What is the Origin of the Term 'Hillbilly' and Its Connection to Chemistry?

[Hillbillychemist]

How did you find PF?

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I am a chemist with twenty-five years experience as an industrial chemist (four patents) and sixteen years experience as an adjunct professor teaching general chemistry. I am from Arkansas (thus the hillbilly) with a MS in organic chemistry and an MBA in Technical management.

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PhysicsForums. It's great to have you here!

 

[Vanadium 50]

Today we don't say "hillbilly". We say Hill William.

 

[Hillbillychemist]

Today we don't say "hillbilly". We say Hill William.

Not much into P.C. and as Popeye said "I am what I am and that's all what I am!"

 

[symbolipoint]

I thought the term "Hillbilly" referred to certain people from Tennessee, Virginia/WestVirginia, and Kentucky. Yes/No/SomethingElse?

 

[Vanadium 50]

People from the "Hill Country", including Appalachia and the Ozarks.

 

[Hillbillychemist]

Hillbilly originally referred to people in Scotland presumably in reference to William Wallace (Braveheart). People from Scotland settled initially in Appalachia (the English had taken the coastal lands) and later moved on to Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas. My ancestors initially settled in North Carolina, moved to Kentucky and from there to the Ozark mountains.