Learning About "Shiloh": The Time and Place

Shiloh takes place in a rural (countryside) community West Virginia. The towns Sisterville, Friendly, and Middlebourne are mentioned in the story because they are real placed! Check out the map below.

 

This region of the United States is known as Appalachia, named for the Appalachian Mountains that stretch 2,100 miles. For much of its history, the Appalachian region has been poor. Its geography (placement on the map) makes transportation difficult, so farms are small. However, in the 1900s timber and mineral companies began mining Appalachian towns for natural resources, leaving the families living in the area with very little. Most people must now find work in nearby cities.

The pioneers who settled Appalachia created a sense of independence and self-reliance in their isolated mountain lifestyle. It also created a very unique culture that inspired today's bluegrass and county music forms.