The term is often used to refer to just areas in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains . These areas usually include parts of the states of Kentucky , Tennessee , Virginia , West Virginia , and North Carolina , and sometimes extending as far south as northern Georgia and western South Carolina , as far north as Pennsylvania , and as far west as southeastern Ohio . However , the term is often used more restrictively to refer to regions in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains , usually including areas in the states of Kentucky , Tennessee , Virginia , Maryland , West Virginia , and North Carolina , as well as sometimes extending as far south as northern Georgia and western South Carolina , as far north as Pennsylvania and southern Ohio .