David, Eastern Tn is experiencing a boom due to Dollywood, Gatlinburg, Pidgeon Forge etc. Murphy NC is also rated the number 6 place for second homes in the United States, because of white water rafting and the Olympic teams practicing there in the mid 90's before that there was nothing and I mean nothing there ...gravel roads, out-door toilets an so forth, It was outside state money, people coming from Florida and up North that created that boom...the attraction of the beautiful Smokies. Before that one only had to travel the roads and view the homes of the residents and maybe notice that some were still walking and riding horses instead of cars to make your "logical comparison" along with trips to an out-house that I doubt many in Memphis was making. Perhaps you think bills for parts of the country can't be delayed or stopped in legislature. Or perhaps you think that there wasn't hard feelings against those minority members of the State
who had been against secession after it had been "Redeemed". Wouldn't be quite human nature that? What law did Lincoln pass before the South thought they would get the shaft from him? Don't even think he had took office before secession started, surely the residents of an area under a state government for years might have the inkling of an idea how they were treated. How about posting county wealth, David?

Harlan County KY.
he median income for a household in the county was $18,665, and the median income for a family was $23,536. Males had a median income of $29,148 versus $19,288 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,585. About 29.10% of families and 32.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.10% of those under age 18 and 21.00% of those age 65 or over.The median income for a household in the county was $21,110, and the median income for a family was $24,869. Males had a median income of $30,488 versus $17,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,984. About 23.70% of families and 27.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.90% of those under age 18 and 21.20% of those age 65 or over.

Letcher County KY.
The median income for a household in the county was $21,110, and the median income for a family was $24,869. Males had a median income of $30,488 versus $17,902 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,984. About 23.70% of families and 27.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.90% of those under age 18 and 21.20% of those age 65 or over.

Here's some facts on the town of Murphy NC, even with the influx of new people....The median income for a household in the town was $24,952, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $16,908 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,926. About 16.7% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

That per capita income of 11,000 and some dollars is sure a little less that that of Memphis or Pine Bluff, isn't David?
WOW, what do you think of that?