Miners, Millhands, and Mountaineers: Industrialization of the Appalachian South, 1880-1930 (Twentieth-Century America Series)

A really interesting book. Highly recommend

The past 100 years have seen Appalachia transformed from a largely autonomous region of small farms and abundant wildlife to one largely dependent on jobs related to the extraction of mineral resources. The transformation stripped Appalachia of the minerals and the wildlife while leaving the greater part of the resulting wealth in the hands of outside interests.Ronald Eller, focusing on the years 1880-1930, documents this transformation in great detail. He describes the many extraction industries, from timber to iron ore to coal, and their goal (with some exceptions) of removing the maximum resources at the minimum of cost, with little concern for the health or livelihood of the local residents. It is a valuable reference work, well researched and with an extensive bibliography. Its main shortcoming is its restriction to a span of dates well before the present era of mountaintop removal.

I really like this book. It is well researched and extremely detailed. Anyone interested in a history (and kind of a genealogy) of the Appalachian region will enjoy this book. As a side note, I found it a great companion read to a slew of books about mining conflicts in Appalachia in the 20s and 30s; it really rounds out the narrative by providing great context.

Ronald Eller shows extensive research into the history of how the cultural, economic, and industrial landscapes of southern appalachia was changed through the demands of its renewable and non-renewable natural resources. This book is highly recommended to individuals who are both anxious and curious to strengthen their knowledge about the exploitation of labor and natural resources in southern appalachia.

A great book by a very respected author. Eller knows his stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and adding it to my library of Appalachian books.

This is a neat book about the factors that have shaped the economy in the Appalachians. It is very informative for the native and the non-native.

Informative! Arrived in great shape.

Great Book