With a total area of 197,116 square miles, the Appalachian Region has an uneven distribution of population, income, wealth and natural resources. The Region's 19.3 million people live in 397 counties and 5 independent cities in Virginia. Under 50% of the population live in metropolitan counties while only 25% live in rural counties. In 1975 the Region's natural population growth rate was only about 70% of the nation's. As natural growth has diminished, migratory movements both into and from the Region and within it play a larger role in population changes of local areas. Economic productivity varies from one-sixth above the national average in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to less than one-fourth of the U.S. level in eastern Kentucky. Appalachia also varies in the population's age structure, racial and ethnic composition, educational attainment, labor force participation, poverty level, health conditions, and other facets of economic life and socioeconomic wellbeing. This reference book presents information on the Region's topography; population change, concentration and dispersal; population growth trends; population ethnicity; population 65 years of age and older; labor force, employment, and employment trends; employment by industry; personal income; poverty status; education attainment and school enrollment; nonfederal physicians, infant mortality trends; housing; coal production; mineral industry establishments; agriculture and farm land; and local governments. (Author/NEC)