Eleanor, West Virginia doesn't have Muslims, Mexicans or Starbucks. Most of the people in town have never traveled outside of the state. They only leave to visit family in the Kentucky coal fields or friends in Ohio's "rust belt."
Some go to Nashville to try to get a gig on Lower Broadway, labor & delivery for superstar hopefuls. Most don't understand that it takes more than a guitar and desire to be a musician.
Notwithstanding the isolation, they still carry a fear of illegal immigrants, refugees, and big corporations.
What they do have is a large Toyota factory just up the road. They don't mind its presence. In a world which has mostly left them behind, Toyota grants respite in a tenuous existence. It's the Toyota plant that makes Eleanor the highfalutin neighbor to the troubled towns in the region. In the impoverished villages, cars resting on blocks, sans tires, are everywhere. Porch furniture, which used to be living room furniture, is omnipresent and junkyard dogs are the pet du jour.
A Long History
Named after Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the 32nd President, Eleanor went Trump, solidly. His statements that he would bring coal jobs back, kick out illegal aliens and bring jobs back to America resonated with residents eager to grasp the brass ring.
Their background hearkens back to Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal project. A product of the government sponsored safety net which saved hundreds of thousands during in the 1930s, Eleanor sits beside the Kanawha River as its population drops below 1,500 and is still predominantly white.
Historically, Eleanor had notoriety as a "sundown town" and kept out African Americans by preserving its "Whites only" policy according to James W. Loewen, author of "Lies My Teacher Told Me.”
What Have They Done
Now, with their "wunderkind" in the White House, promising to cut Medicare, Medicaid, Meals on Wheels and other government subsidized services, Eleanor's citizens — the rational ones at least — are wondering what have they done.
The hard-eyed view in West Virginia is that Trump has something to prove. Namely, that he'll revitalize Appalachian mining as he pledged multiple times on the campaign path. Trump's scheme to eliminate the Appalachian Regional Commission has alarmed West Virginia residents who have depended on the ARC for work. Most of the region is crippled by poverty, and Republican leaders are frustrated with Trump's so-far-empty promises. That includes Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and longtime Republican Congressman Hal Rogers.
"I'm disappointed that the reductions and eliminations proposed in Trump's budget are careless and counterproductive," said Rogers.
37 and A Single Mom Struggles
Crystal is one of those disappointed as she tries to figure out life as a single mom. The 37-year old, married at 16, divorced, with two children by 19, has no college degree. Crystal found a program through the Coalfield development Corporation that would both hire her and pay for her associate's degree. Now, she is working full-time for one of the nonprofit's agriculture programs.
Her paycheck is written by a federal agency which creates jobs in 420 counties in 13 states.
It's also marked for elimination by Trump.
The coal industry, formerly the bread-and-butter of central Appalachia is struggling. Much of the region is crippled by poverty and younger generations are leaving for work elsewhere.
Meanwhile, die-hards in Eleanor, and other dying West Virginia towns, are clinging vainly to Trump's promise to "Make America Great Again" even as his approval ratings slip below 40% — the lowest approval rating of any American president at this point in his administration.
Jacob Dyer, a 21-year old construction worker whose job is funded by the ARC, hopes Trump will reconsider.
"I believe if he knew how this program helps and what it's done, what it supports, I think he would change his mind — possibly," said Dyer.
I am an American freelance writer and ghostwriter now living the expat life in Argentina. Never far from my coffee and Marlboros, I am always interested in discussing future work opportunities. Email me at jandrewnelson2@gmail.com and join the million-or-so who follow my life and work on Twitter @ Journey_America.
Watch for my next book, “Death Valley Road” about Republican betrayal in Bath County, Virginia
Thanks for being part of my wild and wonderful journey called life.