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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

Tennessee

Regionwide

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

68.3%

 Appalachian Learning Initiative
3in5 Tennessee adults read below an 8th Grade level
      National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
APPLI is building solutions Follow us
@APPLIOrg:
     www.appli.org
 Appalachian Learning
Initiative 78.3%
Percentage of Appalachian Adults in Tennessee Who Read At or Below an 8th Grade Level
   69.3%
48.9%
APPLI is building solutions
Follow us @APPLIOrg:
     National Center for Education Statistics, 2020 www.appli.org
 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Nearly
4in5 Tennessee adults struggle to perform basic math
National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
APPLI is building solutions
Follow us @APPLIOrg:
            www.appli.org

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

77.5%

 Appalachian Learning
Initiative 88.8%
Percentage of Appalachian Adults in Tennessee Who Struggle to Perform Basic Math
  79.3%
 58.7%
National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
APPLI is building solutions
Follow us @APPLIOrg:
     www.appli.org
Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

3,073,465

49.9%

50.1%

94.0%

2.7%

4.5%

0.8%

0.6%

0.1%

1.8%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

14.8%

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

27.1%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

16.7%

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

15.7%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

10.3%

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

17.1%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

17.2%

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

35.3%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

64.2

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

3.1

HIV Prevalence (2022):

134.7

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

22.0%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

15.5%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

15.5%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

11.7%

Adults with COPD (2022):

12.2%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.4%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

20.8%

Rhea County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

69.2%

 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Rhea County, Tennessee Population: 32,478
       69.2%
of Rhea County
adults read at or below an 8th Grade level
32.3%
of Rhea County residents live below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
22.7%
of Rhea County
adults have not graduated high school
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
10.9%
of Rhea County residents are uninsured
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org
 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Rhea County, Tennessee Population: 32,478
      76%
of Rhea County adults struggle to perform basic math
23.7%
of Rhea County residents spend
at least 50% of their income on housing
21.9%
of Rhea County residents live in extreme poverty
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
19.8%
of Rhea County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

76.0%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

33,924

49.8%

50.2%

94.0%

2.4%

6.5%

0.7%

0.7%

0.1%

2.2%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

16.9%

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

32.3%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

21.9%

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

19.8%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

12.1%

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

10.0%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

17.2%

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

37.3%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

77.1

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Prevalence (2022):

150.1

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

25.3%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

16.5%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

16.5%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

12.1%

Adults with COPD (2022):

14.3%

Adults with CHD (2022):

10.3%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

21.5%

Roane County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

60.7%

 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Roane County, Tennessee Population: 32,478
       60.7%
of Roane County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level
26.2%
of Roane County residents live below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
13.3%
of Roane County adults have not graduated high school
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
9.4%
of Roane County residents are uninsured
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org
 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Roane County, Tennessee Population: 52,926
       70.9%
of Roane County adults struggle to perform basic math
13%
of Roane County residents spend
at least 50% of their income on housing
17.3%
of Roane County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance
15.4%
of Roane County residents live in extreme poverty
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

70.9%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

56,096

49.6%

50.4%

93.8%

2.9%

2.7%

0.7%

0.5%

0.1%

2.0%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

9.9%

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

26.2%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

15.4%

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

17.3%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

7.7%

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

15.4%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

15.1%

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

41.4%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

112.6

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Prevalence (2022):

114.4

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

18.9%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

15.1%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

15.1%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

11.3%

Adults with COPD (2022):

11.3%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.1%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

18.6%

Scott County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

74.6%

 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Scott County, Tennessee Population: 21,949
      74.6%
of Scott County
adults read at or below an 8th Grade level
39.8%
of Scott County residents live below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
21.9%
of Scott County
adults have not graduated high school
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
11.9%
of Scott County residents are uninsured
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org
 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Scott County, Tennessee Population: 21,949
       83%
of Scott County adults struggle to perform basic math
32.2%
of Scott County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance
26.2%
of Scott County residents live in extreme poverty
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
19.2%
of Scott County residents spend
at least 50% of their income on housing
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

83.0%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

22,171

49.4%

50.6%

97.5%

0.4%

1.3%

0.4%

0.5%

0.0%

1.1%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

18.5%

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

39.8%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

26.2%

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

32.2%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

10.6%

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

11.8%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

22.6%

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

26.4%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

0.0

HIV Prevalence (2022):

27.1

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

25.9%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

15.9%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

15.9%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

11.9%

Adults with COPD (2022):

13.1%

Adults with CHD (2022):

9.4%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

26.7%

Sequatchie County

Adults Reading At/Below
an 8th Grade Level:

66.1%

 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Sequatchie County, Tennessee Population: 14,654
       66.1%
of Sequatchie County adults read at or below an 8th Grade level
26.7%
of Sequatchie County residents live below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
16.9%
of Sequatchie County adults have not graduated high school
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
10.2%
of Sequatchie County residents are uninsured
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org
 Appalachian Learning Initiative
Sequatchie County, Tennessee Population: 14,654
      75.7%
of Sequatchie County adults struggle to perform basic math
9.4%
of Sequatchie County residents spend
at least 50% of their income on housing
20.7%
of Sequatchie County residents rely on SNAP for Nutrition Assistance
14.4%
of Sequatchie County residents live in extreme poverty
 Follow us @APPLIOrg:
    National Center for Education Statistics, 2020
www.appli.org

Adults Struggling with Basic Mathematics:

75.7%

Demographics (2023)

Population:

Male:

Female:

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

American Indian /
Alaska Native:

Native Hawaiian /
Pacific Islander:

Other:

17,161

50.4%

49.6%

95.8%

1.2%

5.0%

0.5%

0.6%

0.1%

1.8%

Quality of Life Statistics

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

17.1%

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

26.7%

Residents Earning Below 100%
of the Federal Poverty Level:

14.4%

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

20.7%

Residents Who Lack
Health Insurance (2023):

11.4%

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

28.2%

Residents Facing
Food Insecurity (2022):

19.2%

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

38.6%

Public Health Statistics

Drug Overdose
Death Rate (2022):

Suppressed

HIV Diagnoses Rate (2022):

0.0

HIV Prevalence (2022):

164.6

Adults Who Currently
Smoke Cigarettes (2023):

24.9%

Adults Living with
Obesity (2022):

16.5%

Adults with Diabetes (2022):

16.5%

Adults with Asthma (2022):

12.1%

Adults with COPD (2022):

14.3%

Adults with CHD (2022):

10.3%

Adults with a Disability (2022):

21.4%

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