Socioeconomic Change
How did the influx of immigrants change coal camps in Appalachian Kentucky?
Engagement in immigrant culture during the 19th and 20th century laid a foundation for socioeconomic change. This section will assess these changes, which is important as it allows the audience to process the necessities and structure of coal, housing, and more. Additionally, this section will effectively answer the question of how the influx of immigrants changed coal camps in Appalachian Kentucky?
Occupation
In the coal camps, the go-to career was that of becoming a miner. This is because the compensation was high and the work was consistent during the twentieth century. Although mining was the top career choice, especially for immigrants, "for Appalachian communities ... every 100 new jobs in coal add 25 new indirect jobs" (Lobao, et al. 349). Thus, there were opportunities for careers, other that that in the mining industry.
In Harlan County there were facilities, such as the hotels, stores, and hospitals which needed to be staffed. One interview demonstrates the work of a shoe store in Hazard, Kentucky where it, "...was very busy and sometimes had two helpers..." Beyond business, there were also tasks to be done in the field such as repair shoes and, "dyeing shoes" (Lasslo 54:30-54:54). Other accounts from immigrant families demonstrate that their careers upon moving to Kentucky began clerically, and advanced into the mines. Overall, occupation was a concern fulfilled by incoming immigrants and with wide opportunity.
Education
Education within Harlan County coal camps was adjusted to fit to the influx of immigrants. The camps provided schools, dividing them for whites and people of color. As depicted in the bottom right of the right picture, the sign above the building states, "Lynch Colored Public School" (Nollau). Seemingly, all immigrants would go to the this school. However, the case is more complicated than that. Immigrants in the late 20th century were primarily white and came from Eurocentric countries. What mattered to Americans was the tone of your skin, and not where you've descended from. Thus, most immigrants went to the school for whites and left a small portion of the populace to go to the school for people of color. Considering these facts, the school for people of color had poorer quality of education and lack of funding (Rothstein). To date, practices as such leave disproportionate effects on people of color (Rothstein).
Housing
In Appalachian coal camps, two types of housing were the most common: boardinghouses and hotels. The hotels were the ideal place to live, consisting of large wooden structures and several units for families. However, these buildings were restricted to immigrants because of their customs, specifically cooking-- it didn't cater to American interests (Keleman, et al.)
It is evident that a large portion of immigrants were restricted from living in the ideal housing unit. However, the influx of immigrants stretched farther than whether an individual lived in a hotel or boardinghouse. Immigrants were frequently divided from the population in the camps. In Lynch, Kentucky, specifically, Hungarians lived in district one while other foreigners resided in district four (Keleman, et al. 1986). Other accounts from Harlan County even state that, "segregation was prevailed," and there were, "...communities where blacks wasn't allowed to live" (Portelli 168-169). Altogether, housing was altered in Appalachian coal camps with the influx of immigrants.
Consensus
In a multitude of ways, the influx of immigrants required Appalachian Kentucky to make adjustments to their coal camps. Primarily, the U.S Steel Company had to accommodate immigrant families to housing and basic necessities, so that they would continue to work and make profit off the mines. Additionally, the coal camps were required to create multiple education facilities, health facilities, and more, as practices like segregation were still institutionalized in the twentieth century.
For the majority, the running of the coal camps was smoothly done. However, it is clear that disproportionate effects fell upon people of color, or rather, immigrants which did not appear to come from a Eurocentric country.