Transforming the Appalachian Countryside: Railroads, Deforestation, and Social Change in West Virginia, 1880-1920

by Ronald L. Lewis

In 1880, ancient-growth forest still covered two-thirds of West Virginia, but by the 1920s lumbermen had denuded the entire region. Ronald Lewis explores the transformation in these mountain counties precipitated by deforestation. As the only state that lies entirely within the Appalachian region, West
Virginia provides an ideal site for studying the broader social impact of deforestation in Appalachia, the South, and the eastern United States.

Most of West Virginia was still dominated by a backcountry economy when the industrial transition began. In short order, however, railroads linked remote mountain settlements directly to
national markets, hauling away forest products and returning with manufactured goods and modern ideas. Workers from the countryside and abroad swelled new mill towns, and merchants ventured into
the mountains to fulfill the needs of the growing population. To protect their massive investments, capitalists increasingly extended control over the state's legal and political systems.

Eventually, though, even ardent supporters of industrialization had reason to contemplate the consequences of unregulated exploitation. Once the timber was gone, the mills closed and the railroads pulled up their tracks, leaving behind an environmental disaster and a new class of marginalized rural poor to confront the worst depression in American history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Ronald L. Lewis is Stuart and Joyce Robbins chair and professor emeritus of history at West Virginia University.

Reviews

[Josh Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of great information regarding mainly West Virginia but also Appalachia as a whole during the late 1800s and early 1900s as industry replaced the subsistence lifestyle. The author included lots of data in the form of tables and references at the end of the book. Only criticism is that sometimes it was hard to follow. The point of the chapters seemed to be lost sometimes on rabbit trails, although very interesting and well researched, sometimes would go off topic. Otherwise it’s a very interesting read and extremely informative!

[Luke D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book for anyone from the area. The last chapter is the most damning indictment of environmental destruction I've ever read. Incredible researched book.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read one book about Appalachian history and how it got the wat it is, read this book. Blatant greed and exploitation ravaged the virgin forests of central Appalachia, and the repercussions led to the creation of several national forests. The destruction of the headwaters led to extreme cases of acidic water reaching eastern cities, and this historical example should read like a cautionary tale, instead it is ignored and now headwater streams are being covered up by mining operations. Ronald Lewis is a giant in Appalachian scholarship, and this very possibly might be his most important work.

[Scott]

If you've ever wondered why the trees around you are so small, this book will probably answer your question.