Demographic Change in Appalachia: A Tentative Analysis

Due to the limited data collected in the 2010 Census, this article analyzes the demographic trends in Appalachia since the 2000 Census based on a set of select variables drawn from the American Community Survey (ACS). To provide context, a brief review of total population trends in Appalachia between 1910 and 1970 is presented, followed by an overview of key demographic changes in the region from 1970 through 2010 for a variety of population characteristics. Next, the limitations created by the substitution of the ACS for the census long form in 2010 are discussed, illustrating the need for tentativeness in the conclusions drawn from the data. A discussion of methodology follows, describing the geography of the research and reviewing the risks and benefits of comparing census to ACS data. Changes in the region between 2000 and 2010 for selected demographic variables are then presented, providing a sense of significant changes both over time and in geographical areas. The findings should not lead to definitive conclusions about demographic changes in Appalachia between 2000 and 2010, but should raise awareness of and sensitivity to particular demographic phenomena and potential changes that may be occurring in the region for future monitoring and analysis.