Thanks for the apology, Gregor.
FHN: I did not mean to imply that all Appalachians are on food stamps and/or welfare. However, most of my family is at this point. In the '50's, we were able to own our own land and grow our own food. That's a dream now more than a reality. Many Appalachians have gotten educated and own businesses. The lucky ones have become country music stars (e.g., Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton) and movie stars (e.g., Patricia Neal and Polly Bergen) or media stars (e.g., Diane Sawyer).
I do realize, too, that there are ignorant, uneducated people everywhere, even in the wealthiest suburbs. As a child, I was stigmatized after we moved to another state, so we had the image of being backward (probably largely because of our dialect) no matter how we really were.
I've never watched the show, so I wasn't sure where it took place. The descriptions I've heard made me believe it probably was Appalachia.