Johnson and Martin Counties, KY

[minionofmidas]

Seeing as the East Kentucky Democratic (or historically Democratic... Harlan County voted over 70% for John McCain. Crikey) areas used to be Republican too before the New Deal, and Johnson County certainly is a part of the coalfield... it does seem strange. Their current politics don't, but their 60s-80s (and before, presumably) politics sure do. Al?

It's a Regular Baptist area, of course. But if they were like their even less worldly cousins the Old Regular Baptists, one would expect hardline Republicanism to be a recent phenomenon.

[minionofmidas]

Ah, but that shifts the emphasis to: Why did unionization fail in Johnson and Martin Counties in the 1930s?

[minionofmidas]

It certainly still was working mining country in the era (though I don't know about relative decline). I know that because I know Loretta Lynn is from Johnson County, and her father was a coalminer, you see.