Appalachian region

Appalachia
Region
Downtown Roanoke from atop Mill Mountain.
Areas included under the Appalachian Regional Commission's charter
Coordinates: 38°48′N 81°00′W / 38.80°N 81.00°W / 38.80; -81.00Coordinates: 38°48′N 81°00′W / 38.80°N 81.00°W / 38.80; -81.00
Counties or county-equivalents	420
States	13
Population (2010)
• Total	25 million
Demonym(s)	Appalachian

Appalachia (/ˌæpəˈlætʃə, -ˈleɪtʃə/) is a cultural region in the Eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York to northern Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle (Newfoundland and Labrador) in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in Alabama, the cultural region of Appalachia typically refers only to the central and southern portions of the range. As of the 2010 United States Census, the region was home to approximately 25 million people.

Since its recognition as a distinctive region in the late 19th century, Appalachia has been a source of enduring myths and distortions regarding the isolation, temperament, and behavior of its inhabitants. Early 20th century writers often engaged in yellow journalism focused on sensationalistic aspects of the region's culture, such as moonshining and clan feuding, and often portrayed the region's inhabitants as uneducated and prone to impulsive acts of violence. Sociological studies in the 1960s and 1970s helped to re-examine and dispel these stereotypes.