Appalachia is a broad geographic and cultural region in eastern North America, centered on the Appalachian Mountain range from southern Canada to the southeastern United States, with West Virginia near its core. The exact boundaries vary by definition, but common understandings place it within parts of 13 states and across thousands of square miles.
What the region typically includes
- Geography: The Appalachian Mountains stretch roughly 1,500–2,000 miles from Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) down to central Alabama (USA), acting as a major eastern continental divide.
- States and counties: Definitions vary, but the Appalachian Region commonly spans parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and sometimes New Jersey and others, depending on the source; the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) identifies 423 counties across 13 states as part of Appalachia.
- Population and communities: The ARC estimates tens of millions of people live in Appalachia, with diverse urban and rural communities that include core and greater-area designations within the region.
Key sources and definitions
- ARC designation: The ARC’s definition focuses on a 423-county footprint across 13 states, extending from southern New York to northern Mississippi, including numerous tribal communities.
- Geographic scope: The Appalachian Mountains themselves run from Newfoundland (Canada) to central Alabama (USA), with notable subranges like the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains shaping regional geography and culture.
- Cultural and economic context: Appalachia is often discussed in terms of both natural beauty and economic challenges, reflecting a blend of heritage, geography, and current development efforts.
If you’d like, I can tailor a precise boundary description using a specific definition (e.g., ARC-based, or a historical/cultural boundary) and provide a map-ready outline or a list of included counties for your state.
