top of page

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

Cullman County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

62.9%

The image is an infographic about the Appalachian Learning Initiative in Cullman County, Alabama, highlighting socioeconomic data. At the top, it states the initiative's name and the county's population of 92,016. On the left, there is an icon of five human figures, with three shaded red, above the statistic showing that 62.9% of adults read at or below an 8th-grade level. Below this is a logo for the Appalachian Learning Initiative. In the center is a small map highlighting Cullman County and its neighboring regions. On the right side, various statistics are displayed: 23.6% of residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level; 15.1% of adults haven't completed high school; and 10.7% lack health insurance. Social media icons appear at the bottom right corner. The data source is the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
The image is an infographic with a dark blue background featuring various statistics about Cullman County, Alabama, under the banner of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. At the top, bold white text states "Appalachian Learning Initiative Cullman County, Alabama Population: 92,016." Below, there are several statistics presented. To the left, an icon of six human figures indicates that 72.1% of Cullman County adults struggle with basic math, highlighted by two orange figures among four white ones. Adjacent to this, in the center, a colored map of Alabama highlights Cullman County and surrounding counties like Winston, Lawrence, Morgan, Marshall, Blount, Walker, Jefferson, and St. Clair, marked with various colors. To the right, statistics show that 13.9% of residents live in extreme poverty, and 10.3% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance. At the bottom left corner, the APPLI logo is featured above the organization's website link. At the bottom right, social media icons are shown with a prompt to follow @APPLIOng. Text at the bottom states the source as the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

72.1%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

92,016

49.8%

50.2%

95.7%

1.4%

5.1%

0.7%

0.7%

0.1%

1.5%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

15.1%

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

23.6%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

13.9%

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

10.3%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

10.7%

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

8.6%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

17.4%

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

60.6%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

38.6

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

6.5

HIV Prevalence (2022):

107.1

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

18.4%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

14.1%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

14.1%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.6%

Adults with COPD (2022):

10.8%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.6%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

18.2%

DeKalb County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

70.6%

The image is an informational graphic about the Appalachian Learning Initiative in DeKalb County, Alabama, detailing educational and economic statistics. At the top, bold black text reads the name of the initiative and the county, followed by the population count of 72,569. The graphic includes several statistics: 70.6% of adults read at or below an 8th-grade level, 34.3% earn below 150% of the federal poverty level, 15% lack health insurance, and 20.4% haven't completed high school. These statistics are arranged around a map of Alabama highlighting DeKalb County in red with surrounding counties in different colors. A series of stylized human figures represents the literacy statistic. At the bottom left, the Appalachian Learning Initiative logo is shown with a URL. In the bottom right corner, social media icons appear alongside text inviting readers to follow the organization.
The image is an infographic titled "Appalachian Learning Initiative DeKalb County, Alabama," with a focus on educational and economic statistics. The background is dark blue with white text and vibrant graphics. At the top, it notes the population of DeKalb County as 72,569. On the left, there are five human figures with four in white and one in orange, illustrating that 77% of DeKalb County adults struggle with basic math. Below this, a map of Alabama highlights DeKalb County in orange, surrounded by other counties like Jackson, Marshall, Cherokee, Etowah, and Calhoun in various colors. On the right are statistics: 20.4% of residents live in extreme poverty, and 16.2% rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance. At the bottom, it states that 7.5% of residents spend at least 50% of income on housing. There’s also a logo for APPLI (Appalachian Learning Initiative) and social media icons.

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

77.0%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

72,569

50.0%

50.0%

92.1%

2.0%

17.3%

0.5%

2.2%

0.7%

2.5%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

20.4%

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

34.3%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

20.4%

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

16.2%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

15.0%

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

7.5%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

19.4%

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

47.5%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

30.6

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Prevalence (2022):

114.4

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

22.5%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

16.4%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

16.4%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

11.2%

Adults with COPD (2022):

13.0%

Adults with CHD (2022):

10.5%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

15.4%

Elmore County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

59.7%

The image is an infographic titled "Appalachian Learning Initiative, Elmore County, Alabama" with a population of 90,441. It presents several statistics related to education, poverty, and health insurance in Elmore County. On the left, five human icons are shown, with three shaded in shades of red, symbolizing that 59.7% of adults read at or below an 8th grade level. In the center, there is a circular map highlighting Elmore County in green, surrounded by neighboring counties in red, orange, and yellow. To the right, three statistics are prominently displayed: 19.4% of residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, 11.1% of adults haven’t completed high school, and 7.7% of residents lack health insurance. At the bottom, there is the logo of the Appalachian Learning Initiative, social media icons, and source information from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
The image is an infographic titled "Appalachian Learning Initiative Elmore County, Alabama," with a noted population of 90,441. The background is a dark blue. On the left, there is a visual representation of five figure icons, with two highlighted in orange, demonstrating that 69.3% of Elmore County adults struggle with basic math. Below this, there is a logo for the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) and their website address. In the center, a circular inset map shows Elmore County and surrounding areas, including Tallapoosa and Macon, marked in different colors. On the right, several statistics are listed: 10.8% of residents rely on SNAP for nutrition assistance, 10.3% live in extreme poverty, and 8.9% spend at least 50% of their income on housing. Social media icons are shown at the bottom right, encouraging viewers to follow APPLI.

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:

90,441

48.6%

51.4%

74.8%

22.0%

3.5%

0.7%

0.5%

0.1%

1.9%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

11.1%

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

19.4%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

10.3%

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

10.8%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

7.7%

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

8.9%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

14.1%

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

59.3%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

12.3

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

21.0

HIV Prevalence (2022):

295.0

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

15.6%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

12.9%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

12.9%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.3%

Adults with COPD (2022):

7.6%

Adults with CHD (2022):

7.3%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

15.2%

Etowah County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

62.4%

The image is an informational graphic about the Appalachian Learning Initiative focused on Etowah County, Alabama. The top section contains bold black text stating the initiative's name and the county's population, which is 103,241. On the left, five human figures are depicted in gradient shades from light to dark red. Beneath them, a statistic is highlighted: "62.4% of Etowah County adults read at or below an 8th-grade level." Below this, a logo for the Appalachian Learning Initiative is present. In the center, a circular map highlights Etowah County in yellow, surrounded by other counties. To the right of the map, more statistics are displayed in large red text: "28.8% of Etowah County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level" and "14.1% of Etowah County adults haven't completed high school." At the bottom, there is a citation from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020. Social media icons for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube are found next to a prompt to follow @APPLIORG.
The image is an infographic about Etowah County, Alabama, presented by the Appalachian Learning Initiative. The background is dark blue, and the text is primarily in white, with some numbers and figures in orange for emphasis. In the top section, it states the population of Etowah County as 103,241. On the left, there is an illustration of six human figures, four in white and two in orange, with the statistic that 71.1% of adults in the county struggle with basic math. Below this illustration, the APPLI logo is displayed. In the center of the image, there is a colorful map circle showing Etowah and surrounding counties in Alabama. On the right side, several statistics are listed: 17.1% live in extreme poverty, 15.6% rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance, and 11.3% spend at least 50% of their income on housing. The bottom right corner provides social media icons and the website link for APPLI, alongside the source of statistics: 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:

103,241

48.5%

51.5%

80.7%

15.3%

5.4%

0.8%

0.8%

0.4%

2.0%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

14.1%

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

28.8%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

17.1%

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

15.6%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

12.2%

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

11.3%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

17.5%

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

52.5%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

43.7

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

9.1

HIV Prevalence (2022):

246.9

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

18.4%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

15.4%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

15.4%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

10.9%

Adults with COPD (2022):

10.4%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.5%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

17.4%

Fayette County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

68.1%

The image is an infographic about the Appalachian Learning Initiative in Fayette County, Alabama, highlighting specific statistics. The top portion includes bold black text stating "Appalachian Learning Initiative Fayette County, Alabama" with the population at "15,967." Below, a map shows Fayette County and its neighboring counties in varying colors: Marion, Winston, Pickens, Lamar, Walker, Jefferson, and Tuscaloosa. Statistical figures are displayed prominently in large, maroon numbers followed by descriptive text in black. On the left, there is an icon representing five human figures with one in solid maroon color, indicating "68.1% of Fayette County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level." In the center, it reads "7.9% of Fayette County residents lack health insurance." The right side states "31.6% of Fayette County residents earn below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level" and "15.7% of Fayette County adults haven’t completed high school." At the bottom, there is the APPLI logo and social media icons with the text "Follow us @APPLIORG." The source is cited as the "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020."
The image is an infographic about the Appalachian Learning Initiative in Fayette County, Alabama. It has a dark blue background with white text. At the top, it states "Appalachian Learning Initiative Fayette County, Alabama" followed by "Population: 15,967" in bold. Below this, on the left, there is an icon of five stick figures, with four in white and one in orange. Next to it, the text reads "75.6% of Fayette County adults struggle with basic math." On the right, statistics are listed: "18.7% of Fayette County residents live in extreme poverty," "17.7% of Fayette County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance," and "8.7% of Fayette County residents spend at least 50% of their income on housing." A circular map is displayed in the center showing Fayette County and its neighboring counties: Marion, Winston, Lamar, Walker, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, and Jeff, each in varying colors. At the bottom left, the logo for APPLI is present with a URL "www.appli.org." On the bottom right, social media icons are displayed with "Follow us @APPLIOrg." The source is cited as "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020."

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

75.6%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

15,967

49.3%

50.7%

85.7%

11.4%

2.2%

0.5%

0.5%

0.0%

1.9%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

15.7%

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

31.6%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

18.7%

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

17.7%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

7.9%

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

8.7%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

20.5%

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

59.5%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Prevalence (2022):

102.2

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

20.7%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

16.6%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

16.6%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

11.1%

Adults with COPD (2022):

12.1%

Adults with CHD (2022):

10.6%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

23.5%

bottom of page