Appalachian Ohio is usually defined as the twenty-nine counties in the
southeastern part of the state.
It differs from the rest of the state in its geography, its history,
its economy, and its culture. It is a rural area in a largely urban state.
The landscape is rugged, hilly and wooded consisting of foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains. It is the poorest part but one of the most beautiful
parts of the state.
Appalachia is a land rich in natural resources, which has defined its
historical course. Eight of the states have coal deposits. You will
find natural gas and many other minerals here. The area is
heavily forested, and with an abundant supply of water. In the
springtime, flowering dogwood and
redbud appear to float in the woods. Summers are warm, and in the winter
there is enough snow to
support ski resorts at higher elevations.
The Appalachian value system that influences attitudes and behavior
is different from the norm, and
similar to the value system of an earlier America. Some of our
more important values are religion;
family solidarity; individualism, self reliance and pride; love
of place; modesty and being oneself;
sense of beauty; sense of humor; neighborliness; and patriotism.
Nowadays Appalachian people are more diverse than ever, both rural and
urban, but share pride, values and heritage that makes us distinct.
You can't separate our history from the history of coal
mining, oil, timber, and other extractive industries, and our own collusion
in the colonialism of our
land. After years of prosperity, most of these industries have left,
leaving the landscape scarred yet
beautiful. Values of family, self-reliance and pride have helped
us bounce back from hard times even though others have portrayed us in
a negative manner
The first indigenous people in this area were the Mound Builders. Ross County ,just north of my own Scioto County, is one of the earliest settled geographies in America. It is the center of mound building activity in the area, with over 500 mounds.
The Mound Builders were two distinct groups of people, the Hopewell and the Adena. The Adena arrived in the Ohio Valley about 800 B.C. The Hopewell emerged about a hundred years before the birth of Christ.
Mound City National Monument is one of five Ohio national monuments.
It has preserved 23 mounds in one 13 acre tract. Even with the knowledge
of our civilization pushing the edges of the
ancient necropolis, on just the right early autumn afternoon, slightly
before dusk, the large grassy
field of mounds, ringed by woodland, can be very affecting. In our
time, it is still a powerful
experience to stand in a quiet field on one of the biggest pieces of
prehistoric America still above
ground, and contemplate the life and work that went on 2,000 years
before us.
As you can see, southern Ohio is a beautiful and culturally rich portion
of this great country. If you venture into our area, you will know
just what I mean. There is an imagineary line , as I have stated
earlier, that begins south of Chillicothe, our first capital, that enters
you into the historic and beautiful society of Appalachia. Come visit
us sometime, you will come away wiser from the experience.
