About Urban Appalachians and UACC

Cincinnati has long been a haven for Appalachian migrants and their descendants. Since the early 19th century, many from Kentucky and Tennessee have moved to Cincinnati, especially during the Great Migration of the 1940s to 1960s, when millions left Appalachia for industrial cities. Economic pressures and job shortages in Appalachia, coupled with increased demand for labor in northern industrial cities, drove many to relocate. Post-WWII, industries actively recruited Appalachians, while mechanization in mining and agriculture further diminished job prospects in their home regions. Neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine, Camp Washington, and East End, as well as cities like Norwood and Middletown, became major centers for Appalachian communities.

The Urban Appalachian Community Coalition (UACC) builds on the legacy of the Main Street Bible Center established in 1964, which served the Appalachian community under Ernie Mynatt. Evolving through various organizations, including the Urban Appalachian Council, UACC now advocates for Cincinnati’s Appalachian residents, continuing to be their primary voice.

Our Kith & Kin project explores the rich and unique history of urban Appalachians in southwest Ohio by documenting important histories of urban Appalachians—past and present—through a collaboration of images, videos, and words.