Batesville, Georgia: Appalachia Kinship Community

Abstract

My research is focused on the Appalachian community of Batesville, Georgia. The purpose of my research is to prove that Appalachian kinship communities are still existing and essential to being classified as Appalachian. I accomplish this through the analysis of the history of the Batesville community. Three aspects that are represented in an Appalachian kinship community are: yeoman/self-sustaining mentality, tightly knit families, and comradery shared between neighbors. By possessing these qualities, Appalachian kinship communities are able to express happiness despite the struggles they encounter throughout their history which shows their resiliency. My research also proves that Appalachian kinship communities still exist. Like other Appalachian communities, Batesville experiences economic hardships throughout their history as well. Illegal whiskey production and distribution is one of the common coping mechanisms used by the people in the Batesville region in order to satisfy their essential needs. Batesville was also a community that was used to generate revenue for the local logging industry. Whiskey stills and logging industries are notorious characteristics of Appalachian communities, but the significance is seen through the people of those communities. The purpose of making illegal whiskey and working for logging industries, that were ultimately destroying their homeland, was to survive. Batesville is a prime example of this but more importantly they did not just survive, they thrived. Although that might not seem like the case to outsiders, the joy shared within the community and family proves otherwise.