The COVID-19 Crisis & Appalachian Counties of Tennessee: A Snapshot of Rural Resilience

The COVID-19 crisis impacted rural communities in Appalachia in a variety of ways. To best understand the experiences of these areas, this thesis assesses these challenges through in-depth interviews. These were conducted via a convenience sample of the counties deemed economically distressed by the Appalachian Regional Commission and asked leadership what the biggest challenges and unexpected victories were.