Planning the Next Great Migration

As for Kentucky, West Virginia seems to have more of Appalachia’s chronic problems than Tennessee and fewer opportunities. It is much more rural in character, which for some will be attractive as there is still plenty of unspoiled scenery, and dominated by evangelicals, who make up over half the population. Addiction and poverty are common, and crime rates are often quite high compared to towns of similar size elsewhere. The coal industry is politically very powerful, enabling it to harm environments and human health almost unchecked, even though employment in that industry has been declining for decades.