Chattel Slavery in the Appalachians of North Carolina

Photo byWikimedia Commons

Chattel slavery was integral to the development of the Appalachian region, despite a long-standing myth that the area was isolated from national conflicts.

Appalachia was home to diverse non-Native settlers, including free and enslaved African Americans. Wealthy South Carolinians frequently visited western North Carolina during the summers, bringing enslaved labor to support their luxurious retreats.

By 1860, nearly 10% of western North Carolina’s population enslaved over 12,000 people, with enslavers controlling a staggering 43.4% of the region's wealth. Appalachia became a key route for the interstate trafficking of Black Americans, as traffickers moved enslaved individuals southward to meet the growing demand for labor in cotton production.

The economy of Appalachia depended on enslaved labor beyond agriculture. Enslaved Black Appalachians made up two-fifths of the region’s workforce, contributing significantly to mining and infrastructure projects like railroads. The gold rush of 1828 in North Carolina further incentivized the use of enslaved workers in dangerous industries like mining, where many lost their lives.

The presence of enslaved labor in Appalachia is a stark reminder of how deeply tied the region was to the institution of slavery, reshaping the narrative of isolation and innocence.