User:Tripodero/American folklore

American folklore consists of the storied traditions of the United States expressed in spoken word and passed down from one generation to the next in story, joke, proverb or song. It is distinct, yet not mutually exclusive, from the folklore of Native Americans and from the countries which the remaining population descends. Characteristic is the prominent use of satire and exaggeration both indicative of democratic government and freedoms of speech. The tall tale, fish story, folk ballad and campfire story being some of its more iconic forms.

Central
Context: The Central United States, often referred to as the Heartland, has a dual environment. Towards the west grasslands predominate whereas to the east the landscape encompasses mostly deciduous forests. Historically, the region is known for multiple industries especially commercial grains and crop farming, particularly corn and wheat, in general, with  dairy and lumber industries being particular to the region around the Great Lakes. Livestock production is present but concentrated mostly in western South Dakota with the automotive industry being a key component of the modern economy. Originally inhabited by Native Americans divided between those of the Plains and western  Eastern Woodland, the region was later settled largely by  Germanic peoples but with notable  Dutch,  French and  Finnish populations. The latter, the largest of these, is centered principally on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Great Plains
The folklore of the Great Plains .... Wild Bill Hickok (Botkin) such as Dead man's hand - Buffalo Bill (Botkin) - Sam Bass Union Pacific Big Springs robbery - Coronado and Quivira -- Bass Reeves - Jackalope Douglas, Wyoming - Calamity Jane

Midwest
The folklore of the Midwest, excluding the Great Plains, encompasses the Great Lake states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois as well as Iowa and Missouri. Recognizable characters of Midwestern folklore, many based on actual persons, have become staples of American folklore at large such as Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink,  Jesse James and Paul Bunyan.

The latter is often cited as the county's most well known folk hero and is believed to have first originated among lumberjacks near the Great Lakes. Contemporaneously to Paul Bunyan, numerous fearsome critters, tall tale animals of North American folklore, likewise developed within the local logging industry. Prominent among these, the Hodag has been adopted as the official mascot for the city of Rhinelander, Wisconsin and a yearly music festival is held in its honor. Lcoal shanty songs such as "Little Brown Bulls" have been covered by numerous folk artist.- Daniel Stamps (155-158)-  -  - Oscar the Turtle: The Beast of Busco (Dorson, 45-49) -

Inland South
The folklore of the Southern Interior, encompassing the non-coastal states of Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee, excluding Ozarks and Appalachia, contain such stories as the Bell Witch (Botkin) and the Big Bear of Arkansas.

Davy Crockett, originally of eastern Tennessee, is a particular figure of note having garnered a reputation as fighting frontiersman from which grew the tall tales of his prowess as a hunter and a soldier. Crockett would later relocate west to join the fight in the Texas Revolution to his death the Battle of the Alamo.

As well, state songs of the region such as My Old Kentucky Home and Arkansas Traveler continue to receive national recognition.

Texan Plains (Coastal and Central)
The folklore of the Gulf ... Gib Morgan (126-138) - Big-Foot Wallace (Botkin) - James Bowie - Alamo Mission

Noncontagious and Territories
The folklore of the noncontagious states and U.S. territories are shaped by a wide range of differing environments, industries, ancestries and traditions.

Alaska Peninsula
The folklore of the Mid-Atlantic North,

Caribbean
The folklore of the Mid-Atlantic North,

Pacific
The folklore of the Mid-Atlantic North,

Northeastern
Context: The northeastern United States is largely deciduous forests and temperate in climate. Prominent geographical features include Northern Appalachia and the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario. The region is especially historically important as a major industrial center producing commercial goods such as steel, ships, rum, etc. However, the northeastern United States is likewise noteworthy for natural goods. It has been paramount in logging, fishing, whaling and fur trading industries as well as a significant producer of grain and cattle. The Northeast Woodland Tribes constitute the region's earliest inhabitants. The northeastern region is home to large English, French, Irish and Italian populations while the Mid-Atlantic and Northern Appalachian hold a strong German presence, many of which are referred to by the misnomer Pennsylvania Dutch.

Mid-Atlantic
The folklore of the Mid-Atlantic North, to encompass the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, excluding Northern Appalachia, Jones Tracy (Dorson, 144-154) - Jersey Devil, Kite experiment

New England
The folklore of New England .... Windham Frogs - Captain Kidd - Molly Pitcher - First Thanksgiving  Jigger Johnson

Northern Appalachia
The folklore of Northern Appalachia .... John Darling (Dorson, 120-125) White Mountains (New Hampshire)

Southeastern
Context: The southeastern United States consists principally of temperate deciduous forests with the exception of tropical humid forests on Florida's southernmost tip. The region contains most of the country's wetlands, located along the coast, and a sizable portion of Appalachia. Some major exports of historical and cultural importance are cotton and tobacco in the Piedmont and coal and  moonshine whiskey in Appalachia. Prior to the arrival of European colonists, the area was inhabited by the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands. European settlement of the southeast was largely Scotch Irish but with some German influence whereas the region still contains the largest African American population anywhere in the United States due to the legacy of slavery.

Chesapeake and Tidewater
The folklore of the Chesapeake and Tidewater, to include most of Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, with all of the District of Columbia and Delaware, excluding Appalachia but including the Upper Piedmont, - Lost Roanoke Colony - Legend of the White Doe and Silver Arrow -  Pocahontas saving John Smith - Blackbeard's Ghost - Washington Cherry Tree myth - Daniel Boone

Deep South
The folklore of Deep South, to include Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana, excluding Appalachia and the Gulf Coast, - Casey Jones (Botkin)- Brer Rabbit - Rawhead and Bloody Bones - Railroad Bill - Francis Marion - African-American folktales Boo hag

Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula
The folklore of the Gulf Coast .... Talking Eggs, Singing Bones, Loup-Garou, Foolish John, Jean Lafitte (pirate), Marie Laveau (?), Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth

Southern Appalachia and the Ozarks
The folklore of Appalachia, to include the area of the entire range, and the Ozarks is markedly different from that of the adjacent areas. - Davy Crockett (Botkin) - John Henry (Botkin) -Razorback - Tailypo - Snallygaster - Hatfield and McCoy fued

Western
Context: The western United States is a mix of deserts and chaparral along with coastal rain and mountain forests. The area is home to all four of the country's major arid regions: the Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahua deserts. As well, the region contains the Rocky Mountains. The southwestern United States holds a culturally significant role as a producer of oil, gold, and cattle. Lumber and grain are a couple of its other exports. The region varied among the original native inhabitants divided between Native Americans of the Northwest Coast, California, Plateau, Great Basin, Southwest and Plains. Its historic makeup varies widely by sub-region but most notable ancestries are Mexican, English, German, Irish, Scotch Irish and other Hispanic peoples in addition to the original Native American inhabitants such as the Navajo, Pueblo, Apache, etc.

Great Basin
The folklore of the Great Basin, encompassing the majority of Nevada, much of Oregon and Utah, as well as sections of California, Idaho and Wyoming. Mormon folklore - Bear Lake monster - Dream Mine - White Horse Prophecy

Pacific Northwest
The folklore of the Pacific Northwest .... Len Henry (Dorson, 139-143) - Billy Puget - Bigfoot - Hathaway Jones (Dorson, 159) - Puget Sound - Paul Bunyan

Rocky Mountains
The folklore of the Rocky Mountains .... Jim Bridger (Dorson, 81-102) - phantom train of Marshall Pass

Southwest
The folklore of the Southwest encompassing much of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, including West Texas excluding the Great Basin, Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine - Billy the Kid (Botkin) - Roy Bean (Botkin) - Geronimo

West Coast
The folklore of the West Coast, excluding the Pacific Northwest, Oregon Smith (Dorson, 103-119) - Len Henry (Dorson, 139-143) - Kit Carson