Abstract
Scholars have long analyzed the persistence of Appalachian poverty in counties, but less is known about the dimensions of poverty at smaller geographic levels. This paper builds upon the concept of spatial inequality, which explains how socio-economic disadvantage is segregated across residential space based on race and class. I extend the study of spatial inequality to Appalachia by investigating how local poverty is stratified across the region. The literature suggests two historical processes that could lead to spatial stratification in Appalachia: (1) the concentration of local economic opportunity in county seat cities, and (2) historical economic development processes that emphasized growth and marginalized the most rural areas of the region. Therefore, I analyze whether distance to a county seat influences poverty rates in Appalachian neighborhoods. The results indicate that distance to a county seat has a curvilinear ‘U-shaped’ relationship with poverty: the poorest neighborhoods, on average, are likely to be closest and farthest away from county seats. While data limitations exist, these findings emphasize the importance of place-based, subcounty initiatives for poverty alleviation in Appalachia.
