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Appalachian Learning Initiative
Infographics Database

About This Page:

Welcome to the Appalachian Learning Initiative's Infographics Resource. This resource allows users to select one of the 13 Appalachian states and view state- and county-level data about adult literacy and numeracy, population demographics, quality of life statistics, and the public health measures that impact Appalachians.


Users will also find infographics for all 423 counties and 8 independent Virginia cities in the Appalachian Region which are free to the public and available for download and distribution.

The image is a map of Alabama divided into counties, each colored to represent the percentage of Appalachian adults who read at or below an 8th grade level. The color gradient ranges from green (42.4%) to red (80.5%). The map includes counties like Lauderdale, Colbert, Madison, and others, each labeled with their name and shaded according to the data. The left side shows a vertical color scale indicating the range of percentages. The top text reads "Appalachian Learning Initiative," and on the right, there's a description about the percentage of adults reading at or below an 8th grade level. Logos and contact information for APPLI are at the bottom.

We hope that our users will be able to turn these data into local- and state-level advocacy by working to increase funding for adult literacy and numeracy.

​

Here are a couple of tips to help users access and utilize the information they'll find:​​
 

  • If a data point reads "Suppressed," this means that there were fewer than 10 cases in a jurisdiction. Because of this, the exact numbers have been hidden to protect the patients' identities.
     

  • Incidence and mortality rates are rates per 100,000 residents (e.g., HIV Diagnosis Rate)
     

  • Our sources for these data may be found on our Resources page in the Citations section.

​

We truly hope that everyone enjoys this resource. Please remember to share these infographics with your networks and help us to spread the word about adult literacy and numeracy in Appalachia.

​

Sincerely,
Marcus J. Hopkins
Founder & Executive Director

Select a Jurisdiction

Alabama

Bibb County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

72.3%

The image is an infographic highlighting statistics about Bibb County, Alabama, as part of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. The top of the image displays the title, "Appalachian Learning Initiative Bibb County, Alabama," followed by "Population: 21,868". The left side of the graphic shows an illustration of five human figures in a gradient of gray to red, representing a statistic. Below this illustration, large text states "72.3% of Bibb County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level." In the center, there is a map depicting a section of Alabama counties, color-coded and labeled, including Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton, Tuscaloosa, and Hale. The right side features additional statistics in bold red text: "31% of Bibb County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level," "19% of Bibb County adults have not completed high school," and "8.1% of Bibb County residents lack health insurance." At the bottom left is the logo "APPLI Appalachian Learning Initiative" with a URL, "www.appli.org." The bottom right indicates, "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020" and social media icons with "Follow us @APPLIOrg".
The image is an infographic highlighting socioeconomic statistics for Bibb County, Alabama, as part of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. The background is dark blue with white text. At the top, it states the population of Bibb County as 21,868. Below, it shows five figures, one colored orange, representing the statistic that 81.9% of Bibb County adults struggle with basic math. A map of the region is displayed, indicating Bibb and neighboring counties like Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby, Hale, and Chilton, each with different colors. To the right of the map, the infographic lists that 20.5% of residents live in extreme poverty, and 20.3% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance. Below the figures, it mentions that 10.1% of residents spend at least 50% of their income on housing. The bottom section includes the Appalachian Learning Initiative logo and social media icons, along with a note that the data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

81.9%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

21,868

52.7%

47.3%

76.7%

20.6%

3.6%

0.3%

0.6%

0.1%

1.7%

Quality of Life Statistics

Adults Who Haven't
Finished High School (2023):

19.0%

Residents Earning Below
150% of the Federal
Poverty Level (2023):

31.0%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

20.5%

Residents Who Rely on SNAP
for Nutrition Assistance (2023):

20.3%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

8.3%

Residents Spending
50%+of Their Income
on Housing (2023):

10.1%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

19.1%

Households Paying $200+ Per Month on Electricity (2023):

65.7%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

37.0

HIV Prevalence (2022):

322.1

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

21.1%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

15.1%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

15.1%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.7%

Adults with COPD (2022):

10.3%

Adults with CHD (2022):

8.8%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

19.6%

Blount County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

61.8%

The infographic presents statistics related to Blount County, Alabama, under the title "Appalachian Learning Initiative, Blount County, Alabama." The population is stated as 59,816. On the left, an icon of five stylized people illustrates literacy levels: three in dark red and two in gray, highlighting that 61.8% of adults read at or below an 8th-grade level. Below, in bold text, is the statistic about literacy. In the center, a circular map of Alabama shows Blount County and its neighboring counties in various colors, with Blount County highlighted. To the right, percentages in dark red indicate that 22.4% of residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, and 17.2% of adults haven't completed high school. At the bottom center-left, an icon and contact details are provided. The source is attributed to the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
The image is an infographic for the Appalachian Learning Initiative, focusing on Blount County, Alabama. The background is dark blue, providing a contrasting backdrop for the text and graphics. The top section displays the initiative's title along with the county's population of 59,816. Below, several statistics are visually highlighted using a mix of text and icons. On the left, five human figures are displayed, with two colored orange to signify that 69.3% of adults struggle with basic math. A circular map of Alabama's counties is centrally placed, with Blount County highlighted in yellow. On the right, three statistical facts are shown: 14.1% of residents live in extreme poverty, 12.3% rely on SNAP, and 8.5% spend at least 50% of their income on housing. The bottom left corner features the APPLI logo, while the bottom right provides social media contacts.

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

69.3%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

59,816

49.7%

50.3%

95.3%

2.0%

10.5%

0.4%

0.6%

0.1%

1.5%

Quality of Life Statistics

Adults Who Haven't
Finished High School (2023):

17.2%

Residents Earning Below
150% of the Federal
Poverty Level (2023):

22.4%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

14.1%

Residents Who Rely on SNAP
for Nutrition Assistance (2023):

12.3%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

10.2%

Residents Spending
50%+of Their Income
on Housing (2023):

8.5%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

17.4%

Households Paying $200+ Per Month on Electricity (2023):

59.9%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

30.2

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

16.0

HIV Prevalence (2022):

101.7

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

19.1%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

14.0%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

14.0%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.5%

Adults with COPD (2022):

10.5%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.2%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

17.0%

Calhoun County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

62.6%

The image is an informational graphic about Calhoun County, Alabama, focusing on socioeconomic statistics. At the top, in bold text, it says "Appalachian Learning Initiative Calhoun County, Alabama" with a subtitle "Population: 116,429." Below, there are several statistics displayed with icons and a map. On the left, an icon of five figurines is used to denote that "62.6% of Calhoun County adults read at or below an 8th-grade level." Next to it, a pie chart in the center highlights Calhoun and surrounding counties, with Calhoun County in yellow. To the right, in large red text, it states "27.6% of Calhoun County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level." Additionally, it notes "11.1% of Calhoun County residents lack health insurance" and "13.5% of Calhoun County adults haven’t completed high school." At the bottom, there is a logo with "APPLI" underneath which reads "Appalachian Learning Initiative" and a message "Follow us @APPLIOrg," along with social media icons. The source is noted as "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020."
The image is a dark blue infographic entitled "Appalachian Learning Initiative Calhoun County, Alabama" with a population noted as 116,429. In the lower left, there is an illustration depicting five figures, three in white and two in orange, representing a statistic where 71.1% of Calhoun County adults struggle with basic math. Adjacent to this, there is a circular map highlighting Calhoun County in yellow, situated among neighboring counties outlined in different colors: Cherokee, Cleburne, Randolph, Clay, Talladega, St. Clair, and Etowah. On the right side, additional statistics highlight that 17.5% of residents live in extreme poverty, 17.2% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance, and 10.3% spend at least 50% of their income on housing. The bottom features the Appalachian Learning Initiative logo with the URL www.appli.org, and social media icons for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. There is also a note indicating the source as the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

71.1%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

116,429

48.5%

51.5%

73.7%

22.4%

4.8%

0.9%

0.5%

0.1%

2.4%

Quality of Life Statistics

Adults Who Haven't
Finished High School (2023):

13.5%

Residents Earning Below
150% of the Federal
Poverty Level (2023):

27.6%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

17.5%

Residents Who Rely on SNAP
for Nutrition Assistance (2023):

17.2%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

11.1%

Residents Spending
50%+of Their Income
on Housing (2023):

10.3%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

18.2%

Households Paying $200+ Per Month on Electricity (2023):

53.1%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

51.8

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

8.1

HIV Prevalence (2022):

263.5

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

17.0%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

14.5%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

14.5%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.2%

Adults with COPD (2022):

9.1%

Adults with CHD (2022):

8.2%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

20.2%

Chambers County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

72.2%

The image is an infographic for the Appalachian Learning Initiative related to Chambers County, Alabama, with a focus on education and social statistics. At the top, it presents the title "Appalachian Learning Initiative Chambers County, Alabama" followed by "Population: 34,079". Below, to the left, it shows a statistic with five stylized human figures, one in dark red, and the others in gray, with the text "72.2% of Chambers County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level". The center features a map highlighting Chambers County in dark red, surrounded by neighboring counties in varying colors like orange and yellow. To the right, more statistics are presented. At the top right, "28.8% of Chambers County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level" is stated. Below, another statistic reads, "16.4% of Chambers County adults haven’t completed high school". At the bottom left, "12.2% of Chambers County residents lack health insurance" is displayed. The logo for the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) is at the bottom left along with their website, and the bottom right encourages following them on social media with their handle and icons. The source is cited as the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
The image provides statistical information about Chambers County, Alabama, as part of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. The background is dark blue, creating a stark contrast with the white and bold colored elements on the image. At the top, the text states "Appalachian Learning Initiative Chambers County, Alabama. Population: 34,079." Below this, the image is divided into two main sections. On the left side, there are five stylized figures in a row; four are white, and one is orange. Next to them is the text "81.2% of Chambers County adults struggle with basic math." Beneath this, there is a logo for APPLI (Appalachian Learning Initiative), which comprises a stylized book or mountain shape above the text "APPLI," followed by www.appli.org. On the right side are two round elements. The top circle contains text that reads "17.1% of Chambers County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance." Below this is another circle with the text "15.5% of Chambers County residents live in extreme poverty." Between these two circles is a map highlighting Chambers County in red within Alabama and its neighboring counties in different colors. At the bottom is the text "8.7% of Chambers County residents spend at least 50% of their income on housing." The bottom right corner contains social media icons and the text "Follow us @APPLIOrg:" and "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020."

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

81.2%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

34,079

47.2%

52.8%

57.4%

39.7%

4.1%

0.9%

0.5%

0.1%

1.5%

Quality of Life Statistics

Adults Who Haven't
Finished High School (2023):

16.4%

Residents Earning Below
150% of the Federal
Poverty Level (2023):

28.8%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

15.5%

Residents Who Rely on SNAP
for Nutrition Assistance (2023):

17.1%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

12.2%

Residents Spending
50%+of Their Income
on Housing (2023):

8.7%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

16.9%

Households Paying $200+ Per Month on Electricity (2023):

57.7%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

58.4

HIV Prevalence (2022):

401.9

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

20.6%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

18.2%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

18.2%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

11.4%

Adults with COPD (2022):

11.3%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.7%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

20.8%

Cherokee County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

66.5%

The image contains an infographic titled "Appalachian Learning Initiative Cherokee County, Alabama." It provides demographic and socio-economic statistics for Cherokee County, Alabama, with a population of 25,666. The left side shows five silhouettes in varying shades from light gray to dark red, with text beneath stating "66.5% of Cherokee County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level." Below that, the APPLI logo and website are shown. On the right, three statistics are displayed in large red numbers: "26.4% of Cherokee County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level," "9% of Cherokee County residents lack health insurance," and "15.8% of Cherokee County adults haven’t completed high school." Additionally, a circular map highlights Cherokee County and surrounding areas. At the bottom right, are icons for social media with the handle "@APPLIORG" and small text citing the data source as the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
The image is an informative graphic about Cherokee County, Alabama, under the Appalachian Learning Initiative. It has a dark blue background with white and orange text and graphics. At the top, the title reads, "Appalachian Learning Initiative Cherokee County, Alabama" followed by the population number, "Population: 25,666." Below, on the left side, there is a row of five human figures, four in white and one in orange, representing a statistic. Beneath this is the text, "74.3% of Cherokee County adults struggle with basic math." To the right, there is a circular map highlighting Cherokee County in orange, bordered by other counties in yellow. Adjacent to the map are various statistics: "14.5% of Cherokee County residents live in extreme poverty," "11.5% of Cherokee County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance," and "6.5% of Cherokee County residents spend at least 50% of their income on housing." The bottom left shows the APPLI logo, styled with colorful bars. At the bottom right are social media icons and the text "Follow us @APPLIORG:" followed by social media icons for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. The source of the data is cited at the bottom, "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020."

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

74.3%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

25,666

50.0%

50.0%

92.4%

4.3%

1.9%

0.4%

0.8%

0.1%

2.0%

Quality of Life Statistics

Adults Who Haven't
Finished High School (2023):

15.8%

Residents Earning Below
150% of the Federal
Poverty Level (2023):

26.4%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

14.5%

Residents Who Rely on SNAP
for Nutrition Assistance (2023):

11.5%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

9.0%

Residents Spending
50%+of Their Income
on Housing (2023):

6.5%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

17.9%

Households Paying $200+ Per Month on Electricity (2023):

58.4%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

22.7

HIV Prevalence (2022):

113.3

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

16.3%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

15.2%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

15.2%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.0%

Adults with COPD (2022):

10.0%

Adults with CHD (2022):

10.1%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

20.3%

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