52 Ancestors Week 8: Migration

 

This week’s theme is “migration.”   The Hillbilly Highway

I am the product of the Hillbilly Highway.  My Dad decided to move my mom and two brothers out of Weston, West Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland for the chance of a better life.  Jobs were scare in West Virginia.  Families were hungry.  Many left Appalachia for the Steel Towns of the North and the opportunities to the East.  This became known as the Hillbilly Highway.

Some made it back home.  Others never did.   

This video is maternal family's deeply personal story. "Hillbilly Highway: The Out-Migration of Appalachians" features Sandy Patak discussing the migration patterns of people from the Appalachian region to industrial cities. The presentation delves into the reasons behind this migration and examines the cultural impacts on both those who left and those who remained in Appalachia. 

What is the Hillbilly Highway and Why is it so important to Appalachian Genealogy?

Click on Read More to find out....

By the way, if you have read the last two blog posts: Surprise, DNA Edition and Letters, guess who else traveled the Hillbilly Highway from the same town in West Virginia?  You guessed it... my biological father.  

The Hillbilly Highway refers to the large-scale migration of people from the Appalachian region (including parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas) to industrial cities in the Midwest and beyond, particularly from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Key Aspects of the Hillbilly Highway:

1. Reasons for Migration:

   • Economic hardship due to the decline of coal mining and agriculture in Appalachia.
   • The promise of better-paying industrial jobs in cities like Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
   • Improved transportation (railroads and highways) making migration easier.

2. Destinations:

   • Many Appalachians moved to industrial centers in the North and Midwest, such as Baltimore, Detroit (for auto industry jobs), Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis.
   • Some also moved to the South, especially Texas, for jobs in oil and manufacturing.

3. Cultural Impact:

   • The migration led to strong Appalachian communities in Northern cities, where traditions, music (especially country and bluegrass), and cultural values remained intact.
   • Migrants often faced stereotyping and discrimination, being labeled as "hillbillies" or "rednecks."
   • The out-migration affected the home communities, leading to population decline and economic struggles in Appalachia.

4. Modern Perspective:

• Though the traditional wave of the Hillbilly Highway migration slowed, economic struggles in Appalachia still push younger generations to seek opportunities elsewhere.
• The cultural legacy remains strong, influencing music, food, and family dynamics in both the Appalachian region and the cities where migrants settled.

This week's music video is none other than the Great Steve Earle with Hillbilly Highway.  His biographical version of the Hillbilly Highway.

What is your family's migration story?  Drop us a comment and tell us their journeys.

#52Ancestors was started by another WikiTreer, blogger, and professional genealogist, Amy Johnson Crow. Check out her Generations Cafe Facebook group