THE APPALACHIAN REGION:

A DATA OVERVIEW FROM THE

2011-2015 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

Chartbook

Kelvin Pollard

Linda A. Jacobsen

Population Reference Bureau

Prepared for the Appalachian Regional Commission

Under Contract #CO-18662-16 

March 2017

The authors wish to thank Keith Witt of ARC

for his support and guidance.

 
1 

THE APPALACHIAN REGION: A DATA OVERVIEW FROM THE 2011-2015 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

FOREWORD 4

CHAPTER 1: POPULATION BASICS

Table 1.1: Population, Land Area, and Population Density in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 5

Figure 1.1: Population Distribution in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 6

Figure 1.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015 7

Figure 1.3: Population per Square Mile of Land Area in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 8

CHAPTER 2: AGE

Table 2.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2011-2015 9

Figure 2.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Under Age 18, 2011-2015 10

Figure 2.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 18 to 24, 2011-2015 11

Figure 2.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 25 to 64, 2011-2015 12

Figure 2.4: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 65 and Over, 2011-2015 13

Figure 2.5: Median Age of Persons in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 14

Table 2.2: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region, by Age Group, 2006-2010 

to 2011-2015

15

Trends in Age 16

CHAPTER 3: RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

Table 3.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2011-2015 17

Figure 3.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Minority, 2011-2015 18

Figure 3.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not Hispanic, 2011-2015 19

Figure 3.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or Latino, 2011-2015 20

Table 3.2: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region, by Race and Hispanic 

Origin, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

21

Figure 3.4: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not 

Hispanic, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

22

Figure 3.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or 

Latino, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

23

Trends in Race and Hispanic Origin 24

CHAPTER 4: HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE

Table 4.1: Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 25

Figure 4.1: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, 2011-2015 26

Figure 4.2: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, 2011-2015 27

Figure 4.3: Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 28

Figure 4.4: Percent Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 29

Table 4.2: Percentage Point Change in Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 

to 2011-2015

30

Figure 4.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

31

Figure 4.6: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

32

Figure 4.7: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 

to 2011-2015

33

Figure 4.8: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 

to 2011-2015

34

Trends in Housing Occupancy and Tenure 35
2 

PAGE

CHAPTER 5: EDUCATION

Table 5.1: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 36

Table 5.2: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 37

Table 5.3: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 38

Figure 5.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, 2011-2015 39

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

Postsecondary Degree, 2011-2015

40

Figure 5.3: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2011-2015 41

Figure 5.4: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, 2011-2015 42

Figure 5.5: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2011-2015 43

Figure 5.6: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2011-2015 44

Table 5.4: Percentage Point Change in Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

45

Table 5.5: Percentage Point Change in Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2006-

2010 to 2011-2015

46

Table 5.6: Percentage Point Change in Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

47

Figure 5.7: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High 

School Diploma or More, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

48

Figure 5.8: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a 

Bachelor's Degree or More, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

49

Table 5.7: Bachelor’s Degree Field (First Major) for Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s 

Degree or More, 2011-2015

50

Figure 5.9: Among Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, Percent 

Whose Bachelor’s Degree Field (First Major) Was Science and Engineering, 2011-2015 

51

Trends in Education 52

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, 2011-2015 53

Figure 6.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are In the Labor Force, 2011-2015 54

Figure 6.2: Employment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 55

Figure 6.3: Unemployment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 56

Table 6.2: Percentage Point Change in Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Status of Persons Ages 25 to 64 

in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

57

Figure 6.4: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are In the 

Labor Force, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

58

Figure 6.5: Percentage Point Change in the Unemployment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 to 64 in 

the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

59

Trends in Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment 60

CHAPTER 7: INCOME AND POVERTY

Table 7.1: Household, Family, and Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015 61

Figure 7.1: Mean Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015 62

Figure 7.2: Median Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015 63

Figure 7.3: Mean Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015 64

Figure 7.4: Median Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015 65

Figure 7.5: Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015 66

Table 7.2: Change in Household, Family, and Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

67

Figure 7.6: Percent Change in Median Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

68

Table 7.3: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2011-2015 69

Table 7.4: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2011-2015 70

Figure 7.7: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015 71
3 

PAGE

Figure 7.8: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015 72

Figure 7.9: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015 73

Figure 7.10: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015 74

Table 7.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

75

Figure 7.11: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015 76

Trends in Income and Poverty 77

CHAPTER 8: HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

Table 8.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2011-2015 78

Table 8.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2011-2015 79

Figure 8.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2011-2015 80

Figure 8.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2011-2015 81

Figure 8.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 24 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2011-2015 82

Figure 8.4: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2011-2015 83

CHAPTER 9: DISABILITY STATUS

Table 9.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2011-2015 84

Table 9.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2011-2015 85

Figure 9.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015 86

Figure 9.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015 87

Figure 9.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015 88

Figure 9.4: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015 89

CHAPTER 10: MIGRATION

Table 10.1: Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015 90

Figure 10.1: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Moved in the Past Year, 2011-2015 91

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, 2011-2015

92

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, 2011-2015

93

Table 10.2: Percentage Point Change in Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

94

Figure 10.4: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had 

Migrated From Outside Their County of Residence in the Past Year, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

95

Trends in Migration 96

CHAPTER 11: VETERAN STATUS

Table 11.1: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region, by Age Group, 2011-2015 97

Table 11.2: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region, by Gender, 2011-2015 98

Figure 11.1: Percent of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015 99

Figure 11.2: Percent of Civilians Ages 18 to 34 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015 100

Figure 11.3: Percent of Civilians Ages 35 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015 101

Figure 11.4: Percent of Civilians Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015 102

Table 11.3: Percentage Point Change in Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region, by Age Group 

and Gender, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

103

Figure 11.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

104

Trends in Veteran Status 105

APPENDIX A: REFERENCE MAPS

Figure A.1: Appalachian Subregions 106

Figure A.2: Rural-Urban County Types in the Appalachian Region 107
4 

FOREWORD

The data contained in this chartbook come from the 2011-2015 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 2011-2015 ACS data to have comparable 

statistics for all 420 counties in the Region. 

The ACS five-year estimates for 2011-2015 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 2011 through December 

2015. 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 a decennial census point-in-time estimate from April 1.

And with two non-overlapping five-year periods (2011-2015 and 2006-2010), we can study trends in the data. However, 

the Census Bureau recommends caution in some instances, due to the changes in question wording and the coding of 

responses. And in some years, the ACS has added or removed certain questions. For example, the ACS added a new 

question on health insurance in 2008, which was the same year that a new set of questions on disability status replaced 

the ones asked in previous years. As a result, 2006-2010 data for these two items are not available to measure trends. 

More information about comparing the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 ACS data is available on the Web page, "Comparing 

2006-2010 ACS 5-year and 2011-2015 ACS 5-year", through the Census Bureau’s website.

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

difficult to track trends in these areas. The 2006-2010 ACS data illustrate this problem, as they are for a time period

that covers three distinct periods of economic activity: the years immediately preceding the “Great Recession” of 

December 2007 through June 2009; the recession itself, and the 18 months of economic recovery that followed the 

downturn. Since the 2006-2010 ACS pools data from all three periods, it smooths out the extreme variations in economic 

measures that would be evident in annual data from this five-year period. 

This year’s chartbook also includes two reference maps—one of the five Appalachian subregions, and one of the five 

rural-urban county types. Both the subregions and county types are referenced throughout the report. These maps are 

in Appendix A.
5 

CHAPTER 1: POPULATION BASICS 

Table 1.1: Population, Land Area, and Population Density in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Population, Land Area, and Density Population,

2011-2015 

Change Since 2006-2010 

Land Area

(Square Miles) 

Population per 

Square Mile of 

Land Area,

Number Percent 2011-2015 

United States 316,515,021 + 12,549,749 + 4.1 3,531,905 89.6

Appalachian Region 25,417,532 + 415,186 + 1.7 204,452 124.3

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,336,272 - 51,520 - 0.6 56,980 146.3

North Central Appalachia 2,425,882 + 20,113 + 0.8 29,337 82.7

Central Appalachia 1,900,772 - 14,200 - 0.7 29,773 63.8

South Central Appalachia 4,777,566 + 123,586 + 2.7 34,997 136.5

Southern Appalachia 7,977,040 + 337,207 + 4.4 53,365 149.5

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,963,130 + 199,860 + 3.5 18,815 316.9

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,733,709 + 228,785 + 2.2 54,302 197.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 2,201,683 - 5,677 - 0.3 25,382 86.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,981,497 + 4,789 + 0.1 58,591 68.0

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,537,513 - 12,571 - 0.5 47,363 53.6

Alabama 4,830,620 + 117,969 + 2.5 50,645 95.4

Appalachian Alabama 3,092,319 + 71,466 + 2.4 25,763 120.0

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,738,301 + 46,503 + 2.7 24,882 69.9

Georgia 10,006,693 + 537,878 + 5.7 57,513 174.0

Appalachian Georgia 3,047,462 + 199,001 + 7.0 11,378 267.8

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,959,231 + 338,877 + 5.1 46,135 150.8

Kentucky 4,397,353 + 111,525 + 2.6 39,486 111.4

Appalachian Kentucky 1,178,147 - 4,492 - 0.4 18,231 64.6

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,219,206 + 116,017 + 3.7 21,256 151.4

Maryland 5,930,538 + 234,115 + 4.1 9,707 611.0

Appalachian Maryland 252,632 + 1,520 + 0.6 1,529 165.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,677,906 + 232,595 + 4.3 8,178 694.3

Mississippi 2,988,081 + 46,090 + 1.6 46,923 63.7

Appalachian Mississippi 628,965 + 2,431 + 0.4 12,400 50.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,359,116 + 43,659 + 1.9 34,523 68.3

New York 19,673,174 + 443,422 + 2.3 47,126 417.5

Appalachian New York 1,055,972 - 12,073 - 1.1 11,681 90.4

Non-Appalachian New York 18,617,202 + 455,495 + 2.5 35,445 525.2

North Carolina 9,845,333 + 574,155 + 6.2 48,618 202.5

Appalachian North Carolina 1,716,912 + 43,621 + 2.6 11,887 144.4

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 8,128,421 + 530,534 + 7.0 36,731 221.3

Ohio 11,575,977 + 63,546 + 0.6 40,861 283.3

Appalachian Ohio 2,023,656 - 22,166 - 1.1 15,978 126.7

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,552,321 + 85,712 + 0.9 24,882 383.9

Pennsylvania 12,779,559 + 166,854 + 1.3 44,743 285.6

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,770,892 - 16,354 - 0.3 36,444 158.3

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 7,008,667 + 183,208 + 2.7 8,298 844.6

South Carolina 4,777,576 + 266,148 + 5.9 30,061 158.9

Appalachian South Carolina 1,208,294 + 64,309 + 5.6 3,824 316.0

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,569,282 + 201,839 + 6.0 26,237 136.0

Tennessee 6,499,615 + 264,647 + 4.2 41,235 157.6

Appalachian Tennessee 2,827,183 + 81,757 + 3.0 20,119 140.5

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,672,432 + 182,890 + 5.2 21,116 173.9

Virginia 8,256,630 + 414,876 + 5.3 39,490 209.1

Appalachian Virginia 763,678 - 4,452 - 0.6 11,179 68.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,492,952 + 419,328 + 5.9 28,311 264.7

West Virginia (entire state) 1,851,420 + 10,618 + 0.6 24,038 77.0

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
6 

Figure 1.1: Population Distribution in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Of the 316.5 million persons in the United States during the period from 2011-2015, 25.4 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 126 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, Pennsylvania (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 more than 25.5 million residents in 2015 (out of 321.4 million 

nationwide), compared to 25.2 million in the 2010 Census.
7 

Figure 1.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

The Appalachian Region’s population grew less than 2 percent between the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 periods, less 

than half the national average. And demographic change was even slower in much of Appalachia—in fact, the 

Appalachian sections of Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have actually lost population since 

2006-2010. Those five states alone had 127 of the 223 Appalachian counties that lost residents between 2006-2010 

and 2011-2015. On the other hand, 43 counties in Appalachia grew at or above the national rate between the two 

intervals. Nearly half of these counties were in Southern Appalachia, which was the only subregion where the rate of 

population growth exceeded the national average. Population growth was particularly high in the Appalachian parts of 

Georgia and South Carolina, with increases of 7 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.
8 

Figure 1.3: Population per Square Mile of Land Area in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

While Appalachia’s population density was noticeably greater than the United States as a whole over the 2011-2015

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, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee).
9 

CHAPTER 2: AGE 

Table 2.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2011-2015

Population by Age Group 

Total 

Population, 

2011-2015 

Percent of Population Median 

Age

(Years)

Under

Age 18 

Ages

18-24 

Ages

25-64 Ages 65

and over

United States 316,515,021 23.3 9.9 52.7 14.1 37.6

Appalachian Region 25,417,532 21.8 9.7 52.2 16.3 40.5

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,336,272 20.2 10.0 52.0 17.7 42.2

North Central Appalachia 2,425,882 21.4 9.6 52.5 16.5 40.9

Central Appalachia 1,900,772 21.8 8.8 53.0 16.4 41.2

South Central Appalachia 4,777,566 20.8 9.9 51.5 17.8 41.5

Southern Appalachia 7,977,040 24.2 9.6 52.4 13.8 37.9

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,963,130 23.2 8.8 53.7 14.3 39.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,733,709 21.3 10.4 51.9 16.3 40.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 2,201,683 21.8 9.9 51.4 16.9 41.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,981,497 21.1 9.0 51.6 18.4 42.5

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,537,513 21.5 9.9 51.3 17.2 41.1

Alabama 4,830,620 23.0 9.9 52.2 14.9 38.4

Appalachian Alabama 3,092,319 22.8 9.6 52.7 14.9 38.9

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,738,301 23.4 10.5 51.2 14.9 37.6

Georgia 10,006,693 24.9 10.1 53.1 11.9 35.9

Appalachian Georgia 3,047,462 26.2 8.9 52.9 12.0 36.8

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,959,231 24.3 10.7 53.1 11.9 35.6

Kentucky 4,397,353 23.1 9.7 52.8 14.4 38.5

Appalachian Kentucky 1,178,147 22.3 9.3 52.7 15.7 40.3

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,219,206 23.4 9.8 52.9 13.9 37.8

Maryland 5,930,538 22.7 9.5 54.4 13.3 38.2

Appalachian Maryland 252,632 20.8 9.7 52.8 16.8 41.1

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,677,906 22.8 9.5 54.5 13.2 38.1

Mississippi 2,988,081 24.6 10.4 51.1 13.9 36.5

Appalachian Mississippi 628,965 23.9 11.1 49.9 15.1 37.6

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,359,116 24.8 10.2 51.4 13.6 36.4

New York 19,673,174 21.6 10.1 54.0 14.3 38.1

Appalachian New York 1,055,972 20.2 13.2 49.8 16.8 40.3

Non-Appalachian New York 18,617,202 21.7 9.9 54.2 14.2 38.1

North Carolina 9,845,333 23.2 9.9 52.6 14.2 38.0

Appalachian North Carolina 1,716,912 20.7 9.3 51.6 18.4 42.2

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 8,128,421 23.7 10.1 52.8 13.4 37.2

Ohio 11,575,977 22.9 9.5 52.4 15.1 39.2

Appalachian Ohio 2,023,656 22.2 9.0 52.0 16.8 41.3

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,552,321 23.1 9.6 52.5 14.7 38.8

Pennsylvania 12,779,559 21.3 9.7 52.7 16.3 40.5

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,770,892 19.8 9.8 52.4 17.9 42.5

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 7,008,667 22.5 9.7 52.8 15.0 38.9

South Carolina 4,777,576 22.6 10.2 52.0 15.2 38.6

Appalachian South Carolina 1,208,294 23.1 10.2 51.7 15.0 38.5

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,569,282 22.5 10.1 52.1 15.3 38.6

Tennessee 6,499,615 23.0 9.6 52.8 14.6 38.4

Appalachian Tennessee 2,827,183 21.3 9.4 52.0 17.3 41.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,672,432 24.3 9.8 53.4 12.5 36.4

Virginia 8,256,630 22.6 10.0 54.1 13.3 37.6

Appalachian Virginia 763,678 19.0 11.8 50.9 18.3 42.0

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,492,952 22.9 9.8 54.4 12.8 37.3

West Virginia (entire state) 1,851,420 20.7 9.2 52.9 17.2 41.8

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 
10

Figure 2.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Under Age 18, 2011-2015

Over the 2011-2015 period, the share of children and youth under age 18 in the Appalachian population was slightly 

below the national average of 23.3 percent. And the share was actually less than 20 percent in 107 of the Region’s

420 counties, most of which were outside metropolitan areas, with concentrations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, 

Virginia, and North Carolina. Yet in another 86 Appalachian counties, the share of children under age 18 matched or 

exceeded the national average. Most of these counties were in Southern Appalachia, with concentrations in Georgia, 

Mississippi, and South Carolina. Among the states, the Appalachian portions of Georgia and Mississippi were the only 

two in the Region where the under-18 percentage was greater than that of the nation as a whole—although the share 

in South Carolina was close, at 23.1 percent. 
11

Figure 2.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 18 to 24, 2011-2015

Although the share of young adults (ages 18 to 24) in Appalachia roughly equaled the national average in the 2011-

2015 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 24 counties. Nearly all of these counties are home to colleges and universities such as 

Penn State University (Centre County, Pennsylvania); Ohio University (Athens County, Ohio); and Clemson University 

(Pickens County, South Carolina). In contrast, 18-to-24-year-olds made up less than 7.5 percent of the population in 

103 Appalachian counties. Of the counties in this latter group, 74 were outside metropolitan areas and 26 were in the 

most rural counties—both of which suggest a possible lack of opportunities in these communities for youth making the 

transition to adulthood.
12

Figure 2.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 25 to 64, 2011-2015

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 2011-2015 period. In 159 of the 420 Appalachian counties, the percentage of persons in this age 

group matched or exceeded the national average. But there were 58 counties in the Region (47 of which were outside 

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

as Watauga County, North Carolina, home to Appalachian State University—house colleges and universities (and 

thus had a high share of their populations in the 18-to-24 age range.)
13

Figure 2.4: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 65 and Over, 2011-2015

The share of residents ages 65 and over in the Appalachian Region exceeded the national average by two 

percentage points during the 2011-2015 period. Moreover, the percentage of persons in this age group matched or 

exceeded the U.S. share in 378 of the 420 Appalachian counties—and the overall Region share (16.3 percent) in 294 

of them. In fact, older persons made up at least 20 percent of the population in 60 Appalachian counties, more than 

four-fifths of which were outside metropolitan areas. In contrast, most of the 42 Appalachian counties with older 

population shares below the national average were either in metro areas or home to colleges and universities. With 

the large baby boom cohorts moving into this age group, the share of residents ages 65 and over will continue to 

increase over the coming years in both Appalachia and the nation.
14

Figure 2.5: Median Age of Persons in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

At 40.5 years, the median age of the Appalachian population was nearly three years older than that of the United 

States as a whole during the 2011-2015 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 three-fourths of the Region’s counties. And in 75 

counties—58 of which were outside metro areas—the median age was at least 45 years. Of the 37 counties with 

populations whose median age was younger than the national median, 23 were in Southern Appalachia—the only 

subregion where the overall age structure roughly resembled that of the nation. (Appalachian Georgia alone had 13 of 

these counties.) As the U.S. and Appalachian populations grow older, median age will almost certainly continue to rise

in most of the Region’s counties—with the possible exception of counties where a college or university is a major 

presence (such as Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, home to the University of Alabama). 
15

Table 2.2: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region, by Age Group, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Population by Age Group 

Percentage Point Change in Share of Population Change in 

Median Age

(Years)

Under

Age 18 

Ages

18-24 

Ages

25-64 Ages 65

and over

United States - 1.1 + 0.0 - 0.3 + 1.4 + 0.7

Appalachian Region - 0.9 + 0.1 - 0.6 + 1.5 + 1.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 1.1 + 0.1 - 0.1 + 1.1 + 1.0

North Central Appalachia - 0.7 + 0.0 - 0.8 + 1.5 + 1.0

Central Appalachia - 0.8 + 0.1 - 1.0 + 1.7 + 1.3

South Central Appalachia - 0.9 + 0.2 - 1.3 + 2.0 + 1.2

Southern Appalachia - 1.0 + 0.2 - 0.8 + 1.6 + 1.2

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 0.9 + 0.1 - 0.4 + 1.2 + 1.0

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 0.9 + 0.1 - 0.7 + 1.5 + 1.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 1.2 + 0.0 - 0.5 + 1.7 + 1.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 1.0 + 0.3 - 1.1 + 1.9 + 1.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 1.0 + 0.1 - 1.0 + 1.7 + 1.2

Alabama - 1.0 - 0.1 - 0.3 + 1.4 + 0.9

Appalachian Alabama - 0.9 - 0.1 - 0.4 + 1.4 + 1.1

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 1.2 - 0.1 - 0.2 + 1.5 + 0.7

Georgia - 1.1 + 0.0 - 0.6 + 1.6 + 0.9

Appalachian Georgia - 1.1 + 0.3 - 1.2 + 2.0 + 1.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 1.2 + 0.0 - 0.4 + 1.5 + 0.8

Kentucky - 0.7 + 0.1 - 0.8 + 1.3 + 0.8

Appalachian Kentucky - 0.8 + 0.1 - 0.9 + 1.6 + 1.3

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 0.7 + 0.1 - 0.6 + 1.2 + 0.6

Maryland - 1.2 - 0.1 - 0.2 + 1.4 + 0.6

Appalachian Maryland - 0.9 + 0.0 - 0.3 + 1.3 + 1.1

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 1.2 - 0.1 - 0.2 + 1.5 + 0.7

Mississippi - 1.1 - 0.1 - 0.1 + 1.3 + 0.7

Appalachian Mississippi - 1.1 + 0.4 - 0.6 + 1.3 + 0.9

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 1.1 - 0.2 + 0.0 + 1.4 + 0.9

New York - 1.2 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 1.0 + 0.4

Appalachian New York - 1.4 + 0.5 - 0.6 + 1.5 + 0.9

Non-Appalachian New York - 1.2 + 0.0 + 0.1 + 1.0 + 0.5

North Carolina - 0.9 + 0.1 - 0.8 + 1.6 + 0.9

Appalachian North Carolina - 1.1 + 0.2 - 1.3 + 2.1 + 1.3

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 1.0 + 0.1 - 0.8 + 1.6 + 0.9

Ohio - 1.1 + 0.0 - 0.3 + 1.3 + 0.9

Appalachian Ohio - 1.2 + 0.0 - 0.4 + 1.5 + 1.4

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 1.1 + 0.0 - 0.3 + 1.3 + 0.9

Pennsylvania - 1.1 - 0.1 + 0.1 + 1.0 + 0.7

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.2 + 0.0 + 0.0 + 1.0 + 1.0

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.1 + 0.0 + 0.0 + 1.1 + 0.7

South Carolina - 1.1 + 0.0 - 0.9 + 2.0 + 1.2

Appalachian South Carolina - 0.8 + 0.2 - 1.0 + 1.6 + 0.9

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 1.1 - 0.2 - 0.8 + 2.2 + 1.2

Tennessee - 0.9 + 0.1 - 0.8 + 1.5 + 0.8

Appalachian Tennessee - 0.9 + 0.2 - 1.3 + 1.9 + 1.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 0.9 + 0.1 - 0.4 + 1.2 + 0.7

Virginia - 0.9 - 0.1 - 0.5 + 1.5 + 0.4

Appalachian Virginia - 0.9 + 0.1 - 1.1 + 1.9 + 1.1

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 1.0 - 0.1 - 0.4 + 1.4 + 0.5

West Virginia (entire state) - 0.5 + 0.0 - 1.0 + 1.4 + 0.7

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
16

TRENDS IN AGE

• Like the United States as a whole, Appalachia’s population has gotten older between the 2006-2010

and 2011-2015 periods (see Table 2.2). And it’s been aging more noticeably than the national 

population in that time: The median age of the Region’s population (the point at which half the 

population is older and half is younger) has risen by more than a year between these two periods to 

40.5 years. By comparison, the U.S. median age has risen by just less than a year.

• Some parts of the Appalachian Region are aging faster than others. For example, the median age 

rose 1.4 years in Appalachian Ohio and 1.3 years in Appalachian North Carolina between 2006-2010 

and 2011-2015, to 41.3 years and 42.2 years, respectively. And the median age in Appalachian

counties outside metropolitan areas has risen slightly faster than in the Region’s metropolitan 

counties. Yet among all Appalachian subregions and county types, as well as in the Appalachian 

portions of nearly every state in the Region, the median age is increasing faster than the national 

average. 

• In both the United States and Appalachia, the aging of the population has come largely at the 

expense of younger age groups. For example, the share of the population under age 18 is about one 

percentage point lower in 2011-2015 than it was in 2006-2010. Similarly, the share ages 25 to 64 has 

fallen by less than half a percentage point in Appalachia, particularly as older members of the baby 

boom cohorts move into the “65 and over” age category. Between the two periods, the share of 

residents in the older age group increased 1.5 percentage points in the Region.

• While much of Appalachia is “aging in place” (particularly with the aging of the baby boom cohorts), 

the migration of some older residents to retirement destinations is a factor behind the aging of some 

parts of the Region. For example, several Appalachian counties where the median age is at least 45 

years have been designated as “retirement” counties by the Economic Research Service of the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture.
17

CHAPTER 3: RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN 

Table 3.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2011-2015

Population by Race and Hispanic Origin 

Total 

Population,

2011-2015 

Percent of Population

White 

Alone, Not 

Hispanic 

Minority

Total 

Black 

Alone, Not 

Hispanic 

Hispanic or 

Latino

Other, Not 

Hispanic

United States 316,515,021 62.3 37.7 12.3 17.1 8.3

Appalachian Region 25,417,532 82.5 17.5 9.4 4.6 3.5

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,336,272 88.7 11.3 5.2 2.8 3.3

North Central Appalachia 2,425,882 92.8 7.2 2.9 1.4 2.9

Central Appalachia 1,900,772 95.0 5.0 1.9 1.4 1.7

South Central Appalachia 4,777,566 84.8 15.2 7.0 4.9 3.3

Southern Appalachia 7,977,040 68.7 31.3 18.9 7.9 4.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,963,130 73.6 26.4 15.1 6.1 5.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,733,709 82.1 17.9 9.3 5.1 3.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 2,201,683 88.6 11.4 5.2 3.5 2.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,981,497 89.9 10.1 4.5 3.2 2.4

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,537,513 88.6 11.4 7.6 1.9 1.9

Alabama 4,830,620 66.3 33.7 26.3 4.0 3.4

Appalachian Alabama 3,092,319 70.3 29.7 22.0 4.5 3.2

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,738,301 59.3 40.7 34.0 3.1 3.6

Georgia 10,006,693 54.6 45.4 30.5 9.1 5.8

Appalachian Georgia 3,047,462 66.1 33.9 14.2 13.2 6.5

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,959,231 49.5 50.5 37.7 7.4 5.4

Kentucky 4,397,353 85.6 14.4 7.8 3.3 3.4

Appalachian Kentucky 1,178,147 95.0 5.0 1.8 1.4 1.7

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,219,206 82.1 17.9 10.0 3.9 4.0

Maryland 5,930,538 53.0 47.0 29.1 9.0 8.9

Appalachian Maryland 252,632 85.1 14.9 8.1 3.0 3.9

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,677,906 51.6 48.4 30.0 9.3 9.2

Mississippi 2,988,081 57.4 42.6 37.2 2.9 2.5

Appalachian Mississippi 628,965 64.1 35.9 31.6 2.5 1.8

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,359,116 55.6 44.4 38.7 3.0 2.7

New York 19,673,174 56.8 43.2 14.4 18.4 10.4

Appalachian New York 1,055,972 89.1 10.9 2.7 3.4 4.8

Non-Appalachian New York 18,617,202 54.9 45.1 15.1 19.3 10.7

North Carolina 9,845,333 64.2 35.8 21.2 8.8 5.8

Appalachian North Carolina 1,716,912 80.5 19.5 8.7 7.2 3.6

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 8,128,421 60.8 39.2 23.8 9.2 6.2

Ohio 11,575,977 80.3 19.7 12.0 3.4 4.3

Appalachian Ohio 2,023,656 91.4 8.6 4.2 1.8 2.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,552,321 77.9 22.1 13.7 3.7 4.7

Pennsylvania 12,779,559 78.1 21.9 10.5 6.4 5.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,770,892 88.6 11.4 5.4 2.8 3.2

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 7,008,667 69.5 30.5 14.8 9.3 6.4

South Carolina 4,777,576 63.9 36.1 27.3 5.3 3.5

Appalachian South Carolina 1,208,294 73.6 26.4 16.6 6.2 3.5

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,569,282 60.6 39.4 30.9 5.0 3.5

Tennessee 6,499,615 74.7 25.3 16.7 4.9 3.7

Appalachian Tennessee 2,827,183 87.9 12.1 5.4 3.6 3.1

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,672,432 64.6 35.4 25.4 5.9 4.1

Virginia 8,256,630 63.4 36.6 18.9 8.6 9.1

Appalachian Virginia 763,678 89.5 10.5 5.5 2.2 2.8

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,492,952 60.8 39.2 20.3 9.2 9.7

West Virginia (entire state) 1,851,420 92.5 7.5 3.3 1.4 2.8

Note: “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, 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 
18

Figure 3.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Minority, 2011-2015

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 almost twothirds 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 2011-2015 period. There were 

just 22 counties—all but one in Southern Appalachia and more than half in Mississippi alone—where minorities’ share 

of the population matched or exceeded the national average of nearly 38 percent.
19

Figure 3.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not Hispanic, 2011-2015

While non-Hispanic African Americans have remained the largest single minority group in Appalachia during the 2011-

2015 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 Region’s 58 counties where the 

black share of the population matched or surpassed that of the nation—as well as 27 of the 30 where at least one in 

four residents was African American. 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.
20

Figure 3.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or Latino, 2011-2015

Although Hispanics are now the United States’ largest minority group, they made up only one in 25 residents in the 

Appalachian Region during the 2011-2015 period. The county patterns reflect this fact, as Hispanics were at least 5 

percent of the population in just 64 of Appalachia’s 420 counties, all but nine of which were in Southern and South 

Central Appalachia. Moreover, just three Appalachian counties (Gwinnett, Hall, and Whitfield—all in Georgia) had 

Latino population shares that matched or exceeded the national average.
21

Table 3.2: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region, by Race and

Hispanic Origin, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Population by Race and Hispanic Origin 

Percentage Point Change in Share of Population

White Alone, 

Not Hispanic 

Minority

Total Black Alone, 

Not Hispanic 

Hispanic or 

Latino

Other, Not 

Hispanic

United States - 2.4 + 2.4 + 0.1 + 1.4 + 0.9

Appalachian Region - 1.8 + 1.8 + 0.4 + 0.8 + 0.6

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 1.4 + 1.4 + 0.2 + 0.6 + 0.6

North Central Appalachia - 0.8 + 0.8 + 0.1 + 0.2 + 0.5

Central Appalachia - 0.7 + 0.7 + 0.1 + 0.4 + 0.2

South Central Appalachia - 1.3 + 1.3 + 0.1 + 0.7 + 0.5

Southern Appalachia - 2.3 + 2.3 + 0.6 + 0.9 + 0.6

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 2.6 + 2.6 + 0.8 + 0.9 + 0.9

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 1.7 + 1.7 + 0.3 + 0.8 + 0.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 1.1 + 1.1 + 0.2 + 0.5 + 0.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 0.9 + 0.9 + 0.1 + 0.5 + 0.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 1.0 + 1.0 + 0.2 + 0.4 + 0.4

Alabama - 1.4 + 1.4 + 0.3 + 0.6 + 0.5

Appalachian Alabama - 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.4 + 0.6 + 0.5

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 1.0 + 1.0 + 0.1 + 0.5 + 0.4

Georgia - 2.2 + 2.2 + 0.5 + 0.8 + 1.0

Appalachian Georgia - 3.6 + 3.6 + 1.5 + 1.2 + 0.9

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 1.8 + 1.8 + 0.2 + 0.7 + 0.9

Kentucky - 1.3 + 1.3 + 0.2 + 0.6 + 0.7

Appalachian Kentucky - 0.7 + 0.7 + 0.1 + 0.3 + 0.2

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.1 + 0.5 + 0.8

Maryland - 2.8 + 2.8 + 0.2 + 1.5 + 1.1

Appalachian Maryland - 2.2 + 2.2 + 0.6 + 0.6 + 1.1

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 2.8 + 2.8 + 0.1 + 1.5 + 1.2

Mississippi - 1.1 + 1.1 + 0.3 + 0.5 + 0.3

Appalachian Mississippi - 1.1 + 1.1 + 0.3 + 0.5 + 0.3

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 1.1 + 1.1 + 0.3 + 0.5 + 0.3

New York - 2.4 + 2.4 - 0.1 + 1.3 + 1.2

Appalachian New York - 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.2 + 0.5 + 0.7

Non-Appalachian New York - 2.4 + 2.4 - 0.1 + 1.4 + 1.1

North Carolina - 1.9 + 1.9 + 0.0 + 1.0 + 0.9

Appalachian North Carolina - 1.4 + 1.4 + 0.1 + 0.9 + 0.5

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 1.8 + 1.8 - 0.1 + 1.1 + 0.9

Ohio - 1.3 + 1.3 + 0.0 + 0.5 + 0.8

Appalachian Ohio - 0.6 + 0.6 - 0.1 + 0.3 + 0.5

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.1 + 0.5 + 0.9

Pennsylvania - 2.2 + 2.2 + 0.1 + 1.2 + 0.8

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.2 + 0.6 + 0.6

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 2.5 + 2.5 + 0.0 + 1.5 + 0.9

South Carolina - 0.6 + 0.6 - 0.7 + 0.7 + 0.6

Appalachian South Carolina - 1.6 + 1.6 + 0.2 + 0.9 + 0.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 0.2 + 0.2 - 1.0 + 0.6 + 0.6

Tennessee - 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.2 + 0.7 + 0.6

Appalachian Tennessee - 1.3 + 1.3 + 0.1 + 0.6 + 0.6

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 1.4 + 1.4 + 0.0 + 0.8 + 0.6

Virginia - 2.3 + 2.3 - 0.4 + 1.3 + 1.4

Appalachian Virginia - 1.2 + 1.2 + 0.1 + 0.5 + 0.6

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 2.2 + 2.2 - 0.5 + 1.3 + 1.4

West Virginia (entire state) - 0.9 + 0.9 + 0.1 + 0.3 + 0.5

Note: “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 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
22

Figure 3.4: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black 

Alone, not Hispanic, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Although African Americans’ share of the U.S. population barely budged between the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015

periods, their share of the Appalachian population rose nearly half a percentage point, from 9 percent to 9.4 percent. 

And there were 32 counties—with both large and small African American concentrations—where blacks’ share of the 

population increased by at least one percentage point. Yet in about one-third of Appalachia’s 420 counties, the 

African American share of the population has either stayed the same or decreased.
23

Figure 3.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of the Population in the Appalachian Region That Is 

Hispanic or Latino, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

The Hispanic/Latino share of the Appalachian population rose by almost a full percentage point between 2006-2010

and 2011-2015—although this increase was barely more than half the national average between the two periods. Still, 

there were 30 counties (14 of which were in either Georgia or Alabama) where the Hispanic share of the population 

grew at or above the national rate. Opportunities in industries such as poultry processing (in DeKalb and Franklin 

counties in Alabama) and construction (in the counties surrounding Atlanta)—as well as in creating small 

businesses—have been cited as possible factors fueling this growth.
24

TRENDS IN RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

• The Appalachian Region has become more racially and ethnically diverse since 2006-2010. Between 

that period and 2011-2015, the share of the population that is minority (defined as anyone who 

identifies with a racial or ethnic group other than “white alone, not Hispanic”) has risen almost two 

percentage points to 17.5 percent (see Tables 3.1 and 3.2). The pace of the increased diversity, 

however, is not as great as that of the nation as a whole, where the increase was nearly two and a 

half percentage points across the two periods. 

• Within the Region, the greatest increase in racial diversity is occurring in Southern Appalachia and 

counties that are part of large metropolitan areas (1 million population or more). Since the 2006-2010 

period, minorities’ share of the population in those two areas has risen more than two percentage 

points. And Appalachian Georgia has grown even faster: The minority share of the population has 

increased nearly four percentage points since 2006-2010. Not surprisingly, these three areas have 

minority concentrations in 2011-2015 that come close to the national minority share of 38 percent (31 

percent for Southern Appalachia, 26 percent for counties in large metros, and 34 percent for 

Appalachian Georgia).

• Although African Americans comprise the largest minority group in Appalachia, Hispanics have fueled 

much (if not most) of the minority increase. The Hispanic/Latino share of the Appalachian population 

rose almost a full percentage point between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015—twice the increase for the 

Region’s African American share. The increase in the Latino population may be associated with

employment opportunities in such industries as poultry processing and construction, as well as in the 

creation of small businesses. As with the overall minority population, Southern Appalachia, large 

metropolitan areas, and Appalachian Georgia had the greatest increases in both the black and Latino 

shares of the total population.
25

CHAPTER 4: HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE 

Table 4.1: Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

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 133,351,840 116,926,305 87.7 12.3 63.9 36.1

Appalachian Region 11,590,695 9,884,708 85.3 14.7 70.5 29.5

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 3,922,927 3,349,857 85.4 14.6 70.7 29.3

North Central Appalachia 1,119,097 949,650 84.9 15.1 72.0 28.0

Central Appalachia 882,747 743,518 84.2 15.8 72.4 27.6

South Central Appalachia 2,278,451 1,914,576 84.0 16.0 69.2 30.8

Southern Appalachia 3,387,473 2,927,107 86.4 13.6 70.0 30.0

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 2,551,476 2,271,067 89.0 11.0 70.4 29.6

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 4,813,137 4,203,653 87.3 12.7 68.9 31.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,025,677 853,125 83.2 16.8 71.5 28.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 1,950,205 1,567,988 80.4 19.6 73.1 26.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,250,200 988,875 79.1 20.9 72.4 27.6

Alabama 2,199,329 1,848,325 84.0 16.0 68.7 31.3

Appalachian Alabama 1,393,760 1,188,743 85.3 14.7 70.2 29.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama 805,569 659,582 81.9 18.1 66.0 34.0

Georgia 4,133,065 3,574,362 86.5 13.5 63.3 36.7

Appalachian Georgia 1,190,243 1,041,096 87.5 12.5 70.4 29.6

Non-Appalachian Georgia 2,942,822 2,533,266 86.1 13.9 60.4 39.6

Kentucky 1,944,495 1,708,499 87.9 12.1 67.2 32.8

Appalachian Kentucky 539,625 457,587 84.8 15.2 70.9 29.1

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,404,870 1,250,912 89.0 11.0 65.9 34.1

Maryland 2,410,256 2,166,389 89.9 10.1 66.8 33.2

Appalachian Maryland 113,395 96,254 84.9 15.1 66.8 33.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland 2,296,861 2,070,135 90.1 9.9 66.8 33.2

Mississippi 1,289,704 1,096,593 85.0 15.0 68.4 31.6

Appalachian Mississippi 280,130 237,766 84.9 15.1 70.6 29.4

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,009,574 858,827 85.1 14.9 67.8 32.2

New York 8,171,725 7,262,279 88.9 11.1 53.6 46.4

Appalachian New York 509,072 417,724 82.1 17.9 69.1 30.9

Non-Appalachian New York 7,662,653 6,844,555 89.3 10.7 52.7 47.3

North Carolina 4,417,210 3,775,581 85.5 14.5 65.1 34.9

Appalachian North Carolina 863,310 690,373 80.0 20.0 69.3 30.7

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 3,553,900 3,085,208 86.8 13.2 64.2 35.8

Ohio 5,140,902 4,585,084 89.2 10.8 66.3 33.7

Appalachian Ohio 902,362 792,442 87.8 12.2 71.3 28.7

Non-Appalachian Ohio 4,238,540 3,792,642 89.5 10.5 65.3 34.7

Pennsylvania 5,585,611 4,958,859 88.8 11.2 69.2 30.8

Appalachian Pennsylvania 2,724,802 2,328,695 85.5 14.5 71.1 28.9

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 2,860,809 2,630,164 91.9 8.1 67.5 32.5

South Carolina 2,174,319 1,815,094 83.5 16.5 68.6 31.4

Appalachian South Carolina 523,340 459,502 87.8 12.2 68.5 31.5

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,650,979 1,355,592 82.1 17.9 68.6 31.4

Tennessee 2,854,542 2,504,556 87.7 12.3 66.8 33.2

Appalachian Tennessee 1,300,994 1,127,131 86.6 13.4 69.6 30.4

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,553,548 1,377,425 88.7 11.3 64.4 35.6

Virginia 3,423,291 3,062,783 89.5 10.5 66.2 33.8

Appalachian Virginia 365,678 306,505 83.8 16.2 71.1 28.9

Non-Appalachian Virginia 3,057,613 2,756,278 90.1 9.9 65.6 34.4

West Virginia (entire state) 883,984 740,890 83.8 16.2 72.5 27.5

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 
26

Figure 4.1: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, 2011-2015

Although the home occupancy rate during the 2011-2015 period was slightly lower in Appalachia than in the United 

States as a whole, there were 95 counties in the Region that had occupancy rates matching or exceeding the national 

average. And while they were scattered throughout the Region, 70 of these counties were in metropolitan areas, such 

as Pittsburgh, the Atlanta and Birmingham suburbs, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Conversely, less than fourfifths of housing units were occupied in 118 Appalachian counties—all but 19 of which lay outside metropolitan areas.
27

Figure 4.2: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, 2011-2015

One in seven housing units in Appalachia were vacant during the 2011-2015 period, compared to one in eight for the 

nation as a whole. Vacancy rates varied within the Region, however. While 119 of the 420 Appalachian counties (100 

of which were outside metropolitan areas) had vacancy rates at or above 20 percent, another 94 counties (mostly in 

metro areas) had rates below the national average. It is important to note that in 160 of the 326 Appalachian counties 

with vacancy rates of 12.3 percent or more, at least one-third of the vacant units were designated for seasonal or 

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

areas include the Great Smoky Mountains along the North Carolina-Tennessee border, the Greenbrier resort in West 

Virginia (Greenbrier County), and the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania.
28

Figure 4.3: Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Homeownership was more common in the Appalachian Region than in the rest of the country in the 2011-2015 

period. In all but 20 counties, the share of owner-occupied housing units matched or exceeded the national average. 

Indeed, the homeownership rate was at least 75 percent in 177 of Appalachia’s 420 counties, scattered throughout 

the Region. It is important to note that in some areas, the high homeownership rates might be related to low levels of 

economic and residential mobility, as well as the older age structure of the Appalachian population.
29

Figure 4.4: Percent Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

The share of renter-occupied housing units during the 2011-2015 period was well below the national average 

throughout Appalachia; in fact, it was less than 25 percent in 175 of the Region’s 420 counties. Among the 21 

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. Examples of these 

counties include Centre County, Pennsylvania (Penn State University); Monongalia County, West Virginia (West 

Virginia University); and Oktibbeha County, Mississippi (Mississippi State University). 
30

Table 4.2: Percentage Point Change in Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Housing Occupancy and Tenure 

Percentage Point Change, Share of 

Total Housing Units

Housing Units

Percentage Point Change, Share of 

Occupied Housing Units

Housing Units

Occupied Vacant Owner-Occupied Renter-Occupied

United States - 0.1 + 0.1 - 2.7 + 2.7

Appalachian Region - 0.6 + 0.6 - 2.1 + 2.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 0.7 + 0.7 - 1.6 + 1.6

North Central Appalachia - 0.3 + 0.3 - 2.1 + 2.1

Central Appalachia + 0.0 + 0.0 - 1.7 + 1.7

South Central Appalachia - 1.4 + 1.4 - 2.5 + 2.5

Southern Appalachia - 0.4 + 0.4 - 2.7 + 2.7

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) + 0.4 - 0.4 - 2.7 + 2.7

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 0.8 + 0.8 - 2.3 + 2.3

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.7 + 1.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 1.4 + 1.4 - 1.6 + 1.6

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 1.0 + 1.0 - 1.6 + 1.6

Alabama - 0.8 + 0.8 - 2.4 + 2.4

Appalachian Alabama - 0.8 + 0.8 - 2.1 + 2.1

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 0.8 + 0.8 - 3.0 + 3.0

Georgia + 0.2 - 0.2 - 3.9 + 3.9

Appalachian Georgia - 0.1 + 0.1 - 3.7 + 3.7

Non-Appalachian Georgia + 0.4 - 0.4 - 4.0 + 4.0

Kentucky + 0.2 - 0.2 - 2.7 + 2.7

Appalachian Kentucky + 0.9 - 0.9 - 2.2 + 2.2

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 0.2 + 0.2 - 2.8 + 2.8

Maryland - 0.2 + 0.2 - 2.2 + 2.2

Appalachian Maryland - 1.0 + 1.0 - 2.3 + 2.3

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 0.2 + 0.2 - 2.2 + 2.2

Mississippi - 1.1 + 1.1 - 2.4 + 2.4

Appalachian Mississippi - 0.9 + 0.9 - 1.7 + 1.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 1.1 + 1.1 - 2.6 + 2.6

New York - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.6 + 1.6

Appalachian New York - 1.7 + 1.7 - 1.0 + 1.0

Non-Appalachian New York - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.6 + 1.6

North Carolina - 0.2 + 0.2 - 3.0 + 3.0

Appalachian North Carolina - 1.8 + 1.8 - 2.8 + 2.8

Non-Appalachian North Carolina + 0.1 - 0.1 - 2.9 + 2.9

Ohio + 0.1 - 0.1 - 2.9 + 2.9

Appalachian Ohio - 0.3 + 0.3 - 2.4 + 2.4

Non-Appalachian Ohio + 0.1 - 0.1 - 2.9 + 2.9

Pennsylvania - 0.4 + 0.4 - 1.8 + 1.8

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 0.5 + 0.5 - 1.5 + 1.5

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 0.4 + 0.4 - 2.1 + 2.1

South Carolina + 0.1 - 0.1 - 1.3 + 1.3

Appalachian South Carolina + 0.4 - 0.4 - 2.1 + 2.1

Non-Appalachian South Carolina + 0.0 + 0.0 - 1.0 + 1.0

Tennessee - 0.5 + 0.5 - 2.8 + 2.8

Appalachian Tennessee - 1.1 + 1.1 - 2.3 + 2.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee + 0.0 + 0.0 - 3.2 + 3.2

Virginia - 0.2 + 0.2 - 2.7 + 2.7

Appalachian Virginia - 1.3 + 1.3 - 1.5 + 1.5

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 0.2 + 0.2 - 2.8 + 2.8

West Virginia (entire state) - 0.4 + 0.4 - 2.1 + 2.1

Note: Since occupied units and vacant units sum to the total number of housing units, the sum of the percentage point changes for the two 

categories will equal zero. The same principle holds for the sum of the percentage point changes for owner-occupied units and renter-occupied 

units, since these two categories sum to the total number of occupied housing units. 

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
31

Figure 4.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are 

Occupied, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Appalachia’s home occupancy rate in 2011-2015 was more than half a percentage point lower than it was in 2006-

2010, a greater decline than the nation as a whole. While this might reflect the effects of the Great Recession, other 

factors may also be at play. For example, severe weather events like the “Super Outbreak” of tornadoes that swept 

through parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee in April 2011, caused extreme structural damage and 

displaced families and (in some cases) entire communities. In 154 Appalachian counties, however, the occupancy 

rate stayed the same or increased between the two periods, and the rate rose at least two percentage points in 61 of 

these counties. Kentucky had 23 of the 61 counties in the latter group; indeed, in that state’s Appalachian section, the 

occupancy rate increased nearly a full percentage point during the period. 
32

Figure 4.6: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are 

Vacant, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, the percentage of vacant housing units rose 0.6 percentage points in 

Appalachia, while it barely increased in the nation as a whole. The increase likewise matched or exceeded the U.S. 

average in 266 of the Region’s 420 counties. While this at least partly suggests the failure of occupancy rates to 

return to pre-recessionary levels, another possible factor could be an increase in the share of vacant units that were 

designed for seasonal or occasional use (which would suggest significant recreational or retirement activity, such as

in much of Appalachian North Carolina). In 139 of the 266 Appalachian counties where overall vacancy rates rose at 

or above the national average, the percentage of vacant units designed for seasonal use also increased. 
33

Figure 4.7: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian 

Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

The share of owner-occupied housing units fell by two percentage points in the Appalachian Region between 2006-

2010 and 2011-2015. The decline was even greater for the nation, as well as in 146 Appalachian counties where 

homeownership rates fell by at least 2.7 percentage points (the national average). Still, there were 104 counties in the 

Region—80 of which were outside metropolitan areas—where homeownership either stayed the same or increased 

during the period. While these 104 counties were scattered throughout Appalachia, 55 of them were in four states—

Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. (West Virginia alone had 17 of these counties.)
34

Figure 4.8: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian 

Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Although the share of renter-occupied housing units didn’t increase as much in Appalachia as it did nationwide 

between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, there were variations within the Region. In 146 Appalachian counties, for 

example, the increases in rental rates matched or exceeded the national average. More than half of the counties in 

this group were in South Central and Southern Appalachia; in Georgia’s Appalachian section alone, the share 

increased almost four percentage points. Conversely, the percentage of units occupied by renters either stayed the 

same or decreased in 103 counties. 
35

TRENDS IN HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE

• At just over 85 percent in 2011-2015, Appalachia’s home occupancy rate is 0.6 percentage points 

lower than it was in 2006-2010 (see Tables 4.1 and 4.2). This decrease was present among all 

subregions except Central Appalachia, all county types except the ones in large metropolitan areas, 

and the Appalachian portions of every state except Kentucky and South Carolina. And although the 

dip suggests that occupancy rates have not yet returned to pre-recession levels, other factors might 

be at play—for example, the displacement caused by severe weather events like the April 2011 

Super Outbreak of tornadoes that devastated parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and 

Tennessee.

• Among the subregions, the occupancy rate declined 1.4 percentage points in South Central 

Appalachia, while it stayed the same in Central Appalachia. And occupancy rates rose nearly half a 

percentage point in large metropolitan areas while decreasing among other county types. And in 

Kentucky’s Appalachian counties, occupancy rates rose by nearly a full percentage point.

• One factor behind the decline in Appalachia’s occupancy rates from 2006-2010 to 2011-2015 might 

be an increase in the percentage of vacant units that were designed for seasonal or occasional use. 

Between the two periods, the share of such units rose nearly two percentage points in Appalachia—

and almost three points nationwide.

• Homeownership rates in Appalachia fell two percentage points between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. 

Among subregions, the declines were greatest in South Central and Southern Appalachia, while there 

was an urban/rural pattern among county types (with the drop in homeownership being greatest 

among counties in large metropolitan areas). As with the drop in the occupancy rate, the decrease in 

homeownership partly suggests the continued effects of the 2007-2009 recession and the slow 

economic recovery that has followed.
36

CHAPTER 5: EDUCATION 

Table 5.1: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 25 and 

Over,

2011-2015 

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 211,462,522 13.3 86.7 48.8 8.1 29.8

Appalachian Region 17,406,203 14.5 85.5 54.7 8.2 22.6

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 5,816,582 10.3 89.7 56.9 9.1 23.6

North Central Appalachia 1,674,941 14.3 85.7 59.0 7.5 19.3

Central Appalachia 1,319,117 23.4 76.6 57.0 6.3 13.3

South Central Appalachia 3,312,336 15.6 84.4 53.3 7.9 23.2

Southern Appalachia 5,283,227 16.3 83.7 51.3 7.9 24.5

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 4,056,868 10.8 89.2 50.8 8.6 29.8

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 7,321,490 13.6 86.4 54.2 8.1 24.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,503,593 16.0 84.0 59.0 8.4 16.6

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,785,352 17.4 82.6 58.9 7.8 15.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,738,900 21.0 79.0 55.9 7.5 15.6

Alabama 3,239,351 15.7 84.3 53.0 7.8 23.5

Appalachian Alabama 2,090,452 15.7 84.3 52.5 7.7 24.0

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,148,899 15.8 84.2 53.9 7.8 22.6

Georgia 6,500,205 14.6 85.4 49.4 7.2 28.8

Appalachian Georgia 1,978,116 16.2 83.8 50.3 7.5 26.0

Non-Appalachian Georgia 4,522,089 13.9 86.1 49.0 7.0 30.1

Kentucky 2,955,216 15.8 84.2 54.4 7.5 22.3

Appalachian Kentucky 805,733 23.4 76.6 56.1 6.5 14.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,149,483 13.0 87.0 53.8 7.9 25.4

Maryland 4,018,459 10.6 89.4 45.1 6.4 37.9

Appalachian Maryland 175,692 12.6 87.4 60.2 8.1 19.1

Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,842,767 10.5 89.5 44.4 6.3 38.8

Mississippi 1,940,365 17.7 82.3 53.1 8.6 20.7

Appalachian Mississippi 408,823 20.8 79.2 53.4 8.5 17.4

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,531,542 16.8 83.2 53.0 8.6 21.5

New York 13,435,795 14.4 85.6 42.9 8.5 34.2

Appalachian New York 703,251 10.5 89.5 52.5 12.0 25.0

Non-Appalachian New York 12,732,544 14.6 85.4 42.4 8.3 34.7

North Carolina 6,582,301 14.2 85.8 48.5 9.0 28.4

Appalachian North Carolina 1,200,961 15.7 84.3 50.4 9.1 24.9

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 5,381,340 13.9 86.1 48.1 8.9 29.1

Ohio 7,817,508 10.9 89.1 54.8 8.2 26.1

Appalachian Ohio 1,391,706 13.7 86.3 61.2 8.4 16.7

Non-Appalachian Ohio 6,425,802 10.3 89.7 53.4 8.2 28.1

Pennsylvania 8,814,112 10.8 89.2 52.7 7.9 28.6

Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,059,387 9.7 90.3 56.3 9.0 25.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,754,725 11.7 88.3 49.6 7.0 31.6

South Carolina 3,210,007 14.4 85.6 50.8 8.9 25.8

Appalachian South Carolina 805,836 15.7 84.3 49.7 9.1 25.5

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,404,171 14.0 86.0 51.1 8.9 26.0

Tennessee 4,380,036 14.5 85.5 54.0 6.6 24.9

Appalachian Tennessee 1,959,646 16.2 83.8 55.7 6.8 21.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,420,390 13.2 86.8 52.6 6.4 27.9

Virginia 5,566,373 11.7 88.3 44.8 7.3 36.3

Appalachian Virginia 528,482 18.5 81.5 53.9 8.4 19.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia 5,037,891 10.9 89.1 43.8 7.1 38.1

West Virginia (entire state) 1,298,118 15.0 85.0 59.2 6.6 19.2

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 
37

Table 5.2: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 25-64,

2011-2015 

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 166,847,045 11.8 88.2 48.1 8.8 31.3

Appalachian Region 13,261,421 12.0 88.0 54.3 9.4 24.3

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 4,337,228 8.0 92.0 55.1 10.8 26.1

North Central Appalachia 1,274,290 11.3 88.7 59.1 8.7 20.9

Central Appalachia 1,007,108 18.4 81.6 60.1 7.5 14.1

South Central Appalachia 2,462,680 12.8 87.2 53.8 9.1 24.4

Southern Appalachia 4,180,115 14.4 85.6 51.0 8.8 25.8

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 3,201,710 9.0 91.0 48.9 9.7 32.4

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 5,573,005 11.4 88.6 53.7 9.3 25.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,131,906 13.4 86.6 59.2 9.9 17.6

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,052,771 14.3 85.7 59.9 9.2 16.6

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,302,029 17.3 82.7 57.6 8.8 16.3

Alabama 2,520,025 13.7 86.3 52.9 8.7 24.7

Appalachian Alabama 1,629,287 13.7 86.3 52.2 8.7 25.5

Non-Appalachian Alabama 890,738 13.6 86.4 54.2 8.8 23.4

Georgia 5,309,738 12.9 87.1 49.1 7.8 30.2

Appalachian Georgia 1,612,714 14.7 85.3 49.8 8.2 27.3

Non-Appalachian Georgia 3,697,024 12.1 87.9 48.8 7.6 31.5

Kentucky 2,322,241 12.7 87.3 54.9 8.6 23.9

Appalachian Kentucky 620,775 18.6 81.4 58.9 7.6 14.9

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,701,466 10.5 89.5 53.5 8.9 27.1

Maryland 3,227,308 9.1 90.9 44.5 6.9 39.6

Appalachian Maryland 133,286 10.4 89.6 59.8 9.4 20.5

Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,094,022 9.0 91.0 43.8 6.8 40.4

Mississippi 1,525,532 15.3 84.7 53.6 9.7 21.4

Appalachian Mississippi 313,810 17.9 82.1 54.3 9.9 18.0

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,211,722 14.6 85.4 53.5 9.7 22.2

New York 10,615,360 12.3 87.7 41.7 9.4 36.6

Appalachian New York 526,100 8.6 91.4 51.4 13.6 26.4

Non-Appalachian New York 10,089,260 12.5 87.5 41.2 9.2 37.1

North Carolina 5,181,109 12.3 87.7 47.9 9.8 30.0

Appalachian North Carolina 885,456 13.6 86.4 50.4 10.4 25.6

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 4,295,653 12.1 87.9 47.4 9.7 30.8

Ohio 6,070,227 8.9 91.1 53.6 9.4 28.1

Appalachian Ohio 1,052,001 11.4 88.6 60.6 10.0 18.1

Non-Appalachian Ohio 5,018,226 8.3 91.7 52.1 9.3 30.2

Pennsylvania 6,729,726 8.5 91.5 51.0 9.1 31.4

Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,025,947 7.2 92.8 54.2 10.6 28.0

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,703,779 9.5 90.5 48.4 7.9 34.2

South Carolina 2,483,228 12.4 87.6 51.1 9.8 26.7

Appalachian South Carolina 624,304 13.3 86.7 49.8 10.1 26.8

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,858,924 12.0 88.0 51.6 9.7 26.7

Tennessee 3,429,711 11.9 88.1 54.2 7.3 26.6

Appalachian Tennessee 1,469,939 12.9 87.1 56.8 7.8 22.5

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,959,772 11.1 88.9 52.3 7.0 29.6

Virginia 4,464,712 9.5 90.5 44.2 7.9 38.4

Appalachian Virginia 388,990 13.5 86.5 55.5 9.7 21.2

Non-Appalachian Virginia 4,075,722 9.1 90.9 43.2 7.7 40.0

West Virginia (entire state) 978,812 11.8 88.2 59.6 7.7 20.9

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
38

Table 5.3: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 65 and 

Over,

2011-2015 

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 44,615,477 19.0 81.0 51.7 5.1 24.1

Appalachian Region 4,144,782 22.6 77.4 55.9 4.3 17.2

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,479,354 17.2 82.8 62.0 4.3 16.4

North Central Appalachia 400,651 23.9 76.1 58.6 3.5 14.0

Central Appalachia 312,009 39.6 60.4 47.1 2.6 10.7

South Central Appalachia 849,656 23.8 76.2 51.9 4.7 19.6

Southern Appalachia 1,103,112 23.5 76.5 52.4 4.7 19.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 855,158 17.4 82.6 57.7 4.6 20.3

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,748,485 20.9 79.1 55.8 4.5 18.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 371,687 23.8 76.2 58.3 4.1 13.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 732,581 26.3 73.7 56.1 3.9 13.7

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 436,871 32.0 68.0 50.8 3.7 13.6

Alabama 719,326 23.0 77.0 53.4 4.4 19.2

Appalachian Alabama 461,165 22.8 77.2 53.7 4.4 19.1

Non-Appalachian Alabama 258,161 23.4 76.6 52.8 4.3 19.5

Georgia 1,190,467 22.0 78.0 51.1 4.4 22.6

Appalachian Georgia 365,402 22.4 77.6 52.8 4.7 20.1

Non-Appalachian Georgia 825,065 21.8 78.2 50.3 4.3 23.6

Kentucky 632,975 27.5 72.5 52.4 3.5 16.6

Appalachian Kentucky 184,958 39.8 60.2 46.5 2.6 11.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 448,017 22.4 77.6 54.8 3.9 18.9

Maryland 791,151 17.0 83.0 47.7 4.4 30.9

Appalachian Maryland 42,406 19.7 80.3 61.5 4.1 14.6

Non-Appalachian Maryland 748,745 16.9 83.1 46.9 4.4 31.8

Mississippi 414,833 26.4 73.6 51.1 4.3 18.1

Appalachian Mississippi 95,013 30.3 69.7 50.4 3.9 15.5

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 319,820 25.3 74.7 51.3 4.5 18.9

New York 2,820,435 22.1 77.9 47.4 5.2 25.3

Appalachian New York 177,151 16.2 83.8 55.8 7.1 20.9

Non-Appalachian New York 2,643,284 22.5 77.5 46.8 5.1 25.6

North Carolina 1,401,192 21.1 78.9 50.7 5.7 22.5

Appalachian North Carolina 315,505 21.4 78.6 50.5 5.4 22.7

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,085,687 21.0 79.0 50.8 5.8 22.4

Ohio 1,747,281 17.8 82.2 59.0 4.2 19.0

Appalachian Ohio 339,705 21.0 79.0 63.0 3.5 12.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,407,576 17.1 82.9 58.1 4.3 20.6

Pennsylvania 2,084,386 18.2 81.8 58.0 4.1 19.7

Appalachian Pennsylvania 1,033,440 17.0 83.0 62.4 4.0 16.6

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 1,050,946 19.5 80.5 53.7 4.1 22.7

South Carolina 726,779 21.5 78.5 49.6 5.9 22.9

Appalachian South Carolina 181,532 23.8 76.2 49.3 5.8 21.1

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 545,247 20.8 79.2 49.8 6.0 23.5

Tennessee 950,325 24.1 75.9 53.1 3.7 19.0

Appalachian Tennessee 489,707 25.8 74.2 52.6 4.0 17.6

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 460,618 22.3 77.7 53.7 3.5 20.5

Virginia 1,101,661 20.3 79.7 46.9 4.8 28.0

Appalachian Virginia 139,492 32.2 67.8 49.2 4.7 13.9

Non-Appalachian Virginia 962,169 18.6 81.4 46.6 4.8 30.0

West Virginia (entire state) 319,306 25.0 75.0 57.9 3.3 13.8

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
39

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

More, 2011-2015

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

over the 2011-2015 period, it matched or exceeded the national share in 119 counties in the Region—103 of which 

were either in Northern Appalachia or in metropolitan areas. The rates were especially high in the Appalachian 

sections of Pennsylvania and New York, where the share of adults who had completed high school was 90 percent 

and 89 percent, respectively. Yet in 58 counties, less than three-fourths of adults had completed high school; all but 

three of those counties were in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia, and 52 were outside metropolitan 

areas. More than half of these 58 counties were in Kentucky alone; just 77 percent of adults in the state’s Appalachian 

counties had a high school diploma or more in 2011-2015.
40

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

With No Postsecondary Degree, 2011-2015

During the 2011-2015 period, 55 percent of adults in the Appalachian Region had a high school diploma, but no 

postsecondary degree (including an associate’s degree). And the share was at least 60 percent in a full one-third 

(140) of the Region’s 420 counties—most of them in three states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. 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 even finished high 

school.
41

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

More, 2011-2015

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

2011-2015 period than in the nation as a whole. Indeed, the rate was lower than the national average in 399 of the 

Region’s 420 counties. In fact, less than one in five residents ages 25 and over were graduates of a four-year college 

or university in 324 Appalachian counties. And in 38 counties—nearly all of which were either outside metropolitan 

areas or in Central Appalachia—the share was less than one in 10. The 21 counties where the percentage of college 

graduates matched or surpassed the national average were mostly either in metro areas (e.g., Pittsburgh and 

Birmingham) or home to a college or university (such as Knox County, Tennessee, where the University of Tennessee

is located). 
42

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

2011-2015

In 2011-2015, 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 just over 88 percent, and the share matched or exceeded the 

national rate in 140 counties. Slightly more than half of these counties were in metropolitan areas, and most were in 

Northern or North Central Appalachia. Nearly half of these counties were in New York or Pennsylvania; the share of 

working-age adults with a high school diploma or more exceeded 90 percent in both states. At the other end of the 

spectrum, less than three-fourths of working-age adults had finished high school in 14 Appalachian counties. Almost

all of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, and half were in Kentucky alone.
43

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

2011-2015

Just 24 percent of Appalachia’s working-age population had a bachelor’s degree or more in 2011-2015—seven 

percentage points lower than the U.S. average of 31 percent. This is a striking indicator of the lower educational level 

of the Appalachian workforce. Indeed, just 14 percent of working-age adults in Central Appalachia had a bachelor’s 

degree, as did only 16 percent of residents of rural Appalachian counties that were not adjacent to metro areas. There 

were only 22 Appalachian counties—all either in metro areas (e.g., suburban Atlanta) or home to a four-year college 

or university (such as Tompkins County, New York, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College)—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 28 counties. Of the counties in this latter group, 23 were 

outside metropolitan areas, suggesting a lack of employment opportunities for college-educated adults. 
44

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

More, 2011-2015

While nearly one in four older Americans (ages 65 and over) had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2011-2015, less than 

one in 10 older adults had one in 111 of Appalachia’s 420 counties. (And in most of these counties, less than twothirds of older adults had completed high school.) Three-fourths of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, 

and two-fifths were in Central Appalachia—Kentucky alone had one-fourth of these counties. Yet in 35 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 (like suburban Atlanta), counties that had a college or university (such as Montgomery 

County, Virginia, home to Virginia Tech and Radford University), or counties with significant retirement or seasonal 

activity (the latter suggested by the fact that much of their vacant housing is for seasonal or occasional use—such as 

Rabun, Towns, and Union counties in Georgia, home of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest).
45

Table 5.4: Percentage Point Change in Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the 

Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Percentage Point Change in Share 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 - 1.7 + 1.7 - 0.8 + 0.6 + 1.9

Appalachian Region - 2.6 + 2.6 - 0.1 + 0.9 + 1.9

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 2.0 + 2.0 - 1.0 + 0.8 + 2.0

North Central Appalachia - 2.8 + 2.8 - 0.5 + 1.3 + 2.0

Central Appalachia - 4.6 + 4.6 + 2.8 + 0.7 + 1.2

South Central Appalachia - 2.9 + 2.9 + 0.4 + 0.7 + 1.9

Southern Appalachia - 2.6 + 2.6 + 0.1 + 0.8 + 1.7

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 1.7 + 1.7 - 1.2 + 0.7 + 2.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 2.5 + 2.5 - 0.2 + 0.7 + 1.9

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 2.6 + 2.6 + 0.3 + 1.0 + 1.3

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 3.0 + 3.0 + 0.8 + 0.9 + 1.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 3.9 + 3.9 + 1.5 + 1.1 + 1.3

Alabama - 2.9 + 2.9 + 0.2 + 0.9 + 1.8

Appalachian Alabama - 2.8 + 2.8 + 0.1 + 0.9 + 1.7

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 3.0 + 3.0 + 0.4 + 0.8 + 1.9

Georgia - 1.9 + 1.9 - 0.3 + 0.6 + 1.6

Appalachian Georgia - 2.1 + 2.1 - 0.1 + 0.7 + 1.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 1.9 + 1.9 - 0.4 + 0.5 + 1.7

Kentucky - 3.2 + 3.2 + 0.4 + 0.9 + 2.0

Appalachian Kentucky - 4.8 + 4.8 + 2.8 + 0.9 + 1.2

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 2.5 + 2.5 - 0.5 + 0.9 + 2.1

Maryland - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.6 + 0.1 + 2.2

Appalachian Maryland - 3.4 + 3.4 + 1.7 + 0.3 + 1.4

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.7 + 0.1 + 2.2

Mississippi - 2.7 + 2.7 + 0.5 + 1.0 + 1.2

Appalachian Mississippi - 3.3 + 3.3 + 0.6 + 1.4 + 1.3

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 2.6 + 2.6 + 0.5 + 0.8 + 1.1

New York - 1.2 + 1.2 - 1.2 + 0.3 + 2.1

Appalachian New York - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.5 + 0.7 + 1.3

Non-Appalachian New York - 1.2 + 1.2 - 1.2 + 0.3 + 2.1

North Carolina - 2.2 + 2.2 - 0.6 + 0.7 + 2.3

Appalachian North Carolina - 2.2 + 2.2 - 0.7 + 0.7 + 2.3

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 2.2 + 2.2 - 0.6 + 0.6 + 2.2

Ohio - 1.7 + 1.7 - 1.2 + 0.9 + 2.0

Appalachian Ohio - 2.0 + 2.0 - 0.9 + 1.5 + 1.4

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 1.6 + 1.6 - 1.2 + 0.8 + 2.0

Pennsylvania - 1.8 + 1.8 - 1.0 + 0.6 + 2.2

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.9 + 1.9 - 1.2 + 0.9 + 2.3

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.7 + 1.7 - 0.8 + 0.4 + 2.0

South Carolina - 2.6 + 2.6 + 0.0 + 0.6 + 1.8

Appalachian South Carolina - 2.7 + 2.7 + 0.2 + 0.5 + 2.0

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 2.5 + 2.5 - 0.1 + 0.7 + 1.9

Tennessee - 3.0 + 3.0 + 0.2 + 0.6 + 2.2

Appalachian Tennessee - 3.3 + 3.3 + 1.0 + 0.8 + 1.5

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 2.7 + 2.7 - 0.5 + 0.5 + 2.8

Virginia - 2.2 + 2.2 - 0.8 + 0.6 + 2.5

Appalachian Virginia - 4.4 + 4.4 + 1.7 + 0.5 + 2.2

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 2.0 + 2.0 - 1.1 + 0.6 + 2.4

West Virginia (entire state) - 3.1 + 3.1 + 0.3 + 0.8 + 1.9

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
46

Table 5.5: Percentage Point Change in Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian 

Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Percentage Point Change in Share 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 - 0.9 + 0.9 - 1.0 + 0.4 + 1.5

Appalachian Region - 1.5 + 1.5 - 1.0 + 0.9 + 1.6

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.9 + 0.8 + 1.7

North Central Appalachia - 1.7 + 1.7 - 1.6 + 1.4 + 2.0

Central Appalachia - 3.8 + 3.8 + 2.2 + 0.8 + 0.9

South Central Appalachia - 1.9 + 1.9 - 0.4 + 0.7 + 1.6

Southern Appalachia - 1.5 + 1.5 - 0.7 + 0.8 + 1.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 0.6 + 0.6 - 2.0 + 0.7 + 2.0

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 1.3 + 1.3 - 0.9 + 0.7 + 1.6

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.4 + 1.1 + 1.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 1.8 + 1.8 - 0.1 + 1.0 + 0.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 2.8 + 2.8 + 0.6 + 1.2 + 1.0

Alabama - 1.7 + 1.7 - 0.5 + 0.8 + 1.4

Appalachian Alabama - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.7 + 0.9 + 1.4

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 2.0 + 2.0 - 0.2 + 0.8 + 1.4

Georgia - 1.2 + 1.2 - 0.7 + 0.6 + 1.3

Appalachian Georgia - 1.3 + 1.3 - 0.6 + 0.8 + 1.2

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 1.2 + 1.2 - 0.8 + 0.6 + 1.4

Kentucky - 2.1 + 2.1 - 0.5 + 1.0 + 1.8

Appalachian Kentucky - 3.9 + 3.9 + 1.9 + 0.9 + 1.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 1.4 + 1.4 - 1.4 + 0.9 + 1.8

Maryland - 0.8 + 0.8 - 0.9 + 0.0 + 1.8

Appalachian Maryland - 1.8 + 1.8 + 0.5 + 0.2 + 1.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 0.8 + 0.8 - 1.0 + 0.0 + 1.8

Mississippi - 1.8 + 1.8 - 0.1 + 1.0 + 0.9

Appalachian Mississippi - 2.2 + 2.2 - 0.3 + 1.6 + 1.1

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 1.7 + 1.7 + 0.1 + 0.9 + 0.7

New York - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.3 + 0.1 + 1.8

Appalachian New York - 0.8 + 0.8 - 0.3 + 0.5 + 0.6

Non-Appalachian New York - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.4 + 0.1 + 1.8

North Carolina - 1.3 + 1.3 - 1.3 + 0.5 + 2.1

Appalachian North Carolina - 1.1 + 1.1 - 1.4 + 0.7 + 1.8

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 1.3 + 1.3 - 1.3 + 0.5 + 2.1

Ohio - 0.7 + 0.7 - 1.9 + 0.9 + 1.7

Appalachian Ohio - 0.7 + 0.7 - 2.0 + 1.7 + 1.1

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 0.8 + 0.8 - 1.8 + 0.7 + 1.8

Pennsylvania - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.9 + 0.5 + 2.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 0.6 + 0.6 - 2.3 + 0.8 + 2.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 0.6 + 0.6 - 1.5 + 0.4 + 1.7

South Carolina - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.5 + 0.6 + 1.6

Appalachian South Carolina - 1.9 + 1.9 - 0.3 + 0.5 + 1.7

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 1.6 + 1.6 - 0.6 + 0.6 + 1.6

Tennessee - 2.0 + 2.0 - 0.6 + 0.5 + 2.1

Appalachian Tennessee - 2.5 + 2.5 + 0.4 + 0.9 + 1.2

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 1.7 + 1.7 - 1.3 + 0.4 + 2.6

Virginia - 1.7 + 1.7 - 1.2 + 0.6 + 2.3

Appalachian Virginia - 3.5 + 3.5 + 0.9 + 0.2 + 2.4

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 1.5 + 1.5 - 1.2 + 0.6 + 2.1

West Virginia (entire state) - 2.0 + 2.0 - 0.8 + 0.9 + 1.9

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
47

Table 5.6: Percentage Point Change in Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the 

Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Education (Highest Level Attained) 

Percentage Point Change in Share 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 - 5.3 + 5.3 + 0.1 + 1.2 + 4.0

Appalachian Region - 7.4 + 7.4 + 2.6 + 1.3 + 3.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 6.5 + 6.5 + 1.6 + 1.3 + 3.5

North Central Appalachia - 7.5 + 7.5 + 3.6 + 1.2 + 2.6

Central Appalachia - 9.9 + 9.9 + 6.6 + 0.8 + 2.5

South Central Appalachia - 7.7 + 7.7 + 3.2 + 1.3 + 3.2

Southern Appalachia - 8.2 + 8.2 + 3.0 + 1.4 + 3.8

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 7.0 + 7.0 + 1.2 + 1.5 + 4.3

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 7.0 + 7.0 + 2.1 + 1.3 + 3.6

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 7.2 + 7.2 + 2.8 + 1.4 + 3.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 8.0 + 8.0 + 4.2 + 1.3 + 2.5

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 8.9 + 8.9 + 5.2 + 1.1 + 2.7

Alabama - 8.2 + 8.2 + 3.0 + 1.4 + 3.8

Appalachian Alabama - 8.6 + 8.6 + 3.3 + 1.5 + 3.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 7.5 + 7.5 + 2.5 + 1.1 + 3.9

Georgia - 7.2 + 7.2 + 2.2 + 0.9 + 4.2

Appalachian Georgia - 8.1 + 8.1 + 2.8 + 1.2 + 4.0

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 6.9 + 6.9 + 1.9 + 0.8 + 4.2

Kentucky - 9.0 + 9.0 + 4.2 + 1.1 + 3.7

Appalachian Kentucky - 10.4 + 10.4 + 7.0 + 0.9 + 2.4

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 8.2 + 8.2 + 3.0 + 1.2 + 4.1

Maryland - 6.0 + 6.0 + 0.5 + 0.7 + 4.7

Appalachian Maryland - 9.1 + 9.1 + 5.7 + 0.9 + 2.3

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 5.8 + 5.8 + 0.3 + 0.7 + 4.8

Mississippi - 7.4 + 7.4 + 3.2 + 1.1 + 3.1

Appalachian Mississippi - 8.3 + 8.3 + 4.4 + 1.5 + 2.6

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 7.1 + 7.1 + 2.8 + 1.0 + 3.2

New York - 4.1 + 4.1 - 1.1 + 1.3 + 3.9

Appalachian New York - 4.7 + 4.7 - 1.3 + 1.8 + 4.3

Non-Appalachian New York - 4.0 + 4.0 - 1.1 + 1.3 + 3.8

North Carolina - 7.3 + 7.3 + 2.0 + 1.4 + 3.8

Appalachian North Carolina - 7.0 + 7.0 + 1.8 + 1.4 + 3.8

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 7.4 + 7.4 + 2.1 + 1.5 + 3.8

Ohio - 6.1 + 6.1 + 1.2 + 1.4 + 3.5

Appalachian Ohio - 7.1 + 7.1 + 2.8 + 1.5 + 2.9

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 5.7 + 5.7 + 0.9 + 1.3 + 3.6

Pennsylvania - 6.5 + 6.5 + 1.5 + 1.2 + 3.9

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 6.5 + 6.5 + 1.7 + 1.2 + 3.5

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 6.5 + 6.5 + 1.5 + 1.0 + 4.0

South Carolina - 7.3 + 7.3 + 2.4 + 1.3 + 3.5

Appalachian South Carolina - 7.3 + 7.3 + 2.0 + 1.2 + 4.0

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 7.3 + 7.3 + 2.7 + 1.4 + 3.3

Tennessee - 8.1 + 8.1 + 3.3 + 0.9 + 3.7

Appalachian Tennessee - 8.0 + 8.0 + 3.9 + 1.1 + 3.0

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 8.2 + 8.2 + 2.8 + 0.9 + 4.5

Virginia - 6.2 + 6.2 + 0.3 + 1.2 + 4.6

Appalachian Virginia - 9.4 + 9.4 + 4.9 + 2.0 + 2.5

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 5.5 + 5.5 - 0.3 + 1.1 + 4.7

West Virginia (entire state) - 7.8 + 7.8 + 4.3 + 0.9 + 2.6

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
48

Figure 5.7: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region 

With a High School Diploma or More, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Since the 2006-2010 period, the share of Appalachian adults who have completed high school or more has increased 

nearly three percentage points. This rise, which is close to a full percentage point above the national average, has 

continued a longstanding trend in the Region. And that increase has been even greater in some places: The share of 

adults with at least a high school diploma rose by more than four percentage points in the Appalachian counties of 

Kentucky and Virginia. In 94 Appalachian counties—mostly in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia—the 

share of adults with a high school diploma or more rose by at least five percentage points (almost three times the 

national average) between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. In two-thirds of these 94 counties, however, less than 80 

percent of adult residents have completed high school. 
49

Figure 5.8: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region 

With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Although the percentage of Appalachian adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is considerably lower than the 

national average, that share has been increasing. Both in Appalachia and nationwide, it was nearly two percentage 

points higher in 2011-2015 than it was in 2006-2010, suggesting a continued trend toward greater educational 

attainment among cohorts entering this age group. And in 166 of the Region’s 420 counties (scattered throughout the 

Region), the increased share matched or exceeded the national average. Conversely, the share of adults with at least 

a four-year degree either remained the same or decreased in 75 counties. While counties in the latter group were 

likewise spread throughout the Region, nearly three-fourths of them were outside metropolitan areas. 
50

Table 5.7: Bachelor’s Degree Field (First Major) for Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a 

Bachelor’s Degree or More, 2011-2015

Bachelor's Degree Field (First Major) 

Total 

Population 

Ages 25 and 

Over With a 

Bachelor's 

Degree or More,

2011-2015 

Percent of Population Ages 25 and Over With a Bachelor's Degree or More

Science and 

Engineering 

Science- and 

EngineeringRelated Fields Business Education

Arts, 

Humanities, 

and Other

United States 62,952,272 34.7 9.2 20.5 13.2 22.5

Appalachian Region 3,933,571 30.5 10.6 20.3 18.3 20.3

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,374,048 31.4 11.1 18.2 18.8 20.4

North Central Appalachia 322,719 28.5 12.4 18.6 21.1 19.6

Central Appalachia 175,614 26.0 11.9 16.0 27.6 18.4

South Central Appalachia 768,041 31.8 10.3 18.9 16.8 22.2

Southern Appalachia 1,293,149 29.9 9.5 24.3 16.8 19.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 1,210,960 31.6 10.0 23.8 14.5 20.0

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,759,266 31.9 10.6 19.5 17.2 20.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 250,293 26.3 11.5 17.5 24.8 20.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 441,729 27.7 11.4 17.5 24.0 19.4

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 271,323 25.7 10.9 16.7 27.1 19.6

Alabama 761,650 29.1 10.2 23.4 17.8 19.5

Appalachian Alabama 502,562 29.8 10.0 23.9 16.8 19.5

Non-Appalachian Alabama 259,088 27.8 10.7 22.5 19.6 19.4

Georgia 1,873,484 31.9 8.7 24.6 13.8 21.0

Appalachian Georgia 513,901 30.3 9.2 26.0 15.5 19.1

Non-Appalachian Georgia 1,359,583 32.6 8.5 24.1 13.1 21.7

Kentucky 658,944 29.2 11.1 19.9 17.6 22.1

Appalachian Kentucky 113,117 24.8 12.0 14.9 28.3 19.9

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 545,827 30.1 10.9 21.0 15.4 22.6

Maryland 1,522,970 40.9 8.4 18.3 10.3 22.0

Appalachian Maryland 33,493 32.7 9.4 17.6 19.1 21.1

Non-Appalachian Maryland 1,489,477 41.1 8.4 18.4 10.2 22.1

Mississippi 401,000 24.9 11.9 21.8 22.4 19.0

Appalachian Mississippi 71,075 23.0 10.9 20.8 26.8 18.6

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 329,925 25.4 12.2 22.0 21.4 19.1

New York 4,596,124 34.2 8.6 18.9 11.8 26.5

Appalachian New York 175,680 36.3 9.4 12.5 18.9 22.9

Non-Appalachian New York 4,420,444 34.1 8.6 19.2 11.6 26.7

North Carolina 1,866,765 34.0 9.1 20.4 13.8 22.8

Appalachian North Carolina 298,470 31.1 10.4 17.4 16.3 24.8

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,568,295 34.5 8.8 20.9 13.3 22.4

Ohio 2,040,028 30.7 10.5 21.6 16.7 20.4

Appalachian Ohio 233,102 25.5 13.1 19.0 23.4 19.0

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,806,926 31.4 10.2 21.9 15.9 20.6

Pennsylvania 2,522,037 33.2 10.2 19.8 15.6 21.2

Appalachian Pennsylvania 1,018,335 31.5 11.2 19.0 18.1 20.2

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 1,503,702 34.3 9.5 20.4 13.9 21.9

South Carolina 829,540 31.9 8.6 22.4 15.9 21.1

Appalachian South Carolina 205,611 31.8 8.9 22.3 16.4 20.6

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 623,929 32.0 8.6 22.5 15.7 21.3

Tennessee 1,092,276 29.9 9.9 22.7 15.7 21.8

Appalachian Tennessee 417,508 31.3 10.7 20.5 17.8 19.8

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 674,768 29.1 9.4 24.0 14.4 23.0

Virginia 2,022,217 40.4 7.4 19.0 10.0 23.2

Appalachian Virginia 102,044 35.2 9.3 16.4 17.5 21.6

Non-Appalachian Virginia 1,920,173 40.7 7.3 19.2 9.6 23.3

West Virginia (entire state) 248,673 28.5 12.4 18.9 21.0 19.2

Note: Examples of "Science- and Engineering-Related Fields" include nursing, architecture, and mathematics teacher education.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
51

Figure 5.9: Among Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor’s Degree or More, 

Percent Whose Bachelor’s Degree Field (First Major) Was Science and Engineering, 2011-2015

Among the 3.9 million adults in the Appalachian Region with a bachelor’s degree or more, 31 percent held a degree in 

the science and engineering field—slightly lower than the national share of 35 percent. But there was much variation 

within the Region. In 38 Appalachian counties, for example, the share of BA/BS holders with science and engineering 

degrees matched or exceeded the national average. Yet in another 58 counties in the Region, less than one-fifth of 

adult college graduates had a science and engineering degree. Science and engineering jobs are becoming 

increasingly important in keeping the United States competitive in the global economy. The field of science and 

engineering includes the following detailed fields and majors: computers, mathematics, and statistics; biological, 

agricultural, and environmental sciences; physical and related science; psychology; social sciences; and engineering.
52

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

• Since the 2006-2010 period, the share of Appalachian adults ages 25 and over with at least a high 

school diploma has risen nearly three percentage points, to 85 percent in 2011-2015 (see Tables 5.1 

and 5.4). The increase is a full percentage point greater than the national average, placing the 

Region’s high school completion prevalence almost equal to that of the country. Most of this increase 

is due to the rising share of adults attaining a bachelor’s degree or more.

• Within the Region, the high school completion prevalence increased the most in Central Appalachia 

(an improvement of 4.6 percentage points) and in Appalachia’s most rural counties (an increase of 

almost four points). With these improvements, the share of adults completing high school in these 

areas has surpassed 75 percent as of 2011-2015. The Appalachian sections of Kentucky and Virginia 

had the largest increases among the states—more than four percentage points each.

• The share of adults in the Region with at least a bachelor’s degree also has increased since 2006-

2010—in this case, by nearly two percentage points to 23 percent. The increase has been greatest in 

Northern, North Central, and South Central Appalachia, in metropolitan areas, and in the Appalachian 

portions of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. In Central Appalachia, the Region’s most rural 

counties, and in Appalachian Kentucky, the improvement has been smaller.

• The pattern of improvement among working-age adults ages 25 to 64 has been similar to that for all 

adults, except that the overall improvement was about 1.5 percentage points for both high school and 

college completion (see Table 5.5). Central Appalachia, Appalachian Kentucky and Virginia, and the 

Region’s most rural counties still had the greatest improvement in the share with at least a high 

school diploma. With the exception of Appalachian Virginia, these geographic areas (along with 

Appalachian New York) showed the smallest gains in the share with a bachelor’s degree.

• The greatest improvement since 2006-2010 has been among adults ages 65 and over. The share of 

older adults in Appalachia with at least a high school diploma has risen seven percentage points; the 

share with at least a bachelor’s degree has increased more than three points (see Table 5.6). 

Possible factors fueling this increase include both the influx of younger, more educated cohorts into 

the older ages, and the arrival of well-educated older adults moving into the Region upon retirement. 

Within Appalachia’s subregions, county types, and states, the patterns of improvement that were 

present among working-age adults generally held among older adults as well. (In Appalachian 

Kentucky, for example, the share of older adults with at least a high school diploma rose more than 

10 percentage points, while the share with a bachelor’s degree or more only increased a little more 

than two points.) 

• Even with the improvements cited above, however, it is important to note that regardless of age, the

prevalence of four-year college completion among adults remains well below the U.S. average in

many parts of the Region (see Tables 5.1 through 5.3). For example, the percentage of persons ages 

25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or more was at least 10 percentage points below the national 

share in the Appalachian sections of six states (Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Virginia, and 

West Virginia).
53

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, 2011-2015

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 166,221,336 128,628,176 77.4 93.1 6.9

Appalachian Region 13,249,550 9,633,971 72.7 93.1 6.9

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 4,334,729 3,272,321 75.5 93.9 6.1

North Central Appalachia 1,273,464 879,297 69.0 93.3 6.7

Central Appalachia 1,006,540 599,257 59.5 91.4 8.6

South Central Appalachia 2,459,887 1,793,358 72.9 93.0 7.0

Southern Appalachia 4,174,930 3,089,738 74.0 92.7 7.3

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 3,199,205 2,481,557 77.6 93.6 6.4

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 5,567,188 4,104,766 73.7 93.2 6.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,131,110 798,249 70.6 92.6 7.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,051,333 1,409,752 68.7 92.9 7.1

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,300,714 839,647 64.6 92.1 7.9

Alabama 2,509,959 1,792,354 71.4 92.5 7.5

Appalachian Alabama 1,627,075 1,168,048 71.8 92.8 7.2

Non-Appalachian Alabama 882,884 624,306 70.7 91.9 8.1

Georgia 5,279,820 3,987,643 75.5 92.1 7.9

Appalachian Georgia 1,611,190 1,235,977 76.7 92.8 7.2

Non-Appalachian Georgia 3,668,630 2,751,666 75.0 91.9 8.1

Kentucky 2,313,938 1,651,423 71.4 93.0 7.0

Appalachian Kentucky 620,439 371,248 59.8 91.1 8.9

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,693,499 1,280,175 75.6 93.5 6.5

Maryland 3,209,593 2,632,406 82.0 93.9 6.1

Appalachian Maryland 133,078 96,971 72.9 92.8 7.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,076,515 2,535,435 82.4 93.9 6.1

Mississippi 1,519,861 1,083,225 71.3 91.9 8.1

Appalachian Mississippi 312,902 220,846 70.6 92.0 8.0

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,206,959 862,379 71.5 91.9 8.1

New York 10,602,049 8,294,305 78.2 93.1 6.9

Appalachian New York 525,855 397,066 75.5 93.8 6.2

Non-Appalachian New York 10,076,194 7,897,239 78.4 93.1 6.9

North Carolina 5,131,946 3,920,330 76.4 92.3 7.7

Appalachian North Carolina 884,515 649,167 73.4 92.5 7.5

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 4,247,431 3,271,163 77.0 92.3 7.7

Ohio 6,063,678 4,684,078 77.2 93.3 6.7

Appalachian Ohio 1,051,525 750,560 71.4 92.9 7.1

Non-Appalachian Ohio 5,012,153 3,933,518 78.5 93.4 6.6

Pennsylvania 6,725,436 5,252,618 78.1 93.5 6.5

Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,024,256 2,302,627 76.1 94.0 6.0

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,701,180 2,949,991 79.7 93.1 6.9

South Carolina 2,467,956 1,840,389 74.6 92.2 7.8

Appalachian South Carolina 623,763 464,867 74.5 92.9 7.1

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,844,193 1,375,522 74.6 92.0 8.0

Tennessee 3,415,800 2,536,637 74.3 93.0 7.0

Appalachian Tennessee 1,468,452 1,050,339 71.5 92.9 7.1

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,947,348 1,486,298 76.3 93.1 6.9

Virginia 4,392,879 3,488,677 79.4 94.8 5.2

Appalachian Virginia 388,393 266,174 68.5 93.7 6.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia 4,004,486 3,222,503 80.5 94.9 5.1

West Virginia (entire state) 978,107 660,081 67.5 93.5 6.5

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
54

Figure 6.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are In the Labor Force, 2011-2015

In the 2011-2015 period, 73 percent of Appalachia’s civilian population in the prime working ages (ages 25 to 64) were in 

the civilian labor force, slightly below the U.S. average of 77 percent. In 34 Appalachian counties (26 of which were in 

metropolitan areas), the share was at or above the national average, yet there were 55 counties where less than 60 

percent of 25-to-64-year-olds were in the civilian labor force. Nearly all the counties in the latter group were outside of 

metropolitan areas, and 41 were in Central Appalachia. Indeed, just 60 percent of working-age residents in Central 

Appalachia and 65 percent of those in the most isolated 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 29 of the 34 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 also matched or exceeded the U.S. average. 
55

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

2011-2015

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

national rate during the 2011-2015 period. Although there were only slight differences among subregions and 

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

employment rate matched or exceeded the national average, with 41 counties having employment rates of 95 percent

or greater. (Two states, Pennsylvania and Virginia, accounted for 21 of those 41 counties.) Yet in 54 counties in the 

Region (48 of which were in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia), employment among 25-to-64-yearolds was less than 90 percent, which suggests that these areas may not have fully recovered economically from the 

recent recession. Four-fifths of the counties in the latter group were outside metropolitan areas.
56

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

Region, 2011-2015

Unemployment in the Appalachian Region among persons ages 25 to 64 matched the national average of 6.9 percent 

during the 2011-2015 period. Within Appalachia, the jobless rate was at least 10 percent in 54 counties—42 of which 

were outside metropolitan areas and 48 of which were in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. Conversely, 

the unemployment rate was less than 5 percent in 39 other counties, with 29 of these located in New York, 

Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia—the states whose Appalachian sections had the lowest jobless levels. (All of 

West Virginia lies in Appalachia.) There are indications of a connection between unemployment and educational 

attainment: In 52 of the 54 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 27 of these counties, the share was less than four-fifths.
57

Table 6.2: Percentage Point Change in Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Status of Persons 

Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Labor Force, Employment, and

Unemployment 

Percentage Point Change

Labor Force 

Participation Rate 

Employment Rate 

(Pct. of Civ. Labor 

Force) 

Unemployment Rate 

(Pct. of Civ. Labor 

Force)

United States - 0.6 - 0.5 + 0.5

Appalachian Region - 1.1 - 0.4 + 0.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 0.7 - 0.1 + 0.1

North Central Appalachia - 1.1 - 0.3 + 0.3

Central Appalachia - 1.4 - 1.3 + 1.3

South Central Appalachia - 1.6 - 0.2 + 0.2

Southern Appalachia - 1.4 - 0.4 + 0.4

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 0.6 - 0.1 + 0.1

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 1.1 - 0.5 + 0.5

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 2.1 - 0.2 + 0.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 2.0 - 0.2 + 0.2

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 1.1 - 0.8 + 0.8

Alabama - 1.6 - 0.8 + 0.8

Appalachian Alabama - 1.6 - 0.6 + 0.6

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 1.5 - 1.1 + 1.1

Georgia - 1.5 - 0.8 + 0.8

Appalachian Georgia - 1.6 - 0.4 + 0.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 1.5 - 0.9 + 0.9

Kentucky - 0.6 - 0.3 + 0.3

Appalachian Kentucky - 1.4 - 1.3 + 1.3

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 0.6 - 0.1 + 0.1

Maryland - 0.3 - 1.0 + 1.0

Appalachian Maryland - 1.3 - 1.5 + 1.5

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 0.3 - 1.1 + 1.1

Mississippi - 0.9 - 0.9 + 0.9

Appalachian Mississippi - 0.6 + 0.0 + 0.0

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 0.9 - 1.1 + 1.1

New York + 0.2 - 0.8 + 0.8

Appalachian New York - 1.8 - 0.4 + 0.4

Non-Appalachian New York + 0.3 - 0.8 + 0.8

North Carolina - 1.0 - 0.5 + 0.5

Appalachian North Carolina - 2.2 - 0.6 + 0.6

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 0.8 - 0.5 + 0.5

Ohio - 1.1 + 0.3 - 0.3

Appalachian Ohio - 1.3 + 0.6 - 0.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 1.0 + 0.3 - 0.3

Pennsylvania - 0.2 - 0.7 + 0.7

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 0.4 - 0.3 + 0.3

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 0.1 - 1.1 + 1.1

South Carolina - 0.8 - 0.2 + 0.2

Appalachian South Carolina - 0.9 + 0.4 - 0.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 0.9 - 0.4 + 0.4

Tennessee - 1.0 + 0.0 + 0.0

Appalachian Tennessee - 1.3 - 0.1 + 0.1

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 0.9 + 0.2 - 0.2

Virginia + 0.0 - 0.7 + 0.7

Appalachian Virginia - 1.1 - 0.3 + 0.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia + 0.1 - 0.7 + 0.7

West Virginia (entire state) - 0.7 - 0.9 + 0.9

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
58

Figure 6.4: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 25 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who 

Are In the Labor Force, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, the labor force participation rate among civilians ages 25 to 64 fell by just over a full 

percentage point in the Appalachian Region, compared with 0.6 percentage points for the nation as a whole. The decline 

was present in most of the Region—two in three Appalachian counties had labor force rate decreases greater than or 

equal to the U.S. average. And in 47 counties (mostly in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia), the labor 

force participation rate among working-age adults was at least five percentage points lower than in 2006-2010. But 

participation rates did increase in some parts of Appalachia; in fact, there were 39 counties in the Region where the 

share of adults in the labor force rose by at least two percentage points. More than half of the counties in this latter group 

were in three states—Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. 
59

Figure 6.5: Percentage Point Change in the Unemployment Rate for Civilian Labor Force Participants Ages 25 

to 64 in the Appalachian Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Unemployment among civilian labor force participants rose by about half a percentage point between 2006-2010 and 

2011-2015, both in Appalachia and nationwide. Indeed, the unemployment rate rose by at least 0.5 percentage points in 

nearly half of the Region’s 420 counties, and by at least two points in 89 of them. (Most of these counties were in North 

Central, Central, and Southern Appalachia.) Given that the 2006-2010 period includes years prior to the “Great 

Recession” of 2007-2009, and that the 2011-2015 period covers the recession’s aftermath, this suggests that 

employment has not yet fully recovered from the economic downturn. There were some pockets of recovery, however: In 

85 Appalachian counties, the unemployment rate in 2011-2015 was at least a full percentage point lower than it was in 

2006-2010. 
60

TRENDS IN LABOR FORCE, EMPLOYMENT, AND UNEMPLOYMENT

• Among working-age adults (ages 25 to 64), Appalachia’s labor force participation rate in 2011-2015

was nearly 73 percent, more than a full percentage point lower than its rate in 2006-2010 (see Tables 

6.1 and 6.2). The decline was even greater in South Central Appalachia (where the labor force 

participation rate fell 1.6 percentage points) and nonmetropolitan counties bordering metro areas 

(where the rates fell two percentage points).

• Within the civilian labor force, the employment rate in Appalachia was slightly more than 93 percent, 

which was about half a percentage point lower than the employment rate in 2006-2010. Among the 

subregions, the size of the decline was similar—ranging from a negligible dip in Northern Appalachia 

to a 1.3 percentage point decline in Central Appalachia. Elsewhere in the Region, the employment 

rate fell nearly a full percentage point (0.8 points) among the most rural Appalachian counties. The 

greatest variation was among the states: Employment increased slightly in Appalachian Ohio and 

South Carolina, stayed the same in Mississippi, and fell by more than a full percentage point in both 

Kentucky’s and Maryland’s Appalachian counties.

• As Appalachia’s employment rate fell between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, its unemployment rate 

rose. The Region’s unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in the later period is nearly half a percentage 

point above its rate from the earlier period.

• The lower labor force and employment rates in 2011-2015 for both Appalachia and the United States 

(and thus the higher unemployment rates) suggest that labor force and employment levels may not 

yet have rebounded from the economic downturn of 2007-2009.
61

CHAPTER 7: INCOME AND POVERTY 

Table 7.1: Household, Family, and Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015

Income 

Household Income, 2011-2015

(2015 Dollars)

Family Income, 2011-2015

(2015 Dollars) Per Capita 

Income,

2011-2015

(2015 Dollars) 

Mean HH 

Income 

Median HH 

Income 

Mean Family 

Income 

Median Family 

Income 

United States 75,558 53,889 88,153 66,011 28,930

Appalachian Region 60,525 44,744 71,740 56,520 24,302

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 63,137 47,883 76,100 61,182 26,053

North Central Appalachia 57,621 43,063 68,397 54,767 23,408

Central Appalachia 47,534 34,105 56,075 43,584 19,216

South Central Appalachia 57,709 41,843 68,862 53,267 23,838

Southern Appalachia 63,620 47,152 73,861 57,633 24,235

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 72,032 54,385 84,862 67,337 28,244

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 61,240 45,355 73,266 57,830 24,774

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 54,110 41,259 63,683 51,638 21,640

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 52,776 39,974 61,919 49,976 21,495

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 48,884 35,908 57,741 45,541 19,759

Alabama 60,511 43,623 71,994 55,341 24,091

Appalachian Alabama 62,309 44,985 73,901 57,062 24,815

Non-Appalachian Alabama 57,271 41,586 68,461 53,280 22,805

Georgia 69,010 49,620 79,648 59,410 25,737

Appalachian Georgia 69,185 53,182 77,557 61,256 24,609

Non-Appalachian Georgia 68,939 48,139 80,625 58,664 26,231

Kentucky 60,031 43,740 71,153 55,367 24,063

Appalachian Kentucky 46,798 33,492 55,167 42,901 18,783

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 64,871 48,225 77,249 61,035 25,996

Maryland 97,801 74,551 113,668 90,089 36,897

Appalachian Maryland 64,921 49,806 76,819 62,511 25,294

Non-Appalachian Maryland 99,330 76,164 115,349 92,143 37,414

Mississippi 54,906 39,665 64,296 49,274 21,057

Appalachian Mississippi 49,865 36,449 58,573 45,634 19,607

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 56,301 40,655 65,877 50,422 21,444

New York 86,825 59,269 100,948 71,913 33,236

Appalachian New York 61,364 47,101 74,114 60,620 24,920

Non-Appalachian New York 88,379 60,354 102,530 73,068 33,708

North Carolina 65,338 46,868 77,040 57,856 25,920

Appalachian North Carolina 56,723 41,327 67,714 52,498 23,589

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 67,266 48,392 79,076 59,445 26,413

Ohio 66,409 49,429 79,891 62,817 26,953

Appalachian Ohio 56,503 43,411 66,729 54,997 22,744

Non-Appalachian Ohio 68,479 50,909 82,776 65,309 27,844

Pennsylvania 73,175 53,599 87,959 68,158 29,291

Appalachian Pennsylvania 65,013 49,160 78,619 62,961 26,959

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 80,401 58,761 96,034 73,927 31,212

South Carolina 61,987 45,483 72,700 56,343 24,604

Appalachian South Carolina 61,520 45,180 72,563 57,070 24,218

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 62,146 45,626 72,747 56,541 24,735

Tennessee 63,339 45,219 74,677 56,110 25,227

Appalachian Tennessee 57,634 41,411 68,285 52,467 23,613

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 68,006 48,902 79,935 59,976 26,469

Virginia 88,955 65,015 102,966 78,390 34,152

Appalachian Virginia 54,352 39,769 65,795 51,708 22,611

Non-Appalachian Virginia 92,803 69,178 106,943 82,833 35,328

West Virginia (entire state) 56,425 41,751 67,421 52,866 23,450

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
62

Figure 7.1: Mean Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015

In the 2011-2015 period, the mean income of Appalachian households was $60,525, just 80 percent of the U.S. 

average ($75,558). In just 10 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 65 other counties (49 of which were in 

metros), mean household income matched or surpassed the Appalachian average. In contrast, mean household

income was less than $45,000 in 66 counties—60 of which were outside metro areas, and 40 of which were in Central 

Appalachia (32 in Kentucky alone). 
63

Figure 7.2: Median Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015

At $44,744, median household income in Appalachia (the level at which half the households have higher incomes and 

the other half have lower incomes) was 83 percent that of the United States ($53,889) during the 2011-2015 period. 

There were 21 counties in the Region (all of which were in metropolitan areas) that had household incomes at or 

above the national median, while another 77 had incomes at or above the regional median. On the other hand, 97 

counties in the Region had median household incomes below $35,000—87 of which were outside metro areas and 53 

of which were in Central Appalachia. This distribution is not surprising: median household income was $35,908 for the 

most rural counties and $34,105 for Central Appalachia. It is useful to note that the income levels displayed here 

reflect income received in the years following the end of the 2007-2009 economic downturn.
64

Figure 7.3: Mean Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015

In just 15 Appalachian counties (all but one of which were in metropolitan areas), the average income of families

matched or surpassed the U.S. mean of $88,153 for the 2011-2015 period. And there were only an additional 56 

counties (44 of which were part of metro areas) where mean family income was equal to or greater than the average for 

the Appalachian Region ($71,740). In contrast, mean family income was less than $55,000 in 100 Appalachian counties. 

All but 11 of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, while more than half were in Central Appalachia and 38 

were in Kentucky alone. Overall, mean family income over the 2011-2015 period was less than $64,000 for each of the 

three nonmetro county types, just $56,075 for Central Appalachia, and $55,167 for Appalachian Kentucky.
65

Figure 7.4: Median Family Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015

In 25 Appalachian counties—all of which were in metro areas—median family income (the level where half of all 

families have higher incomes while the other half have lower incomes) matched or exceeded the U.S. median of 

$66,011 during the 2011-2015 period. In another 67 counties (41 of which were in metros), median income was at or 

above the median for families in the Appalachian Region ($56,520). In contrast, median family income was less than 

$45,000 in 115 counties. Of the counties in this latter group, almost half were rural counties not adjacent to a metro 

area (median family income in those counties as a whole was $45,541), and 38 were in Appalachian Kentucky (where 

median family income was $42,901). It is important to note that the 2011-2015 period covers a period of relatively 

slow economic recovery following the recession of 2007-2009.
66

Figure 7.5: Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015 Dollars), 2011-2015

At $24,302, per capita income in the Appalachian Region was 84 percent that of the U.S. average of $28,930 during 

the 2011-2015 period. And there was considerable variation within the Region. Per capita income was the same or 

higher than the national average in 15 Appalachian counties, including Pittsburgh, suburban Atlanta, and Clermont 

County, Ohio (which is part of metropolitan Cincinnati). In 63 other counties, per capita income was at or above the 

regional average; while nearly half of these were in Northern Appalachia, there were pockets in the South Central and 

Southern subregions. Yet in 142 Appalachian counties, per capita income was less than $20,000. As with other 

income measures, most of the counties with the highest per capita incomes were in metro areas, while the ones with 

the lowest were disproportionately in rural areas, particularly in Central Appalachia. Indeed, per capita income in 

2011-2015 was only $19,759 in the most rural Appalachian counties as a whole, and just $19,216 in Central 

Appalachia.
67

Table 7.2: Change in Household, Family, and Per Capita Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015

Dollars), 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Income 

Percent Change in Household 

Income (In 2015 Dollars)

Percent Change in Family 

Income (in 2015 Dollars)

Percent 

Change in Per 

Capita Income 

(In 2015 

Dollars) 

Mean HH 

Income 

Median HH 

Income 

Mean Family 

Income 

Median Family 

Income 

United States - 1.9 - 4.5 - 1.6 - 3.6 - 2.6

Appalachian Region - 1.4 - 3.2 - 1.1 - 2.3 - 1.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia + 1.2 + 0.1 + 1.9 + 0.8 + 2.2

North Central Appalachia + 0.6 - 1.2 + 0.8 - 0.2 + 0.8

Central Appalachia - 1.0 - 2.8 - 0.8 - 2.1 - 0.8

South Central Appalachia - 2.7 - 5.0 - 2.5 - 4.1 - 3.1

Southern Appalachia - 4.1 - 5.3 - 4.0 - 5.1 - 4.9

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 2.1 - 2.9 - 2.0 - 2.6 - 2.5

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 1.8 - 3.6 - 1.3 - 2.9 - 2.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 0.6 - 3.0 + 0.1 - 1.5 + 0.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 0.2 - 2.3 - 0.3 - 1.9 + 1.8

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 1.6 - 1.5 - 1.5 - 1.5 - 1.6

Alabama - 3.5 - 4.6 - 3.0 - 3.7 - 3.6

Appalachian Alabama - 3.8 - 4.9 - 3.6 - 4.1 - 4.0

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 2.8 - 3.9 - 1.9 - 2.1 - 2.7

Georgia - 4.7 - 7.5 - 4.5 - 7.0 - 5.8

Appalachian Georgia - 5.4 - 7.2 - 5.1 - 7.1 - 6.8

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 4.4 - 7.7 - 4.2 - 7.1 - 5.4

Kentucky - 1.4 - 3.2 - 1.1 - 2.1 - 1.7

Appalachian Kentucky - 2.7 - 2.3 - 2.8 - 1.4 - 2.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 1.1 - 2.6 - 0.7 - 2.0 - 1.9

Maryland - 1.6 - 2.9 - 2.0 - 2.6 - 2.6

Appalachian Maryland - 3.1 - 4.0 - 3.2 - 4.4 - 5.2

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 1.6 - 2.8 - 2.0 - 2.7 - 2.6

Mississippi - 3.8 - 3.7 - 3.1 - 3.6 - 3.0

Appalachian Mississippi - 1.5 - 1.0 - 1.6 - 1.9 - 0.9

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 4.3 - 4.9 - 3.5 - 4.3 - 3.6

New York - 0.6 - 1.9 - 0.3 - 1.9 - 1.2

Appalachian New York - 0.6 - 2.8 + 0.7 + 0.0 - 0.5

Non-Appalachian New York - 0.7 - 2.6 - 0.4 - 2.2 - 1.3

North Carolina - 2.7 - 5.4 - 2.4 - 5.2 - 3.6

Appalachian North Carolina - 4.9 - 6.8 - 4.6 - 6.5 - 5.4

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 2.4 - 4.9 - 2.1 - 4.9 - 3.4

Ohio - 1.8 - 4.0 - 0.9 - 3.2 - 1.3

Appalachian Ohio - 1.0 - 2.6 - 0.2 - 0.6 - 0.2

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 2.0 - 4.3 - 1.1 - 3.1 - 1.5

Pennsylvania + 0.0 - 2.2 + 0.3 - 1.1 - 0.4

Appalachian Pennsylvania + 2.0 + 1.3 + 2.5 + 1.7 + 3.4

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.4 - 4.2 - 1.5 - 3.8 - 2.4

South Carolina - 3.3 - 4.8 - 3.3 - 4.4 - 3.5

Appalachian South Carolina - 3.4 - 5.0 - 3.7 - 4.4 - 4.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 3.2 - 4.7 - 3.2 - 4.2 - 3.1

Tennessee - 1.6 - 4.0 - 1.5 - 3.1 - 2.2

Appalachian Tennessee - 1.7 - 4.3 - 1.9 - 3.1 - 2.4

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 1.7 - 3.2 - 1.3 - 3.4 - 2.1

Virginia - 0.9 - 2.6 - 1.0 - 1.9 - 2.3

Appalachian Virginia + 1.7 - 2.8 + 3.4 - 0.4 + 2.0

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 1.3 - 2.6 - 1.6 - 2.2 - 2.8

West Virginia (entire state) + 1.6 + 0.1 + 2.0 - 0.5 + 1.6

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
68

Figure 7.6: Percent Change in Median Household Income in the Appalachian Region (In Adjusted 2015

Dollars), 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Adjusting for inflation, the median income for Appalachian households (the level where half of all households have higher 

incomes while the other half have lower incomes) was 3 percent lower in 2011-2015 than it was in 2006-2010, 

suggesting that incomes have not yet fully recovered from the recent economic downturn. While the decline was not 

as steep in Appalachia as in the nation as a whole, that was not the case in much of the Region: In 170 counties, real 

median household income fell at or above the national rate; the decline was at least 10 percent in 52 counties. Most of

the counties with the sharpest declines were in South Central or Southern Appalachia. On a brighter note, however, 

there were 143 Appalachian counties where median household income actually rose between 2006-2010 and 2011-

2015. While half of these counties were in Northern and North Central Appalachia, the rest were scattered throughout 

the Region.
69

Table 7.3: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2011-2015

Poverty Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

United States 47,749,043 15,760,766 27,929,918 7,070,659 20,859,259 4,058,359

Appalachian Region 4,219,279 1,324,825 2,511,394 608,124 1,903,270 383,060

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,163,596 352,630 697,371 187,809 509,562 113,595

North Central Appalachia 421,638 123,614 262,165 64,899 197,266 35,859

Central Appalachia 449,533 135,257 269,905 49,056 220,849 44,371

South Central Appalachia 849,493 252,981 515,551 134,027 381,524 80,961

Southern Appalachia 1,335,019 460,343 766,402 172,333 594,069 108,274

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 799,903 264,161 466,119 103,087 363,032 69,623

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,751,722 542,909 1,059,361 285,578 773,783 149,452

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 407,752 130,303 241,210 58,682 182,528 36,239

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 708,138 220,938 413,459 84,788 328,671 73,741

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 551,764 166,514 331,245 75,989 255,256 54,005

Alabama 887,260 299,077 513,170 125,712 387,458 75,013

Appalachian Alabama 531,115 179,414 306,396 69,696 236,700 45,305

Non-Appalachian Alabama 356,145 119,663 206,774 56,016 150,758 29,708

Georgia 1,788,947 638,884 1,027,361 248,226 779,135 122,702

Appalachian Georgia 461,383 166,180 261,450 50,253 211,197 33,753

Non-Appalachian Georgia 1,327,564 472,704 765,911 197,973 567,938 88,949

Kentucky 805,841 259,193 476,074 109,806 366,268 70,574

Appalachian Kentucky 293,236 88,048 176,376 34,029 142,347 28,812

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 512,605 171,145 299,698 75,777 223,921 41,762

Maryland 576,805 176,322 343,050 81,655 261,395 57,433

Appalachian Maryland 33,636 10,730 19,453 4,871 14,582 3,453

Non-Appalachian Maryland 543,169 165,592 323,597 76,784 246,813 53,980

Mississippi 651,545 230,604 365,966 90,006 275,960 54,975

Appalachian Mississippi 139,237 47,339 79,652 22,490 57,162 12,246

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 512,308 183,265 286,314 67,516 218,798 42,729

New York 3,005,943 929,921 1,762,879 402,037 1,360,842 313,143

Appalachian New York 168,049 48,111 107,116 35,398 71,718 12,822

Non-Appalachian New York 2,837,894 881,810 1,655,763 366,639 1,289,124 300,321

North Carolina 1,667,465 557,005 976,882 245,865 731,017 133,578

Appalachian North Carolina 313,335 96,311 187,299 45,648 141,651 29,725

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,354,130 460,694 789,583 200,217 589,366 103,853

Ohio 1,775,836 595,193 1,046,761 264,287 782,474 133,882

Appalachian Ohio 348,278 114,968 204,657 44,414 160,243 28,653

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,427,558 480,225 842,104 219,873 622,231 105,229

Pennsylvania 1,666,569 515,473 988,026 254,485 733,541 163,070

Appalachian Pennsylvania 757,187 222,998 454,490 124,712 329,778 79,699

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 909,382 292,475 533,536 129,773 403,763 83,371

South Carolina 830,901 279,791 481,367 117,900 363,467 69,743

Appalachian South Carolina 203,284 67,410 118,904 29,894 89,010 16,970

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 627,617 212,381 362,463 88,006 274,457 52,773

Tennessee 1,117,594 375,770 649,164 152,471 496,693 92,660

Appalachian Tennessee 508,665 155,369 304,311 69,825 234,486 48,985

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 608,929 220,401 344,853 82,646 262,207 43,675

Virginia 921,822 280,144 560,471 154,795 405,676 81,207

Appalachian Virginia 138,490 34,510 89,700 29,395 60,305 14,280

Non-Appalachian Virginia 783,332 245,634 470,771 125,400 345,371 66,927

West Virginia (entire state) 323,384 93,437 201,590 47,499 154,091 28,357

Note: Poverty status is determined by a series of income thresholds that are determined by family size and composition. In 2015, the poverty 

threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $24,036. 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, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
70

Table 7.4: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age Group, 2011-2015

Poverty Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

United States 15.5 21.7 14.5 25.1 12.7 9.4

Appalachian Region 17.1 24.4 16.5 28.3 14.6 9.5

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 14.5 21.4 14.1 27.3 12.0 8.0

North Central Appalachia 18.0 24.5 18.0 31.8 15.8 9.3

Central Appalachia 24.4 33.4 23.8 32.2 22.5 14.7

South Central Appalachia 18.3 25.9 18.1 32.9 15.7 9.8

Southern Appalachia 17.1 24.2 15.9 24.8 14.4 10.1

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 13.7 19.4 12.7 21.4 11.4 8.4

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 16.9 24.1 16.5 30.0 14.1 8.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 19.2 27.7 18.7 31.3 16.5 10.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 18.4 26.9 17.8 27.2 16.4 10.4

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 22.6 31.2 22.3 35.4 20.1 12.8

Alabama 18.8 27.3 17.6 28.9 15.6 10.7

Appalachian Alabama 17.6 25.8 16.4 26.0 14.7 10.1

Non-Appalachian Alabama 21.0 29.7 19.9 33.7 17.2 11.8

Georgia 18.4 26.0 16.8 27.5 14.9 10.6

Appalachian Georgia 15.4 21.1 14.1 19.4 13.2 9.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia 19.7 28.3 18.0 30.7 15.7 11.1

Kentucky 18.9 26.1 17.9 29.0 16.1 11.6

Appalachian Kentucky 25.8 34.3 25.1 34.9 23.5 16.2

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 16.4 23.2 15.3 27.0 13.4 9.7

Maryland 10.0 13.3 9.3 16.3 8.2 7.5

Appalachian Maryland 14.3 21.0 13.5 23.4 11.8 8.6

Non-Appalachian Maryland 9.8 13.0 9.1 16.0 8.0 7.4

Mississippi 22.5 31.8 20.7 32.9 18.5 13.7

Appalachian Mississippi 22.8 32.0 21.5 36.7 18.4 13.3

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 22.5 31.8 20.5 31.8 18.5 13.8

New York 15.7 22.2 14.4 23.0 12.9 11.5

Appalachian New York 16.8 23.2 17.3 35.3 13.8 7.5

Non-Appalachian New York 15.6 22.2 14.2 22.2 12.9 11.8

North Carolina 17.4 24.7 16.3 28.6 14.3 9.8

Appalachian North Carolina 18.7 27.5 18.4 32.7 16.2 9.7

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 17.1 24.2 15.9 27.8 13.9 9.9

Ohio 15.8 22.8 15.0 27.0 13.1 8.0

Appalachian Ohio 17.8 26.1 17.2 27.1 15.6 8.8

Non-Appalachian Ohio 15.3 22.1 14.6 27.0 12.5 7.8

Pennsylvania 13.5 19.2 12.9 24.3 11.1 8.1

Appalachian Pennsylvania 13.6 19.8 13.3 26.6 11.1 8.0

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 13.3 18.8 12.5 22.4 11.0 8.3

South Carolina 17.9 26.3 16.8 28.2 14.9 9.8

Appalachian South Carolina 17.3 24.6 16.4 28.3 14.4 9.6

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 18.1 26.9 17.0 28.1 15.0 9.9

Tennessee 17.6 25.6 16.4 27.0 14.7 10.0

Appalachian Tennessee 18.5 26.3 18.0 29.5 16.1 10.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 17.0 25.1 15.3 25.2 13.6 9.8

Virginia 11.5 15.2 11.0 22.1 9.2 7.6

Appalachian Virginia 19.0 24.2 19.8 40.9 15.9 10.5

Non-Appalachian Virginia 10.8 14.5 10.1 20.0 8.6 7.1

West Virginia (entire state) 18.0 25.1 18.1 31.2 16.0 9.1

Note: Poverty status is determined by a series of income thresholds that are determined by family size and composition. In 2015, the poverty 

threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $24,036. 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, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
71

Figure 7.7: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015

Over the 2011-2015 period, 17 percent of Appalachian residents lived below the poverty level (income below $24,036

for a family of two adults and two children in 2015)—close to two percentage points above the U.S. average. But there 

is a great deal of variation within the Region: In 174 counties, at least 20 percent of persons were poor, yet in another 

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

pattern: Four-fifths of the counties with poverty rates at or above 20 percent were outside metropolitan areas, and

they were overwhelmingly in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. In contrast, the counties where 

poverty stood below the U.S. rate were mostly in Northern Appalachia and in metropolitan areas. 
72

Figure 7.8: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015

Child poverty in the Appalachian Region exceeded 24 percent in 2011-2015—nearly three percentage points above 

the national rate. And the problem is even more acute in some parts of Appalachia. In 154 counties, at least 30 

percent of children under age 18 lived below the poverty level (income below $24,036 for a family of two adults and 

two children in 2015). These counties were primarily outside metropolitan areas, and many were in the most isolated 

rural areas. Central Appalachia was home to 61 of the counties with the highest poverty rates, while most of the rest 

were in South Central and Southern Appalachia. However, there were 103 counties (primarily in Northern Appalachia 

and in metropolitan areas) where child poverty rates were below the national average. Indeed, 15 of the 19

Appalachian counties where child poverty was less than 15 percent were in metro areas, and eight were in Northern 

Appalachia. 
73

Figure 7.9: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015

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 2011-2015 period. Nearly 17 percent of Appalachian residents in this age group

were below poverty (income of less than $24,036 for a family of two adults and two children in 2015), 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 149 counties where at least one in five 18-to-64-year-olds was poor, 125 

were outside metropolitan areas; 127 were in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia; and 46 were in 

Kentucky alone. Conversely, all but a handful of the counties with rates below the national average were either in 

metro areas or in Northern Appalachia. 
74

Figure 7.10: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 2011-2015

The poverty rate for older residents of Appalachia was just under 10 percent in 2011-2015, only slightly above the 

national average. Yet the rate was actually lower than the national average in 154 counties, almost half of which were 

in Northern Appalachia alone. But as with other age groups, poverty was especially prevalent among the senior 

population in Appalachian Kentucky, where nearly one in six older residents was poor in 2011-2015. Moreover, the 

state had more than half of Appalachia’s 71 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 in 2015 was 

$14,326 for a family of two adults headed by someone age 65 and over.) 
75

Table 7.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, by Age 

Group, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Poverty Status 

Percentage Point Change in Share of Persons in Poverty

All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

United States + 1.7 + 2.5 + 1.9 + 1.8 + 2.0 - 0.1

Appalachian Region + 1.5 + 2.9 + 1.8 + 1.2 + 1.9 - 1.0

Subregions

Northern Appalachia + 1.0 + 2.1 + 1.3 + 0.7 + 1.4 - 0.6

North Central Appalachia + 1.0 + 1.4 + 1.6 + 0.5 + 1.8 - 1.1

Central Appalachia + 1.4 + 3.0 + 2.2 + 1.5 + 2.2 - 2.5

South Central Appalachia + 1.9 + 3.4 + 2.5 + 2.8 + 2.4 - 0.9

Southern Appalachia + 1.9 + 3.5 + 2.1 + 1.0 + 2.2 - 1.1

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) + 1.8 + 3.2 + 1.8 + 1.1 + 1.9 - 0.5

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) + 1.6 + 3.0 + 2.0 + 0.7 + 2.1 - 0.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros + 1.7 + 3.2 + 2.2 + 1.6 + 2.3 - 0.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros + 1.1 + 2.4 + 1.6 + 1.8 + 1.6 - 1.5

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) + 1.1 + 2.0 + 2.0 + 2.9 + 1.8 - 2.2

Alabama + 1.7 + 3.1 + 2.1 + 2.2 + 2.1 - 0.9

Appalachian Alabama + 1.8 + 3.8 + 1.9 + 1.1 + 2.0 - 0.8

Non-Appalachian Alabama + 1.5 + 1.6 + 2.5 + 4.0 + 2.1 - 1.1

Georgia + 2.7 + 4.5 + 2.9 + 2.2 + 2.9 - 1.2

Appalachian Georgia + 2.4 + 4.0 + 2.5 + 0.8 + 2.6 - 1.4

Non-Appalachian Georgia + 2.8 + 4.7 + 3.1 + 3.0 + 3.1 - 1.1

Kentucky + 1.2 + 1.8 + 1.7 + 0.9 + 1.8 - 1.1

Appalachian Kentucky + 1.4 + 2.2 + 2.2 + 2.1 + 2.1 - 2.4

Non-Appalachian Kentucky + 1.3 + 1.7 + 1.6 + 0.6 + 1.8 - 0.4

Maryland + 1.4 + 2.4 + 1.5 + 0.2 + 1.7 - 0.4

Appalachian Maryland + 2.5 + 5.2 + 2.4 + 3.3 + 2.2 - 0.6

Non-Appalachian Maryland + 1.4 + 2.3 + 1.4 + 0.1 + 1.6 - 0.4

Mississippi + 1.3 + 1.5 + 2.0 + 2.0 + 2.1 - 1.1

Appalachian Mississippi + 0.1 - 0.3 + 1.3 + 2.0 + 1.0 - 3.1

Non-Appalachian Mississippi + 1.7 + 2.0 + 2.2 + 2.0 + 2.4 - 0.5

New York + 1.5 + 2.3 + 1.8 + 1.8 + 1.7 + 0.0

Appalachian New York + 1.8 + 3.0 + 2.5 + 1.8 + 2.4 - 1.0

Non-Appalachian New York + 1.5 + 2.3 + 1.7 + 1.8 + 1.7 + 0.1

North Carolina + 1.9 + 3.1 + 2.2 + 1.9 + 2.2 - 0.9

Appalachian North Carolina + 2.6 + 5.1 + 3.2 + 4.1 + 3.1 - 1.1

Non-Appalachian North Carolina + 1.7 + 2.7 + 2.0 + 1.4 + 2.1 - 0.8

Ohio + 1.6 + 2.6 + 1.9 + 1.8 + 2.0 - 0.3

Appalachian Ohio + 1.4 + 2.4 + 1.9 + 1.1 + 2.0 - 0.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio + 1.6 + 2.7 + 2.0 + 1.9 + 1.9 - 0.2

Pennsylvania + 1.1 + 1.9 + 1.4 + 0.6 + 1.6 - 0.5

Appalachian Pennsylvania + 0.8 + 1.7 + 1.2 + 0.3 + 1.2 - 0.6

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania + 1.3 + 2.1 + 1.5 + 0.8 + 1.8 - 0.3

South Carolina + 1.5 + 3.0 + 2.0 + 1.8 + 2.0 - 1.4

Appalachian South Carolina + 2.1 + 3.6 + 2.2 + 2.2 + 2.1 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian South Carolina + 1.3 + 2.8 + 2.0 + 1.6 + 1.9 - 1.9

Tennessee + 1.1 + 2.2 + 1.5 + 0.5 + 1.7 - 1.5

Appalachian Tennessee + 1.6 + 2.9 + 2.0 + 1.4 + 2.0 - 1.0

Non-Appalachian Tennessee + 0.8 + 1.6 + 1.3 - 0.1 + 1.4 - 1.8

Virginia + 1.2 + 1.8 + 1.5 + 1.6 + 1.5 - 0.8

Appalachian Virginia + 1.5 + 1.8 + 2.4 + 3.5 + 2.0 - 1.4

Non-Appalachian Virginia + 1.3 + 1.9 + 1.5 + 1.4 + 1.5 - 0.8

West Virginia (entire state) + 0.6 + 1.3 + 1.2 - 0.3 + 1.4 - 1.4

Note: Poverty status is determined by a series of income thresholds that are determined by family size and composition. In 2015, the poverty 

threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $24,036. The poverty universe does not include unrelated individuals under age 15, 

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

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
76

Figure 7.11: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons in the Appalachian Region in Poverty, 

2006-2010 to 2011-2015

The share of Appalachian residents living below the poverty level (income of less than $24,036 for a family of two 

adults and two children in 2015) increased about 1.5 percentage points between the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015

periods, slightly less than in the nation as a whole. Yet the rise in poverty was larger in much of the Region: In 184 of 

Appalachia’s 420 counties, the percentage point increase in the poverty rate was at or above the national average. 

Although scattered throughout the Region, half of these counties were in South Central or Southern Appalachia. 

There was some good news in that 123 counties had poverty rates that either decreased or stayed the same between 

the two periods. Still, the overall picture suggests that in the aftermath of the Great Recession, poverty rates in many 

areas have not yet fallen back to pre-recession levels.
77

TRENDS IN INCOME AND POVERTY

• Adjusting for inflation, income levels in the Appalachian Region have fallen since the 2006-2010

period (see Tables 7.1 and 7.2). 

o Mean household income fell 1.4 percent to $60,525 in 2011-2015. (All monetary figures are in 

2015 dollars.)

o Median household income (the level where half of all households have higher incomes while 

the other half have lower incomes) fell 3 percent to $47,744.

o Mean family income was down 1 percent to $71,740.

o Median family income (the level where half of all families have higher incomes while the other 

half have lower incomes) was down 2 percent to $56,520.

o Per capita income fell 1 percent to $24,302.

• Yet the declines in income since 2006-2010 were not as severe in Appalachia as they were in the 

United States as a whole. (For example, median household income in the U.S. fell nearly 5 percent—

more than a full percentage point more than in Appalachia.)

• Within the Appalachian Region, the declines in income were greatest in South Central and Southern 

Appalachia—and for each income measure, the drops were sharper than the national average. In 

contrast, some income measures actually rose in the other subregions. (For example, mean 

household and family income increased slightly in Northern and North Central Appalachia, even after 

adjusting for inflation.) Among the county types, counties in metropolitan areas had the greatest

income declines—although the decreases were below the national average for the median income 

measures.

• Since 2006-2010, the share of Appalachian residents in poverty (incomes below $24,036 for a family 

of two adults and two children in 2015) has risen 1.5 percentage points to 17.1 percent in 2011-2015

(see Tables 7.4 and 7.5). Poverty increased in all subregions and among all county types, with the 

greatest increases occurring in South Central and Southern Appalachia. The rise in poverty rates was 

especially high in the Appalachian portions of Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina: 

Poverty increased more than two percentage points in each state. 

• The increase in poverty was felt in every age group under age 65: Child poverty in Appalachia rose 

almost three percentage points (to 24 percent), and poverty among working-age adults increased 

nearly two percentage points. (And the overall patterns among subregions and county types generally 

held for both groups.) Although the rise in poverty among young adults (ages 18 to 24) was less than 

the national average, it was significantly higher in parts of Appalachia. The poverty rate for young 

adults increased almost three percentage points in Southern Appalachia and the Region’s rural 

counties. And in the Appalachian sections of Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, the share of 18-

to-24-year-olds in poverty was more than three percentage points higher in 2010-2015 than in 2006-

2010. (The increase exceeded four percentage points in Appalachian North Carolina.) 

• Yet poverty rates actually fell a full percentage point for older residents (ages 65 and over) between 

2006-2010 and 2011-2015, and this decline was evident throughout the Appalachian Region. (Central 

Appalachia, the region’s most rural areas, and the Appalachian portions of Kentucky and Mississippi

had the biggest drops in the poverty rate for older persons.)

• Overall, the income and poverty trends in the Appalachian Region since 2006-2010 suggest that, for 

the most part, income and poverty levels have not yet returned to pre-recession levels—which in turn 

may highlight how slow the recovery has been. 
78

CHAPTER 8: HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE 

Table 8.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2011-2015

Health Insurance Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

Ages 65

and Over

United States 40,446,231 4,756,380 6,550,794 28,725,272 413,785

Appalachian Region 3,003,026 315,359 481,137 2,189,360 17,170

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 706,630 90,430 108,634 501,851 5,715

North Central Appalachia 265,346 21,647 45,031 197,602 1,066

Central Appalachia 241,014 21,115 41,241 177,776 882

South Central Appalachia 628,050 55,708 98,887 470,892 2,563

Southern Appalachia 1,161,986 126,459 187,344 841,239 6,944

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 670,893 75,046 101,462 489,178 5,207

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,223,509 114,648 200,181 902,434 6,246

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 264,199 33,668 41,933 187,416 1,182

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 501,343 54,010 78,297 366,261 2,775

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 343,082 37,987 59,264 244,071 1,760

Alabama 601,159 45,500 106,993 445,817 2,849

Appalachian Alabama 371,944 28,317 63,199 278,765 1,663

Non-Appalachian Alabama 229,215 17,183 43,794 167,052 1,186

Georgia 1,680,015 205,200 277,445 1,184,707 12,663

Appalachian Georgia 525,709 70,817 78,807 371,645 4,440

Non-Appalachian Georgia 1,154,306 134,383 198,638 813,062 8,223

Kentucky 490,262 53,065 86,162 349,050 1,985

Appalachian Kentucky 150,844 14,024 27,125 109,114 581

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 339,418 39,041 59,037 239,936 1,404

Maryland 523,072 52,573 76,482 384,201 9,816

Appalachian Maryland 19,898 2,228 2,901 14,507 262

Non-Appalachian Maryland 503,174 50,345 73,581 369,694 9,554

Mississippi 462,187 48,809 87,392 324,497 1,489

Appalachian Mississippi 92,641 7,767 18,534 66,151 189

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 369,546 41,042 68,858 258,346 1,300

New York 1,877,051 152,678 275,043 1,422,110 27,220

Appalachian New York 80,272 12,126 13,505 54,053 588

Non-Appalachian New York 1,796,779 140,552 261,538 1,368,057 26,632

North Carolina 1,390,162 140,018 219,792 1,022,814 7,538

Appalachian North Carolina 252,880 22,403 39,023 190,387 1,067

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,137,282 117,615 180,769 832,427 6,471

Ohio 1,108,605 133,174 172,333 794,561 8,537

Appalachian Ohio 226,816 32,231 34,619 158,021 1,945

Non-Appalachian Ohio 881,789 100,943 137,714 636,540 6,592

Pennsylvania 1,106,674 135,836 169,897 790,416 10,525

Appalachian Pennsylvania 460,560 52,735 70,804 333,657 3,364

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 646,114 83,101 99,093 456,759 7,161

South Carolina 680,185 70,056 107,951 498,421 3,757

Appalachian South Carolina 171,692 19,558 26,804 124,678 652

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 508,493 50,498 81,147 373,743 3,105

Tennessee 819,113 77,854 126,831 610,099 4,329

Appalachian Tennessee 351,617 30,322 54,240 265,653 1,402

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 467,496 47,532 72,591 344,446 2,927

Virginia 916,040 102,291 145,820 657,249 10,680

Appalachian Virginia 89,374 7,860 15,920 65,245 349

Non-Appalachian Virginia 826,666 94,431 129,900 592,004 10,331

West Virginia (entire state) 208,779 14,971 35,656 157,484 668

Note: The health insurance universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
79

Table 8.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, by Age Group, 2011-2015

Health Insurance Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages

18-24

Ages

25-64

Ages 65

and Over

United States 13.0 6.5 21.4 17.5 1.0

Appalachian Region 12.0 5.7 19.8 16.8 0.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8.7 5.4 13.3 11.8 0.4

North Central Appalachia 11.1 4.2 19.7 15.8 0.3

Central Appalachia 13.0 5.1 25.0 18.1 0.3

South Central Appalachia 13.3 5.6 21.2 19.3 0.3

Southern Appalachia 14.7 6.6 24.9 20.4 0.6

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 11.4 5.4 19.5 15.4 0.6

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 11.6 5.0 18.1 16.5 0.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 12.3 7.0 19.7 17.0 0.3

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 12.9 6.5 22.5 18.3 0.4

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 13.8 7.0 24.0 19.2 0.4

Alabama 12.7 4.1 22.8 18.0 0.4

Appalachian Alabama 12.2 4.0 21.6 17.4 0.4

Non-Appalachian Alabama 13.5 4.2 24.8 19.3 0.5

Georgia 17.1 8.2 28.5 22.8 1.1

Appalachian Georgia 17.4 8.9 29.3 23.3 1.2

Non-Appalachian Georgia 17.0 7.9 28.1 22.6 1.0

Kentucky 11.4 5.2 20.8 15.3 0.3

Appalachian Kentucky 13.1 5.4 25.0 18.0 0.3

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 10.7 5.2 19.3 14.4 0.3

Maryland 9.0 3.9 14.0 12.1 1.3

Appalachian Maryland 8.3 4.3 12.8 11.7 0.7

Non-Appalachian Maryland 9.0 3.9 14.1 12.1 1.3

Mississippi 15.8 6.7 29.1 21.8 0.4

Appalachian Mississippi 15.0 5.2 27.0 21.4 0.2

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 16.1 7.0 29.8 22.0 0.4

New York 9.7 3.6 14.1 13.5 1.0

Appalachian New York 7.7 5.7 9.8 10.4 0.3

Non-Appalachian New York 9.8 3.5 14.4 13.7 1.0

North Carolina 14.4 6.1 23.5 20.2 0.6

Appalachian North Carolina 14.9 6.3 24.7 21.7 0.3

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 14.3 6.1 23.3 19.8 0.6

Ohio 9.7 5.0 15.9 13.3 0.5

Appalachian Ohio 11.4 7.2 19.5 15.4 0.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9.4 4.6 15.2 12.8 0.5

Pennsylvania 8.8 5.0 13.9 11.9 0.5

Appalachian Pennsylvania 8.2 4.6 12.8 11.3 0.3

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 9.3 5.3 14.8 12.4 0.7

South Carolina 14.5 6.5 23.4 20.5 0.5

Appalachian South Carolina 14.3 7.0 21.9 20.2 0.4

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 14.6 6.3 24.0 20.6 0.6

Tennessee 12.8 5.2 20.7 18.1 0.5

Appalachian Tennessee 12.6 5.0 20.7 18.3 0.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 13.0 5.3 20.6 17.9 0.7

Virginia 11.4 5.5 18.8 15.2 1.0

Appalachian Virginia 12.0 5.4 18.2 17.2 0.3

Non-Appalachian Virginia 11.3 5.5 18.9 15.0 1.1

West Virginia (entire state) 11.5 3.9 21.1 16.4 0.2

Note: The health insurance universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
80

Figure 8.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region Not Covered by Health Insurance, 2011-2015

Just over 3 million persons in the Appalachian Region were without any kind of health insurance coverage in the 

2011-2015 period—a figure representing 12 percent of Appalachia’s residents. Although the percentage for the 

Region is slightly lower than the U.S. share of 13 percent, almost half of the 420 Appalachian counties had noncoverage rates that matched or exceeded the national average. In seven Appalachian counties (including four in 

Georgia and two in North Carolina), at least one in five residents were not covered by insurance. Indeed, 17 percent 

of residents in Appalachian Georgia were not covered by health insurance. At the other end of the spectrum, 77 

counties had uninsured rates below 10 percent, and 50 of these were in either New York or Pennsylvania—the states 

with the lowest percentages of uninsured residents in Appalachia. 
81

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

2011-2015

Just under 6 percent of Appalachia’s children under age 18 were uninsured during 2011-2015, nearly a percentage 

point below the national average. But the rate varied throughout the Region. On one hand, 202 counties had noncoverage rates under 5 percent; these were spread geographically throughout the Region. Conversely, at least one in 

10 children lacked health insurance in 41 other counties. All but a handful of counties in the latter group were outside 

metropolitan areas, and nearly half were in South Central or Southern Appalachia—with eight in Georgia alone. 
82

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

2011-2015

Lack of health insurance coverage was highest among young adults—one-fifth of Appalachian residents ages 18 to 

24 were uninsured during the 2011-2015 period. Although Appalachia’s rate as a whole was slightly lower than the 

national average, the non-coverage problem was especially prevalent in much of Central and Southern Appalachia, 

as well as in the Region’s most rural counties: In each of these three areas, one in four young adults was without 

coverage. This situation was especially dire in 114 counties, where non-coverage rates among 18-to-24-year-olds 

were 30 percent or higher. Among these counties, 98 were in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia, and 

86 were outside metropolitan areas. In contrast, there were 68 Appalachian counties where less than 15 percent of 

young adults had no health insurance; all but a handful of these were in Northern Appalachia, in metro areas, and/or 

had a four-year college or university within their boundaries. 
83

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

2011-2015

In 2011-2015, 17 percent of Appalachia’s working-age population were not covered by health insurance. While this 

rate was slightly below that for the nation, there was great variation within the Region. For example, more than onefifth of 25-to-64-year-olds in the Appalachian sections of Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina

were uninsured; the former three states accounted for 26 of the 33 counties with non-coverage rates of at least 25 

percent for this age group. By comparison, there were 106 Appalachian counties where less than 15 percent of 

working-age residents were not insured; two-thirds of the counties in this latter group were in Northern Appalachia.
84

CHAPTER 9: DISABILITY STATUS 

Table 9.1: Number of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2011-2015

Disability Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total Ages and Over

18-34

Ages

35-64

United States 38,601,898 3,013,318 19,985,588 4,218,974 15,766,614 15,602,992

Appalachian Region 3,982,267 269,296 2,146,802 400,549 1,746,253 1,566,169

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 1,211,191 91,184 614,455 124,131 490,324 505,552

North Central Appalachia 432,717 28,976 240,830 44,978 195,852 162,911

Central Appalachia 435,261 24,903 260,009 41,940 218,069 150,349

South Central Appalachia 783,078 48,316 415,692 74,171 341,521 319,070

Southern Appalachia 1,120,020 75,917 615,816 115,329 500,487 428,287

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 753,738 56,493 400,373 78,625 321,748 296,872

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 1,636,425 111,033 875,469 169,968 705,501 649,923

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 361,236 25,492 195,942 35,615 160,327 139,802

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 726,522 46,544 390,224 68,794 321,430 289,754

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 504,346 29,734 284,794 47,547 237,247 189,818

Alabama 772,482 51,827 427,176 80,818 346,358 293,479

Appalachian Alabama 489,046 30,776 271,738 50,610 221,128 186,532

Non-Appalachian Alabama 283,436 21,051 155,438 30,208 125,230 106,947

Georgia 1,197,714 96,107 664,355 135,404 528,951 437,252

Appalachian Georgia 349,733 27,290 190,381 37,543 152,838 132,062

Non-Appalachian Georgia 847,981 68,817 473,974 97,861 376,113 305,190

Kentucky 734,126 55,512 421,172 81,284 339,888 257,442

Appalachian Kentucky 266,587 16,610 160,683 27,103 133,580 89,294

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 467,539 38,902 260,489 54,181 206,308 168,148

Maryland 610,989 50,420 312,042 67,290 244,752 248,527

Appalachian Maryland 38,086 3,394 20,536 4,580 15,956 14,156

Non-Appalachian Maryland 572,903 47,026 291,506 62,710 228,796 234,371

Mississippi 477,699 33,439 265,291 49,106 216,185 178,969

Appalachian Mississippi 109,884 6,062 61,716 10,286 51,430 42,106

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 367,815 27,377 203,575 38,820 164,755 136,863

New York 2,159,439 159,565 1,075,396 227,218 848,178 924,478

Appalachian New York 148,267 12,150 78,073 18,145 59,928 58,044

Non-Appalachian New York 2,011,172 147,415 997,323 209,073 788,250 866,434

North Carolina 1,307,306 101,170 697,807 136,958 560,849 508,329

Appalachian North Carolina 262,657 16,904 133,887 23,540 110,347 111,866

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 1,044,649 84,266 563,920 113,418 450,502 396,463

Ohio 1,550,962 130,246 828,400 169,878 658,522 592,316

Appalachian Ohio 322,827 23,855 177,016 32,685 144,331 121,956

Non-Appalachian Ohio 1,228,135 106,391 651,384 137,193 514,191 470,360

Pennsylvania 1,696,250 138,758 862,720 185,554 677,166 694,772

Appalachian Pennsylvania 835,524 62,617 417,040 83,613 333,427 355,867

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 860,726 76,141 445,680 101,941 343,739 338,905

South Carolina 672,911 46,570 361,775 67,173 294,602 264,566

Appalachian South Carolina 171,357 11,789 91,981 16,890 75,091 67,587

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 501,554 34,781 269,794 50,283 219,511 196,979

Tennessee 979,250 67,736 544,262 104,303 439,959 367,252

Appalachian Tennessee 497,366 30,321 273,220 47,989 225,231 193,825

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 481,884 37,415 271,042 56,314 214,728 173,427

Virginia 897,300 69,094 464,695 98,785 365,910 363,511

Appalachian Virginia 137,284 6,406 74,435 12,654 61,781 56,443

Non-Appalachian Virginia 760,016 62,688 390,260 86,131 304,129 307,068

West Virginia (entire state) 353,649 21,122 196,096 34,911 161,185 136,431

Note: The ACS defines persons with a disability 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. The disability universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
85

Table 9.2: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, by Age Group, 2011-2015

Disability Status All Ages Under

Age 18

Ages 18-64

Ages 65

Total and Over Ages

18-34

Ages

35-64

United States 12.4 4.1 10.3 5.8 12.9 36.0

Appalachian Region 15.9 4.9 13.9 7.5 17.3 39.0

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 14.8 5.4 12.1 7.1 14.8 35.6

North Central Appalachia 18.2 5.6 16.3 8.9 20.2 42.0

Central Appalachia 23.4 6.0 22.7 11.2 28.3 49.8

South Central Appalachia 16.6 4.9 14.3 7.4 18.0 38.7

Southern Appalachia 14.2 3.9 12.6 6.6 15.9 39.8

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 12.8 4.1 10.8 6.2 13.3 35.7

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 15.5 4.9 13.3 7.2 16.7 38.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 16.8 5.3 14.9 7.9 18.5 39.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 18.6 5.6 16.6 9.0 20.3 40.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 20.3 5.5 18.8 9.1 23.9 45.1

Alabama 16.3 4.7 14.5 7.5 18.5 42.0

Appalachian Alabama 16.1 4.4 14.3 7.4 18.2 41.6

Non-Appalachian Alabama 16.6 5.2 14.9 7.7 19.2 42.5

Georgia 12.2 3.9 10.8 5.9 13.7 37.7

Appalachian Georgia 11.6 3.4 10.2 5.8 12.5 36.8

Non-Appalachian Georgia 12.5 4.1 11.0 5.9 14.2 38.1

Kentucky 17.0 5.5 15.7 8.5 19.7 42.2

Appalachian Kentucky 23.1 6.3 22.5 11.2 28.3 50.1

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 14.8 5.2 13.2 7.5 16.4 38.9

Maryland 10.5 3.7 8.4 5.0 10.3 32.4

Appalachian Maryland 16.0 6.5 14.0 9.2 16.6 35.3

Non-Appalachian Maryland 10.2 3.6 8.2 4.9 10.0 32.2

Mississippi 16.4 4.6 14.9 7.3 19.4 44.6

Appalachian Mississippi 17.7 4.1 16.3 7.2 21.8 45.8

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 16.0 4.7 14.5 7.3 18.8 44.2

New York 11.1 3.8 8.6 4.8 11.0 33.9

Appalachian New York 14.3 5.7 11.9 7.2 14.8 34.2

Non-Appalachian New York 10.9 3.7 8.5 4.7 10.7 33.9

North Carolina 13.5 4.4 11.6 6.3 14.6 37.4

Appalachian North Carolina 15.5 4.8 13.0 6.8 16.1 36.6

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 13.1 4.4 11.3 6.3 14.2 37.6

Ohio 13.6 4.9 11.7 6.8 14.4 35.3

Appalachian Ohio 16.3 5.3 14.7 8.2 17.9 37.6

Non-Appalachian Ohio 13.0 4.8 11.1 6.5 13.7 34.8

Pennsylvania 13.5 5.1 11.0 6.6 13.4 34.7

Appalachian Pennsylvania 14.8 5.5 11.9 6.9 14.5 35.8

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 12.4 4.8 10.3 6.4 12.5 33.6

South Carolina 14.4 4.3 12.5 6.4 16.0 37.3

Appalachian South Carolina 14.3 4.2 12.4 6.2 16.0 38.1

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 14.4 4.3 12.5 6.4 16.0 37.0

Tennessee 15.3 4.5 13.7 7.2 17.3 39.8

Appalachian Tennessee 17.8 5.0 15.9 8.2 20.0 40.7

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 13.4 4.2 11.9 6.6 15.1 38.8

Virginia 11.2 3.7 9.1 5.3 11.3 33.8

Appalachian Virginia 18.4 4.4 15.9 7.5 20.6 41.6

Non-Appalachian Virginia 10.4 3.7 8.4 5.1 10.4 32.7

West Virginia (entire state) 19.4 5.5 17.3 9.2 21.5 43.9

Note: The ACS defines persons with a disability 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. The disability universe consists of the civilian noninstitutional population.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
86

Figure 9.1: Percent of Persons in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015

In the 2011-2015 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 147 counties, two-fifths of which were in Appalachia’s most rural counties 

(where the overall disability rate was 20 percent). Kentucky and West Virginia—the two states with the highest levels 

of disability in the Region—combined for nearly half of the 147 counties. Appalachia’s relatively high disability rate 

corresponds to the population’s older age structure: In 134 of the counties with the highest disability prevalence 

levels, at least 15 percent of the residents were age 65 or older. 
87

Figure 9.2: Percent of Persons Under Age 18 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015

At almost 5 percent, the prevalence of disability among children under age 18 in Appalachia was slightly higher than 

the national average during the 2011-2015 period. But there was variation within the Region. For example, the rate 

was at least 7.5 percent in 51 counties, 39 of which were outside metropolitan areas. In 110 other counties, however, 

the disability prevalence was below the national average of just over 4 percent. Nearly two-thirds of the counties in the 

latter group were in South Central and Southern Appalachia. In fact, at just under 4 percent, Southern Appalachia was

the only subregion where the disability rate among the under-18 population was below the national average. 
88

Figure 9.3: Percent of Persons Ages 18 to 64 in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015

In the 2011-2015 period, approximately one in seven adults ages 18 to 64 in Appalachia reported a disability, 

compared with about 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, 

Central Appalachia had 56 of the 96 Appalachian counties where the disability rate among 18-to-64-year-olds was 20 

percent or higher. Central Appalachia’s historic reliance on mining and related resource-based industries, as well as 

Appalachia’s relatively high rates of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, may be associated with the subregion’s high 

disability prevalence. 
89

Figure 9.4: Percent of Persons Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Disability, 2011-2015

Two-fifths of adults ages 65 and over in the Appalachian Region reported a disability in the 2011-2015 period, slightly 

higher than the national share. And the prevalence was even greater in some parts of the Region: Nearly half of the 

older residents of Central Appalachia—and half of older persons in Appalachian Kentucky—had at least one disability. 

Indeed, Central Appalachia had 41 of the 63 counties where at least half of older residents reported a disability. 

(Kentucky alone had 26 of these counties.) And there are signs that disabled adults in the Region may be aging in 

place: In 47 of these 63 counties, the share of working-age adults with a disability was at or above 20 percent—almost 

twice the national average. Yet there are 81 other Appalachian counties where the disability rate for the older 

population was actually lower than the national average. Nearly all of these low-prevalence counties were in Northern, 

South Central, and Southern Appalachia.
90

CHAPTER 10: MIGRATION 

Table 10.1: Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, 2011-2015

Mobility Status in the Last Year 

Total Population 

Ages 1 and Over, 

2011-2015 

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 312,784,059 85.1 14.9 8.8 6.1 3.2 2.9

Appalachian Region 25,149,244 86.8 13.2 7.5 5.6 3.3 2.4

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 8,256,059 87.6 12.4 7.5 4.9 2.8 2.1

North Central Appalachia 2,401,083 87.5 12.5 6.9 5.5 3.1 2.5

Central Appalachia 1,880,759 87.8 12.2 6.8 5.4 3.6 1.9

South Central Appalachia 4,728,562 86.1 13.9 7.7 6.3 3.6 2.7

Southern Appalachia 7,882,781 86.0 14.0 7.9 6.1 3.6 2.5

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,895,846 87.1 12.9 7.4 5.5 3.2 2.3

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,622,239 86.0 14.0 8.0 6.0 3.2 2.8

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 2,179,486 87.0 13.0 7.8 5.2 3.5 1.7

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,941,200 88.2 11.8 6.7 5.2 3.2 1.9

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,510,473 87.5 12.5 6.9 5.6 3.7 1.9

Alabama 4,774,581 85.3 14.7 8.9 5.8 3.2 2.6

Appalachian Alabama 3,056,763 85.7 14.3 8.6 5.7 3.4 2.3

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,717,818 84.5 15.5 9.4 6.1 2.9 3.2

Georgia 9,883,302 84.0 16.0 8.0 8.0 4.7 3.3

Appalachian Georgia 3,010,538 86.8 13.2 6.7 6.5 4.0 2.5

Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,872,764 82.7 17.3 8.6 8.7 5.0 3.7

Kentucky 4,344,914 84.7 15.3 8.6 6.6 3.8 2.9

Appalachian Kentucky 1,165,121 86.9 13.1 7.4 5.7 3.9 1.8

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,179,793 83.9 16.1 9.1 7.0 3.7 3.3

Maryland 5,861,210 86.6 13.4 7.2 6.1 2.7 3.4

Appalachian Maryland 249,956 86.0 14.0 8.3 5.7 3.1 2.7

Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,611,254 86.7 13.3 7.2 6.2 2.7 3.5

Mississippi 2,953,205 86.1 13.9 7.5 6.4 3.7 2.7

Appalachian Mississippi 621,775 86.0 14.0 8.1 5.9 3.8 2.1

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,331,430 86.1 13.9 7.4 6.5 3.7 2.8

New York 19,451,274 89.1 10.9 6.3 4.6 2.4 2.2

Appalachian New York 1,045,638 85.4 14.6 8.5 6.1 3.7 2.5

Non-Appalachian New York 18,405,636 89.3 10.7 6.2 4.5 2.4 2.1

North Carolina 9,732,283 84.7 15.3 8.4 6.9 3.5 3.4

Appalachian North Carolina 1,700,873 86.8 13.2 7.3 5.9 3.4 2.5

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 8,031,410 84.3 15.7 8.6 7.1 3.6 3.5

Ohio 11,446,837 85.3 14.7 9.4 5.4 3.3 2.1

Appalachian Ohio 2,002,927 87.6 12.4 7.5 4.8 3.1 1.8

Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,443,910 84.7 15.3 9.8 5.5 3.3 2.2

Pennsylvania 12,643,406 88.0 12.0 7.2 4.8 2.6 2.3

Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,716,041 87.9 12.1 7.3 4.8 2.7 2.0

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,927,365 88.0 12.0 7.1 4.8 2.4 2.5

South Carolina 4,723,298 84.7 15.3 8.4 7.0 3.1 3.9

Appalachian South Carolina 1,193,705 85.0 15.0 8.8 6.2 3.0 3.2

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,529,593 84.6 15.4 8.2 7.3 3.2 4.1

Tennessee 6,422,999 84.7 15.3 9.0 6.3 3.1 3.2

Appalachian Tennessee 2,796,608 86.1 13.9 7.9 6.0 3.3 2.7

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,626,391 83.6 16.4 9.9 6.5 2.9 3.6

Virginia 8,155,620 84.4 15.6 6.7 8.9 4.9 4.0

Appalachian Virginia 756,057 86.0 14.0 6.6 7.4 4.6 2.8

Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,399,563 84.2 15.8 6.7 9.1 5.0 4.1

West Virginia (entire state) 1,833,242 88.2 11.8 6.4 5.3 2.6 2.8

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 
91

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

2011-2015

Residential mobility in Appalachia was below the national average, as well as in all subregions and county types. In 

fact, the percentage of residents who moved in the past year only matched or exceeded the U.S. average in 61 of the 

Region’s counties—37 of which were in South Central or Southern 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 118 Appalachian counties, less than 10 percent of the residents had moved in the 

previous 12 months; almost three-fourths of these counties were outside metro areas.
92

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, 2011-2015

While people in Appalachia were slightly less likely to have migrated from outside their county of residence in the 

2011-2015 period than Americans as a whole, residents in 130 of the Region’s counties had migration rates at or 

above the national average. These counties were scattered throughout Appalachia and were distributed across all 

urban/rural types. In 202 counties, however, less than 5 percent of the residents had migrated from another county. 

Almost three-fourths of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, and more than one-third of those nonmetro 

counties were rural counties not adjacent to a metro area.
93

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, 2011-2015

The share of people in the Appalachian Region who had migrated from outside their state of residence was 2.4

percent in the 2011-2015 period, compared with 2.9 percent of all Americans. Yet in 79 of Appalachia’s 420 counties, 

out-of-state migration levels were at or above the U.S. average. Most of these counties were in Southern and South 

Central Appalachia, and almost half were in metropolitan areas. In contrast, there were 243 counties in the Region 

where less than 2 percent of residents had come from out of state. Almost three-fourths of the counties in this latter 

group were outside metropolitan areas. 
94

Table 10.2: Percentage Point Change in Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian 

Region, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Mobility Status in the Last Year 

Percentage Point Change in Share 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 + 0.9 - 0.9 - 0.6 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 0.1

Appalachian Region + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.6 - 0.3 + 0.0 - 0.2

Subregions

Northern Appalachia + 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.1

North Central Appalachia + 1.0 - 1.0 - 0.7 - 0.4 - 0.1 - 0.2

Central Appalachia + 0.4 - 0.4 - 0.6 + 0.2 + 0.5 - 0.2

South Central Appalachia + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.7 - 0.1 + 0.2 - 0.3

Southern Appalachia + 1.6 - 1.6 - 1.0 - 0.6 - 0.2 - 0.3

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) + 1.1 - 1.1 - 0.8 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 0.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.6 - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros + 1.2 - 1.2 - 0.6 - 0.6 - 0.4 - 0.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros + 0.9 - 0.9 - 0.5 - 0.3 + 0.0 - 0.3

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) + 0.4 - 0.4 - 0.4 + 0.0 + 0.2 - 0.2

Alabama + 1.0 - 1.0 - 0.5 - 0.6 - 0.1 - 0.4

Appalachian Alabama + 1.3 - 1.3 - 0.8 - 0.4 - 0.1 - 0.4

Non-Appalachian Alabama + 0.6 - 0.6 + 0.1 - 0.7 - 0.1 - 0.5

Georgia + 1.7 - 1.7 - 0.9 - 0.8 - 0.3 - 0.5

Appalachian Georgia + 2.4 - 2.4 - 1.5 - 1.0 - 0.5 - 0.5

Non-Appalachian Georgia + 1.2 - 1.2 - 0.6 - 0.7 - 0.2 - 0.4

Kentucky + 0.7 - 0.7 - 0.5 - 0.3 + 0.1 - 0.3

Appalachian Kentucky + 0.4 - 0.4 - 0.5 + 0.1 + 0.5 - 0.4

Non-Appalachian Kentucky + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.4 - 0.4 - 0.1 - 0.3

Maryland + 0.7 - 0.7 - 0.2 - 0.7 - 0.3 - 0.4

Appalachian Maryland - 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.6 - 0.6 + 0.1 - 0.6

Non-Appalachian Maryland + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.1 - 0.6 - 0.3 - 0.3

Mississippi + 1.8 - 1.8 - 1.3 - 0.5 - 0.2 - 0.2

Appalachian Mississippi + 0.3 - 0.3 + 0.0 - 0.3 - 0.2 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian Mississippi + 2.1 - 2.1 - 1.6 - 0.5 - 0.2 - 0.3

New York + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.6 - 0.1 - 0.1 + 0.0

Appalachian New York + 0.5 - 0.5 - 0.1 - 0.4 - 0.3 + 0.0

Non-Appalachian New York + 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.7 - 0.1 - 0.1 - 0.1

North Carolina + 1.3 - 1.3 - 0.7 - 0.6 - 0.1 - 0.5

Appalachian North Carolina + 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.3 - 0.2

Non-Appalachian North Carolina + 1.6 - 1.6 - 0.8 - 0.8 - 0.1 - 0.7

Ohio + 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.4 + 0.2 + 0.0 + 0.2

Appalachian Ohio + 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.0 + 0.1

Non-Appalachian Ohio + 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.4 + 0.2 + 0.0 + 0.2

Pennsylvania + 0.6 - 0.6 - 0.3 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 0.1

Appalachian Pennsylvania + 0.5 - 0.5 - 0.2 - 0.3 - 0.2 - 0.2

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania + 0.6 - 0.6 - 0.4 - 0.3 - 0.1 + 0.0

South Carolina + 0.4 - 0.4 + 0.0 - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.1

Appalachian South Carolina + 1.5 - 1.5 - 1.2 - 0.3 - 0.1 - 0.2

Non-Appalachian South Carolina + 0.0 + 0.0 + 0.3 - 0.2 + 0.0 - 0.2

Tennessee + 0.9 - 0.9 - 0.9 + 0.0 + 0.1 - 0.1

Appalachian Tennessee + 0.9 - 0.9 - 0.9 - 0.1 + 0.2 - 0.3

Non-Appalachian Tennessee + 0.9 - 0.9 - 0.9 + 0.0 + 0.0 + 0.1

Virginia + 0.6 - 0.6 + 0.0 - 0.6 - 0.3 - 0.3

Appalachian Virginia + 1.1 - 1.1 - 0.8 - 0.4 - 0.3 + 0.0

Non-Appalachian Virginia + 0.5 - 0.5 + 0.1 - 0.5 - 0.2 - 0.4

West Virginia (entire state) + 0.6 - 0.6 - 0.5 - 0.2 + 0.1 - 0.2

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
95

Figure 10.4: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region 

Who Had Migrated From Outside Their County of Residence in the Past Year, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Both in Appalachia and the nation as a whole, the share of individuals migrating from outside their county of residence 

declined three-tenths of a percentage point between the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 periods. The decrease was most

prevalent in North Central and Southern Appalachia, and was greater than or equal to the national average in 190 

counties in the Region. By contrast, the percentage remained the same in Appalachia’s most rural counties and 

actually increased in Central Appalachia. Of the 184 counties where migration shares rose, 57 were in rural areas and 

47 were in Central Appalachia. 
96

TRENDS IN MIGRATION

• Like Americans as a whole, Appalachian residents were slightly less mobile in 2011-2015 than they 

were in 2006-2010. Between the two periods, the share of persons in the Region who had moved 

from a different residence in the past year decreased by almost a full percentage point to 13 percent 

in 2011-2015 (see Tables 10.1 and 10.2). Similarly, a slightly lower share of residents migrated from 

outside their county and their state of residence in 2011-2015 than in 2006-2010. (In both of the latter 

instances, the share dropped by less than half a percentage point.) 

• Within the Region, the decline in residential mobility was greatest in Southern and North Central 

Appalachia, where the share of residents who had moved in the previous year fell by a full 

percentage point or more between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. Still, all subregions and county types 

saw lower shares of their populations move in the later period than in the earlier one. One possible 

factor might lie in the rise of unemployment and the housing crisis during the Great Recession of 

2007-2009. With relatively low educational attainment levels and relatively high homeownership in the 

Region, many Appalachian residents who lost their jobs might not have been able to sell their homes 

to move to another area with more employment opportunities.
97

CHAPTER 11: VETERAN STATUS 

Table 11.1: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region, by Age Group, 2011-2015

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 241,816,698 73,487,106 123,714,115 44,615,477 8.3 2.3 7.3 21.0

Appalachian Region 19,863,402 5,491,251 10,227,369 4,144,782 9.3 2.2 8.1 21.9

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 6,649,402 1,801,905 3,368,143 1,479,354 9.9 2.2 8.2 23.2

North Central Appalachia 1,906,803 520,978 985,174 400,651 10.1 2.4 9.1 22.5

Central Appalachia 1,486,208 388,669 785,530 312,009 8.0 1.9 6.9 18.4

South Central Appalachia 3,781,482 1,017,966 1,913,860 849,656 9.5 2.2 8.1 21.7

Southern Appalachia 6,039,507 1,761,733 3,174,662 1,103,112 8.7 2.2 7.9 21.2

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 4,578,743 1,282,386 2,441,199 855,158 8.8 2.0 7.6 22.3

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 8,435,173 2,411,502 4,275,186 1,748,485 9.6 2.2 8.6 22.4

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,719,716 464,284 883,745 371,687 9.7 2.1 8.5 21.9

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,140,423 792,881 1,614,961 732,581 9.9 2.5 8.1 21.8

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,989,347 540,198 1,012,278 436,871 8.3 2.1 6.8 19.5

Alabama 3,705,690 1,093,260 1,893,104 719,326 9.8 2.7 9.4 21.6

Appalachian Alabama 2,384,910 693,197 1,230,548 461,165 9.3 2.4 8.7 21.3

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,320,780 400,063 662,556 258,161 10.6 3.3 10.6 22.2

Georgia 7,466,582 2,345,109 3,931,006 1,190,467 9.0 2.6 9.0 21.4

Appalachian Georgia 2,248,617 650,859 1,232,356 365,402 8.1 1.8 7.4 21.6

Non-Appalachian Georgia 5,217,965 1,694,250 2,698,650 825,065 9.4 2.9 9.8 21.3

Kentucky 3,366,540 980,766 1,752,799 632,975 8.8 2.5 8.2 20.4

Appalachian Kentucky 915,257 248,942 481,357 184,958 7.7 1.9 6.8 18.0

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,451,283 731,824 1,271,442 448,017 9.3 2.7 8.8 21.4

Maryland 4,555,597 1,359,262 2,405,184 791,151 8.9 2.8 8.3 20.9

Appalachian Maryland 199,976 55,650 101,920 42,406 10.3 2.5 9.6 22.5

Non-Appalachian Maryland 4,355,621 1,303,612 2,303,264 748,745 8.8 2.8 8.3 20.8

Mississippi 2,241,286 691,917 1,134,536 414,833 8.2 2.5 7.7 19.3

Appalachian Mississippi 477,303 144,443 237,847 95,013 7.4 2.2 6.4 17.7

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,763,983 547,474 896,689 319,820 8.5 2.5 8.1 19.8

New York 15,397,847 4,771,186 7,806,226 2,820,435 5.4 1.2 4.1 15.8

Appalachian New York 842,269 256,040 409,078 177,151 9.4 2.2 8.3 22.2

Non-Appalachian New York 14,555,578 4,515,146 7,397,148 2,643,284 5.2 1.2 3.9 15.4

North Carolina 7,478,600 2,190,308 3,887,100 1,401,192 9.3 2.9 8.7 20.9

Appalachian North Carolina 1,360,439 352,658 692,276 315,505 9.4 2.1 7.7 21.4

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 6,118,161 1,837,650 3,194,824 1,085,687 9.3 3.1 8.9 20.8

Ohio 8,911,658 2,550,533 4,613,844 1,747,281 9.1 2.1 8.0 21.8

Appalachian Ohio 1,573,005 411,485 821,815 339,705 10.0 2.1 8.8 22.8

Non-Appalachian Ohio 7,338,653 2,139,048 3,792,029 1,407,576 8.8 2.1 7.9 21.6

Pennsylvania 10,052,453 2,849,717 5,118,350 2,084,386 8.7 1.9 7.0 22.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,623,693 1,246,457 2,343,796 1,033,440 9.9 2.2 8.0 23.4

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,428,760 1,603,260 2,774,554 1,050,946 7.6 1.6 6.2 20.7

South Carolina 3,665,349 1,074,995 1,863,575 726,779 10.3 3.2 9.8 22.4

Appalachian South Carolina 928,677 273,234 473,911 181,532 9.0 2.2 7.8 22.0

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,736,672 801,761 1,389,664 545,247 10.8 3.5 10.4 22.5

Tennessee 4,989,249 1,464,739 2,574,185 950,325 9.3 2.6 8.6 21.3

Appalachian Tennessee 2,223,282 595,731 1,137,844 489,707 9.8 2.3 8.5 21.8

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,765,967 869,008 1,436,341 460,618 8.9 2.8 8.8 20.8

Virginia 6,281,984 1,904,418 3,275,905 1,101,661 11.2 4.4 11.3 22.8

Appalachian Virginia 617,739 173,638 304,609 139,492 8.3 1.7 6.9 19.7

Non-Appalachian Virginia 5,664,245 1,730,780 2,971,296 962,169 11.6 4.6 11.8 23.3

West Virginia (entire state) 1,468,235 388,917 760,012 319,306 10.2 2.5 9.0 22.4

Note: The ACS defines veterans as 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.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 
98

Table 11.2: Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region, by Gender, 2011-2015

Veteran Status 

Civilian Population Ages 18 and Over Percent Who Are Veterans

Both Sexes Males Females Both 

Sexes Males Females

United States 241,816,698 117,201,081 124,615,617 8.3 15.8 1.3

Appalachian Region 19,863,402 9,637,692 10,225,710 9.3 18.1 1.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia 6,649,402 3,249,512 3,399,890 9.9 19.1 1.1

North Central Appalachia 1,906,803 936,243 970,560 10.1 19.4 1.1

Central Appalachia 1,486,208 728,943 757,265 8.0 15.5 0.7

South Central Appalachia 3,781,482 1,822,529 1,958,953 9.5 18.6 1.2

Southern Appalachia 6,039,507 2,900,465 3,139,042 8.7 16.8 1.2

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 4,578,743 2,197,276 2,381,467 8.8 17.1 1.1

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 8,435,173 4,081,809 4,353,364 9.6 18.6 1.2

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,719,716 846,888 872,828 9.7 18.5 1.1

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,140,423 1,537,839 1,602,584 9.9 19.1 1.0

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,989,347 973,880 1,015,467 8.3 16.0 0.9

Alabama 3,705,690 1,762,757 1,942,933 9.8 18.9 1.5

Appalachian Alabama 2,384,910 1,139,070 1,245,840 9.3 18.1 1.3

Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,320,780 623,687 697,093 10.6 20.4 1.9

Georgia 7,466,582 3,570,384 3,896,198 9.0 16.8 1.9

Appalachian Georgia 2,248,617 1,088,565 1,160,052 8.1 15.5 1.2

Non-Appalachian Georgia 5,217,965 2,481,819 2,736,146 9.4 17.3 2.1

Kentucky 3,366,540 1,629,634 1,736,906 8.8 17.0 1.2

Appalachian Kentucky 915,257 447,512 467,745 7.7 14.9 0.8

Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,451,283 1,182,122 1,269,161 9.3 17.8 1.3

Maryland 4,555,597 2,164,162 2,391,435 8.9 16.5 1.9

Appalachian Maryland 199,976 101,838 98,138 10.3 18.7 1.7

Non-Appalachian Maryland 4,355,621 2,062,324 2,293,297 8.8 16.4 2.0

Mississippi 2,241,286 1,066,983 1,174,303 8.2 15.9 1.3

Appalachian Mississippi 477,303 227,340 249,963 7.4 14.4 1.0

Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,763,983 839,643 924,340 8.5 16.3 1.4

New York 15,397,847 7,346,398 8,051,449 5.4 10.6 0.6

Appalachian New York 842,269 412,545 429,724 9.4 17.9 1.2

Non-Appalachian New York 14,555,578 6,933,853 7,621,725 5.2 10.2 0.6

North Carolina 7,478,600 3,555,073 3,923,527 9.3 17.8 1.6

Appalachian North Carolina 1,360,439 652,407 708,032 9.4 18.4 1.1

Non-Appalachian North Carolina 6,118,161 2,902,666 3,215,495 9.3 17.6 1.8

Ohio 8,911,658 4,296,974 4,614,684 9.1 17.6 1.1

Appalachian Ohio 1,573,005 770,085 802,920 10.0 19.6 0.9

Non-Appalachian Ohio 7,338,653 3,526,889 3,811,764 8.8 17.1 1.2

Pennsylvania 10,052,453 4,847,440 5,205,013 8.7 16.9 1.0

Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,623,693 2,257,528 2,366,165 9.9 19.1 1.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,428,760 2,589,912 2,838,848 7.6 15.0 1.0

South Carolina 3,665,349 1,746,945 1,918,404 10.3 19.8 1.8

Appalachian South Carolina 928,677 445,490 483,187 9.0 17.6 1.0

Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,736,672 1,301,455 1,435,217 10.8 20.5 2.0

Tennessee 4,989,249 2,390,481 2,598,768 9.3 17.8 1.4

Appalachian Tennessee 2,223,282 1,072,364 1,150,918 9.8 19.0 1.2

Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,765,967 1,318,117 1,447,850 8.9 16.9 1.6

Virginia 6,281,984 3,016,056 3,265,928 11.2 20.5 2.7

Appalachian Virginia 617,739 305,524 312,215 8.3 16.0 0.9

Non-Appalachian Virginia 5,664,245 2,710,532 2,953,713 11.6 21.0 2.9

West Virginia (entire state) 1,468,235 717,424 750,811 10.2 19.8 1.1

Note: The ACS defines veterans as 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.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
99

Figure 11.1: Percent of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015

In 2011-2015, a little more than 9 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, there was considerable 

variation throughout the Region. In 145 Appalachian counties, for example, at least one in 10 civilian residents were 

veterans. Most of the counties with the highest share of veterans were in Northern and North Central Appalachia, 

although there were pockets of high concentration further south. In contrast, the veteran prevalence rate was lower 

than the national average in 107 counties; nearly half the counties in this group were in Central Appalachia—and 37 

of them were in Kentucky alone. Another 20 of these counties were in Appalachian Mississippi—the Region’s only 

other state besides Kentucky where veterans were less than 8 percent of adult civilians.
100

Figure 11.2: Percent of Civilians Ages 18 to 34 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015

Military veterans accounted for just 2.2 percent of Appalachia’s young adult (ages 18-34) civilian population in the 

2011-2015 period, compared to 2.3 percent for the nation as a whole. Yet in 184 of the Region’s 420 counties, the 

prevalence was at or above the national rate. In fact, there were 10 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. 
101

Figure 11.3: Percent of Civilians Ages 35 to 64 in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015

In the Appalachian Region, 8 percent of civilians ages 35 to 64 were military veterans in 2011-2015, slightly above the 

U.S. rate of just over 7 percent. The prevalence was even higher in some counties: In 40 of them, veterans comprised 

at least one-tenth of 35-to-64-year-old civilian residents. More than half of these counties were in Northern and North 

Central Appalachia, although there were also pockets of concentration in the South Central and Southern subregions. 

Yet the veteran prevalence rate was lower than the national average in 154 counties; all but a handful of these were 

in Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. Most veterans of the 1991 Gulf War fall in this age group, as do 

the youngest Vietnam veterans.
102

Figure 11.4: Percent of Civilians Ages 65 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Are Veterans, 2011-2015

In 2011-2015, more than one-fifth 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 31 counties. Most counties in this group were in 

Northern and North Central Appalachia. By contrast, there were 21 counties where veterans comprised less than 15 

percent of the older civilian residents. Kentucky had 13 of the counties in this latter group; veterans were just 18 

percent of older civilians in the state’s Appalachian section. (Among the states, only Appalachian Mississippi had a 

lower share.)
103

Table 11.3: Percentage Point Change in Veteran Status of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region, by Age 

Group and Gender, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

Veteran Status 

Percentage Point Change in Share of Adults Who Are Veterans

Total, Ages 

18 and 

Over

By Age Group By Gender

Ages

18-34

Ages

35-64

Ages 65 

and Over Males Females

United States - 1.6 - 0.3 - 2.4 - 2.6 - 3.3 + 0.0

Appalachian Region - 1.7 - 0.3 - 2.6 - 2.1 - 3.3 - 0.1

Subregions

Northern Appalachia - 1.8 - 0.4 - 2.6 - 2.4 - 3.9 - 0.1

North Central Appalachia - 1.6 - 0.6 - 2.4 - 2.1 - 3.2 - 0.1

Central Appalachia - 1.4 - 0.6 - 2.2 - 1.7 - 2.8 - 0.2

South Central Appalachia - 1.6 - 0.1 - 2.8 - 1.7 - 3.2 + 0.0

Southern Appalachia - 1.5 - 0.3 - 2.6 - 1.8 - 3.0 - 0.1

County Types

Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) - 1.6 - 0.5 - 2.5 - 2.3 - 3.4 - 0.2

Small Metros (pop. <1 million) - 1.6 - 0.4 - 2.5 - 2.1 - 3.4 + 0.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros - 1.6 - 0.3 - 2.7 - 2.0 - 3.4 + 0.0

Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros - 1.5 + 0.0 - 2.7 - 1.9 - 3.2 - 0.1

Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) - 1.6 - 0.4 - 2.7 - 1.9 - 3.4 + 0.0

Alabama - 1.6 - 0.4 - 2.6 - 2.2 - 3.5 - 0.1

Appalachian Alabama - 1.8 - 0.2 - 2.9 - 2.2 - 3.5 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian Alabama - 1.5 - 0.7 - 2.1 - 2.0 - 3.3 + 0.0

Georgia - 1.2 - 0.3 - 2.2 - 1.5 - 2.5 + 0.1

Appalachian Georgia - 1.3 - 0.6 - 2.4 - 1.3 - 2.4 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian Georgia - 1.2 - 0.2 - 2.1 - 1.7 - 2.6 + 0.0

Kentucky - 1.4 - 0.3 - 2.3 - 1.6 - 2.8 - 0.1

Appalachian Kentucky - 1.3 - 0.5 - 2.0 - 1.5 - 2.6 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian Kentucky - 1.4 - 0.3 - 2.3 - 1.6 - 2.9 - 0.1

Maryland - 1.7 - 0.6 - 2.3 - 3.0 - 3.6 - 0.1

Appalachian Maryland - 1.6 - 0.7 - 1.7 - 3.0 - 3.6 + 0.5

Non-Appalachian Maryland - 1.7 - 0.6 - 2.3 - 3.0 - 3.6 - 0.1

Mississippi - 1.6 - 0.3 - 2.4 - 2.3 - 3.1 - 0.1

Appalachian Mississippi - 1.4 - 0.2 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 3.4 + 0.2

Non-Appalachian Mississippi - 1.5 - 0.5 - 2.3 - 2.3 - 3.1 - 0.2

New York - 1.5 - 0.2 - 2.1 - 3.1 - 3.2 - 0.1

Appalachian New York - 1.8 - 0.1 - 2.9 - 2.7 - 3.8 + 0.0

Non-Appalachian New York - 1.5 - 0.2 - 2.0 - 3.1 - 3.1 - 0.1

North Carolina - 1.5 - 0.2 - 2.5 - 1.9 - 3.0 - 0.1

Appalachian North Carolina - 1.5 + 0.1 - 2.7 - 2.0 - 3.2 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian North Carolina - 1.4 - 0.3 - 2.5 - 1.9 - 3.0 + 0.0

Ohio - 1.6 - 0.3 - 2.6 - 2.4 - 3.4 - 0.1

Appalachian Ohio - 1.6 - 0.4 - 2.5 - 1.8 - 3.1 - 0.2

Non-Appalachian Ohio - 1.7 - 0.3 - 2.6 - 2.5 - 3.6 + 0.0

Pennsylvania - 1.9 - 0.4 - 2.6 - 2.8 - 4.0 - 0.1

Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.9 - 0.4 - 2.6 - 2.6 - 4.0 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania - 1.9 - 0.4 - 2.6 - 2.9 - 3.9 + 0.0

South Carolina - 1.5 - 0.2 - 2.4 - 2.3 - 3.1 + 0.1

Appalachian South Carolina - 1.4 - 0.3 - 2.6 - 1.9 - 2.8 - 0.2

Non-Appalachian South Carolina - 1.5 - 0.2 - 2.4 - 2.5 - 3.2 + 0.1

Tennessee - 1.4 - 0.1 - 2.6 - 1.7 - 3.0 + 0.0

Appalachian Tennessee - 1.3 - 0.1 - 2.6 - 1.4 - 2.9 + 0.0

Non-Appalachian Tennessee - 1.4 - 0.1 - 2.4 - 1.9 - 3.1 + 0.1

Virginia - 1.6 - 0.5 - 2.2 - 2.3 - 3.2 + 0.0

Appalachian Virginia - 2.1 - 0.9 - 2.9 - 2.8 - 4.1 - 0.1

Non-Appalachian Virginia - 1.4 - 0.6 - 2.1 - 2.2 - 3.2 + 0.0

West Virginia (entire state) - 1.6 - 0.6 - 2.4 - 2.0 - 3.2 - 0.1

Note: The ACS defines veterans as 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.

Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 American Community Surveys.
104

Figure 11.5: Percentage Point Change in the Share of Adult Civilians in the Appalachian Region Who Are 

Veterans, 2006-2010 to 2011-2015

The share of Appalachia’s adult civilians who were military veterans was almost two percentage points lower in the 

2011-2015 period than it was in 2006-2010. And although the magnitude of the decrease varied little among the 

subregions, county types, and the Appalachian versus non-Appalachian portions of the 13 states, there was some 

variation at the county level. In 84 Appalachian counties, for example (spread throughout the Region), veterans’ share 

of the population fell by at least 2.5 percentage points. Yet the share actually rose in 27 counties—21 of which were in 

Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. Veterans were at least 10 percent of the civilian population in more 

than half of the counties where the share increased, compared to just one-fourth of the counties with the largest 

decreases.
105

TRENDS IN VETERAN STATUS

• In Appalachia, the share of adult civilians who were military veterans declined more than a full 

percentage point between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, falling to just above 9 percent (see Tables 11.1 

and 11.3). There was little difference in the decrease among the subregions, county types, and the 

Appalachian versus non-Appalachian portions of the 13 states.

• The decrease in veteran status was more pronounced among middle-aged and older civilians than 

among younger ones. While the share of veterans fell less than half a percentage point among 

younger civilians ages 18 to 34, it declined more than two percentage points among civilians ages 35 

and over. As veteran status is more prevalent among older residents than younger ones, the 

movement of cohorts with lower prevalence rates into older ages accounts for much of the decline. 

(Mortality among the oldest veterans also is a factor, particularly in the decline among persons ages 

65 and over.)

• Not surprisingly, the decreased share in veteran status among men has fueled the overall decrease. 

The share of adult men in the Appalachian Region who were veterans fell three percentage points 

between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, while the share among women barely dropped. Of course, men 

remain far more likely than women to be military veterans—the respective rates in Appalachia were 

18 percent and 1 percent (see Table 11.2).
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APPENDIX A: REFERENCE MAPS 

Figure A.1: Appalachian Subregions

The Appalachian Region covers 205,000 square miles and includes all of West Virginia and portions of 12 other 

states from New York to Mississippi. The 420 counties of the Region are grouped into five subregions, based on 

similarities in economic and demographic characteristics and geographic location.
107

Figure A.2: Rural-Urban County Types in the Appalachian Region

While Appalachia is a distinct part of the United States, the Region is far from homogeneous, including both rural 

counties and major metropolitan areas such as Pittsburgh, Birmingham, and parts of suburban Atlanta. This map 

shows the rural-urban type for each Appalachian county.