Echoes of Appalachia
“Stories, culture, and memories from the heart of Appalachia.”
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recent posts
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Why Homelessness in Appalachia Reached a Breaking Point in 2024 and 2025
- Immigrants and Appalachia: The Hidden Story That Built a Mountain Civilization
- Urban Appalachia: Rural Memory Inside the Modern City
- My New Book Has Been Published
- Beyond Appalachia: Venerable Monks, the Walk For Peace, and a Nation Searching for Common Ground
about
Author: Tim Carmichael
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In November 2025, as the federal government teeters on the brink and key funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) hangs in the balance, thousands of low-income families across Appalachia could face a crisis. Some states have already warned that November benefits may not be issued unless funding is restored. Tennessee has a huge…
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In recent years, the Appalachian region has experienced a wave of new arrivals seeking what they perceive as a simpler, more authentic way of life. Drawn by breathtaking landscapes, affordable land, and a growing cultural fascination with rural living, these newcomers arrive with dreams of cabins, craft breweries, and quiet mountain mornings. Many of them…
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Health insurance premiums are about to rise again, and people in Appalachia will feel the blow harder than almost anyone else. Across West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, and rural Tennessee, families already living on tight budgets are opening letters that tell them their monthly premiums will soon skyrocket. Many are seeing rates double or…
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The road into my town winds through acres of farmland that stretch to the horizon, dotted with tractors, barns, and fields that breathe with the rhythm of the seasons. Every spring brings a cautious hope, and every autumn delivers a verdict. A good harvest can carry a family through the winter, while a bad one…
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As the 2025 Christmas Blue Barrel Drive prepares to launch, communities across Appalachia are coming together to bring hope to families in need. With the government shutdown affecting assistance programs and Thanksgiving only weeks away, many families will struggle to afford meals and gifts this holiday season. Through the Blue Barrel Drive and the online…
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Appalachia powered America, and in return, it was left behind. Both Democrats and Republicans betrayed the mountains, but in different ways. One sold the promise of progress while signing trade deals that gutted jobs. The other promised a revival while letting corporations take control of land and resources. Which betrayal hurt worse?
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A real-life treasure hunt is underway in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, where $26,000 in gold coins has been hidden in a glass jar on a public hiking trail. Countdown Treasure invites adventurers to join the search with a live webcam feed, a shrinking daily map, and exclusive drone photos for premium members. The…
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Hidden deep in the Appalachian Mountains are the remains of towns that once thrived with life and labor. These lost communities tell stories of coal mining, hope, and heartbreak. Journey through Appalachia’s forgotten valleys and rediscover the places time left behind.
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Appalachia carries a long running legacy of extraction. Coal seams, timber stands, gas deposits and fertile valleys attracted waves of investment across two centuries. Ownership patterns established during that era continue to shape who holds power in the region, who gains wealth from resources, and who bears environmental and economic harms. This report traces ownership…
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The world mocked the hillbilly until the hillbilly vanished. What replaced him smiled on camera, quoted Faulkner, wore vintage denim, and told stories that sold. The accent softened. The hands came clean. People called it progress. It felt more like disappearance. Every generation in these hills carries the weight of ridicule. The word “hillbilly” once…
Echoes of Appalachia 