Madison
County High Senior Prom Night,
Mars Hill, NC, 2007 |
| Today's
Mountaineers |
Since
the mid-1990s, a new demographic has grown in Madison
County. Hundreds of retirees, artists and craftspeople,
baby hippies, developers, and entrepreneurs have been
moving into the community and playing an active role.
Towns are being revitalized and new, gated communities
are springing up all over the county. Marshall just voted
for beer and wine sales, a historic change. But most significantly
is in how people understand their land. The old timers
viewed their land as inheritance and family. Its value
was in its ability to sustain their family and it wasn’t
for sale. Today, land is viewed as commodity, so many
dollars per acre, and hopefully with a great view. Taken
as a whole, these changes are dramatic and, in my mind,
represent the most significant demographic and cultural
shift in our community since white people wrestled it
away from the Cherokee.
My interest is in how and why this is happening. Who are
these New Mountaineers? How did they get here? Where did
they come from? What changes will they bring? How will
they fit in? What will Madison County look like in ten
years. The New Mountaineers is a work in progress and
I will regularly be updating this site with new photographs,
columns and other information.
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