Witchcraft in Indiana is legal, as long as it does not violate any secular laws. The United States Constitution guarantees religious freedom, which is codified in the First Amendment. In contemporary America, witchcraft itself is not illegal, as it was never explicitly illegal on a federal level. However, laws related to witchcraft historically pertained to the prosecution of individuals for witchcraft-related offenses, primarily.
In Indiana, there are two primary types of practices called “Witchcraft”: witchcraft and paganism. Witchcraft has been recognized as a legitimate practice under Indiana law, as long as it does not violate any secular laws. There are two primary types of witchcraft practices: witchcraft and paganism.
The first instance of witchcraft occurred in 1603 when Sweden became a British common law colony and subject to the English Witchcraft Act. The evolution of witchcraft-related laws in Indiana has been fascinating, with the first instance occurring nineteen years after the Swedish territory became a British common law colony.
Local witchcraft practitioners connect with one another through the “Bloomington Witch Collective” Discord. The Portuguese Philippine Code governs Brazilian criminal law from 1603 through 1830, and Ghana’s parliament passed a bill to protect witchcraft accusations. Under Indiana’s intimidation statute, an individual is prohibited from communicating with the intent to create fear of retaliation for a prior lawful act.
📹 Lana Del Rey is a witch—Be careful who you listen to!
… a songwriter she’s a singer she’s speaking these words no doubt she does witchcraft on her music to make it successful to make …
What is a male witch called?
The term “witch” is primarily used in colloquial English, with women being the male equivalent. Modern dictionaries distinguish four meanings of the term: a person with supernatural powers, a practitioner of neo-pagan religion, a mean or ugly old woman, or a charming or alluring girl or woman. The term “witch” was first used to refer to a bewitching young girl in the 18th century, and “witch” as a contemptuous term for an old woman is attested since the 15th century.
Is witchcraft illegal in Florida?
It is worth noting that today’s Florida law does not make witchcraft a crime. We’re lucky, because the Mary Smith case shows you could be tried for witchcraft whenever you cursed at someone who then became ill.
Perhaps the oldest reported opinion in the library’s collection is in a leather-bound book titled Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials. The case is entitled Proceedings Against Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, for High Treason.
The year? Anno Domini 1163, more than 800 years ago.
When did witchcraft become a crime?
During the 16th and 17th centuries, religious tensions in England led to the introduction of severe penalties for witchcraft. Henry VIII’s Witchcraft Act 1541 was the first to define witchcraft as a felony, punishable by death and forfeiture of goods and chattels. It prohibited the use of devise, practice, or exercise of witchcraft, to steal money, treasure, consume, destroy, or provoke people to unlawful love or intent.
The Act also removed the benefit of clergy, which exempted accused from the King’s courts from those convicted of witchcraft. This statute was repealed by Henry’s son, Edward VI, in 1547. The act was a significant step in addressing the issue of witchcraft in England.
Can you still be accused of witchcraft?
During the Salem witch trials, individuals were accused of being Communists and traitors, despite the lack of substantial evidence. Two centuries later, McCarthy spearheaded a congressional “witch hunt,” a phenomenon that persists in the United States to this day.
How many people died in the witch trials?
The Salem witch trials, which took place from June 1692 to May 1693, were a series of investigations and persecutions in the American colonies. The trials resulted in the hanging of 19 convicted witches and the imprisonment of many others. The trials were part of a long history of witch hunts that began in Europe between 1300 and 1330 and ended in the late 18th century. The Salem trials occurred late in the witch hunt sequence, after the abatement of European witch-hunt fervor, which peaked from the 1580s and ’90s to the 1630s and ’40s.
Around 110, 000 people were tried for witchcraft, with between 40, 000 to 60, 000 executed. The number of trials and executions varied according to time and place, but it is generally believed that around 110, 000 people were tried for witchcraft.
Is witchcraft a sin in the Bible?
The Bible contains numerous references to witchcraft, condemning practices such as casting spells, being a medium, spiritist, or consulting the dead. These practices are considered detestable to the Lord, and the Lord will drive out those nations before you. The word “witch” may be a mistranslation of “poisoner”, and some believe there is a primitive idealist belief in a relation between bewitching and coveting. Some adherents of near-east religions acted as mediums, channeling messages from the dead or familiar spirits.
The Bible is sometimes translated as referring to “necromancer” and “neromancy”, but some lexicographers, like James Strong and Spiros Zodhiates, disagree. They believe that the Hebrew word “kashaph” (כשפ) in Exodus 22:18 and other places in the Tanakh comes from a root meaning “to whisper”, meaning “to whisper a spell, i. e. to incant or practice magic”. The Contemporary English Version translates Deuteronomy 18:11 as referring to “any kind of magic”.
What are the punishments for witchcraft?
Witchcraft was a serious crime in the Middle Ages, with various punishments including imprisonment, flogging, fines, or exile. Non-capital punishment was common in England, with most sanctions directed towards penance and atonement. The Old Testament states that “Thou shalt not permit a sorceress to live”. Many faced capital punishment, such as burning at the stake, hanging, or beheading. In New England, people convicted of witchcraft were hanged.
In the Middle Ages, heresy became a heinous crime, leading to brutal torture and forced confessions. The clergy, concerned about the souls they were executing, would burn the accused witches alive to “save them”. Various acts of torture were used against accused witches to coerce confessions and cause them to provide names of alleged co-conspirators. Most historians agree that most persecuted in these witch trials were innocent of any involvement in Devil worship.
The torture of witches increased in frequency after 1468, when the Pope declared witchcraft to be crimen exceptum and removed all legal limits on the application of torture in cases where evidence was difficult to find. In Italy, accused witches were deprived of sleep for up to forty hours, which was also used in England without a limitation on time. Sexual humiliation was also used, such as forced sitting on red-hot stools with the claim that the accused woman would not perform sexual acts with the devil. In most cases, those who endured torture without confessing were released.
Is witchcraft illegal in India?
India lacks a common central law criminalizing witchcraft, but state laws exist. Kerala has been urged to introduce a new law to curb superstitious practices following deaths linked to witchcraft rituals. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana have been identified as the states with the most witchcraft cases, accounting for 49 out of 68 registered cases in the country, according to the 2021 National Crime Records Bureau report.
Do witch hunts still happen?
The Salem Witch Trials, which ended in 1693, have left a lasting impact on religious witch hunts worldwide. Women are the primary targets, but men and children are also persecuted for allegedly practicing witchcraft. While often considered a relic of the past, there is evidence that witch hunts may be increasing, not disappearing. Deutsche Welle has designated Aug. 10 as “World Day Against Witch Hunts”, highlighting the global problem of witch hunts.
Thousands of people are accused of practicing witchcraft every year, and many are persecuted and even killed in organized witch hunts. These hunts are most prominent in African countries but are also common in parts of Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
What are the rules of witchcraft?
The Wiccan Rede, which states “An it harm none, do what ye will,” serves as the primary ethical guideline for Wiccans. The Threefold Law, which places emphasis on the importance of adhering to the ethical principles of “mind the Threefold Law you should, three times bad and three times good,” serves as a guiding principle for those seeking to live a positive ethical lifestyle.
Was witchcraft illegal in the United States?
Over 300 years ago, practicing witchcraft in the American colonies was a felony, defined by English law as acting with magical powers. However, legal failings, mass paranoia, and Puritan religious and societal rules led to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, where over 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft. Twenty were executed, most by hanging, and one man was pressed to death under heavy stones. Dozens suffered under inhumane conditions, including torture and imprisonment.
The tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials is largely due to the failure of the court and the laws during that time, which made visions, dreams, and the testimony of spirits permissible evidence. The court also accepted accusations that were so flimsy they would seem laughable today.
📹 Appalachia’s Gentrification – Clash of Locals & Outsiders 🇺🇸
There’s tension in the mountains of Appalachia, a divide between established locals and wealthier people moving in to buy up …
Thanks for perusal! This is part of our greater Appalachia series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo5If6xyrkr-s2I6yz23o0av ► Help rebuild Jake’s home: gofund.me/d2eac1ce ► Join our community: bit.ly/3HC36EH ► My exclusive content on Patreon: patreon.com/PeterSantenello ► Buy merch: shop.petersantenello.com
My mother was the head of the Avery County N.C. Building Inspection Department and wrote the proposal which became “The Ridge Law” aka the “Mountain Ridge Protection Act” that was passed in 1983. A tiny 95lb 5’2″ tall lady (Aleta Daniels-Field) was the driving force behind the law that prohibits any structure over 40′ tall being built on the top of any mountain. I’m very proud of her for fighting for the beauty of the mountains we call HOME!!!
The local born and raised Appalachian people don’t have any problems with outside folks coming in and wanting to live here. The major problem is the people who are coming and buying up property do so because they love the atmosphere and beauty of this place, BUT when they do get here they seem to want to change it to the way it was where they came from. If you ask any locals the majority agree on that.
As a Watauga local, it breaks my heart to be forced out of my hometown due to rising costs (coughAppstatecough) and people buying second and third vacation homes. The entitlement of people moving into their 6,000 sq foot homes and demanding local change is astounding. Thanks for highlighting the issues.
Im born and raised NC! I live on my familys 220 acre farm and people and businesses are sending offers monthly to buy our land at hardly no cost. Us and All the farmers in the community stand together on keeping this the country side. We stand with yall as well💪🏼. Some of us just want to be left alone and stop dealing with business men and government
Being originally from Southern Kentucky I could tell people one thing. Some of the nicest and even some of the smartest people I’ve ever met have lived in broken down trailers and little broken down cabins. Most of them will give you the shirt off their back if you need it. Never ever judge a book by its cover.
Thank you for the Appalachia series. I’ve enjoyed them. I moved to a nearby county to these people during the vid, but it was a house that was on the market. I’ve been immersing myself in the community and love everyone around here. Even joined the local volunteer fire department to help give back to the community that has been so welcoming.
I’ve been stuck in the hospital for 3 months now and discovered this epically amazing person exploring real issues with real people from a non bias, open minded standpoint. I have utmost respect for Peter Santenello for everything he is showing, the way he shows it, and the drive for knowledge. Big ups!! And thank you.
As a son of a man who grew up in Appalachia (W.Va), this article is amazing and I love her accent! There are some wonderful ppl here. My dad was raised in Bluefield from a small town called Bramwell. It’s always been about community. I know what a holler is lol. I may need to visit. This was emotional for me as my father has passed. What an amazing article
As a 6th generation Texan, I feel this so much. This is exactly what has happened here. Kids moved away and didn’t want the grandparents ranch and sold them off. Whole ranches have had all their trees stripped and are nothing but ugly roof tops now. My house value has more than triples in a decade. We joke with people who are thinking of moving, saying well if you do you won’t be able to afford your house if you want to move back. Old Texans cared for the land and green spaces. They’re now ruined. Trash everywhere. Trees gone. No culture – all that is mostly torn down. We are running out of water because there are no laws around putting in a well and watering your whole vineyard or distillery that just moved in. It’s disgusting. I have so much more to say and to warn these people of. Get your laws in order now. Get people in office that are from there, otherwise…. It’s coming.
Just an FYI, the big field they stop at around the 5 min mark has been cleared as pasture land for as long as I can remember and I’m in my 40s. My Grandmother’s house is about a half mile up the road from that. Her property also has an entire mountain top that is cleared and has been used as pasture land for over 100 years. It was never cleared for the view.
I really felt it when Nick said he was concerned about the rapid rate of change while overlooking that spectacular valley. He’s knows what a precarious point Appalachia is at. Everyone should take Ivy’s final piece of advice to heart when going anywhere, whether it’s visiting or moving there: learn the culture, be kind and respectful, and protect the land. perusal this series from the other side of the world in New Zealand, I’ve really appreciated the insights this series has provided. What strikes me, is that while the extent of the concerns may vary, the issues are the same the world over: affordable housing, drugs, gentrification, social media are affecting the average joe.
I live in TN a mile from the NC line. It breaks my heart every time I see a big fancy house on top of the mountain. Also all of the street lights that run 24/7 drives me nuts. I do agree that the cost of things has at least doubled if not tripled since 2020. The outsiders moving in hasn’t made any thing better or easier for us.
Being a native of western North Carolina and having traveled extensively in the state, I believe our woes regarding development can be condensed to one word…. GREED. Those who have much want more and they do not care who or what is hurt in the process. The only hope is for locals to remain strong and say, No More! People cannot gentrify the area unless locals give permission. We welcome you to visit us as we are.
Thank you again for speaking on such a painful, complicated topic. Born and raised NC and it hurts those of us that have seen all the changes. The culture and media paints rural southern folks badly and yet the rich/companies keep moving in – benefiting from exploiting our resources, spoiling our land, changing our culture and pushing locals out. Generations and generations back and it’s all gone. We love people, we’re so welcoming and don’t mind sharing our communities and space. We’re just wanting it done the right way, in a respectful way and that’s just not happening. So many talk trash about the south but they are so quick to move down here and take over.
As a man from the suburbs of Chicago, seeing this even breaks my heart. I’ve always had a dream of moving to a place like this, but living simple and growing my own food. Why go there and destroy the environment and not become apart of the community. It’s understandable that the locals feel this way.
You mentioned north eastern Tennessee. That area has also grown in population with people moving in from Florida, California and many northern states as well. The growth has pushed housing prices to an all time high in East Tennessee. The area is becoming unrecognizable to people that have lived in the area their entire lives
I feel this in my soul! I live in the mountains of South Carolina. My 3rd great grandmother was the oldest woman in my county. I can’t even afford a house where my family is from because of the Cliffs, The Reserve, and Keowee Key. My family used to own some of what is now lake Jocassee and Gorges state park. No one is leaving here and moving to the north, but they all want to move down here and price us out of our homes and our roots. It breaks my heart.
We’ve got similar stuff happening in parts of Georgia and Tennessee. Pretty much impossible to find rent under $2k – 3k a month, even in apartments. New and indistinguishable overpriced breweries and restaurants on every corner but no one to work in them, “help needed” signs decorate all their windows. Locals who used to fill those positions can no longer afford to live here, and the rich snowbirds obviously won’t be mopping floors or cleaning toilets. There’s a limit to how far this can go – a tourism industry can only last so long as there are people to wait their tables, fill the drinks and clean their precious cabins. The bubble will burst, it’s all just a matter of when. Our homeless population is getting bigger every year.
Ivy’s accent is fabulous! – there are so many links & commonalities between us Scots & the Appalachian people that I’d probably fit in no problem. The friendliness & sense of community is so familiar to me. We also have similar issues with incomers, tourism & house prices so I can fully sympathise with the quandry of balancing jobs & income vs. the way of life being altered.
Thank you for showing the truth about Appalachia and doing with respect. My family has lived in the mountains over 250 years. Sadly my father’s family had to move to the “foothills;” but kept all of the traditions, accent, and family connections. They made sure we knew the families of the Mountain, Lewis Chapel, in southeast Tennessee. My father moved us to Los Angeles County when I was seven to be able to support our family. I was cruelly teased for my accent so worked hard to lose it. Unfortunately mt grandmother made sure that we took home remedies with us, I hated “yellow root,” used to cure a sore throat. I’m now back in southeast Tennessee and visit our families cemetery anytime a relative passes away. We still have family reunions on the mountain, our family is so large that we introduce ourselves starting will our great grandfathers name down to our own parent. I love the traditions that we keep. Thank you
As a 46 yo native Tennessean, I love your work on anything Appalachia, Peter. We live on the border of middle and eastern TN, about an hour north of Chattanooga, on the Cumberland Plateau. Our little town suffered a similar “fate” in the early 2000s. A couple of developers from FL and started buying up acreage that, when we were kids, wasn’t worth 700$ an acre. You couldn’t even get city utilities. It was sink a well and hope for the best. In any event, these lots were sold for $50,000-$100,000 a piece. Then most people put up “kit” log homes. Granted, these are beautiful red cedar homes, 2-3 stories, and 3000 sq ft. Those folks could sell out in FL (at the time) for a cool 1.5 million and roll up here and get the lot and brand new log home for under $500,000. That’s a good return on your money…if you have that much. Short story long, the Great Recession of 2008 hit, and tons of homes were foreclosed on. The locals couldn’t afford to buy anything back, for sure. The county commissioners, in a panic of being left holding the bag with substandard roads, literally enacted, word for word, the building codes from Brentwood, TN…for a town with under 2,000 people. Our taxes have increased, access to “community land” (meaning anyone in the community could use it, so long as you respected it) is decimated, and I can’t put so much as a pre-built Amish storage “barn” on my own property without the approval of the “building commission”. My wife and I were lucky enough to end up as fourth generation owners of what was my great paternal grandparents’ 70 acre cattle farm.
I can relate to their experience. I live in Asheville, NC, and the rich began their takeover here about 10 years ago. People can’t even afford to rent a studio or one bedroom anymore unless they’re married or can split rent with someone. Those of us who prefer to live alone and don’t make triple digits are screwed. Landlords have become so greedy and uncompromising, it disgusts me. What’s so upsetting is how the rich can just buy a beautiful home/property, create an air BNB or 10–or leave it empty 10 months out of the year–then move back to Malibu or Manhattan and get richer while the average person who works their ass off continues to suffer. I get the principle with the ‘money doesn’t buy happiness’ saying; but it buys security and comfort, and those things make me very happy. I do understand wanting to spend your money however you want, since all of us do and that is your right. But when people can’t survive in their homes anymore, it’s not ok. Thanks for highlighting the sad realities of gentrification.
I’m loving this Appalachia series as much as I loved the tribes! Edit to add- she’s not wrong about the bullying. I’m from southern Oklahoma. I have a thick country accent. My mom does too. And my grandmother did. I don’t mind it, now. It’s something I try to keep to a minimum. If something real hick slips out, my kids will tease me. In a good hearted way. I’m almost 50, I don’t care what anyone thinks of me. I ain’t got the time for no nonsense.
Appalachia is being destroyed by gentrification. In my hometown rent was always $300-$450 a month. Even ten years ago it was. But since 2017, when they started rehabbing houses and moving in yuppies, the rent has gone up from $450 all day to $1,000 for a studio. They bought out all the family corner stores and laundry mats and put in coffee shops and pilates gyms, effectively driving the local poor into starvation and homelessness cause they got no car and can’t get out to an actual grocery store and they can no longer afford rent. You say it’s cleaning places up and making it better but all it does is wreck the ability for the poor who are from there to survive. This ain’t your playground it’s my LIFE 🙄💩
I live in the Spruce Pine area, grew up in Avery County and in my opinion there are two different types of people who come here. There are those who love and appreciate the way Appalachian people live and want to be a part of that. They don’t want to change things, they assimilate, become our friends and neighbors and understand the reason this place is so special is because of the way Appalachian people live and how much we love this land and mountains. Then there are those who come here who want to have their cake and eat it too. They want to own a piece of the beauty here just for them to enjoy and have sole access to when they want but then want everything and everyone surrounding to be modern and convenient for them. They buy up and gate off as much land as they can get their hands on, not to enjoy it or do anything with it, more like they just want to own these mountains for themselves . And because it is land that locals have had access to and been able to enjoy, hunt, wild craft and have taken good care of for hundreds of years, to have an outsider come in with no understanding of that and take that away so nobody can enjoy it, not even them because they never set foot on most of it, people coming in and doing that will ruin this magical place for everyone. Now we have developers trying to buy up everything to sell off in lots only the rich can afford to buy and build on. What happens then? When all the mountains and valleys are covered in housing developments and thousands more people here with no understanding of what makes this place special who wants to change everything?
I moved to Southeastern Kentucky 20 miles south of Somerset 2 years ago from Florida. I came here not because I had money but because I didn’t. I’ve never met a more accepting and kind people. I live off grid on 17 acres using rainwater and solar energy. I also happen to frequent the gas station that you were in in the last article. I will say this, if you do move here embrace the culture. I left Florida because New Yorkers ruined it. I will not leave here. Thank you for doing this series. I appreciate how you tried to look at it from every angle. I believe this is the most beautiful part of the country and some of the most beautiful people in the country. I hope it can be preserved.
I love these articles that you do. They help us all to understand each other better. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. I come from a long line of farmers, coalminers, and bootleggers in Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains. I moved to Tennessee about 8 years ago. I LOVE the people of Appalachia. I love the southern history, the family ties, the mindset, the people,….everything about them and their culture. I may be an “outsider” but they are my adoptive family and I would do everything to protect them. I thank God every day that He sent me here to live in the “hollars” of Tennessee. And I am one of those that bought an old southern farmhouse. It was rundown, and we are slowiy fixing it up. We honor the folks that lived here before us! And I’m going to add that I bought my old rundown farm of 80 acres for $100,000 back in 2014. I get offers daily to sell it. I wouldn’t sell it for any price in the world. it is priceless to me, and I want to preserve it for the next generation.
I know you got a million comments on here but I wanted to throw in my little two cents worth period I’m from North Carolina and went to college in Appalachian State University. I went there because I wanted to live in the mountains and that was the easiest and quickest way for me to get there at 17 years old. I hiked a lot of the hills you filmed in this article and slept in a lot of those woods. It was back in 1988 and 1989 and it was so beautiful!! And so free….. As in tons of open space that was accessible to anyone willing to hike up into it. Now most of that land has been sold off and it’s not accessible anymore and that’s so sad to me. I was definitely an outsider when I got there but when I made my home there I became a local and that’s the way I was treated. I also loved it enough to want to see it taken care of. I think with so many of these big money people coming in buying up all the land, it’s a money thing for them and they don’t care about preserving the beauty of the place. They’ll deface the whole mountainside if they can make a dollar off of it and that’s just sad. Some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life were locals in the mountains all around Boone and Todd and Blowing Rock. They were also some of the smartest people I’ve ever met through this day even though most of them had very little education. They knew how to live off the land and could survive in anything. I learned a lot while I was there and still carry so many of those lessons and values with me today at the age of 53.
This gentrification is even going on where I live, in the mountains of East Tennessee. I can’t believe, every time I drive down the road, how many people from California and Texas are building these huge, multi-million dollar homes on our mountain. It blows my mind. These are mostly second and third homes for these million/billionaires. So sad. We are losing our culture.
I live in Texas, and there was a ballot measure for increased property taxes for a soccer stadium worth $40,000,000. This town is only 26,000 people. $40,000,000 for a place that does not even have a professional soccer team. THAT is where my TRIPLED property taxes are going, and it really pisses me off because most people don’t even play or watch soccer.
Hey Peter, perusal this from a small town named Jalpaiguri in the state of West Bengal, India. Same things are happening in my district too. Politicians are colluding with the big time real estate developers to build apartment buildings in literally middle of the forest & almost all the apertments are being bought over by outsiders having money. It really pisses me off that how they are ruining our landscape & nature!! Great article by the way & more power to the people of Appalachia.
This was really interesting. As someone who lives in Western NC and has family roots here from the pre-Revolutionary war era, I completely understood their perspective on the gentrification of the area. There is so much natural beauty and such a rich culture in Appalachia and we just don’t want to see that lifestyle disappear.
I am not a native North Carolinian, but I have lived in popular country for vacations and tourists in western NC for 18 years. When we first came, the locals were stand offish. At least we were not building a new home up on the mountain, but instead bought an older home in town. We became involved in the community by volunteering and helping our neighbors. Both of those things helped to get us accepted. What has been happening in my town for some time is that any home that is reasonably affordable is snapped up by investors before they ever hit the market and turned into an Air BnB. This has caused home prices to sky rocket to the point where our town have become unaffordable to buy a home unless you are very wealthy.
This entire Appalachia series is absolutely praiseworthy, Peter. So much pure humanity. So much promise and so much spirit, courage and hope. We should all follow and support the local residents’ efforts to conserve their regional culture and environment in a respectful and sustainable way while they bring in the changes they need and on their terms. I hope Jake will get the funds to rebuild his home. Thank you for posting the GFM link, and many thanks again to everyone in each chapter of the series who welcomed you in so you could help us better understand and appreciate Appalachia.
I grew up in Bat Cave, NC once considered deep Appalachia. As kids we were free to wonder and explore the mountains and the hollers, hunt the woods, fish the streams and swim in the lakes…it was a nature lovers wonderland. Everyone knew everyone, we all helped each other in times of need, it was a strong community…Now thats all gone….Now its all subdivided up for second or third homes. I cant even access my old swimming hole anymore, Blackrock owns it now.
As a European living in a remote montaineous area, I can relate to these people. Since COVID prices went up like crazy and locals can’t afford home in the villages they were born. High unemployment rate among the locals VS big city people with more money buying real estate. Half of my village houses are second house. These people spend at most 2 or 3 weeks a year there…
That lady Ivy was so articulate. She explained so much without possibly offending ppl of belief and politics. She’s very understanding and aware on how/where society has moved to. I think her accent is adorable and she shouldn’t have stopped playing the banjo (which I want to play). My kinda gal and she likes my Dolphins! ❤
Great article again. Born and raised in NC. Grew up in the Triad (Winston, Greensboro, High Point), went to school in Boone/Banner Elk, now live in Wilmington on the coast. The same issues that plague Avery and Watauga Counties in the western part of NC are the same we’re dealing with on the coast of NC. Too many people, prices have exploded and locals are feeling the brunt. Would love to see you do a story about the NC coast. What used to be a sleepy little coastal area has now become a major hub for development and transplants.
I live in Avery county NC and it’s absolutely ridiculous- this article really is shedding light on a serious issue we have. Can’t find anywhere to live. Every bit of land is being bought up by corps. I see that damn condo on the mountain ridge AND Eaglesnest everyday. Amazing people live here, but they’re being forced out of the area for more Floridian 2nd homes. You either work for them or cater to them.
I live in Boone, NC. It’s home to Appalachian State University. For a small mountain town, the college receives above 20,000 students every year. The traffic is insane. People coming to Boone to work have a hard time finding a place to rent because everything is catered to the students. Every time something new is being built, you can expect it to become an expensive apartment complex. The locals have had to move out because they can no longer afford living in Boone. Tourism also adds to the congestion of traffic and expensive real estate. My wife and I are thinking about leaving once we build up some capital to move. It’s a beautiful area, but whatever the college demands, the town provides. Leaving average people without a voice.
I am not from Appalachia but you as usual introduced all of us to great people, beautiful geography and sad or at least very worrisome situations. The divide from inflation, and lack of interest in the ” culture” and people who live in this beautiful place. You did another fabulous job of introducing us. Thank you Peter. Loved this series.
So many people have moved into my small hometown. It’s depressing. Never see a familiar face anymore. The grocery stores get wiped out on holidays. No one ever says excuse me, pardon me. They just block the aisles. Traffic is unbelievable. Taxes are outrageous. I hate it. I live in my great grandparents home that they built in 1905. My great grandfather built many of the homes in our small town in SouthWest Tennessee.
My mother’s family is from Watauga area (Valle Crucius, Sugar Grove area) and I only first visited October 2019 and fell in love with it. I had virtually nothing in common with family there, but I felt so connected. The landscape is of course beautiful, but it’s the people (total strangers too) that did it for me. The real tragedy here is that these people are being forced out. Also that hilltop condo is awful, how in the world was that ever allowed. The people of Appalachia deserve better!
Tipper, My heart is broken and I have been praying for everyone. I live in Alabama and I can’t imagine what the people in these areas are going through. I have never seen so much devastation. Do not let these people get to you. It’s people like you that I look up to. I love your family so much. You keep doing what your heart tells you and do not let these people get to you. You are a blessing to so many people. I am praying and going to donate as much as I can. We all have to help each other and love one another. That’s what Jesus tells us to do. Please know I am praying for you and the people that are in these devastated communities. My heart has definitely been broken. That could have been any of us. God Bless you and your family. Don’t stop your articles. These people need you! You are the voice of so many in need! Love you Mrs. Tipper! ❤️🙏🏻❤️
I have enjoyed your series on Appalachia and thank you for the respect shown to everyone interviewed. I’m a 9th generation NCer who is just asking for respect for our ways, culture, people, and environment. Please give back to our communities where you live. We can’t keep it so beautiful and attractive without the help of those who come to enjoy it too.
I have just really enjoyed this series so much Peter, you have done justice to a region that has been so misunderstood and under appreciated. You have broken the barriers, I think the rest of us can now begin to understand and have empathy for the obstacles these Americans face and why they struggle to hold on to what culture and traditions remain. Thanks Peter for putting so much effort into shining a light and these wonderful folks. And thanks to your interview subjects for sharing their beautiful home places with all of us. You did it justice in every way, good on you Peter!
I’ve lived in NE TN and now in SE KY. The way of Appalachia is really on its last leg. Outsider with money are buying up large parcels of mountains and like those that came before them in the coal fields are cheating people out of their lands and still mining what they can and leaving. A company came in and bought about 500 acres of previously logged and mined property. They then mined silicone very quickly which nobody is regulating and silicone dust was in the air all the time. They then sold it to a foreign investor who first said they were going to raise cattle, then said grow lavender. People in the mountains need to know they are losing all their land and culture. This is a great series to let people know we are the last of the Appalachian people. Our roots have been here since the Revolutionary War and we are losing it.
I grew up in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin and I had the same experience as these people. Neighbors helped each other, waved at everyone that drove by, and never locked our doors or cars. We even left the keys in the car. Times are changing and I don’t like it. I feel for these people and don’t know what the answer is. Pater, I love your articles. They give us a view of other people’s lives. Keep them coming. Thank you.
🍎 I will never forget the day my UTC geography professor, Craig Laing, came to class carrying a paper bag full of apples. And with every apple he tossed to a student, he would say “Apple at cha!” 🍎 What a brilliant way to remember how to pronounce “Appalachia”! 😊 Thank you, Peter, for your spot-on pronunciation and unique look at this often forgotten region. (hope it’s ok to re-post this on your other Appalachian articles)
My daughter lives in Maggie Valley. Works at a high end resort in the summer, that caters to the outsiders, and works at the ski lodge in the winter. Her and her boyfriend make decent money yet still have to live in a camper on one of the campgrounds bc rent in these places is unattainable even with two incomes.
I happened to find one of Peter’s other articles on Appalachia and it’s turned into binge perusal today…. A recent vacation included a day trip to Banner Elk…lovely area. Now, as my retirement gets closer, I long to get away from commercialism and the influx of non-native people who don’t share the values of native southerners. I’m a Lowcountry native of SC and it’s sad to see what tourism and outside wealth has done to our area, so I totally get what these people feel. Their outside money pushed the tax base up which in turn pushes people out of family land they can no longer afford. Don’t argue that it brought in money to a depressed area-the poor people were content before. City people always laughed at our slow pace-and our accents!-but now they’re running to get a piece of what we’ve always treasured. And sadly, wanting to change our way of life. Thanks for your excellent articles Peter!
This Appalachian series has been so good, really quite eye-opening to those of us who are not American and learnt all we knew about the area from Dolly Parton songs. In this vid, Ivy was so articulate when giving her views on gentrification and the area. She also bears an uncanny resemblance to my twin sister, weirdly.
I love this couple! What a great way to be a voice for your people and culture in a changing world. Yes, people need to understand having money does not give them the right to destroy other people’s lives. If we all helped each other and truly loved our neighbor, what a better place this world would be.
Thanks Peter. I learned so much about Appalachia and the people via this wonderful series. Thank you! I can relate a lot with the locals. My community was once small, beautiful, and working class. It was overwhelmed with urban & suburban sprawl and the tech industries that brought people here with high wages far above the local norm. The cost of living and real estate more than quadrupled over night. Indeed, it’s happening everywhere in our country.
I’m born and raised and still live in my hometown, small town in Western North Carolina. And, I can totally see both sides of the coin. Here, our little town has grown and changed SO much in just the last 5 years! I can remember as a kid, just fields and fields, land for days!! And now, all they’re doing is building it up, clearing all the land and building apartment buildings. The traffic is insane, rise in crime, homelessness. It’s still a beautiful place to live, and raise a family but, I can’t imagine what it’ll be like in 10 years! I’ve very much enjoyed this series!!
I used to live in Watauga county and wired houses for 2 years, mostly in Ashe county, working for an electrician. We took on jobs for both locals and vacation/2nd homes for wealthy people. It really struck me how much more respectful and friendly the local homeowners were to the construction crews compared to people building their vacation homes. Anyway it was an eye opening experience. I’m originally from Raleigh but the locals always were very kind to me, and anyone else who happened to be working on their property. Meanwhile, many of the vacation home owners and retirees from off mountain wouldn’t even look you in the eye to give an order and wouldn’t hesitate to make difficult changes on a whim. Sad to say that a lot of them came from Raleigh as well “Rich folks digging on the mountainside” by the band Town Mountain is a song about that sort of dynamic
It’s amazing to me, I live on the east coast, and I relate to this. My city is getting gentried to the point that it’s getting legitimately difficult to afford it here anymore. My neighborhood is so different now that friends who left a few years ago are shocked when they see it. It is a thread we share. I hope wealth becomes less important one day and that culture and respect for the earth can be properly maintained.
4:42 clearing out that land creates major, watershed issues major flooding, downstream, and chemical pollution that reaches extremely far. At the very least, these folks should be held accountable for such things or pay impact fees like you’re supposed to with developments over certain sizes anywhere.
I absolutely love your articles, for someone that hasn’t traveled much they are amazing but the most important reason is the history and the understanding of what the local people are going through. It really makes you stop and think about how you effect an area when you move there be good stewards it’s the most important thing you can do. 💕
This is happening everywhere. The lake I grew up on used to be modest homes/cottages, lots of trees, etc. For years now, people have been bulldozing the homes, clearing the property completely, and building huge houses that take up the entire lot. I don’t understand why you’d want to buy something secluded and quiet, and turn it into the Chicago suburb you already live in.
I’m one of those people that moved into Appalachia. From Metropolitan DC to SW Virginia. The gatekeeping of the area by locals is real. It’s odd because the boundary line of the USA 🇺🇸 is on the East Coast, not inland 😅 What gives them the right to call others “outsiders” in their own country? Fortunately I get along with my neighbors who know I’m not native to the area. I’ve always treated them with respect. Respect goes a long way. But there are those in the community at large who do side eye me because of my accent. I tell them to be grateful they live around such beautiful mountains. Not all of us grew up like that. We do have a right to move where we want in our own country though.
You’re right, Peter. I think things are going to come around full circle for those that cherish and want to honor their family history and ancestors. Appalachian culture is fascinating; it just feels right… The “hoods and hollers” comment was profound, indeed. Once the country is able to unite above the hate and division we can really come together and do amazing things.
I drove out into the Blue Ridge Mountains 25 years ago on a trip to the East side of the US on a business trip from the UK and my camera was lost so I have no record of that time. It was beautiful then and thanks for this article and the comments from the local people. It is good to hear their stories and I wish them well and hope they can keep their world intact.
This is a very interesting article and I love the dialog on accents. I am from Savannah, GA and did over 20 years in the Army. By virtue of being stationed away and overseas for so many years I lost 90% of my southern accent. When I went back to retire my friends and family definitely picked up on my lost accent.
I want to say thank you for the subtitles. I know that it is some work. I am from Germany and we try to get a green card since 6 years. We look many of your articles, we only can visit the USA once every 36 month for less than 3 month, so we learn much from your articles. Me and my wife learned oxford-english (20 years ago) at school, for foreigners like us it is important specially when it goes to informal language or dialect to have it written down, so we can use a tool for translation. For example, no german pupil ever learned what a “holler” is and it took me some time to understand what you are talking about. The right meaning is the 6. translation google gives you, so a written transcription for translation is really important for foreigners like us. Thank you about that.
Thank you Peter for another great article! This buying up of land and changing the infrastructure is happening where I live too. Ever since Covid we have had a flooding in of “outsiders” who are buying up beautiful land. Now our taxes are skyrocketing and Iam worried that when my son is grown, he will not be able to afford a house for himself 😔
Thank you Peter. I have enjoyed your Appalacia series so so much, what a beautiful part of the US it is, the people have been so nice and welcoming to you and the country is stunning. We are blessed to been able to come along with you on your travels 🙂 On another note it’s the same in Scotland, houses in small fishing villages and houses outwith the big cities in the more picturesque areas are be bought up as second homes forcing the price of houses up and the local population out
Putting things in perspective, I am in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and have been here for thirty years. When we moved here, it was very quiet. 95% of Fannin County is government owned, and that definitely controls the million plus homes. I am below middle income. This is our home. Love the mountain, the people, and can’t imagine living anywhere. Great vlog, and love y’all.
Amazing series. Fact is you’ll hear this from locals in Utah, in Boise, in Bozeman, Bend, Nashville and many other places. We are 2 1/2 times the national population we were just 80 years ago, with the ability to work remotely, and social media that has effectively sold the cool factor of many places that many wouldn’t have moved 20 years ago but now will.
As a North Carolina native and resident on the coastal side….we too are small communities of “country” southern families. The beaches are being commercialized at an alarming rate, too! I dont even know my way around Topsail Island anymore because it’s now been developed several miles inland. You get to “the beach” way before you used to…..I dont know what the happy medium is but we’ve got to stop developing every single acre and leave some natural to be!!!
I was born and raised in Oregon as a first-generation American, and my husband and I frequently visit the Carolinas, the Appalachian region, and the South in general. Every time we’re there, it feels like home. What holds us back from moving is our deep connection to friends and family in Oregon. Despite being just visitors, it saddens me to see some areas changing for the worse as outsiders move in and erase what made them special. My husband and I often marvel at the beauty of old southern homes, the kindness of the locals, the incredible food, the breathtaking scenery, the heartwarming accent, and the calming nature. Our dream is to one day embrace a slower pace of life in a quaint farmhouse filled with character and stories. Thank you for this series—it resonates deeply with us. ❤️
Great articles. I’ve lived in NC all my life. I grew up in Cary 1959’s up to 1985 and moved to Madison County for 5 years. I absolutely fell in love with the county. The accents from one side of NC to the other is definitely different. I had to learn it to understand and then carried it with me back to Raleigh when I left for work. It was difficult with Raleigh jobs to have this new accent. I look at articles of Madison County with all the progress and it makes my heart sink. Historical places being turned into motels etc. Little being preserved as originals. Locally family run shops being bought out from new comers. Towns not looking originally mountain.
Great content. This should be required “reading” for all the folks relocating. I appreciate their interest in moving to these places but they should engage with the population and become part of the community. Trying to overrun these towns with their own ideals without taking the time to understand the locals is not the way.
Excellent article! Bottom line – if you move to a new part of the country, don’t try to make it like the part you moved out of. I grew up in Florida, and it always ticked me off when people would move there from New York and then complain because everything was so much better in New York. If you really feel that way, move back. People in the country don’t mind if you want to move to the country, but please stop cutting down all the trees and building a bunch of houses on tiny lots and screwing up what makes the area special.
Great article Peter. I have been loving this Appalachia series. I grew up not far from the Panhandle of West Virginia. It’s an interesting region because it’s Ohio on one side of the River, and Pennsylvania on the other side, with WV in the center. You get some mixing of different cultures, and it’s more “Rust Belt” than other parts of Appalachia. It would be cool to see you do a article of that part of Appalachia. It’s a very underrepresented place.
Thank you for doing these! I feel for the locals here. In CO, I’ve experienced something similar. I grew up in an area with a lot of undeveloped open space. As a kid, you don’t realize that all that is ripe for developers to build on, and now as an adult, the same places I used to enjoy nature is covered in crowded, cookie-cutter houses (which my generation can’t afford). Property taxes are getting crazy too. And the wildlife being pushed around is a huge problem too. On another note, that was so cool to see him identifying so many plants! It’s one of my favorite things to do in the CO mountains, I’d love to visit the Appalachia mountains one day with someone familiar with the plant life.
Wow, I enjoyed this documentary greatly. The main character couple were very interesting and were very educated on their heritage. The wife and I love traveling to this area, mostly to just drive the Blueridge Parkway. Hanging out at the Little Switzerland Inn, and eating in the restaurant with mountain views is wonderful. The majority of Appalachian people are absolutely wonderful and full of interesting stories.
Peter: First off, I cannot thank you enough for the articles and what they bring to the millions of folks out there that dont understand these areas. I am a North Carolinian born and raised. Spent many weekends and vacations in the hills with my family that lived there and went to college in the Appalachians. I have traveled all over the country and the most wonderful, authentic people you will ever meet are from the Avery/Watauga area of this documentary. I am conflicted with all of the money and growth that moved in. On one Hand it has helped the people considerably with more money moving in creating jobs and helping with the tax base. But they bring some of the problems of areas maybe not as desirable. So its a double edged sore. The condos on top of a mountain make me sad since so many trees had to be removed to make way. Plus they are an eyesore to look at. On the other hand, it helped create some jobs for the folks that built these structures. I think an argument can be made either way and I am not smart enough to know what’s best. Bottom line is the local people are great people. I really do appreciate what you do. Its something I never miss.
As a fellow Tennessean, it’s a shame how things keep getting worse and worse. Prices rising from inflation and influx of people from California and other areas. Made affording to live suddenly a lot harder. I still love Tennessee, can’t imagine living elsewhere. Just respect the land, the people, the culture and we’ll be alright.
It seems to be the same story in all of small town America. I’m the 4th generation in my once- small Michigan town that has now become insanely crowed and overun with people from Detroit Suburbs wanting to “move out to the country”. I don’t blame them for wanting to be here but loosing our small town just sucks. In other news, excellent article of beautiful Appalachia.
I loved listening to Ivy and Nick. They are intelligent, open minded, non biased, non judgemental, sharing valuable insight into the lives of the people that live there. Believe me, development like that is happening everywhere! I live in one of the hottest, climate wise, cities in the nation. I feel its because all of the natural desert and former farm land is being developed with rows of houses and apartments. Appalachia is very beautiful. I hope the locals can be heard and do speak up to preserve their land and way of life. Thank you Peter, Ivy, and Nick for showing us your beautiful state.
As someone who is from this area and who’s family is deeply rooted in this area, I am deeply saddened to admit that I can’t even find a place to live in my area. I graduated college and I have lived with my family for the last year because I work here. It is hard to find houses to buy because people own multiples and rent out what they don’t use and rent is higher than pay around here. I feel like I am being pushed out of the area I grew up in and I’m genuinely upset about it. I grew up in the Mitchell/McDowell/Linville area. My Dad’s family is from Spruce Pine, Burnsville, Avery area. My mom’s side is from East Tennessee Bluff City, Elizabethton, Johnson City area. Appalachian through and through.
Awesome people with awesome attitudes and insights. 🙂 Thank you, Peter, you’re doing God’s work with your travel reports. I’m European, not American, but I love seeing an unfiltered but level-headed look at various local and regional issues and giving locals a voice. I do hope the new arrivals in the area avoid isolating themselves from locals, or mistreating the local environment. Ivy put it best when she repeatedly pointed out how harmful stereotypes, clichés and prejudices are, and it’s easy for both sides to fear what they personally don’t know or don’t understand or don’t have personal experience with. As Jacob said, if people are also moving into the area for a “small town feel”, they shouldn’t treat it just like a summer home, but get engaged with local affairs, lead dialogue with locals, cooperate with local communities. Isolating themselves won’t help anyone. It’ll just put up walls and fences and lead to resentment and disappointment among locals.
Another awesome article around capturing, “what it is to be Appalachian and more”. Thank you Peter 🙂 Your articles are inspiring and meaningful, keep it up – thank you, and keep up the awesome work that you do, by sharing yet another awesome article of “Appalachia” – an absolute top notch mate, as I would say in my mother tongue Maori “Kaa… Nuuu-iii Te Aroha” “Much Love”. Until next time ❤
I’m from Avery County, North Carolina! So cool to see this. Thank you! I remember it really hitting for me how much things have changed when I took a job in Asheville, NC and coworkers from different parts of the country made fun of my accent, asking me where I was from 🙂 I agree with what was said at the end of the article, it’s not that we don’t want people to come here. How could I blame anyone? Also, none of us really own any place on this earth, it’s just borrowed for a time. At some point down the line, my ancestors were outsiders here. But there are deep roots and it’s a huge piece of my identity. It’s just that we want the culture to be treated with respect. If not, I think many of the things that make people want to come here in the first place will be destroyed. Also, just wanted to add that the Linn Cove Viaduct was completed in 1987, after 20 years of engineers, environmentalists, nearby landowners and architects brainstorming a design that would, as they said in the article, be built with nature instead of through it. It is recognized internationally as an engineering marvel. It was the missing piece to the Blue Ridge Parkway that was started in the 1930s. I just wanted to add that because it is heartening to me that it was deliberated on for so long to ensure the preservation and protection of Grandfather Mountain. Last thing, just wanted to share a song by an artist, Josiah Lemming, who I think deserves more attention than he has gotten over the years, but speaks to anyone who has felt the tug of their roots always pulling them back home.
As a German being very connected to both the lands I’ve born in, grown up in and lived all my life, I can deeply relate to the connection. I lived in two very different states in my country and I am deeply connected to each of them differently. The land is a part of you and your ancestors, and you of it. Appalachian geography is a lot like the one I’ve lived most of my life in Germany. Love the accent.
The self awareness and the introspection these “country” folks show is amazing. It takes real intelligence to be able to see both sides of a story and understand it. These two here have chipped away at a bit of the negative stereotypes I’ve had forced on me about them. Beautiful folks surrounded by beautiful country. I’d be pissed too if a rich selfish turd came in and ruined it all.
This kid from Brooklyn has a good head and a good heart. This shift of the wealthy won’t ever stop. This shift comes with lots of benefits but it’s at the cost of our environment and expedites the decline of our earths life span. When they move on or buy other properties they never do anything about repairing the damages they caused, like clearing trees, changing water runoff etc… it’s a shame.