Housing and Heritage: Perceptions of “Culture” and its Influence among Policy-Makers and Housing Professionals in Southern and Central Appalachia

Abstract

Mountainous “Appalachia” is an historically impoverished and isolated region of the USA that has in recent years experienced a wave of second home development in certain parts, resulting in a housing affordability dilemma for some towns. Some also suggest that the region is home to a distinctive “mountain culture”. In academic circles, however, the use of the very term “culture” has been criticized as unrealistically denoting something fixed and stable, and also for obscuring oppressive power relationships within a society. This study investigates whether housing professionals in the region subscribe to fixed or fluid notions of Appalachian culture and discusses the implications for housing policy and planning practice that may follow.

Keywords:

• Housing
• Culture
• Heritage
• Appalachia