Defining the Arkansas Hillbilly

You know, the more you think about this topic the funnier it gets. Consider this: The so-called hilllbilly is nothing more or less than the kind of people and way of life that founded this great Country. What else do people think the frontiers looked like?

I agree completely.

Hi Mike,

Obviously, this is a loaded topic. I will only say that it is a common misconception that the profile described in the first article only occurs in the South or somehow especially in Arkansas. In fact it is present everywhere in the Country if you get a genuine somewhat isolated rural environment and a difficult employment scene. There are plenty of places in rural NY, Ohio, and Pennsylvania that if you were blindfolded and transported in the middle of the night and woke up there, you would certainly not think you'd left home.

There are a lot of stereotypes. What is unfair is to assign them to any one area of the Country.

Great articles on celebrating the Arkansas Hillbilly...


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/25/us-hillbilly-arkansas-idUSTRE78O2UT20110925

and

http://www.baxterbulletin.com/article/20110912/NEWS01/109120322/Thousands-turn-out-Hillbilly-Chili