Response to the Appalachian Regional Commission website

When I first encountered the website for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) during my research for the Appalachian stereotypes essay, I was surprised. I had never heard of something. In other words, I never heard of anything like the Northeast Regional Commission (Connecticut is my home state). However, after thinking about the reason for the creation of this commission, I realized why it was so important to have an organization that represents this region.
The first part of the site that I went to was about the history of the ARC. This organization is older than I first thought. President John F. Kennedy created ARC’s predecessor in 1963 called the President’s Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC). In the mid-1960s, the region was mired in deep poverty. According to the website one of three Appalachians lived in poverty and the per capita income was 23 percent lower than the national average. I guess it was a clear choice what region needed the most help.
The next part of the site that I went to was the economic overview. I felt that this section would provide an accurate measurement of the success of ARC. Between 1965 and 1990, the poverty rate in Appalachia was cut in half. The educational level has also increased sharply. According to the website, “In 1990, for the first time, the share of people aged 18 to 24 with 12 or more years of schooling was slightly higher in Appalachia (77 percent) than in the U.S. (76 percent).” I found it amazing that ARC and the Appalachian people in general could make such a gain in just twenty-five years. There are still problems, however, that need to be fixed. For instance, the per capita income in Appalachia compared to the national average has begun to slip since 1999. Also, the unemployment rate is still slightly higher than the national average. Also, the percent population increase in Appalachia is several points lower than in the rest of the nation. Because much of this information, I think that once the 2010 census is complete, Appalachia might be equal or greater in some of these areas than the United States.
The last part of the site that I looked at was titled the Highway Program. This is ARC’s main project, and is most likely the reason for the gains that have been made in the region. According to the website, PARC reported in 1964 to Congress that economic growth would not be possible until the isolation of Appalachia was overcome. Appalachia mostly only had narrow dirt two lane roads. The interstate system basically ignored the region, going around or through as efficiently as possible. After seeing some of the terrain in movies like Matewan, I can see why the road builders were hesitant to build large highways up and around the mountains. Not only would it have been incredibly difficult with the technology that existed in the 1960s, it would have also cost a ridiculous amount. In 1965, the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) was approved. This was a plan for 3,090 miles of road. According to ARCs website, as of the end of fiscal year 2006, 2,645.1 miles had been completed or were under construction.
I think that this is a good idea and I think that it will work. Sixty-six miles of road per year for forty years is quite an accomplishment. I think that Appalachia’s recent economic growth is a direct result of this new road system. Hopefully the success will continue.