Hillbilly Highway: The Transappalachian Migration and the Making of a White Working Class

During the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, millions of poor and working-class white southerners migrated to the industrial Midwest in search of work, a significant yet underexplored event in American history. This migration, known as the "hillbilly highway," shaped American culture and politics, influencing the labor movement, the urban crisis, and the rise of white working-class conservatism. Drawing from a wide range of sources, the narrative highlights the social advancements and marginalization faced by these communities as they moved north. The story reveals how the migration created a new cultural region, which continues to be a key battleground in American politics today. This account challenges conventional views of the lasting political and cultural effects of this massive relocation.

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