8

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,457,096 26,237 131.8

Tennessee 6,353,226 41,235 154.1

Appalachian Tennessee 2,786,292 20,119 138.5

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,566,934 21,116 168.9

Virginia 8,014,955 39,490 203.0

Appalachian Virginia 768,355 11,179 68.7

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,246,600 28,311 256.0

West Virginia (entire state) 1,850,481 24,038 77.0

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

4 
Figure 1.1: Population Distribution in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Of the 309.1 million persons in the United States during the period from 2008-2012, 25.2 million lived in the 

Appalachian Region. Yet the population of the Region’s 420 counties varied greatly. On one hand, two-thirds of the 

counties had populations of fewer than 50,000 people, and 125 counties had fewer than 20,000 residents. On the 

other hand, pockets of the Appalachian population lived in large and mid-sized metropolitan areas, including 

Pittsburgh, Birmingham, and the Atlanta suburbs. Allegheny County, Pa. (where Pittsburgh is located) had 1.2 million 

residents. It is important to note that the Appalachian population has continued to grow; the most recent population 

estimates indicated that the Region had 25.4 million residents in 2012 (out of 313.9 million nationwide), compared to 

25.2 million in the 2010 Census.

5 
Figure 1.2: Population per Square Mile of Land Area in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

While Appalachia’s population density was noticeably greater than the United States as a whole over the 2008-2012

period, just two-fifths of the Region’s counties had population concentrations at or above the national average. Most of 

the high-density counties were in metropolitan areas, both large (Pittsburgh, Birmingham, suburban Atlanta) and small 

(Winston-Salem, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.).

6 
CHAPTER 2: AGE 

Table 2.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2008-2012

Population by Age Group 

Total 

Population, 

2008-2012 

Percent of Population Median Age Under (Years) Age 18 

Ages

18-24 

Ages

25-64

Ages 65

and Over

United States 309,138,711 23.9 10.0 52.9 13.2 37.2

Appalachian Region 25,233,601 22.4 9.7 52.7 15.2 39.8

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,377,805 20.8 10.1 52.2 16.9 41.7

North Central Appalachia 2,420,540 21.8 9.7 53.1 15.4 40.3

Central Appalachia 1,915,597 22.3 8.7 53.8 15.2 40.5

South Central Appalachia 4,716,965 21.4 9.8 52.4 16.5 40.8

Southern Appalachia 7,802,694 24.9 9.5 52.9 12.7 37.1

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,780,046 23.8 8.8 54.0 13.4 38.6

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,184,048 21.9 10.5 52.4 15.3 39.6

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,693,460 22.7 9.9 51.7 15.7 40.3

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 5,039,432 21.6 9.4 52.3 16.7 41.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,536,615 22.4 9.2 52.2 16.3 40.7

Alabama 4,777,326 23.7 10.1 52.4 13.9 37.8

Appalachian Alabama 3,061,793 23.4 9.8 52.9 13.9 38.2

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,715,533 24.2 10.6 51.4 13.8 37.1

Georgia 9,714,569 25.6 10.2 53.5 10.8 35.4

Appalachian Georgia 2,939,195 27.0 8.7 53.7 10.7 35.9

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,775,374 25.0 10.8 53.4 10.8 35.1

Kentucky 4,340,167 23.5 9.6 53.4 13.4 38.0

Appalachian Kentucky 1,183,655 22.8 9.2 53.5 14.5 39.6

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,156,512 23.8 9.7 53.4 13.0 37.4

Maryland 5,785,496 23.3 9.7 54.6 12.4 37.9

Appalachian Maryland 252,606 21.2 9.7 53.2 15.9 40.5

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,532,890 23.4 9.7 54.7 12.2 37.7

Mississippi 2,967,620 25.4 10.4 51.3 12.9 36.0

Appalachian Mississippi 628,451 24.6 10.9 50.3 14.2 37.1

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,339,169 25.6 10.3 51.5 12.6 35.8

New York 19,398,125 22.3 10.2 53.9 13.6 38.0

Appalachian New York 1,064,968 21.0 12.9 50.5 15.7 39.9

Non-Appalachian New York 18,333,157 22.3 10.0 54.1 13.5 37.8

North Carolina 9,544,249 23.8 9.9 53.2 13.1 37.4

Appalachian North Carolina 1,696,854 21.5 9.2 52.4 16.9 41.3

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,847,395 24.4 10.1 53.4 12.2 36.6

Ohio 11,533,561 23.6 9.5 52.7 14.2 38.8

Appalachian Ohio 2,038,670 22.9 9.0 52.4 15.7 40.5

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,494,891 23.7 9.7 52.8 13.8 38.3

Pennsylvania 12,699,589 21.9 9.9 52.7 15.5 40.1

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,789,026 20.5 10.0 52.5 17.1 41.9

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,910,563 23.1 9.9 52.8 14.2 38.5

South Carolina 4,630,351 23.3 10.3 52.6 13.8 37.9

Appalachian South Carolina 1,173,255 23.6 10.2 52.3 13.9 38.0

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,457,096 23.2 10.3 52.7 13.8 37.8

Tennessee 6,353,226 23.5 9.6 53.4 13.6 38.0

Appalachian Tennessee 2,786,292 21.8 9.3 52.9 16.0 40.5

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,566,934 24.8 9.8 53.7 11.6 36.0

Virginia 8,014,955 23.1 10.1 54.5 12.3 37.4

Appalachian Virginia 768,355 19.5 11.8 51.8 16.9 41.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,246,600 23.4 9.9 54.8 11.8 37.0

West Virginia (entire state) 1,850,481 20.9 9.2 53.7 16.2 41.3

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

7 
Figure 2.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Under Age 18, 2008-2012

Over the 2008-2012 period, the share of children and youth under age 18 in the Appalachian population was slightly 

below the national average of 24 percent. And the share was actually less than 20 percent in one-sixth of the Region’s 

counties, most of which were outside metropolitan areas. Yet in another one-fifth of the counties, the share of children 

under age 18 matched or exceeded the national average. Most of these counties were in Southern Appalachia—the 

only subregion where the under-18 percentage was greater than that of the nation as a whole. 

8 
Figure 2.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 18 to 24, 2008-2012

Although the share of young adults (ages 18 to 24) in Appalachia roughly equaled the national average in the 2008-

2012 period, there were great variations within the Region. For example, persons in this age group made up at least 

15 percent of the population in 23 counties—most of which are home to colleges and universities. In contrast, 18-to24-year-olds made up less than 7.5 percent of the population in 97 Appalachian counties. Of the counties in this latter 

group, 67 were outside metropolitan areas, suggesting a possible lack of opportunities in these communities for youth 

making the transition to adulthood.

9 
Figure 2.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 25 to 64, 2008-2012

In both the United States and Appalachia, adults in the prime working ages (ages 25 to 64) made up a slight majority 

of all residents in the 2008-2012 period. In 210 of the 420 Appalachian counties, the percentage of persons in this age 

group matched or exceeded the national average. But there were 37 counties in the Region (31 of which were outside 

metropolitan areas) where 25-to-64-year-olds made up less than half of the population. Many of these counties house 

colleges and universities (and thus had a high share of their populations in the 18-to-24 age range.)

10
Figure 2.4: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 65 and Over, 2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period, the share of residents ages 65 and over exceeded the national average in the Appalachian 

Region and matched or exceeded it in 371 of its 420 counties. In fact, older persons made up at least 15 percent of 

the population in 296 Appalachian counties, two-thirds of which were outside metropolitan areas. In contrast, a 

majority of the 49 Appalachian counties with older population shares below the national average were either in metro 

areas or home to colleges and universities. In both Appalachia and the nation, the share of residents ages 65 and 

over will continue to increase over the coming years as the large baby boom cohorts continue to move into this age 

group.

11
Figure 2.5: Median Age of Persons in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

On average, the Appalachian population was two-and-a-half years older than that of the United States as a whole

during the 2008-2012 period. Indeed, the median age of the population (the point at which half the population is older 

and half is younger) was at least 40 years in more than two-thirds of the Region’s counties. In 42 counties—all but 

seven of which were outside metro areas—the median age was at least 45 years. Of the 39 counties with populations 

younger than the national median age, 27 were in Southern Appalachia—the only subregion where the overall age 

structure roughly resembled that of the nation. With the aging of the population in both Appalachia and the nation, 

median age will likely continue to rise in most of the Region’s counties. 

12
CHAPTER 3: RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN 

Table 3.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008-2012

Population by Race and Hispanic Origin 

Total 

Population, 

2008-2012 

Percent of Population

White Alone, 

Not Hispanic 

Minority

Total Black Alone, 

Not Hispanic 

Hispanic or 

Latino

Other, Not 

Hispanic

United States 309,138,711 63.7 36.3 12.2 16.4 7.7

Appalachian Region 25,233,601 83.5 16.5 9.1 4.2 3.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,377,805 89.5 10.5 5.1 2.4 2.9

North Central Appalachia 2,420,540 93.3 6.7 2.7 1.2 2.8

Central Appalachia 1,915,597 95.4 4.6 1.9 1.2 1.5

South Central Appalachia 4,716,965 85.5 14.5 7.0 4.5 2.9

Southern Appalachia 7,802,694 69.9 30.1 18.6 7.5 4.0

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,780,046 74.8 25.2 14.8 5.7 4.7

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,184,048 83.1 16.9 9.1 4.6 3.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,693,460 88.5 11.5 4.8 4.0 2.6

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 5,039,432 90.0 10.0 4.9 3.0 2.1

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,536,615 88.9 11.1 7.8 1.6 1.6

Alabama 4,777,326 67.0 33.0 26.2 3.8 3.0

Appalachian Alabama 3,061,793 71.0 29.0 21.8 4.3 2.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,715,533 59.9 40.1 33.9 2.9 3.3

Georgia 9,714,569 55.8 44.2 30.2 8.8 5.2

Appalachian Georgia 2,939,195 68.1 31.9 13.3 12.7 5.9

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,775,374 50.5 49.5 37.5 7.1 4.9

Kentucky 4,340,167 86.3 13.7 7.7 3.0 2.9

Appalachian Kentucky 1,183,655 95.4 4.6 1.9 1.3 1.5

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,156,512 82.9 17.1 9.9 3.7 3.5

Maryland 5,785,496 54.7 45.3 29.0 8.2 8.2

Appalachian Maryland 252,606 86.4 13.6 7.9 2.6 3.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,532,890 53.2 46.8 29.9 8.4 8.4

Mississippi 2,967,620 58.0 42.0 37.0 2.6 2.4

Appalachian Mississippi 628,451 64.7 35.3 31.5 2.3 1.5

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,339,169 56.2 43.8 38.5 2.8 2.6

New York 19,398,125 58.3 41.7 14.5 17.7 9.6

Appalachian New York 1,064,968 90.1 9.9 2.6 3.1 4.3

Non-Appalachian New York 18,333,157 56.4 43.6 15.1 18.5 9.9

North Carolina 9,544,249 65.2 34.8 21.2 8.3 5.2

Appalachian North Carolina 1,696,854 81.2 18.8 8.7 6.8 3.2

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,847,395 61.8 38.2 23.9 8.7 5.7

Ohio 11,533,561 81.1 18.9 12.0 3.1 3.8

Appalachian Ohio 2,038,670 91.8 8.2 4.3 1.6 2.3

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,494,891 78.8 21.2 13.7 3.4 4.1

Pennsylvania 12,699,589 79.4 20.6 10.4 5.7 4.5

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,789,026 89.5 10.5 5.3 2.4 2.8

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,910,563 71.0 29.0 14.7 8.4 5.9

South Carolina 4,630,351 64.1 35.9 27.7 5.0 3.2

Appalachian South Carolina 1,173,255 74.4 25.6 16.4 5.8 3.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,457,096 60.6 39.4 31.5 4.8 3.1

Tennessee 6,353,226 75.6 24.4 16.6 4.5 3.3

Appalachian Tennessee 2,786,292 88.6 11.4 5.4 3.3 2.7

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,566,934 65.4 34.6 25.3 5.5 3.8

Virginia 8,014,955 64.8 35.2 19.1 7.9 8.2

Appalachian Virginia 768,355 90.4 9.6 5.3 1.9 2.4

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,246,600 62.1 37.9 20.6 8.5 8.8

West Virginia (entire state) 1,850,481 93.0 7.0 3.1 1.2 2.7

“Other” includes these racial groups: (a) American Indian and Alaska Native alone; (b) Asian alone; (c) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 

alone; (d) Some other race alone; and (e) Two or more races.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

13
Figure 3.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Minority, 2008-2012

The Appalachian Region is significantly less racially and ethnically diverse than the United States as a whole, and 

most parts of the Region have remained far below the national average in their minority populations. In two-thirds of 

Appalachian counties, minorities (defined as anyone who identifies with a racial or ethnic group other than “white 

alone, not Hispanic”) made up less than 10 percent of the population during the 2008-2012 period. There were just 22

counties—all but one in Southern Appalachia—where minorities’ share of the population matched or exceeded the 

national average.

14
Figure 3.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not Hispanic, 2008-2012

Although non-Hispanic African Americans remained the largest single minority group in Appalachia during the 2008-

2012 period, their share of the Region’s total population was still lower than in the United States as a whole. Within 

the Region, the largest proportions were in Southern Appalachia—the only subregion where blacks’ share of the 

population exceeded the national average. Southern Appalachia also had 51 of the 57 counties where the black share 

of the population matched or surpassed that of the nation. At the other end of the spectrum, persons who were “black 

alone, not Hispanic” accounted for less than 5 percent of the residents in nearly three-fourths of Appalachian counties.

15
Figure 3.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or Latino, 2008-2012

Although Hispanics have become the United States’ largest minority group, they made up only 1 in 25 residents in the 

Appalachian Region during the 2008-2012 period. The county patterns reflect this fact, as Hispanics were at least 5 

percent of the population in just 55 of Appalachia’s 420 counties. Moreover, just three Appalachian counties 

(Gwinnett, Hall, and Whitfield—all in Georgia) had Latino population shares that matched or exceeded the national 

average.

16 
CHAPTER 4: HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE 

Table 4.1: Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Housing Occupancy and Tenure 

Total Number 

of Housing 

Units 

Number of 

Occupied 

Housing Units 

Percent of Total

Housing Units

Percent of Occupied

Housing Units

Occupied Vacant OwnerOccupied 

RenterOccupied

United States 131,642,457 115,226,802 87.5 12.5 65.5 34.5

Appalachian Region 11,524,313 9,861,023 85.6 14.4 71.7 28.3

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 3,920,815 3,369,967 86.0 14.0 71.6 28.4

North Central Appalachia 1,116,219 949,086 85.0 15.0 73.1 26.9

Central Appalachia 883,220 744,959 84.3 15.7 73.2 26.8

South Central Appalachia 2,255,715 1,909,050 84.6 15.4 70.6 29.4

Southern Appalachia 3,348,344 2,887,961 86.3 13.7 71.7 28.3

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 2,496,575 2,212,454 88.6 11.4 71.9 28.1

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 4,569,585 4,022,659 88.0 12.0 70.0 30.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 788,724 653,684 82.9 17.1 72.9 27.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,432,652 1,980,088 81.4 18.6 73.6 26.4

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,236,777 992,138 80.2 19.8 73.7 26.3

Alabama 2,172,647 1,837,576 84.6 15.4 70.2 29.8

Appalachian Alabama 1,378,363 1,179,884 85.6 14.4 71.4 28.6

Non-Appalachian Alabama 794,284 657,692 82.8 17.2 67.9 32.1

Georgia 4,086,231 3,508,477 85.9 14.1 66.0 34.0

Appalachian Georgia 1,175,003 1,020,684 86.9 13.1 73.0 27.0

Non-Appalachian Georgia 2,911,228 2,487,793 85.5 14.5 63.1 36.9

Kentucky 1,927,916 1,691,716 87.7 12.3 68.7 31.3

Appalachian Kentucky 539,837 454,937 84.3 15.7 71.9 28.1

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,388,079 1,236,779 89.1 10.9 67.5 32.5

Maryland 2,378,932 2,138,806 89.9 10.1 68.1 31.9

Appalachian Maryland 112,995 96,689 85.6 14.4 68.7 31.3

Non-Appalachian Maryland 2,265,937 2,042,117 90.1 9.9 68.1 31.9

Mississippi 1,274,277 1,087,791 85.4 14.6 69.9 30.1

Appalachian Mississippi 278,501 237,711 85.4 14.6 71.3 28.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 995,776 850,080 85.4 14.6 69.5 30.5

New York 8,102,223 7,230,896 89.2 10.8 54.5 45.5

Appalachian New York 509,006 424,266 83.4 16.6 69.6 30.4

Non-Appalachian New York 7,593,217 6,806,630 89.6 10.4 53.6 46.4

North Carolina 4,325,088 3,693,221 85.4 14.6 67.1 32.9

Appalachian North Carolina 854,607 690,393 80.8 19.2 70.9 29.1

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 3,470,481 3,002,828 86.5 13.5 66.2 33.8

Ohio 5,124,503 4,555,709 88.9 11.1 68.0 32.0

Appalachian Ohio 904,336 794,543 87.9 12.1 72.8 27.2

Non-Appalachian Ohio 4,220,167 3,761,166 89.1 10.9 67.0 33.0

Pennsylvania 5,563,832 4,959,633 89.1 10.9 70.1 29.9

Appalachian Pennsylvania 2,720,682 2,339,088 86.0 14.0 71.8 28.2

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 2,843,150 2,620,545 92.2 7.8 68.7 31.3

South Carolina 2,134,456 1,768,255 82.8 17.2 69.5 30.5

Appalachian South Carolina 516,477 449,682 87.1 12.9 69.7 30.3

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,617,979 1,318,573 81.5 18.5 69.4 30.6

Tennessee 2,811,854 2,468,841 87.8 12.2 68.4 31.6

Appalachian Tennessee 1,287,525 1,122,776 87.2 12.8 70.9 29.1

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,524,329 1,346,065 88.3 11.7 66.2 33.8

Virginia 3,365,855 3,006,219 89.3 10.7 67.8 32.2

Appalachian Virginia 364,741 307,696 84.4 15.6 71.6 28.4

Non-Appalachian Virginia 3,001,114 2,698,523 89.9 10.1 67.4 32.6

West Virginia (entire state) 882,240 742,674 84.2 15.8 73.7 26.3

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey. 

17
Figure 4.1: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, 2008-2012

Although the home occupancy rate during the 2008-2012 period was slightly lower in Appalachia than in the United 

States as a whole, rates varied within the Region. On one hand, 122 of the 420 counties had occupancy rates that 

were at or above the national average. And while they were scattered throughout the Region, 77 of these counties 

were in metropolitan areas. Conversely, less than four-fifths of housing units were occupied in 110 Appalachian 

counties—all but 14 of which lay outside metropolitan areas. It is important to note that the occupancy rates in the 

2008-2012 period were about three percentage points lower than they were in the 2000 Census, suggesting that 

housing occupancy has not yet returned to pre-recession levels.

18
Figure 4.2: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, 2008-2012

In Appalachia, 14 percent of housing units were vacant during the 2008-2012 period, which is about two percentage 

points above the national average. Vacancy rates varied within the Region, however. While one-fourth of Appalachian 

counties (nearly all outside metropolitan areas) had vacancy rates at or above 20 percent, another one-fourth (mostly

in metro areas) had rates below the national average. It is important to note that in 155 of the 301 Appalachian 

counties with vacancy rates of 12.5 percent or more, at least one-third of the vacant units were designed for seasonal 

or occasional use—suggesting significant recreational, resort, or retirement activity in the community.

19
Figure 4.3: Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period, homeownership was more common in the Appalachian Region than in the rest of the 

country. In all but 22 counties, the share of owner-occupied housing units matched or exceeded the national average. 

Indeed, the homeownership rate was at least 75 percent in 209 of Appalachia’s 420 counties. It is important to note 

that for some parts of the Region, the high homeownership rates might be related to low levels of economic and 

residential mobility, the rise in the number and share of mobile homes among the housing stock, and to a lesser 

extent, the older age structure of the Appalachian population.

20
Figure 4.4: Percent Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

The share of renter-occupied housing units during the 2008-2012 period was well below the national average 

throughout Appalachia; in fact, it was less than 25 percent in 206 of the Region’s 420 counties. Among the 22

Appalachian counties where the share of renter-occupied units matched or exceeded the national average, most are

home to colleges or universities, where students make up a fairly sizeable share of the population. The share of 

renter-occupied units in Appalachia was nearly two percentage points higher than it was in the 2000 Census, 

suggesting a shift towards rental units in response to the recession and the housing crisis.

21
CHAPTER 5: EDUCATION 

Table 5.1: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 25 and 

Over,

2008-2012 

Percent of Population Ages 25 and Over

Less than 

High School 

Diploma 

High School Diploma or More

Total 

H.S. Grad, No 

Postsecondary 

Degree 

Associate's 

Degree

Bachelor's 

Degree or 

More

United States 204,336,017 14.3 85.7 49.5 7.7 28.5

Appalachian Region 17,137,010 15.9 84.1 55.1 7.6 21.3

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 5,789,253 11.4 88.6 57.9 8.6 22.1

North Central Appalachia 1,658,794 15.8 84.2 59.5 6.7 18.0

Central Appalachia 1,321,641 26.2 73.8 55.6 5.9 12.3

South Central Appalachia 3,247,160 17.1 82.9 53.4 7.5 21.9

Southern Appalachia 5,120,162 17.7 82.3 51.5 7.4 23.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 3,896,692 11.7 88.3 51.6 8.2 28.5

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 6,886,207 14.8 85.2 54.5 7.7 22.9

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,141,334 16.7 83.3 59.3 7.8 16.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,476,534 18.9 81.1 58.4 7.4 15.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,736,243 23.2 76.8 56.0 6.5 14.2

Alabama 3,166,424 17.4 82.6 53.2 7.2 22.3

Appalachian Alabama 2,046,735 17.4 82.6 52.8 7.1 22.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,119,689 17.5 82.5 53.9 7.3 21.3

Georgia 6,242,508 15.6 84.4 49.9 6.8 27.8

Appalachian Georgia 1,891,696 17.2 82.8 50.6 7.1 25.1

Non-Appalachian Georgia 4,350,812 14.9 85.1 49.6 6.6 28.9

Kentucky 2,902,296 17.6 82.4 54.6 6.9 21.0

Appalachian Kentucky 804,996 26.3 73.7 54.8 6.0 12.8

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,097,300 14.2 85.8 54.5 7.2 24.1

Maryland 3,875,282 11.5 88.5 45.9 6.2 36.3

Appalachian Maryland 174,501 14.5 85.5 59.8 7.8 17.8

Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,700,781 11.4 88.6 45.3 6.2 37.2

Mississippi 1,904,849 19.0 81.0 53.0 8.0 20.0

Appalachian Mississippi 405,470 22.6 77.4 53.1 7.6 16.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,499,379 18.0 82.0 53.0 8.2 20.9

New York 13,101,982 15.1 84.9 43.8 8.3 32.8

Appalachian New York 705,001 11.4 88.6 53.2 11.6 23.8

Non-Appalachian New York 12,396,981 15.3 84.7 43.2 8.1 33.3

North Carolina 6,324,119 15.5 84.5 49.1 8.6 26.8

Appalachian North Carolina 1,176,507 16.8 83.2 51.2 8.6 23.4

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 5,147,612 15.2 84.8 48.6 8.6 27.6

Ohio 7,715,893 11.8 88.2 55.8 7.7 24.7

Appalachian Ohio 1,388,475 14.8 85.2 61.9 7.5 15.8

Non-Appalachian Ohio 6,327,418 11.1 88.9 54.4 7.7 26.7

Pennsylvania 8,658,872 11.7 88.3 53.7 7.5 27.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,027,562 10.7 89.3 57.5 8.4 23.4

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,631,310 12.6 87.4 50.5 6.7 30.2

South Carolina 3,075,655 16.0 84.0 50.9 8.6 24.6

Appalachian South Carolina 776,261 17.3 82.7 49.5 8.9 24.2

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,299,394 15.5 84.5 51.4 8.4 24.7

Tennessee 4,250,890 16.1 83.9 54.2 6.2 23.5

Appalachian Tennessee 1,919,339 17.9 82.1 55.4 6.4 20.4

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,331,551 14.7 85.3 53.2 6.1 26.1

Virginia 5,356,571 13.1 86.9 45.4 6.9 34.7

Appalachian Virginia 528,193 21.1 78.9 53.4 8.1 17.4

Non-Appalachian Virginia 4,828,378 12.2 87.8 44.5 6.7 36.6

West Virginia (entire state) 1,292,274 16.6 83.4 59.4 6.1 17.9

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

22
Table 5.2: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 25-64,

2008-2012 

Percent of Population Ages 25-64

Less than 

High School 

Diploma 

High School Diploma or More

Total 

H.S. Grad, No 

Postsecondary 

Degree 

Associate's 

Degree

Bachelor's 

Degree or 

More

United States 163,664,576 12.3 87.7 48.9 8.5 30.2

Appalachian Region 13,290,719 12.7 87.3 55.2 8.9 23.2

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 4,375,098 8.2 91.8 56.7 10.3 24.8

North Central Appalachia 1,285,649 12.1 87.9 60.2 7.8 19.8

Central Appalachia 1,030,910 20.6 79.4 59.1 7.0 13.3

South Central Appalachia 2,471,160 13.6 86.4 54.3 8.7 23.4

Southern Appalachia 4,127,902 15.2 84.8 51.6 8.3 25.0

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 3,122,096 9.3 90.7 50.2 9.3 31.3

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 5,332,574 11.9 88.1 54.3 8.9 24.9

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 875,830 13.3 86.7 60.0 9.2 17.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,637,200 15.1 84.9 59.8 8.8 16.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,323,019 18.9 81.1 58.3 7.7 15.1

Alabama 2,503,119 14.7 85.3 53.4 8.2 23.7

Appalachian Alabama 1,620,879 14.6 85.4 52.9 8.1 24.4

Non-Appalachian Alabama 882,240 14.9 85.1 54.3 8.4 22.4

Georgia 5,195,882 13.5 86.5 49.8 7.3 29.3

Appalachian Georgia 1,577,784 15.3 84.7 50.3 7.7 26.7

Non-Appalachian Georgia 3,618,098 12.7 87.3 49.6 7.2 30.5

Kentucky 2,319,219 13.8 86.2 55.6 7.9 22.7

Appalachian Kentucky 632,997 20.9 79.1 58.2 7.1 13.9

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,686,222 11.1 88.9 54.6 8.2 26.1

Maryland 3,159,556 9.5 90.5 45.5 6.8 38.2

Appalachian Maryland 134,336 11.4 88.6 60.2 9.0 19.4

Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,025,220 9.5 90.5 44.8 6.7 39.0

Mississippi 1,521,008 16.1 83.9 53.7 9.2 21.0

Appalachian Mississippi 316,208 19.0 81.0 54.5 8.9 17.6

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,204,800 15.3 84.7 53.5 9.3 21.9

New York 10,461,348 12.8 87.2 42.6 9.3 35.3

Appalachian New York 537,600 9.0 91.0 52.1 13.3 25.7

Non-Appalachian New York 9,923,748 13.0 87.0 42.1 9.1 35.9

North Carolina 5,076,150 13.0 87.0 48.9 9.6 28.5

Appalachian North Carolina 889,088 14.0 86.0 51.6 10.0 24.5

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 4,187,062 12.8 87.2 48.3 9.5 29.4

Ohio 6,081,291 9.2 90.8 55.0 8.9 26.9

Appalachian Ohio 1,067,716 11.7 88.3 62.0 9.0 17.4

Non-Appalachian Ohio 5,013,575 8.7 91.3 53.5 8.9 28.9

Pennsylvania 6,686,525 8.7 91.3 52.6 8.7 30.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,037,480 7.4 92.6 56.0 10.1 26.5

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,649,045 9.7 90.3 49.8 7.6 32.9

South Carolina 2,435,557 13.3 86.7 51.6 9.5 25.6

Appalachian South Carolina 613,031 14.4 85.6 49.8 10.0 25.8

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,822,526 13.0 87.0 52.1 9.4 25.5

Tennessee 3,389,471 12.9 87.1 54.8 7.0 25.3

Appalachian Tennessee 1,472,663 14.1 85.9 56.7 7.3 21.9

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,916,808 11.9 88.1 53.4 6.8 27.9

Virginia 4,368,066 10.6 89.4 45.0 7.5 36.8

Appalachian Virginia 398,015 15.6 84.4 55.6 9.7 19.1

Non-Appalachian Virginia 3,970,051 10.1 89.9 44.0 7.3 38.6

West Virginia (entire state) 992,922 12.7 87.3 60.4 7.1 19.8

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

23
Table 5.3: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 65 and 

Over,

2008-2012 

Percent of Population Ages 65 and Over

Less than 

High School 

Diploma 

High School Diploma or More

Total 

H.S. Grad, No 

Postsecondary 

Degree 

Associate's 

Degree

Bachelor's 

Degree or 

More

United States 40,671,441 22.1 77.9 52.1 4.3 21.5

Appalachian Region 3,846,291 27.0 73.0 54.8 3.4 14.8

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,414,155 21.1 78.9 61.6 3.4 13.9

North Central Appalachia 373,145 28.5 71.5 57.0 2.7 11.9

Central Appalachia 290,731 45.7 54.3 43.2 2.1 9.0

South Central Appalachia 776,000 28.4 71.6 50.6 3.8 17.2

Southern Appalachia 992,260 28.2 71.8 51.1 3.8 16.8

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 774,596 21.6 78.4 57.4 3.7 17.3

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,553,633 24.6 75.4 55.3 3.7 16.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 265,504 27.9 72.1 57.0 3.2 12.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 839,334 31.1 68.9 54.0 3.0 11.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 413,224 37.0 63.0 48.6 2.9 11.4

Alabama 663,305 27.6 72.4 52.2 3.5 16.7

Appalachian Alabama 425,856 27.8 72.2 52.2 3.4 16.6

Non-Appalachian Alabama 237,449 27.3 72.7 52.2 3.6 17.0

Georgia 1,046,626 25.9 74.1 50.4 3.8 19.9

Appalachian Georgia 313,912 26.8 73.2 52.1 3.8 17.3

Non-Appalachian Georgia 732,714 25.5 74.5 49.6 3.8 21.1

Kentucky 583,077 32.7 67.3 50.5 2.8 14.0

Appalachian Kentucky 171,999 46.5 53.5 42.4 2.1 9.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 411,078 26.9 73.1 53.9 3.1 16.0

Maryland 715,726 20.2 79.8 47.8 3.9 28.1

Appalachian Maryland 40,165 25.0 75.0 58.7 3.6 12.7

Non-Appalachian Maryland 675,561 19.9 80.1 47.2 4.0 29.0

Mississippi 383,841 30.4 69.6 50.2 3.5 16.0

Appalachian Mississippi 89,262 35.4 64.6 48.0 3.0 13.6

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 294,579 28.9 71.1 50.8 3.6 16.7

New York 2,640,634 24.4 75.6 48.5 4.3 22.7

Appalachian New York 167,401 19.3 80.7 56.8 6.0 17.9

Non-Appalachian New York 2,473,233 24.8 75.2 47.9 4.2 23.0

North Carolina 1,247,969 25.5 74.5 49.9 4.7 19.9

Appalachian North Carolina 287,419 25.6 74.4 50.0 4.4 20.0

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 960,550 25.5 74.5 49.8 4.8 19.9

Ohio 1,634,602 21.3 78.7 58.6 3.3 16.8

Appalachian Ohio 320,759 25.4 74.6 61.6 2.5 10.5

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,313,843 20.4 79.6 57.9 3.4 18.3

Pennsylvania 1,972,347 22.0 78.0 57.6 3.3 17.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 990,082 20.9 79.1 61.9 3.2 14.0

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 982,265 23.2 76.8 53.4 3.4 20.1

South Carolina 640,098 26.0 74.0 48.5 5.0 20.6

Appalachian South Carolina 163,230 28.2 71.8 48.3 5.1 18.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 476,868 25.2 74.8 48.5 4.9 21.4

Tennessee 861,419 28.9 71.1 51.5 3.1 16.5

Appalachian Tennessee 446,676 30.5 69.5 50.9 3.2 15.4

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 414,743 27.2 72.8 52.1 2.9 17.8

Virginia 988,505 23.9 76.1 47.2 3.9 25.1

Appalachian Virginia 130,178 38.1 61.9 46.5 3.1 12.4

Non-Appalachian Virginia 858,327 21.7 78.3 47.3 4.0 27.0

West Virginia (entire state) 299,352 29.4 70.6 56.1 2.7 11.7

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

24
Figure 5.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or 

More, 2008-2012

Although the share of Appalachian adults with at least a high school diploma was slightly below the national average

over the 2008-2012 period, it matched or exceeded the national share in 110 counties in the Region—all but 10 of 

them either in Northern Appalachia or in metropolitan areas. And the regional share was seven percentage points 

higher than it was in the 2000 Census, suggesting a continued trend toward increased high school completion. Yet in 

102 counties, less than three-fourths of adults had completed high school; 98 of those counties were in Central, South 

Central, and Southern Appalachia.

25
Figure 5.2: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma but 

With No Postsecondary Degree, 2008-2012

In nine out of 10 Appalachian counties, at least half of the adult population had a high school diploma, but no 

postsecondary degree (including an associate’s degree) during the 2008-2012 period. Many of these adults had 

attended college but did not graduate, while others acquired vocational training. Conversely, many of the adults 

outside of this group did earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, while others never finished high school at all.

26
Figure 5.3: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or 

More, 2008-2012

The share of adults with a bachelor’s degree or more was seven percentage points lower in Appalachia during the 

2008-2012 period than in the nation as a whole. And the rate was lower than the national average in 401 of the 

Region’s 420 counties. In fact, there were 332 Appalachian counties where fewer than one in five residents ages 25 

and over were graduates of a four-year college or university, and 61 counties—nearly all of which were either outside 

metropolitan areas or in Central Appalachia—where the share was less than one in 10. The 19 counties where the 

percentage of college graduates matched or surpassed the national average were either in metro areas or home to a 

college or university; many also had high residential mobility rates. On a positive note, the share of adults (both in 

Appalachia and nationwide) with a four-year degree was four percentage points higher in 2008-2012 than it was in

2000, suggesting a continued trend toward greater educational attainment among cohorts entering this age group.

27
Figure 5.4: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, 

2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period, the percentage of working-age adults (ages 25 to 64) in the Appalachian Region with at least 

a high school diploma was almost at the national average of nearly 88 percent, and the share did match or exceed the 

national rate in 129 counties. These counties were almost equally divided between metropolitan and non-metropolitan 

counties, and most were in Northern or North Central Appalachia. At the other end of the spectrum, less than three in 

four working-age adults had finished high school in 35 Appalachian counties. Almost all of these counties were 

outside metropolitan areas, and more than half were in Central Appalachia.

28
Figure 5.5: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 

2008-2012

Only 23 percent of the working-age population in Appalachia had a bachelor’s degree or more in 2008-2012—seven 

percentage points lower than the U.S. average of 30 percent. This is a striking indicator of the lower educational level 

of the Appalachian workforce. Indeed, just 13 percent of working-age adults in Central Appalachia had a bachelor’s 

degree, as did only 15 percent of residents of rural Appalachian counties that were not adjacent to metro areas. There 

were only 20 Appalachian counties—all either in metropolitan areas or home to a four-year college or university—

where the share of working-age adults ages 25 to 64 with at least a bachelor’s degree matched or exceeded the 

national average. In contrast, less than one in 10 adults had a four-year degree in 47 counties, 38 of which were 

outside metropolitan areas. 

29
Figure 5.6: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or 

More, 2008-2012

While one in five older Americans (ages 65 and over) had attained at least a bachelor’s degree in the 2008-2012

period, less than one in 10 older adults had done so in nearly half of Appalachia’s 420 counties. Most of these 

counties were outside metropolitan areas, and one-third were in Central Appalachia. (Only 9 percent of Central 

Appalachia’s older adults were college graduates.) Yet in 36 Appalachian counties, the share of older adults with a 

four-year degree was at or above the national average. These were either counties in metropolitan areas, counties 

that had a college or university, or counties with significant retirement or seasonal activity (the latter suggested by the 

fact that much, if not most, of their vacant housing is for seasonal or occasional use).

30
CHAPTER 6: LABOR FORCE, EMPLOYMENT, AND UNEMPLOYMENT 

Table 6.1: Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Status of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian 

Region, 2008-2012

Labor Force, Employment, and

 Unemployment 

Total Number of 

Civilian Persons 

Ages 25-64 

Total Persons Ages 25-64 in Civilian 

Labor Force Employment 

Rate (Pct. of Civ. 

Labor Force)

Unemployment 

Rate (Pct. of Civ. 

Labor Force) Number Percent

United States 162,959,524 127,281,931 78.1 92.3 7.7

Appalachian Region 13,274,525 9,773,077 73.6 92.3 7.7

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 4,371,353 3,326,660 76.1 93.2 6.8

North Central Appalachia 1,284,229 901,871 70.2 92.8 7.2

Central Appalachia 1,030,314 621,222 60.3 91.4 8.6

South Central Appalachia 2,468,338 1,829,318 74.1 92.0 8.0

Southern Appalachia 4,120,291 3,094,006 75.1 91.6 8.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 3,118,372 2,441,183 78.3 92.6 7.4

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 5,324,515 3,987,569 74.9 92.5 7.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 875,143 636,024 72.7 91.3 8.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,635,115 1,848,449 70.1 92.0 8.0

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,321,380 859,852 65.1 91.8 8.2

Alabama 2,489,955 1,811,178 72.7 91.7 8.3

Appalachian Alabama 1,617,058 1,182,049 73.1 91.9 8.1

Non-Appalachian Alabama 872,897 629,129 72.1 91.3 8.7

Georgia 5,161,628 3,959,633 76.7 91.2 8.8

Appalachian Georgia 1,575,704 1,227,180 77.9 91.5 8.5

Non-Appalachian Georgia 3,585,924 2,732,453 76.2 91.1 8.9

Kentucky 2,308,586 1,658,092 71.8 92.2 7.8

Appalachian Kentucky 632,613 383,864 60.7 91.0 9.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,675,973 1,274,228 76.0 92.5 7.5

Maryland 3,138,237 2,594,517 82.7 93.8 6.2

Appalachian Maryland 134,045 98,495 73.5 93.0 7.0

Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,004,192 2,496,022 83.1 93.8 6.2

Mississippi 1,512,942 1,091,947 72.2 91.8 8.2

Appalachian Mississippi 315,163 224,852 71.3 91.1 8.9

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,197,779 867,095 72.4 92.0 8.0

New York 10,446,414 8,199,737 78.5 92.8 7.2

Appalachian New York 537,308 412,263 76.7 93.5 6.5

Non-Appalachian New York 9,909,106 7,787,474 78.6 92.7 7.3

North Carolina 5,025,144 3,883,067 77.3 91.2 8.8

Appalachian North Carolina 887,932 664,477 74.8 91.4 8.6

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 4,137,212 3,218,590 77.8 91.2 8.8

Ohio 6,072,729 4,744,122 78.1 91.9 8.1

Appalachian Ohio 1,067,172 775,104 72.6 91.3 8.7

Non-Appalachian Ohio 5,005,557 3,969,018 79.3 92.1 7.9

Pennsylvania 6,679,308 5,239,344 78.4 93.1 6.9

Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,034,674 2,323,966 76.6 93.5 6.5

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,644,634 2,915,378 80.0 92.8 7.2

South Carolina 2,417,140 1,816,278 75.1 90.7 9.3

Appalachian South Carolina 612,366 459,925 75.1 91.1 8.9

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,804,774 1,356,353 75.2 90.6 9.4

Tennessee 3,376,323 2,534,671 75.1 91.9 8.1

Appalachian Tennessee 1,471,211 1,069,339 72.7 91.9 8.1

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,905,112 1,465,332 76.9 91.9 8.1

Virginia 4,287,516 3,412,296 79.6 94.6 5.4

Appalachian Virginia 397,622 274,457 69.0 93.3 6.7

Non-Appalachian Virginia 3,889,894 3,137,839 80.7 94.7 5.3

West Virginia (entire state) 991,657 677,106 68.3 93.7 6.3

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

31
Figure 6.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are In the Labor Force, 2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period (a period of both economic growth and decline), nearly 74 percent of Appalachia’s civilians in 

the prime working ages (ages 25 to 64) were in the civilian labor force, slightly below the U.S. average of 78 percent. In

35 Appalachian counties (25 of which were in metropolitan areas), the share was above the national average. On the 

other hand, there were 46 counties where less than 60 percent of 25-to-64-year-olds were in the civilian labor force. 

Nearly all of these counties were outside of metropolitan areas, and 37 were in Central Appalachia. Indeed, just 60 

percent of working-age residents in Central Appalachia and 65 percent of those in rural areas were in the labor force. 

And there are indications of a possible connection between educational attainment and labor force participation. For 

example, in nearly all of the counties where labor force participation levels were at or above the national rate, the share 

of working-age adults with at least a high school diploma was also at or above the U.S. average.

32
Figure 6.2: Employment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 

2008-2012

Among members of the civilian labor force ages 25 to 64, the employment rate in Appalachia was identical to the 

national rate during the 2008-2012 period. Although there were only slight differences among subregions and 

urban/rural county types, there was some county-level variation. In nearly half of Appalachian counties, the 

employment rate matched or exceeded the national average, with 28 counties having employment rates of 95 percent

or greater. Yet in 80 counties in the Region, employment among 25-to-64-year-olds was less than 90 percent, which 

suggests that they have not fully recovered economically from the recent recession. Almost three-fourths of the

counties in the latter group were outside metropolitan areas.

33
Figure 6.3: Unemployment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian 

Region, 2008-2012

Unemployment in the Appalachian Region among persons ages 25 to 64 was at the national average during the 2008-

2012 period. Within Appalachia, unemployment was at least 10 percent in 82 counties—60 of which were outside 

metropolitan areas and 71 in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. Conversely, unemployment was less 

than 5 percent in 26 other counties; 16 of these were in Northern and North Central Appalachia. There are indications of 

a connection between unemployment and educational attainment: In 78 of the 82 Appalachian counties with double-digit 

unemployment, the share of 25-to-64-year-olds with at least a high school diploma was below the national average; in 36

of these counties, the share was less than four-fifths.

34
CHAPTER 7: INCOME AND POVERTY 

Table 7.1: Household, Family, and Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012

Income 

Household Income, 2008-2012

(2012 Dollars)

Family Income, 2008-2012

(2012 Dollars)

Per Capita 

Income,

2008-2012

(2012 Dollars) 

Mean HH 

Income 

Median HH 

Income 

Mean Family 

Income 

Median Family 

Income 

United States 73,034 53,046 85,065 64,585 28,051

Appalachian Region 58,465 43,626 69,212 54,925 23,486

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 60,231 45,940 72,258 58,388 24,826

North Central Appalachia 55,485 41,817 66,004 53,212 22,507

Central Appalachia 45,872 33,173 54,021 42,433 18,466

South Central Appalachia 55,904 41,074 66,788 52,144 23,138

Southern Appalachia 62,326 46,414 72,291 56,689 23,794

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 69,988 53,063 82,247 65,486 27,465

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 59,419 44,326 71,106 56,559 24,122

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 53,030 41,290 62,043 51,156 21,009

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 51,257 39,220 60,365 49,133 20,748

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 46,868 34,456 55,184 43,680 18,960

Alabama 59,273 43,160 70,237 54,326 23,587

Appalachian Alabama 61,112 44,308 72,301 55,997 24,327

Non-Appalachian Alabama 55,972 41,242 66,446 52,309 22,268

Georgia 67,659 49,604 77,926 59,198 25,309

Appalachian Georgia 68,071 52,912 76,169 60,784 24,330

Non-Appalachian Georgia 67,489 48,156 78,744 58,534 25,733

Kentucky 57,876 42,610 68,559 53,833 23,210

Appalachian Kentucky 45,516 32,264 53,845 41,548 18,141

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 62,422 46,794 74,198 59,115 25,111

Maryland 94,941 72,999 110,686 88,092 36,056

Appalachian Maryland 62,897 48,671 73,686 61,143 24,800

Non-Appalachian Maryland 96,458 74,389 112,407 90,398 36,570

Mississippi 54,176 38,882 63,148 48,300 20,670

Appalachian Mississippi 48,115 34,554 56,834 44,469 18,907

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 55,871 40,176 64,919 49,625 21,144

New York 83,578 57,683 96,853 69,968 32,104

Appalachian New York 58,919 46,074 70,505 58,102 23,938

Non-Appalachian New York 85,116 58,809 98,445 71,207 32,578

North Carolina 63,562 46,450 74,684 57,146 25,285

Appalachian North Carolina 55,716 41,081 66,430 51,878 23,206

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 65,366 47,895 76,541 58,633 25,735

Ohio 63,996 48,246 76,523 61,163 25,857

Appalachian Ohio 54,528 42,256 64,034 53,044 21,813

Non-Appalachian Ohio 65,996 49,721 79,281 63,478 26,725

Pennsylvania 70,243 52,267 84,421 65,980 28,190

Appalachian Pennsylvania 61,854 46,933 74,521 59,708 25,623

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 77,731 57,834 93,115 72,798 30,340

South Carolina 60,416 44,623 70,863 55,058 23,906

Appalachian South Carolina 59,985 44,307 70,914 55,736 23,680

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 60,564 44,735 70,846 55,228 23,982

Tennessee 60,861 44,140 71,757 54,737 24,294

Appalachian Tennessee 55,455 40,430 65,979 51,309 22,822

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 65,370 47,645 76,572 58,523 25,444

Virginia 86,343 63,636 99,955 76,566 33,326

Appalachian Virginia 51,515 38,648 61,690 49,371 21,313

Non-Appalachian Virginia 90,314 67,790 104,228 81,166 34,600

West Virginia (entire state) 54,072 40,400 64,914 51,770 22,482

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

35
Table 7.2: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2008-2012

Poverty Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

United States 44,852,527 15,188,844 25,961,446 6,869,467 19,091,979 3,702,237

Appalachian Region 4,060,430 1,290,428 2,397,175 607,517 1,789,658 372,827

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,141,104 354,222 673,950 193,439 480,511 112,932

North Central Appalachia 406,514 121,397 250,018 66,380 183,638 35,099

Central Appalachia 442,891 133,486 263,955 49,077 214,878 45,450

South Central Appalachia 805,391 242,314 487,821 129,676 358,145 75,256

Southern Appalachia 1,264,530 439,009 721,431 168,945 552,486 104,090

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 736,688 244,576 427,355 102,367 324,988 64,757

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,595,224 499,695 959,938 273,836 686,102 135,591

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 299,496 96,917 176,152 44,838 131,314 26,427

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 883,618 277,289 516,749 121,183 395,566 89,580

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 545,404 171,951 316,981 65,293 251,688 56,472

Alabama 842,292 290,406 480,563 122,960 357,603 71,323

Appalachian Alabama 504,125 172,174 288,312 69,857 218,455 43,639

Non-Appalachian Alabama 338,167 118,232 192,251 53,103 139,148 27,684

Georgia 1,645,272 589,734 940,598 240,337 700,261 114,940

Appalachian Georgia 426,796 153,349 241,848 48,135 193,713 31,599

Non-Appalachian Georgia 1,218,476 436,385 698,750 192,202 506,548 83,341

Kentucky 781,485 257,124 455,986 108,735 347,251 68,375

Appalachian Kentucky 287,153 87,893 169,982 32,771 137,211 29,278

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 494,332 169,231 286,004 75,964 210,040 39,097

Maryland 532,116 162,813 315,957 82,812 233,145 53,346

Appalachian Maryland 31,246 9,938 17,900 4,704 13,196 3,408

Non-Appalachian Maryland 500,870 152,875 298,057 78,108 219,949 49,938

Mississippi 640,132 236,967 349,146 88,678 260,468 54,019

Appalachian Mississippi 142,811 49,889 79,774 22,588 57,186 13,148

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 497,321 187,078 269,372 66,090 203,282 40,871

New York 2,814,409 891,923 1,632,167 391,594 1,240,573 290,319

Appalachian New York 161,749 47,961 101,057 34,719 66,338 12,731

Non-Appalachian New York 2,652,660 843,962 1,531,110 356,875 1,174,235 277,588

North Carolina 1,563,464 535,502 904,719 234,921 669,798 123,243

Appalachian North Carolina 295,748 92,583 175,732 43,689 132,043 27,433

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,267,716 442,919 728,987 191,232 537,755 95,810

Ohio 1,723,485 593,726 1,003,726 267,792 735,934 126,033

Appalachian Ohio 338,151 115,232 195,198 46,161 149,037 27,721

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,385,334 478,494 808,528 221,631 586,897 98,312

Pennsylvania 1,604,464 502,796 943,428 264,113 679,315 158,240

Appalachian Pennsylvania 743,893 223,847 440,666 130,154 310,512 79,380

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 860,571 278,949 502,762 133,959 368,803 78,860

South Carolina 787,788 268,467 453,366 115,167 338,199 65,955

Appalachian South Carolina 190,798 63,597 111,497 28,365 83,132 15,704

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 596,990 204,870 341,869 86,802 255,067 50,251

Tennessee 1,069,017 359,880 621,136 151,591 469,545 88,001

Appalachian Tennessee 484,816 147,008 291,992 69,956 222,036 45,816

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 584,201 212,872 329,144 81,635 247,509 42,185

Virginia 859,032 265,922 516,806 150,712 366,094 76,304

Appalachian Virginia 136,618 35,764 86,732 27,874 58,858 14,122

Non-Appalachian Virginia 722,414 230,158 430,074 122,838 307,236 62,182

West Virginia (entire state) 316,526 91,193 196,485 48,544 147,941 28,848

Note: Poverty status is determined by a series of income thresholds that are determined by family size and composition. In 2012, the poverty 

threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $23,283. The poverty universe does not include unrelated individuals under age 15, 

people living in college dormitories, and people living in institutional group quarters.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

36
Table 7.3: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2008-2012

Poverty Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

United States 14.9 20.8 13.7 24.8 11.8 9.4

Appalachian Region 16.6 23.2 15.8 28.5 13.7 10.0

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 14.2 20.7 13.5 27.7 11.2 8.3

North Central Appalachia 17.3 23.5 17.0 32.2 14.6 9.7

Central Appalachia 23.8 32.0 22.8 32.3 21.3 16.2

South Central Appalachia 17.6 24.5 17.1 32.6 14.6 10.0

Southern Appalachia 16.6 22.9 15.2 25.0 13.5 10.8

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 13.0 18.0 12.0 21.8 10.5 8.6

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 16.2 22.8 15.6 30.4 13.1 9.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 18.3 25.7 17.5 30.7 15.3 10.3

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 18.2 26.0 17.3 29.7 15.4 11.1

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 22.2 30.9 21.1 31.9 19.4 14.2

Alabama 18.1 26.0 16.6 28.1 14.5 11.1

Appalachian Alabama 16.9 24.3 15.4 25.6 13.7 10.6

Non-Appalachian Alabama 20.2 28.9 18.6 32.1 16.1 12.0

Georgia 17.4 24.1 15.7 27.3 13.7 11.3

Appalachian Georgia 14.7 19.6 13.4 20.0 12.4 10.3

Non-Appalachian Georgia 18.6 26.2 16.7 30.0 14.3 11.7

Kentucky 18.6 25.7 17.2 29.4 15.2 12.2

Appalachian Kentucky 25.1 33.4 23.8 34.0 22.2 17.7

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 16.1 22.9 14.8 27.8 12.7 9.9

Maryland 9.4 12.2 8.7 16.6 7.5 7.7

Appalachian Maryland 13.2 19.2 12.2 22.3 10.5 9.0

Non-Appalachian Maryland 9.3 12.0 8.6 16.4 7.3 7.6

Mississippi 22.3 32.0 19.8 32.4 17.5 14.6

Appalachian Mississippi 23.3 32.8 21.3 36.6 18.3 15.3

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 22.0 31.7 19.4 31.2 17.3 14.4

New York 14.9 21.0 13.5 22.5 12.0 11.4

Appalachian New York 16.1 22.1 16.1 35.3 12.5 8.0

Non-Appalachian New York 14.8 20.9 13.4 21.7 12.0 11.7

North Carolina 16.8 23.8 15.5 28.5 13.4 10.2

Appalachian North Carolina 17.9 25.8 17.3 32.3 15.0 9.9

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 16.6 23.5 15.1 27.7 13.0 10.3

Ohio 15.4 22.2 14.4 27.4 12.3 8.1

Appalachian Ohio 17.1 25.1 16.1 27.8 14.3 9.0

Non-Appalachian Ohio 15.0 21.6 14.0 27.3 11.8 7.8

Pennsylvania 13.1 18.4 12.3 24.8 10.3 8.4

Appalachian Pennsylvania 13.4 19.2 12.7 27.1 10.4 8.4

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 12.8 17.7 12.0 22.9 10.2 8.4

South Carolina 17.6 25.3 16.2 28.2 14.1 10.6

Appalachian South Carolina 16.7 23.3 15.7 28.0 13.7 9.9

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 17.8 26.0 16.3 28.3 14.3 10.8

Tennessee 17.3 24.5 16.0 27.7 14.0 10.6

Appalachian Tennessee 17.8 24.6 17.3 30.1 15.2 10.6

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 16.8 24.4 14.9 25.9 13.1 10.5

Virginia 11.1 14.6 10.4 21.9 8.5 7.9

Appalachian Virginia 18.6 24.3 18.8 39.2 15.1 11.2

Non-Appalachian Virginia 10.3 13.7 9.5 19.9 7.9 7.5

West Virginia (entire state) 17.6 24.1 17.4 31.8 15.1 9.9

Note: Poverty status is determined by a series of income thresholds that are determined by family size and composition. In 2012, the poverty 

threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $23,283. The poverty universe does not include unrelated individuals under age 15, 

people living in college dormitories, and people living in institutional group quarters.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

37
Figure 7.1: Mean Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period (which covers the years during and after the economic recession of 2007-2009), the mean 

income of Appalachian households was $58,465, just 80 percent of the U.S. average ($73,034). In just nine of the 

Region’s counties (all of which were in metropolitan areas), average household income matched or exceeded that of 

the nation as a whole. And in only 60 other counties (47 of which were in metros), mean household income matched 

or surpassed the Appalachian average. In contrast, mean household income was less than $40,000 in 36 counties—

35 of which were outside metro areas, and 28 of which were in Central Appalachia. 

38
Figure 7.2: Median Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012

At $43,626, median household income in Appalachia (the level at which half the households have higher incomes and 

the other half have lower incomes) was 82 percent that of the United States ($53,046) during the 2008-2012 period. 

There were 22 counties in the Region (all but two of which were in metropolitan areas) that had household incomes at 

or above the national median, while another 72 had incomes at or above the regional median. On the other hand, 49 

counties in the Region had median household incomes below $30,000—47 of which were outside metro areas and 36 

of which were in Central Appalachia. This distribution is not surprising: median household income was $34,456 for the 

most rural counties and $33,173 for Central Appalachia. It is useful to note that the income levels displayed here 

reflect income received not only during the 2007-2009 economic downturn, but also in the years after it ended.

39
Figure 7.3: Mean Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012

In only 13 Appalachian counties (all in metropolitan areas), the average income of families matched or surpassed the 

U.S. mean of $85,065 for the 2008-2012 period. Indeed, there were just an additional 52 counties (40 of which were part 

of metro areas) where mean family income was equal to or greater than the average for the Appalachian Region

($69,212). In contrast, mean family income was less than $50,000 in 61 Appalachian counties. All but 10 of these 

counties were either in the most remote rural areas or in Central Appalachia. Indeed, mean family income over the 2008-

2012 period (a time frame that includes extended periods of economic decline and recovery) was well below $60,000 for 

both of these areas.

40
Figure 7.4: Median Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012

In 23 Appalachian counties—nearly all in metro areas—median family income (the level where half of all families have 

higher incomes while the other half have lower incomes) was at or above the U.S. median of $64,585 during the 

2008-2012 period. In another 58 counties (again, mostly in metro areas), median income matched or exceeded the 

median for families in the Appalachian Region ($54,925). In contrast, median family income was less than $40,000 in 

54 counties. Of the counties in this latter group, virtually all were either rural counties not adjacent to a metro area 

(median family income in those counties was $43,680) and/or in Central Appalachia (where median family income 

was $42,433). It is important to note that the 2008-2012 period includes years of both a major recession and a 

relatively slow economic recovery.

41
Figure 7.5: Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2012 Dollars), 2008-2012

At $23,486, per capita income in the Appalachian Region in the 2008-2012 period was 84 percent that of the U.S. 

average of $28,051. And there was greater variation within the Region. Per capita income was the same or higher 

than the national average in 11 Appalachian counties and was at or above the regional average in 68 others. Yet in 

16 Appalachian counties, per capita income was less than $15,000. As with other income measures, the counties with 

the highest per capita incomes generally were in metro areas, while the ones with the lowest were in rural areas, 

particularly in Central Appalachia. Indeed, per capita income in the 2008-2012 period (which includes both recession

and post-recession years) was just $18,960 in rural Appalachian counties as a whole, and just $18,466 in Central 

Appalachia.

42
Figure 7.6: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012

Over the 2008-2012 period (which includes years of economic downturn and recovery), about one in six Appalachian 

residents lived below the poverty level (income below $23,283 for a family of two adults and two children in 2012)—

nearly two percentage points above the U.S. average. Both rates are higher than they were in the 2000 Census, likely 

the result of the inability of incomes in the post-recovery period to completely return to pre-recession levels. But there 

is a great deal of variation within the Region: In 154 counties, at least one-fifth of persons were poor, yet in another 94 

counties the poverty rate was lower than the national average. And there was a geographic and urban/rural pattern: 

Nearly all of the counties with poverty rates at or above 20 percent were outside metropolitan areas, and most were in 

Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. In contrast, virtually all of the counties where poverty stood below 

the U.S. rate were in metropolitan areas and/or in Northern Appalachia. 

43
Figure 7.7: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012

Child poverty in the Appalachian Region exceeded 23 percent in 2008-2012 (a period that includes 18 months of 

recession followed by a slow economic recovery); that is more than two percentage points above the national rate. 

And the problem is even more acute in some parts of Appalachia. In 123 counties, at least 30 percent of children 

under age 18 lived below the poverty level (income below $23,283 for a family of two adults and two children in 2012). 

Nearly all of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, and more than half were in the most isolated rural areas. 

Central Appalachia was home to nearly half of the counties with the highest rates, while most of the rest were in South 

Central and Southern Appalachia. However, there were 103 counties where child poverty rates were below the 

national average. Most of these were in metropolitan areas—including 12 of the 15 counties where child poverty was 

15 percent or lower. 

44
Figure 7.8: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012

Though at slightly lower levels, the poverty pattern among adults ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region mirrored 

that for the overall population in the 2008-2012 period. Nearly 16 percent of Appalachian residents in this age group

were below poverty (income of less than $23,283 for a family of two adults and two children in 2012), and this rate

was two percentage points above the U.S. average. Within the Region, there were rural/urban and geographic 

patterns of poverty concentration. Of the 131 counties where at least one in five 18-to-64-year-olds was poor, 113

were outside metropolitan areas, and 110 were in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. Conversely, all 

but a handful of the counties with rates below the national average were either in metro areas or in Northern 

Appalachia. 

45
Figure 7.9: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2008-2012

The poverty rate for older residents of Appalachia was 10 percent in 2008-2012 (a period of recession and recovery), 

only slightly higher than the national average. Yet the rate was actually lower than the national average in 134 

counties, half of which were in Northern Appalachia alone. But as with other age groups, poverty was especially

prevalent among the senior population in Central Appalachia, where one in six older residents was poor in 2008-2012. 

Moreover, this subregion had more than half of Appalachia’s 108 counties where the poverty rate among seniors was 

at least 15 percent. (Determined by a series of income thresholds based on family size and composition, the poverty 

level for a family of two adults and two children was $23,283 in 2012.) 

46
CHAPTER 8: HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE 

Table 8.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2008-2012

Health Insurance Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

Ages 65

and Over

United States 45,206,153 5,953,533 8,203,713 30,680,220 368,687

Appalachian Region 3,392,071 381,931 613,233 2,381,563 15,344

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 816,376 97,304 153,851 560,538 4,683

North Central Appalachia 330,190 29,098 62,937 236,969 1,186

Central Appalachia 300,775 25,760 55,885 218,283 847

South Central Appalachia 682,158 66,681 117,665 495,706 2,106

Southern Appalachia 1,262,572 163,088 222,895 870,067 6,522

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 729,563 89,039 128,806 506,847 4,871

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,321,407 140,935 243,485 932,039 4,948

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 224,171 26,619 43,272 153,189 1,091

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 706,319 78,419 124,365 500,892 2,643

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 410,611 46,919 73,305 288,596 1,791

Alabama 654,376 65,095 128,331 458,695 2,255

Appalachian Alabama 406,961 39,464 77,235 288,883 1,379

Non-Appalachian Alabama 247,415 25,631 51,096 169,812 876

Georgia 1,786,930 245,110 325,797 1,204,843 11,180

Appalachian Georgia 559,431 83,007 93,068 379,133 4,223

Non-Appalachian Georgia 1,227,499 162,103 232,729 825,710 6,957

Kentucky 600,645 61,805 116,398 420,592 1,850

Appalachian Kentucky 197,144 17,633 37,567 141,400 544

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 403,501 44,172 78,831 279,192 1,306

Maryland 609,773 62,094 113,965 425,759 7,955

Appalachian Maryland 25,427 2,687 4,659 17,815 266

Non-Appalachian Maryland 584,346 59,407 109,306 407,944 7,689

Mississippi 506,225 68,473 97,846 338,567 1,339

Appalachian Mississippi 102,340 12,371 20,160 69,568 241

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 403,885 56,102 77,686 268,999 1,098

New York 2,161,817 197,779 394,231 1,543,721 26,086

Appalachian New York 97,692 13,798 20,194 63,372 328

Non-Appalachian New York 2,064,125 183,981 374,037 1,480,349 25,758

North Carolina 1,511,700 182,011 262,552 1,060,681 6,456

Appalachian North Carolina 278,461 30,009 45,089 202,524 839

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,233,239 152,002 217,463 858,157 5,617

Ohio 1,318,597 161,474 240,188 909,565 7,370

Appalachian Ohio 266,123 36,821 46,089 181,344 1,869

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,052,474 124,653 194,099 728,221 5,501

Pennsylvania 1,207,901 147,055 233,518 818,299 9,029

Appalachian Pennsylvania 525,412 56,302 101,373 365,068 2,669

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 682,489 90,753 132,145 453,231 6,360

South Carolina 764,616 102,919 137,706 520,904 3,087

Appalachian South Carolina 193,840 28,246 32,432 132,483 679

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 570,776 74,673 105,274 388,421 2,408

Tennessee 867,752 85,523 151,468 627,124 3,637

Appalachian Tennessee 377,054 33,491 65,916 276,412 1,235

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 490,698 52,032 85,552 350,712 2,402

Virginia 955,207 117,053 174,751 654,875 8,528

Appalachian Virginia 100,544 9,379 19,446 71,430 289

Non-Appalachian Virginia 854,663 107,674 155,305 583,445 8,239

West Virginia (entire state) 261,642 18,723 50,005 192,131 783

Note: The health insurance universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population. 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

47
Table 8.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2008-2012

Health Insurance Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

Ages 65

and Over

United States 14.9 8.1 27.4 19.1 0.9

Appalachian Region 13.7 6.8 25.5 18.2 0.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 10.0 5.6 18.6 13.1 0.3

North Central Appalachia 13.9 5.5 27.4 18.8 0.3

Central Appalachia 16.0 6.1 34.1 21.7 0.3

South Central Appalachia 14.6 6.6 25.9 20.3 0.3

Southern Appalachia 16.4 8.4 30.5 21.4 0.7

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 12.8 6.5 25.6 16.4 0.6

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 13.2 6.3 23.2 17.8 0.3

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 13.5 6.9 26.4 17.8 0.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 14.3 7.2 26.9 19.5 0.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 16.5 8.3 32.3 22.3 0.4

Alabama 13.9 5.8 27.3 18.7 0.4

Appalachian Alabama 13.5 5.5 26.3 18.1 0.3

Non-Appalachian Alabama 14.7 6.2 29.0 19.8 0.4

Georgia 18.8 9.9 34.5 23.8 1.1

Appalachian Georgia 19.2 10.5 37.1 24.3 1.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia 18.6 9.6 33.6 23.5 1.0

Kentucky 14.1 6.1 28.9 18.5 0.3

Appalachian Kentucky 17.0 6.6 35.2 22.9 0.3

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 13.1 5.9 26.7 16.9 0.3

Maryland 10.7 4.6 21.0 13.7 1.1

Appalachian Maryland 10.6 5.0 20.3 14.2 0.7

Non-Appalachian Maryland 10.7 4.6 21.1 13.7 1.2

Mississippi 17.5 9.1 32.9 22.9 0.4

Appalachian Mississippi 16.6 8.0 30.0 22.4 0.3

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 17.7 9.4 33.8 23.0 0.4

New York 11.3 4.6 20.3 14.9 1.0

Appalachian New York 9.3 6.2 15.0 11.9 0.2

Non-Appalachian New York 11.4 4.5 20.7 15.1 1.1

North Carolina 16.2 8.0 29.3 21.4 0.5

Appalachian North Carolina 16.6 8.3 29.4 23.0 0.3

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 16.1 8.0 29.3 21.0 0.6

Ohio 11.6 5.9 22.2 15.2 0.5

Appalachian Ohio 13.3 7.9 25.8 17.4 0.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 11.2 5.5 21.5 14.7 0.4

Pennsylvania 9.7 5.3 18.9 12.4 0.5

Appalachian Pennsylvania 9.3 4.8 17.9 12.3 0.3

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 10.0 5.7 19.7 12.5 0.7

South Carolina 16.9 9.6 30.6 21.9 0.5

Appalachian South Carolina 16.7 10.2 27.3 21.8 0.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 17.0 9.3 31.8 21.9 0.5

Tennessee 13.9 5.7 25.5 18.8 0.4

Appalachian Tennessee 13.7 5.5 25.8 19.0 0.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 14.0 5.9 25.2 18.7 0.6

Virginia 12.3 6.3 23.2 15.5 0.9

Appalachian Virginia 13.3 6.3 22.0 18.3 0.2

Non-Appalachian Virginia 12.2 6.3 23.3 15.2 1.0

West Virginia (entire state) 14.4 4.9 29.7 19.7 0.3

Note: The health insurance universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population. 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

48
Figure 8.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2008-2012

Nearly 3.4 million persons in the Appalachian Region were without any kind of health insurance coverage in the 2008-

2012 period—a figure representing almost 14 percent of Appalachia’s residents. Although the percentage for the 

Region is slightly better than the U.S. rate of 15 percent, more than half of the 420 Appalachian counties had noncoverage rates matching or exceeding the national average. In 30 Appalachian counties, at least one in five residents 

were not covered by insurance; all but one of these were either outside metropolitan areas or in Southern, Central, 

and South Central Appalachia. At the other end of the spectrum, 41 counties had with uninsured rates below 10 

percent, and 37 of these were in Northern Appalachia.

49
Figure 8.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 

2008-2012

Less than 7 percent of Appalachia’s children under age 18 were uninsured during 2008-2012, a full percentage point 

below the national average. Still, the rate varies throughout the Region. On one hand, 143 counties had non-coverage 

rates under 5 percent; these were spread geographically throughout the Region. Conversely, more than one in 10 

children lacked health insurance in 68 other counties, most of which were in Southern or South Central Appalachia.

50
Figure 8.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 24 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 

2008-2012

Lack of health insurance coverage is highest among young adults—one in four Appalachian residents ages 18 to 24

were uninsured during the 2008-2012 period. The problem is especially prevalent in much of Central and Southern 

Appalachia, as well as in the Region’s most rural counties: Roughly one-third of persons in each of these areas were 

without coverage. This situation is particularly dire in 71 counties, where non-coverage rates among 18-to-24-yearolds are 40 percent or higher. Most of these counties are in Southern, South Central, and Central Appalachia. 

51
Figure 8.4: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 

2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period, 18 percent of Appalachia’s working-age population were not covered by health insurance. 

While this rate is slightly below that for the nation, there is great variation within the Region. For example, more than 

one-fifth of 25-to-64-year-olds in Central, Southern, and South Central Appalachia were uninsured; these subregions 

accounted for 65 of the 72 counties with non-coverage rates of 25 percent or greater for this age group. By 

comparison, Northern Appalachia had 56 of the 68 counties where less than 15 percent of the working-age residents 

were not insured. 

52
CHAPTER 9: DISABILITY STATUS 

Table 9.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2008-2012

Disability Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total Ages and Over

18-34

Ages

35-64

United States 36,551,038 2,952,899 19,128,854 3,851,464 15,277,390 14,469,285

Appalachian Region 3,889,484 275,101 2,125,866 385,678 1,740,188 1,488,517

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,198,760 92,229 610,586 120,058 490,528 495,945

North Central Appalachia 418,619 28,463 235,974 42,884 193,090 154,182

Central Appalachia 431,708 24,850 266,256 42,538 223,718 140,602

South Central Appalachia 756,577 49,079 410,787 70,424 340,363 296,711

Southern Appalachia 1,083,820 80,480 602,263 109,774 492,489 401,077

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 719,044 56,864 381,033 72,793 308,240 281,147

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,516,566 107,295 824,137 157,021 667,116 585,134

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 267,329 20,600 145,751 25,974 119,777 100,978

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 880,315 60,266 482,061 80,950 401,111 337,988

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 506,230 30,076 292,884 48,940 243,944 183,270

Alabama 764,306 55,746 427,742 77,635 350,107 280,818

Appalachian Alabama 480,164 33,428 268,605 48,070 220,535 178,131

Non-Appalachian Alabama 284,142 22,318 159,137 29,565 129,572 102,687

Georgia 1,125,026 97,180 627,641 124,725 502,916 400,205

Appalachian Georgia 330,509 28,969 181,430 34,749 146,681 120,110

Non-Appalachian Georgia 794,517 68,211 446,211 89,976 356,235 280,095

Kentucky 711,788 56,713 415,478 79,336 336,142 239,597

Appalachian Kentucky 258,449 16,704 159,930 27,055 132,875 81,815

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 453,339 40,009 255,548 52,281 203,267 157,782

Maryland 575,650 48,845 296,894 60,698 236,196 229,911

Appalachian Maryland 37,454 3,452 19,560 4,103 15,457 14,442

Non-Appalachian Maryland 538,196 45,393 277,334 56,595 220,739 215,469

Mississippi 473,844 36,554 266,582 49,705 216,877 170,708

Appalachian Mississippi 109,455 6,805 61,595 11,049 50,546 41,055

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 364,389 29,749 204,987 38,656 166,331 129,653

New York 2,084,684 158,381 1,047,443 210,398 837,045 878,860

Appalachian New York 145,486 12,421 76,308 16,846 59,462 56,757

Non-Appalachian New York 1,939,198 145,960 971,135 193,552 777,583 822,103

North Carolina 1,227,014 98,600 665,654 122,038 543,616 462,760

Appalachian North Carolina 251,284 16,030 131,572 22,010 109,562 103,682

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 975,730 82,570 534,082 100,028 434,054 359,078

Ohio 1,501,788 131,189 803,212 162,887 640,325 567,387

Appalachian Ohio 311,224 24,570 169,551 31,339 138,212 117,103

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,190,564 106,619 633,661 131,548 502,113 450,284

Pennsylvania 1,646,256 135,436 836,918 170,679 666,239 673,902

Appalachian Pennsylvania 831,086 62,925 417,596 81,613 335,983 350,565

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 815,170 72,511 419,322 89,066 330,256 323,337

South Carolina 623,903 41,251 343,842 59,849 283,993 238,810

Appalachian South Carolina 163,692 11,278 90,633 15,906 74,727 61,781

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 460,211 29,973 253,209 43,943 209,266 177,029

Tennessee 937,947 68,965 526,296 94,563 431,733 342,686

Appalachian Tennessee 481,478 31,749 269,877 46,105 223,772 179,852

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 456,469 37,216 256,419 48,458 207,961 162,834

Virginia 848,692 66,678 446,467 88,675 357,792 335,547

Appalachian Virginia 142,697 6,945 81,026 13,031 67,995 54,726

Non-Appalachian Virginia 705,995 59,733 365,441 75,644 289,797 280,821

West Virginia (entire state) 346,506 19,825 198,183 33,802 164,381 128,498

Note: The disability universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population. 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

53
Table 9.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2008-2012

Disability Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-34

Ages

35-64

United States 12.0 4.0 10.0 5.5 12.6 36.8

Appalachian Region 15.7 4.9 13.7 7.3 17.1 40.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 14.6 5.3 12.0 7.0 14.5 36.6

North Central Appalachia 17.6 5.4 15.8 8.4 19.7 42.8

Central Appalachia 23.0 5.8 22.7 11.1 28.3 50.1

South Central Appalachia 16.2 4.9 14.2 7.1 17.8 39.5

Southern Appalachia 14.1 4.2 12.5 6.5 15.9 41.6

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 12.6 4.1 10.6 6.0 13.0 37.4

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 15.1 4.8 13.1 7.0 16.4 39.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 16.1 5.4 14.2 7.5 17.6 39.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 17.9 5.5 15.9 8.1 19.7 41.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 20.4 5.3 19.2 9.7 24.0 46.0

Alabama 16.3 4.9 14.6 7.3 18.8 43.6

Appalachian Alabama 15.9 4.7 14.2 7.1 18.2 43.2

Non-Appalachian Alabama 16.9 5.4 15.4 7.7 19.9 44.5

Georgia 11.8 3.9 10.4 5.6 13.3 39.4

Appalachian Georgia 11.4 3.7 10.0 5.6 12.4 39.1

Non-Appalachian Georgia 12.0 4.0 10.6 5.6 13.7 39.5

Kentucky 16.7 5.6 15.5 8.4 19.4 42.8

Appalachian Kentucky 22.3 6.2 22.0 11.1 27.6 49.5

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 14.7 5.3 13.1 7.5 16.3 40.0

Maryland 10.1 3.6 8.1 4.7 10.0 33.2

Appalachian Maryland 15.6 6.5 13.2 8.2 15.7 38.0

Non-Appalachian Maryland 9.9 3.5 7.9 4.6 9.8 32.9

Mississippi 16.3 4.9 15.0 7.5 19.5 46.1

Appalachian Mississippi 17.7 4.4 16.3 7.9 21.3 47.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 16.0 5.0 14.7 7.4 19.0 45.6

New York 10.9 3.7 8.5 4.6 10.9 34.6

Appalachian New York 13.9 5.6 11.5 6.8 14.2 35.5

Non-Appalachian New York 10.7 3.6 8.4 4.5 10.7 34.5

North Carolina 13.1 4.3 11.4 5.8 14.4 38.4

Appalachian North Carolina 15.0 4.4 12.7 6.4 15.8 37.4

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 12.7 4.3 11.1 5.7 14.1 38.6

Ohio 13.2 4.8 11.3 6.6 13.9 36.3

Appalachian Ohio 15.6 5.3 13.9 7.8 16.8 38.2

Non-Appalachian Ohio 12.7 4.7 10.8 6.4 13.3 35.8

Pennsylvania 13.2 4.9 10.7 6.3 13.1 35.6

Appalachian Pennsylvania 14.7 5.3 11.8 6.9 14.3 36.9

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 11.9 4.5 9.8 5.8 12.0 34.4

South Carolina 13.8 3.8 12.1 5.9 15.7 38.4

Appalachian South Carolina 14.1 4.1 12.5 6.1 16.1 38.9

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 13.7 3.8 12.0 5.8 15.5 38.2

Tennessee 15.0 4.6 13.4 6.8 17.1 41.1

Appalachian Tennessee 17.5 5.2 15.8 8.0 19.7 41.6

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 13.0 4.2 11.6 5.9 14.9 40.6

Virginia 10.9 3.6 9.0 5.0 11.2 34.9

Appalachian Virginia 18.9 4.6 16.9 7.7 22.0 43.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia 10.0 3.5 8.1 4.7 10.0 33.6

West Virginia (entire state) 19.0 5.1 17.3 8.9 21.5 44.3

Note: The disability universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population. 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

54
Figure 9.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012

In the 2008-2012 period, about one in six Appalachian residents reported having a disability, which the ACS defines 

as having difficulty in at least one of the following six areas: hearing, vision, cognition, walking or climbing, self-care, 

or attending to the functions of independent living. Disability prevalence is particularly high in some parts of the 

Region; the rate was 20 percent or more in 133 counties, nearly half of which were in Central Appalachia. The 

Region’s relatively high disability rate corresponds to the population’s older age structure: In 112 of the counties with 

the highest disability prevalence levels, at least one-seventh of the residents were age 65 or older. 

55
Figure 9.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012

At nearly 5 percent, the prevalence of disability among children under age 18 in Appalachia was slightly higher than 

the national average during the 2008-2012 period. But there was variation within the Region. For example, the rate 

was 7.5 percent or more in 52 counties, most of which were outside metropolitan areas. In 98 other counties, 

however, the disability prevalence was below the national average of 4 percent, and these were scattered throughout 

the Appalachian Region. 

56
Figure 9.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012

Approximately one in seven adults ages 18 to 64 in Appalachia reported a disability during 2008-2012, compared with 

one in 10 in the nation as a whole. Disability prevalence was particularly high in some parts of the Region: In Central 

Appalachia, for example, more than one-fifth of working-age adults had a disability. Indeed, the disability rate among 

18-to-64-year-olds was at least 20 percent in 102 Appalachian counties—57 of which were in Central Appalachia.

57
Figure 9.4: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2008-2012

Two-fifths of adults ages 65 and over in the Appalachian Region reported a disability in the 2008-2012 period, slightly 

higher than the national share. And the prevalence was even higher in some parts of the Region: At least half of the 

older residents in 73 counties (42 of which were in Central Appalachia) had at least one disability. Yet in 76 other 

Appalachian counties, the disability rate for the older population actually was lower than the national average. Nearly 

all of these low-prevalence counties were in Northern, South Central, and Southern Appalachia.

58
CHAPTER 10: MIGRATION 

Table 10.1: Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2008-2012

Mobility Status in the Last Year 

Total Population 

Ages 1 and Over, 

2008-2012 

Percent of Population Ages 1 and Over

Did Not 

Move in Past 

Year 

Moved from a Different Residence in the Past Year

Within the 

County 

Outside the County

 Within the 

State 

Outside the 

State

United States 305,340,618 84.8 15.2 9.2 6.0 3.2 2.9

Appalachian Region 24,957,002 86.6 13.4 7.8 5.6 3.2 2.3

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,296,261 87.6 12.4 7.5 4.9 2.8 2.1

North Central Appalachia 2,394,436 87.2 12.8 7.3 5.6 3.0 2.5

Central Appalachia 1,894,451 87.9 12.1 7.1 5.0 3.1 2.0

South Central Appalachia 4,666,704 86.0 14.0 7.9 6.0 3.4 2.6

Southern Appalachia 7,705,150 85.4 14.6 8.5 6.1 3.7 2.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,713,798 86.7 13.3 7.9 5.4 3.2 2.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,072,901 85.7 14.3 8.4 5.9 3.1 2.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,675,181 86.7 13.3 8.0 5.3 3.4 1.9

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 4,986,987 87.5 12.5 7.1 5.4 3.4 2.0

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,508,135 88.2 11.8 6.8 5.1 3.1 1.9

Alabama 4,720,103 84.9 15.1 9.1 6.0 3.3 2.7

Appalachian Alabama 3,025,991 85.3 14.7 8.9 5.7 3.4 2.3

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,694,112 84.1 15.9 9.4 6.5 3.0 3.5

Georgia 9,587,570 83.3 16.7 8.5 8.2 4.9 3.3

Appalachian Georgia 2,900,380 85.7 14.3 7.7 6.6 4.2 2.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,687,190 82.3 17.7 8.8 8.9 5.1 3.7

Kentucky 4,286,643 84.9 15.1 8.6 6.5 3.5 3.0

Appalachian Kentucky 1,169,771 87.1 12.9 7.6 5.3 3.3 2.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,116,872 84.0 16.0 9.0 6.9 3.5 3.4

Maryland 5,715,793 86.6 13.4 7.1 6.2 2.7 3.6

Appalachian Maryland 249,926 85.5 14.5 8.5 6.1 3.1 3.0

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,465,867 86.7 13.3 7.1 6.2 2.6 3.6

Mississippi 2,928,754 85.6 14.4 8.0 6.4 3.7 2.7

Appalachian Mississippi 620,155 86.4 13.6 7.8 5.8 3.8 2.0

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,308,599 85.4 14.6 8.0 6.6 3.7 2.9

New York 19,174,762 88.7 11.3 6.7 4.6 2.4 2.2

Appalachian New York 1,054,722 85.3 14.7 8.5 6.2 3.7 2.5

Non-Appalachian New York 18,120,040 88.9 11.1 6.6 4.5 2.3 2.2

North Carolina 9,426,356 84.4 15.6 8.7 7.0 3.5 3.5

Appalachian North Carolina 1,678,218 87.0 13.0 7.5 5.5 3.2 2.3

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,748,138 83.8 16.2 8.9 7.3 3.5 3.7

Ohio 11,400,947 85.4 14.6 9.5 5.1 3.1 1.9

Appalachian Ohio 2,017,463 87.9 12.1 7.6 4.5 2.9 1.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,383,484 84.9 15.1 9.9 5.2 3.2 2.0

Pennsylvania 12,563,934 87.8 12.2 7.3 4.8 2.6 2.3

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,733,277 87.9 12.1 7.3 4.8 2.7 2.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,830,657 87.8 12.2 7.4 4.8 2.4 2.4

South Carolina 4,573,517 84.7 15.3 8.4 6.9 3.2 3.7

Appalachian South Carolina 1,158,624 84.1 15.9 9.6 6.2 3.1 3.2

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,414,893 84.9 15.1 8.0 7.1 3.2 3.9

Tennessee 6,276,713 84.4 15.6 9.5 6.1 3.0 3.1

Appalachian Tennessee 2,756,511 86.0 14.0 8.2 5.8 3.1 2.7

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,520,202 83.1 16.9 10.5 6.4 3.0 3.5

Virginia 7,916,839 84.7 15.3 6.6 8.7 4.7 4.0

Appalachian Virginia 761,145 85.8 14.2 6.8 7.4 4.7 2.7

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,155,694 84.5 15.5 6.6 8.9 4.7 4.1

West Virginia (entire state) 1,830,819 87.9 12.1 6.7 5.4 2.5 2.9

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

59
Figure 10.1: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Moved in the Past Year, 

2008-2012

Although residential mobility in Appalachia was below the national average, the percentage of residents who moved in 

the past year matched or exceeded the U.S. average in 68 of the Region’s counties. Two-thirds of these counties 

were in Southern or South Central Appalachia. Most also were either counties in metropolitan areas, counties that 

housed a four-year college or university, or rural counties that were likely retirement or recreational destinations. Yet 

in 123 Appalachian counties, less than 10 percent of the residents had moved in the previous 12 months; threefourths of these counties were outside metro areas.

60
Figure 10.2: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside 

Their County of Residence in the Past Year, 2008-2012

Although people in Appalachia were slightly less likely to have migrated from outside their county of residence in the 

2008-2012 period than Americans as a whole, residents in 130 of the Region’s counties were more likely to have 

done so. These counties were scattered throughout the Appalachian Region and were distributed across all 

urban/rural types. In 201 counties, however, less than 5 percent of the residents had migrated from another county. 

Nearly three-fourths of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, and two-fifths of those nonmetro counties 

were rural counties not adjacent to a metro area.

61
Figure 10.3: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside 

Their State of Residence in the Past Year, 2008-2012

The share of people in the Appalachian Region who had migrated from outside their state of residence was 2.3

percent in the 2008-2012 period, compared with 2.9 percent of all Americans. Yet in 81 of Appalachia’s 420 counties, 

out-of-state migration levels were at or above the U.S. average. These counties were fairly evenly distributed 

throughout the Region, with almost half of them in metropolitan areas. In 233 counties, on the other hand, less than 2 

percent of residents had come from out of state, and nearly three-fourths of these counties were outside metropolitan 

areas. 

62
CHAPTER 11: VETERAN STATUS 

Table 11.1: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2008-2012

Veteran Status 

Civilian Population Percent Who Are Veterans

Ages 18 

and Over

Ages

18-34

Ages

35-64

Ages 65

and Over

Ages 18 

and Over

Ages

18-34

Ages

35-64

Ages 65 

and Over

United States 234,029,580 71,169,745 122,188,394 40,671,441 9.3 2.4 8.9 22.8

Appalachian Region 19,566,659 5,421,770 10,298,598 3,846,291 10.4 2.4 9.8 23.2

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 6,628,349 1,774,042 3,440,152 1,414,155 11.1 2.4 10.0 24.8

North Central Appalachia 1,890,637 521,943 995,549 373,145 11.1 2.9 10.7 23.7

Central Appalachia 1,488,078 394,900 802,447 290,731 8.8 2.2 8.3 19.2

South Central Appalachia 3,705,815 1,001,718 1,928,097 776,000 10.6 2.3 10.0 22.7

Southern Appalachia 5,853,780 1,729,167 3,132,353 992,260 9.7 2.4 9.7 22.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 4,401,044 1,236,913 2,389,535 774,596 9.8 2.3 9.1 23.9

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 7,943,265 2,278,578 4,111,054 1,553,633 10.7 2.4 10.3 23.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,307,987 352,669 689,814 265,504 10.9 2.3 10.5 23.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,948,072 1,032,489 2,076,249 839,334 10.8 2.5 10.0 22.8

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,966,291 521,121 1,031,946 413,224 9.7 2.4 8.8 20.9

Alabama 3,630,798 1,078,744 1,888,749 663,305 11.0 3.0 11.2 23.2

Appalachian Alabama 2,341,390 688,161 1,227,373 425,856 10.5 2.5 10.7 22.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,289,408 390,583 661,376 237,449 11.8 3.9 12.2 23.9

Georgia 7,174,586 2,282,374 3,845,586 1,046,626 9.8 2.7 10.5 22.6

Appalachian Georgia 2,144,430 634,264 1,196,254 313,912 8.9 2.2 8.9 22.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia 5,030,156 1,648,110 2,649,332 732,714 10.2 2.9 11.2 22.7

Kentucky 3,301,237 966,178 1,751,982 583,077 9.7 2.6 9.7 21.4

Appalachian Kentucky 913,404 252,123 489,282 171,999 8.4 2.1 8.0 18.6

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,387,833 714,055 1,262,700 411,078 10.2 2.7 10.4 22.6

Maryland 4,406,628 1,308,738 2,382,164 715,726 9.9 3.1 9.8 22.9

Appalachian Maryland 198,657 54,921 103,571 40,165 11.1 2.6 10.5 24.1

Non-Appalachian Maryland 4,207,971 1,253,817 2,278,593 675,561 9.9 3.2 9.8 22.8

Mississippi 2,200,661 682,913 1,133,907 383,841 9.4 2.8 9.5 21.1

Appalachian Mississippi 472,307 142,837 240,208 89,262 8.4 2.5 8.0 19.3

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,728,354 540,076 893,699 294,579 9.7 2.9 9.9 21.6

New York 15,054,725 4,630,801 7,783,290 2,640,634 6.4 1.3 5.4 17.9

Appalachian New York 841,457 252,192 421,864 167,401 10.6 2.3 10.2 23.9

Non-Appalachian New York 14,213,268 4,378,609 7,361,426 2,473,233 6.1 1.3 5.2 17.5

North Carolina 7,180,691 2,120,791 3,811,931 1,247,969 10.3 3.0 10.5 22.2

Appalachian North Carolina 1,331,244 346,818 697,007 287,419 10.5 2.0 9.7 22.6

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 5,849,447 1,773,973 3,114,924 960,550 10.3 3.2 10.6 22.1

Ohio 8,804,336 2,513,814 4,655,920 1,634,602 10.1 2.2 9.8 23.4

Appalachian Ohio 1,570,752 414,754 835,239 320,759 11.1 2.3 10.5 23.9

Non-Appalachian Ohio 7,233,584 2,099,060 3,820,681 1,313,843 9.9 2.2 9.6 23.3

Pennsylvania 9,907,988 2,774,490 5,161,151 1,972,347 9.9 2.1 8.7 24.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,601,010 1,222,401 2,388,527 990,082 11.1 2.5 9.8 25.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,306,978 1,552,089 2,772,624 982,265 8.8 1.8 7.8 22.8

South Carolina 3,516,451 1,039,901 1,836,452 640,098 11.3 3.2 11.5 23.8

Appalachian South Carolina 895,653 263,905 468,518 163,230 10.1 2.4 10.0 23.1

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,620,798 775,996 1,367,934 476,868 11.7 3.5 12.0 24.0

Tennessee 4,842,197 1,424,997 2,555,781 861,419 10.2 2.6 10.3 22.3

Appalachian Tennessee 2,176,580 585,671 1,144,233 446,676 10.6 2.4 10.2 22.5

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,665,617 839,326 1,411,548 414,743 9.9 2.8 10.5 22.0

Virginia 6,044,223 1,820,162 3,235,556 988,505 12.1 4.5 12.7 24.4

Appalachian Virginia 617,984 173,870 313,936 130,178 9.8 2.2 9.1 21.5

Non-Appalachian Virginia 5,426,239 1,646,292 2,921,620 858,327 12.4 4.8 13.1 24.8

West Virginia (entire state) 1,461,791 389,853 772,586 299,352 11.3 3.0 10.7 23.6

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey. 

63
Table 11.2: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region by Gender, 2008-2012

Veteran Status 

Civilian Population Ages 18 and Over Percent Who Are Veterans

Both Sexes Males Females Both 

Sexes Males Females

United States 234,029,580 113,202,658 120,826,922 9.3 17.9 1.3

Appalachian Region 19,566,659 9,470,287 10,096,372 10.4 20.3 1.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 6,628,349 3,222,362 3,405,987 11.1 21.7 1.1

North Central Appalachia 1,890,637 925,539 965,098 11.1 21.5 1.2

Central Appalachia 1,488,078 729,471 758,607 8.8 17.2 0.7

South Central Appalachia 3,705,815 1,782,905 1,922,910 10.6 20.7 1.2

Southern Appalachia 5,853,780 2,810,010 3,043,770 9.7 18.8 1.2

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 4,401,044 2,106,423 2,294,621 9.8 19.2 1.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 7,943,265 3,831,378 4,111,887 10.7 20.8 1.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,307,987 639,322 668,665 10.9 21.2 1.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,948,072 1,936,128 2,011,944 10.8 20.8 1.1

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,966,291 957,036 1,009,255 9.7 18.9 0.9

Alabama 3,630,798 1,726,015 1,904,783 11.0 21.3 1.6

Appalachian Alabama 2,341,390 1,117,541 1,223,849 10.5 20.5 1.4

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,289,408 608,474 680,934 11.8 22.9 1.9

Georgia 7,174,586 3,430,159 3,744,427 9.8 18.4 1.9

Appalachian Georgia 2,144,430 1,040,095 1,104,335 8.9 17.1 1.2

Non-Appalachian Georgia 5,030,156 2,390,064 2,640,092 10.2 19.0 2.1

Kentucky 3,301,237 1,593,712 1,707,525 9.7 18.8 1.2

Appalachian Kentucky 913,404 446,339 467,065 8.4 16.3 0.7

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,387,833 1,147,373 1,240,460 10.2 19.7 1.4

Maryland 4,406,628 2,087,790 2,318,838 9.9 18.8 2.0

Appalachian Maryland 198,657 100,962 97,695 11.1 20.3 1.5

Non-Appalachian Maryland 4,207,971 1,986,828 2,221,143 9.9 18.7 2.0

Mississippi 2,200,661 1,044,753 1,155,908 9.4 18.3 1.4

Appalachian Mississippi 472,307 223,450 248,857 8.4 16.8 0.9

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,728,354 821,303 907,051 9.7 18.7 1.5

New York 15,054,725 7,160,909 7,893,816 6.4 12.7 0.6

Appalachian New York 841,457 411,430 430,027 10.6 20.5 1.2

Non-Appalachian New York 14,213,268 6,749,479 7,463,789 6.1 12.2 0.6

North Carolina 7,180,691 3,406,784 3,773,907 10.3 19.8 1.7

Appalachian North Carolina 1,331,244 637,434 693,810 10.5 20.6 1.2

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 5,849,447 2,769,350 3,080,097 10.3 19.6 1.8

Ohio 8,804,336 4,232,442 4,571,894 10.1 19.8 1.2

Appalachian Ohio 1,570,752 766,433 804,319 11.1 21.6 1.0

Non-Appalachian Ohio 7,233,584 3,466,009 3,767,575 9.9 19.5 1.2

Pennsylvania 9,907,988 4,757,718 5,150,270 9.9 19.5 1.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,601,010 2,232,844 2,368,166 11.1 21.8 1.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,306,978 2,524,874 2,782,104 8.8 17.5 1.0

South Carolina 3,516,451 1,673,146 1,843,305 11.3 21.8 1.7

Appalachian South Carolina 895,653 428,924 466,729 10.1 19.8 1.2

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,620,798 1,244,222 1,376,576 11.7 22.5 1.9

Tennessee 4,842,197 2,317,686 2,524,511 10.2 19.8 1.4

Appalachian Tennessee 2,176,580 1,048,578 1,128,002 10.6 20.8 1.1

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,665,617 1,269,108 1,396,509 9.9 19.0 1.6

Virginia 6,044,223 2,887,305 3,156,918 12.1 22.5 2.7

Appalachian Virginia 617,984 304,725 313,259 9.8 18.9 1.0

Non-Appalachian Virginia 5,426,239 2,582,580 2,843,659 12.4 22.9 2.9

West Virginia (entire state) 1,461,791 711,532 750,259 11.3 22.0 1.1

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012 American Community Survey.

64
Figure 11.1: Percent of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012

In 2008-2012, slightly more than 10 percent of adult civilians in the Appalachian Region were veterans—men and 

women who have served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Guard or Reserves, or in the U.S. 

Merchant Marine during World War II. While slightly higher than the national average, the rate was even higher in 

some parts of the Region: In 57 Appalachian counties, at least one in eight civilian residents were veterans. In 

contrast, the veteran prevalence rate was actually lower than the national average in 121 counties. 

65
Figure 11.2: Percent of Civilians Ages 18 to 34 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012

Although military veterans accounted for just 2.4 percent of Appalachia’s young adult (ages 18-34) civilian population, 

the prevalence was higher in nearly half of the Region’s counties. In fact, there were nine Appalachian counties where 

at least 5 percent of 18-to-34-year-old civilians were veterans. Most veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan fall

in this age group. 

66
Figure 11.3: Percent of Civilians Ages 35 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012

In the Appalachian Region, nearly 10 percent of civilians ages 35 to 64 were military veterans in 2008-2012, slightly 

greater than the U.S. rate of 9 percent. The prevalence was even higher in some counties: In 27 of them, veterans 

comprised at least one-eighth of the 35-to-64-year-old civilian residents. Conversely, the veteran prevalence rate was 

lower than the national average in 136 counties. Most veterans of the 1991 Gulf War fall in this age group, as do the 

youngest Vietnam veterans.

67
Figure 11.4: Percent of Civilians Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2008-2012

In 2008-2012, nearly one-fourth of Appalachia’s older civilian residents were military veterans—most of whom served 

during World War II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Yet there is some variation within the Region. For example, 

at least 25 percent of older civilians were veterans in 94 counties, most of which were in Northern and North Central 

Appalachia. By contrast, there were 113 counties where veterans comprised less than 20 percent of the older civilian 

residents. Almost half the counties in this latter group were in Central Appalachia, while much of the rest were in 

South Central and Southern Appalachia.

68