What California city or town feels the most like a Southern city? (San Diego: movies, living in)

[NorthernCalifornia]

as you can see almost nobody in this thread has any idea what the south is like, thanks, desertho!

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Desertho

Los Angeles will remind you of Houston. East LA would remind you Calle Ocho. Central Valley cities never struck me as country South. They tend to be non-descript and overwhelmingly composed of migrant workers. Though I did find it disturbing that the first few responses refer the OP to the most backwater parts of California when it was specifically requested which CA settlement feels most like a Southern CITY. You know, like Miami, Savannah, New Orleans, places with level of urbanism that should embarass the state that gave us San Jose.

The OP also asked for TOWNS and not just cities.

Also Calle Ocho and Miami are not considered "the South" at all. It's way more latin american culture there than anything else.

The only city with a level of urbanism like New Orleans would be SF and aside from historical architecture and history they are not that much alike.

I guess LA would be most like Houston or Atlanta, but even then......

[cottagegarden]

Manteca. Reminds me of the Delta in Mississippi.

[dalb962]

Red Bluff was mentioned as an aside to Chico; I think Red Bluff is more of a "town" than Chico (having lived in both). Of course, the Red Bluff Roundup is the largest three-day rodeo in America; there is a lot of horse riding and agriculture, so we maintain that rural feel while still having the amenities and proximity to larger cities (30-45 min to Red Bluff & Chico, as well as Mt Shasta and Mt Lassen). Check out the link page at aboutrb.com to see if it might be what you're looking for... have a great day!

[breeze823]

My vote is nowhere. Ca and the south are two completely different worlds.

[KOLAKING]

Jesus, the whole reason I'm moving my wife and four children to NOCAL is to get away from this ****hole (Alabama) called the south. 37 years is all I can take!!! Why not just embrace a new experience?

[RandalR]

Originally Posted by Onliner1

If a southerner was to move to California, where would they move to if they wanted to find a city (or town) that feels the most like home?

"Bakersfield: We're more Buck Owens than Nashville."

[Zapparulez]

Don't listen to all the "Bakersfield" crap. Bakersfield is a "wild west" town, totally different than a southern kind of atmosphere. Plus all the illegals would end up pissing you off with their free health care and uninsured vehicles. I suggest Northern California. Shasta or Tehama counties are real nice. Real hot and dry in the summer, but the winter rains are a welcome relief. Cottonwood is a nice town. They have a small rodeo arena and a yearly parade that goes through the historic part of town. When I lived there, they used to have a yearly town gathering at the community center, with a BBQ, dancing and music...real fun. My wife cynically calls it a hodown, but its not. Just country music and a fun way to be part of the community. Not sure if they still do it though, that was ten years ago.

It's also close to Redding which is 100,000 people and contains most of the jobs in the county. To the south is Red Bluff which has one of the big time rodeos and also monster truck rallies. At least that is the only time I ever went to Red Bluff as a child.

Plus you would be only an hour away from Whiskeytown Lake(best lake ever), and Shasta Lake(which is almost empty thanks to Los Angeles and their wasteful ways). Also Mt. Lassen has an awesome place to go snow sledding at Eskimo Hill. Mt. Shasta is a bit farther away, but it is impressive to say the least. Lots of stuff to do, plenty of swimming holes in Cottonwood too..

Why is it I keep talking about my hometown...I really want to move back I think. lol

[okie333]

Originally Posted by Soccersupporter

I would strongly suggest northern California. You would not feel at home in southern CA. I spent a few years in northern CA as a kid and I remember it being a lot more country. Orland, Redding, Redbluff. Went to a lot of rodeos, carnivals, etc.. I don't know how much it has change I can just say that southern CA is nothing remotely like the south.

ya i agree. heres some more to add

check out Tracy, Gilroy, Brentwood ( north), alot of small comunities around sacramento area or anyone of the north east small california towns.

like someone said before though it all has a california flavor to it. If you like the south then i recomend you stay there because if you comming to calfiornia for the southern experience you've got the wrong mentality. You wont find it. You will find a rich history of agriculture here, beautiful countryside and national parks and when you want a vacation there are so many places to go inside the state. It is one of the best places to be in my opinion. Don't get me wrong the south is great also. Im from the midwest and most of my family lives in the south. I love calfornia though.

[okie333]

Originally Posted by Zapparulez

Don't listen to all the "Bakersfield" crap. Bakersfield is a "wild west" town, totally different than a southern kind of atmosphere. Plus all the illegals would end up pissing you off with their free health care and uninsured vehicles. I suggest Northern California. Shasta or Tehama counties are real nice. Real hot and dry in the summer, but the winter rains are a welcome relief. Cottonwood is a nice town. They have a small rodeo arena and a yearly parade that goes through the historic part of town. When I lived there, they used to have a yearly town gathering at the community center, with a BBQ, dancing and music...real fun. My wife cynically calls it a hodown, but its not. Just country music and a fun way to be part of the community. Not sure if they still do it though, that was ten years ago.

It's also close to Redding which is 100,000 people and contains most of the jobs in the county. To the south is Red Bluff which has one of the big time rodeos and also monster truck rallies. At least that is the only time I ever went to Red Bluff as a child.

Plus you would be only an hour away from Whiskeytown Lake(best lake ever), and Shasta Lake(which is almost empty thanks to Los Angeles and their wasteful ways). Also Mt. Lassen has an awesome place to go snow sledding at Eskimo Hill. Mt. Shasta is a bit farther away, but it is impressive to say the least. Lots of stuff to do, plenty of swimming holes in Cottonwood too..

Why is it I keep talking about my hometown...I really want to move back I think. lol

yea i guess in my post as well i couldn't really dig up any town that has a southern feel to it. Your right its mostly a wild west feel.