Back in April Blind Pig reader Jim Casada wondered if I knew the age of folks who read this blog and if that influenced the things I wrote about. If you missed that post you can see it here.
Long time Blind Pig reader, Jackie, left a comment on the post wondering where the folks who read the blog live.
“I’m in the over 75 category and will soon be in the over 80 bunch. I’ll read your blog as long as you continue or as long as I can read whichever comes first. Even if I am familiar with the topic it brings back memories. I also learn a lot from the comments. Is there a way to see how many states and countries are represented by your readers?”
—Jackie
I have long time readers from Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom. As you might have guessed the largest readership, 94%, for the Blind Pig and The Acorn hails from the USA, but the top ten countries of reader location are interesting.
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Nigeria
- Netherlands
- South Africa
- Not set (means their information has been blocked, likely from using a VPN)
- United Arab Emirates
- Brazil
I’m always amazed when I receive a comment from another country.
When it comes to the United States there are folks who visit the blog from Alaska to Hawaii to Maine—in other words most of the states are represented. The largest concentration of visits come from the state of Georgia. Here’s the top ten.
- Georgia
- New York
- North Carolina
- Illinois
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Florida
- Kentucky
- California
Readers from New York and North Carolina are neck and neck with less than a percentage point between them.
The reader location demographics I’ve shared are from the life of the blog 2008-2022. I rarely look at my analytics, but probably should. As I said in the first post about the age of readers, I write about what comes to mind and spills out through my fingertips as they type.
Even though I don’t pay particular attention to the location and age of readers, I do have a great sense of gratefulness as think of each person who visits Blind Pig and The Acorn. Everyone who reads the blog is helping me celebrate and preserve Appalachian culture and heritage.
Last night’s video: My Favorite Weed to Forage & Eat – Purslane! It Grows Everywhere!
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It’s your warmth and sincerity that draws people worldwide. And Corey is truly an old soul. Katie is a hoot and both girls have beauty inside and out. Love you all! God Bless!
I’m 46 & grew up & have lived in the Piedmont Region/Sauratown Mountains of Northwest NC in Stokes County my whole life, other than a time when I lived near Fort Hood Texas for a spell….
I love the Blind Pig because it reminds me of so much I miss.
I had a friend give me some back straps off a deer a while back & it reminded me of when I was a youngster & if I was hanging out with friends at a persons house I hardly knew, whether it be local or up in Virginia (cause we are neighbors)
-now I’m purdy sure my folks didn’t know them either, but they were just (kind folks) and they had just killed deer or hogs or cattle whoever or whatever it may be…& as my friends & I were fixin to leave, the kind folks would pull out some meat from the freezer in neatly wrapped white paper and hand it to me and say “give that to yurn maw an them, and tell them I says hello! Hope yall like it, it’s got a right much salt to it but it’s good after yuns warsh it off and fry it!”
LOL
This happened in different locations under different scenarios on occasion, but it just fills my heart thinking back on it, how someone I’m sure didn’t know me or my folks was so kind and generous to give away something they worked hard on raising, feeding, sweating, aching and then all the work that went into killing, cleaning, curing, packaging….
Just hand a good sized portion over to a complete stranger!
There are still plenty of those type people in this world it’s just not as common that you meet them in these current times.
I’m 63 and currently living in Florida but originally from eastern Ohio. My mom’s family (several generations) are from Virginia/South Carolina/Kentucky/Alabama/and the hills of Pennsylvania. She grew up in one of the poorest counties in the state, Perry, in a town called Shawnee in the Wayne National Forest. These are the foothills of the great mountains. It was bustling then due to a coal mine and brickyards. The miners went on strike and lit the seam on fire and it’s actually still burning today. People started moving out and there’s only a few hundred left with many empty storefronts. She cooked a lot of the dishes you do and I’ve heard many of the words you post here. When I married I moved to Columbus and remember coworkers asking me where I’m from. I’d say Ahia as that’s how I always said Ohio. I must have had an accent of sorts because they thought I was from out of state. I remember the first time I said redd up in front of my husband – he thought I was making it up. I got out the dictionary and it was in there! One thing I’ve not heard you say is calling green peppers mangoes. Where from that’s what they were called. It seems to be a Pennsylvania/Ohio/Indiana expression but thought it might dip farther south.
I love your column and videos and you’ve inspired me to make some of the food I grew up with. Thanks for all you do. I look forward to reading your blog every morning with my coffee. My husband and I are going to make s visit to the mountains next year and we’ve talked of relocating after he retires. The mountains keep calling me.
I am 56 and living in Nova Scotia Canada. My relatives on my mother’s side all came from the Appalachian region. I play banjo and guitar and enjoy the old time music. I really delight in the videos that show you and your family playing music.
From a small town in southeast Ohio. I’m in my early 70’s. Ancestors came from Virginia, later West Virginia, and Ohio.
60 here and from Greeneville Tennessee.
Tipper first off thank you for all you and your family does to keep me reading your articles reminds me of my younger years in Oklahoma and words we used and lots I still do have been in Reno,NV. since 1962 and I’m going on 89 years old so bless you and yours.
63 born and raised and still living in the state of Missouri
As a child, I would eat those big, red mulberries ’til I could hold no more. It wasn’t until I lived in Pennsylvania that I discovered white mulberries. An old beagle hound that we had at the time also loved them (but then again, he would eat cardboard!)…Tipper, my hat’s also off to you. You present a forum where we can meet, thoroughly enjoy your stories, recipes, ” folkisms” and such. It certainly reinforces the idea that all of us are more alike than different.
I found your YouTube channel a few months ago and so glad I did! I watch a lot of YouTube and you are unlike any of the other channels to which I subscribe. I have learned so much watching you and listening to the stories you tell. I have never eaten or seen a mulberry but my mouth was watering watching your daughter eat them out of the bucket!
BTW, I am almost 56 years old and have lived my entire life in Utah. I have visited Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA and just booked a trip to Florida for later this summer. I absolutely adore the South, it is so very different from the climate where I live. We get snow but we are a desert!
I am 46 and from New Zealand
I’m so happy I came upon your blog & you tube channel.
I love your cooking, gardening & weekly story book reading.
Self sufficient life is wonderful. I too would happily not go to town for weeks! Ha!
Thanks for sharing your piece of paradise – a long way from my home but so many similarities
I am 63 and live in Topeka, Kansas. I grew up in southeast Missouri, the Bootheel area. But like many Ozarkers, my people came originally from the Appalachians… North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. Nearly all of the things that are discussed on here are things I grew up with, too. I love this site!
I am 83 and reside in North Texas. I was born in Northern Ohio, but grew up in Southern Indiana near Kentucky. My maternal grandmother was from East Tennessee.
I was mostly born and raised in Missouri and am still here. My ancestors on both sides started out in Canada and Pennsylvania, but then went down through Kentucky to get to north Missouri, and most of the old-timey vocabulary words and phrases you mention are words I grew up with. I remember an aunt who used the word “yourn” for yours. “I’m going to get a dress like yourn’. I’ll bet you’ve heard that one.
I’m not from Texas, but I live here. From KY/CT, and my parents are from MN/SD/ND. I’m 53 and have been interested in regional foodways ever since I can remember (British as well as American). Your blog and YT channel are the most comprehensive (and friendly!) I have found. Thank you!
I live in rural New York. Love the sight for the language, cooking, family feeling, scenery, feeling like being a part of something. Thanks for sharing all you do!
AWGRIFF – Don’t know if it showed on my initial post, but I am still praying for you & hope you are having good days.
Tipper, I honestly don’t know how I could have survived through the isolation of this pandemic without you & your family. With your daily posts/videos, I have something to look forward to when I wake up (which could be from 6:00 am to noon since I have battles with insomnia). I love those mountains & always wanted to move there, but life took me another way & now at my age it is too late. Should have taken a leap of faith years ago.
You & your family are living heaven right here on earth as far as I am concerned. I always told the college students to make their dream happen before they run out of time. Thank you so much for what you do! It is a blessing to us!
Sending a hug from Northern Mississippi-70 yrs old.
AWGRIFF
I’m 62, from southern Massachusetts. My mother’s family were farmers in Vermont near a northern part of the Appalachian trail. I think my introduction to Celebrating Appalachia was one of Tipper’s vocabulary videos, and I recall it was something used up here and I got to wondering about connections between the peoples who live along the trail.
This doesn’t surprise me that you have readers just about all over the world. Your passion to keep celebrating Appalachia culture is what draws folks to read, listen and/or watch your stories. You have inspired, educated and returned us to memories we can connect with on so many levels.
Thank you Tipper!
50 years ago as a student at Clemson, an engineering professor saw me reading National Geographic and asked me why I liked that magazine. The answer to read about other places and cultures. The same with your blog. Since much of your area is similar to where I grew up, it reminds me of home.
I have lived in Ohio for 32 years and will die here as I do like the cold weather. I have enough land to shield me from the Yankees and I can understand the New Yorker’s frustration with the way things are going. Every old Ohioan wants to move to Myrtle Beach or somewhere in Florida.
One woman was moving to the beach area and we said something about wasn’t she worried about hurricanes. The answer ” I’ll be 2 miles from the beach” How do you argue with that?
Keep writing. By the way I read later in the day as the early morning is the time to work outside before it gets too hot.
Tipper you are really good and I don’t know how you come up with so many ideas. I’m glad you do!!
E.KY. 74 years old.
Awesome info! Angie from NC
Well, you really struck a chord here Tipper. Look at all these long responses. Patty, in NY, you need to get out of there and come down to TN or NC. Sure the prices have gone up but the cost living down here is probably half what yours is up there. I spent my growing up years in NY back when Long Island was still mostly farm land. And life was good. Summers in the Adirondacks. When my husband and I got married we honeymooned in the mountains of NC. And moved there immediately. People come here from all over cause they love the mountains and change of seasons. But the true treasure are the people, like Tipper. This is Home. God Bless you Tipper for sharing something so sweet and personal. I don’t know how you do it all.
Wish I could at this point, Patti. Resisted my husband – he wants to move to Texas & I have literally no desire to go there. I want to be able to help my parents as they age & we live in the original homestead my ancestors moved to from Ireland. It has stayed in family for almost 200 yrs. I am more toward Adirondack regions. We are like another state compared to downstate & most of what they are interested in does not interest us, but the legislation they vote for affects us. The mountains & the independent spirit are what inspires me to be interested in Appal. Now we don’t really have the resources to move. Tried to wait for kids to graduate, but its getting tougher – so will probably stay put.
Greetings from Minnesota! I grew up in western NC and still love the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachia. Thank you for the Blind Pig and all the precious memories that it brings and for the great work you do in preserving our Appalachian culture and history. I am 95!
I found your post this morning very interesting. I was born in 1950, am an RN, who is still working full time. Am from a small town in south east Pennsylvania called Sinking Spring.
I enjoy the stories of your youth, the recipes you share, and your everyday life. Starting your seeds and planting your garden. We had not started seeds indoors for a long time but this year after seeing your video we did.
I find it interesting how alike and then how different our areas are.
Yours is the only site I follow, looking forward to more blogs to come.
I do not recall whether pastor Stange asked you what your success formula is. Anyway, my feeling is you don’t have a thought out, planned “formula”. You just started and have kept going being real (which a formula would hinder) and sharing yourself, your family and your countryside. And those things draw us readers into what I call ‘the fellowship of the human condition’. That includes celebrating Appalachia but extends far beyond it also.
It would be interesting to see what your readers would say is the attractions of BP&A. I think they would be varied but would cluster around a few themes. One mentioned here this morning is “clean”. I think ‘restful’ and ‘refreshing’ are in there somewhere. And then there is re-visiting times in our memory or for some of us the similarity with how we live now. I guess the social science folks have done all sorts of digging into how ‘communities’ of people who have never met are made and maintained. I think you understand that intuitively. I can’t get much closer than that to the heart of the matter.
Thanks for those stats, Tipper. I always like to try to determine where someone hails from, based on their way of speaking. As an example, I think I could pick out someone from Matt’s area, which is where the friend of one of your daughters is also from. It’s a distinctive, soft accent, sorta like the sound and pattern of those from Alabama. And a Yank can always spot me, because I haven’t totally lost my East Tenn accent (and I’m in no hurry to do that!)
I’m surprised that Alabama is not in the top ten since we are on the southern terminus of Appalachia. We read your blogs after prayers and devotional every am. Refreshing instead of starting day with “bad news” on tv. Thankyou
Very interesting!
Keep up the good work ❗️
I love The Blind Pig! I’ve lived in Charlotte all my life, but both my parents were raised about an hour from you in Oconee County, South Carolina. So much of what you share reminds me of them and how they grew up.
Your readers may be interested in a book (as I was) that details by region the primary settlers and their lifestyles and customs. It’s called Albion’s Seed by David Hackett Fisher. The section on Southern Appalachia is fascinating
30 years old in NC here!
You know, Miss Tipper, country living is a state of mind. I’ve been in big cities, but found myself longing for the country life. People are tired of big cities, big dreams, big jobs, big titles, big houses and a big head. A cup of coffee and quiet place to think and dream are what life is about . It’s appreciation of babies, children, old folks, flowers, animals, a good meal, a gorgeous sunrise or sunset and God’s beauty and faith in Him makes life joyful and meaningful. Then there’s the people who all love a warm welcome and you share all these things. I feel as welcome as anybody ever has here. You have ideas, tips and just interesting shares. You’re the bees knees, lady of the hills!!! You’re a really special and wonderful person!!!
Will soon be in the 80 and over category…here in GA…..
It’s interesting to see how far and wide your blog has touched people’s lives. We all have a curiosity to know how people live in different parts of the world. I’m so glad I stumbled across your site, it’s been fun, informative, and so interesting to read what you post and see the similarities that we share with you all even though my husband and I hail from Indiana with our families roots coming from West Virginia/North Carolina region. Congratulations on the rewards of your hard work!!!!!
My niece Donna introduced me to your blog while visiting her in April. I love your little town, the music, and beautiful scenery. If you talk to Michael he would probably tell you I saw most of it with my eyes closed. I hate heights and Mt. roads with nothing to stop me from falling over. I did see plenty and I appreciate the beauty. You blog is always ready for my morning coffee. Blog on Tipper! Life is Good!
As one of your subscribers from Tennessee who is over 65, I want to thank you for making your blog such a wonderful, informative place to visit. I start every day with a cup of coffee and a visit with Tipper.
Two things in the list shocked me: New York being second and South Carolina being absent.
Love From New York, the Empire State, Tipper. Your site really resonates with me, because even though the Appalachian culture is unique to place, a lot of what you talk about resonates with me & the way my family lives. Some of that, I think, has to do with the original ethnic make up of Appalachia (Irish, Scots-Irish, etc). My family is all Irish or Scots – Irish & I think the ways we live come from way, way back, so there is a similarity, from antiquity. Your site also makes me realize how much my culture has lost ground, where I live. Everything has become so homogenized. Also, I found your site trying to familiarize myself with your region of the country, because my husband & I have become so saddened by the state of affairs in NY. We were considering moving somewhere in the Appalachian region. But now, with the way things are -$wise, & unsettled, I don’t think that is going to be a possibility for us anymore. But I fell in love with your writing style and the beautiful pictures & the way you spotlight your family. So, now I just come for a quick visit every morning with my cup of coffee.
My family shagged tail quickly outa NY when my father in law announced he was sick and tired of supporting NYC singlehandedly. We did the Math and lo and behold he was right. Most of his clan moved to Northern Virginia where they can “have” it. We moved to southern WV instead. You’d be delighted you busted a move outa there. I’d absolutely recommend coming to TN, NC or any place really south of Wilkes- Barre. You’ll be glad you did. Do not give in to fear. Faith is the opposite of fear. Love and courage to you.
Giving in to Fear really isn’t the issue at this point, I guess. Its just realism. We do not outright own the house/land we live on. We have nothing to sell to have $ to move far away. I resisted my hubby on moving for so long, because he wanted to go to Texas & I don’t want to go there (I have trouble living in heat – get sick very easily). We couldn’t come to a compromise & now the cost of everything is weighing us down. We don’t know anyone outside of Ny & have never even traveled out of state, except once for work (ohio). We struggle to see eye to eye on things & this has held us up. Now I think we are probably stuck.
Whatever you write, however you decide what and how to write, I will continue to read your blog…it is interesting and informative and down to earth. Having grown up in NE Florida and living on a farm, what you remind me of and what I remember help me to bring back the mostly good, some bad and even more useful and helpful. So, keep on keepin’ on and Blessings to you and your family….also, one day, please tell how you learned to call your relatives what you call them, ie Granny and Papp.
We’re military so we ping pong all over the place, but right now we’re in Virginia. I’m not surprised at all you have a worldwide following. You’re awesome!
Amazing! People of all ages and backgrounds following your blog! The Applachians are fascinating to a lot of people. This area has always felt like home to me despite that I never stepped foot here til I was in High School. So happy to live here now
I enjoy your blog Tipper and will also continue to read as long as you write or I can. I’m in Maryland, we didn’t make the top 10, which surprises me. I would have thought all of the Appalachia states would have been in the top 10. I think the analytics are interesting. I’m approaching 60 fast.
Wow, Tipper! I never thought about the Blind Pig having such a worldwide following! Congratulations, that is quite an accomplishment. I knew you had a big following, but I just didn’t realize it was so widespread.
I also know that you put your heart and soul into making the Blind Pig the very best it can be, and you succeed!
Congratulations, again! I am so very proud of you!