Charlotte still southern? (McAdenville: transplants, work, hospital)

[Mr. Clever]

I have heard of so many people from other places moving to Clt, and I am curious if it is still a nice and friendly place???

[the 7 oh 4]

Charlotte is overall a very nice and friendly city. The biggest majority of the population (probably over 50% or more) are not from Charlotte though. It is a very transient city.

[groove1]

Nope. There was a good article in the Obsever recently about it. 2/3 of Metro Charlotte area residents are fom somewhere else with areas such as Buffalo, NYC, and NJ making up most of the transplants. There are way more so-called NY stlye pizza places than BBQ restaurants and you can go for days without hearing a southern accent.

[Mr. Clever]

Wow. I thought this may be the case. I live in FL, and trust me, I know the changes you speak of. That's too bad. I guess you could still work and play in Clt, and live in SC close by though? And still get that southern hospitality? In all honesty, I dont really care where ppl are from, as long as they are friendly. In Orlando, ppl are from everywhere too, but many are so unfriendly.

[anifani821]

Groove and 7oh4 have it right.

I am a native and it occurred to me the other day that one reason I love going to Charleston and Savannah is b/c they still feel Southern to me.

Of course, my family has our own traditions and since we still have plenty of other Southerners to interact with (long time family and personal friendships) . . . we probably do not feel the impact of the changes as clearly as we would if we had no family or old friends here.

From my personal perspective, I enjoy many of the changes . . . love the broader perspectives from people who have moved into this area from other places, enjoy the traditions and cultural differences they have brought here.

Charlotte is still a friendly city . . . but no . . . it is not the same as it was 25 years ago. Heck, not the same as 10 years ago.

[groove1]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clever

Wow. I thought this may be the case. I live in FL, and trust me, I know the changes you speak of. That's too bad. I guess you could still work and play in Clt, and live in SC close by though? And still get that southern hospitality? In all honesty, I dont really care where ppl are from, as long as they are friendly. In Orlando, ppl are from everywhere too, but many are so unfriendly.

Not all of the changes are bad just like Ani stated. If it wasn't for the transplants, there wouldn't be as many entertainment and dining options for example. SC is changing rapidly too and the parts in the Charlotte metro are growing like any other part of Charlotte. I live in Fort Mill right next to Charlotte and it growing too with subdivisions and new stores, etc. For the most part people are friendly here, whether they be natives or transplants. People here will almost always help somebody else out if needed.

[nyxmike]

Sometimes it feels southern and sometimes it doesn't. Regardless, it is still pretty friendly.

[vindaloo]

Charlotte will always be southern. That is like saying that citizens in London aren't Brits anymore because of all of the foreigners in the country. Charlotte will always be southern. Most northerners seem to assimilate well and keep it so. I think that most northerners like it southern with some of the back home favorites like pizza, etc.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by vindaloo

Charlotte will always be southern. That is like saying that citizens in London aren't Brits anymore because of all of the foreigners in the country. Charlotte will always be southern. Most northerners seem to assimilate well and keep it so. I think that most northerners like it southern with some of the back home favorites like pizza, etc.

Vin, I really like that perspective - about London . . .

However, I gotta tell you . . . as a Southerner . . . w/ family pre-Revolutionary War both sides . . . inbred and ingrown as we are . . . I must say . . . Charlotte is not as Southern as it used to be.

I have to go to Charleston and Savannah to get my Southern "fix." I am not saying I am gonna move there . . . pretty entrenched here, LOL. Now don't get me wrong . . . I am pleased w/ the growth here . . . sometimes I get a little concerned about all the suburban sprawl and losing so much of the countryside to housing developments . . . and I gotta tell you . . . I did have to shed a few tears when I saw the last 200 acres of family land divided off to contractors. The houses are lovely - they really are! But my heart sinks when I see what was beautiful, fallow farmland now dotted w/ houses and driveways.

There are still some quaint and quirky remnants of peculiar "southernism" that exist in areas around Charlotte. I like to think the McAdenville Lights are a small piece of that . . . but . . . so much is just gone.

Don't want to get all sentimental here, LOL. With progress comes change. I welcome most of the change . . . just don't want to lose the charm.

Regardless, I have gone out and done my own "test" on the streets and parking lots of Charlotte. I randomly start conversations w/ people and see how they respond. (Yes, I am the crazy lady who stopped you in the parking lot to comment on your gorgeous boots. And I am the one who asked you in the grocery line if you really liked that brand of fabric softener, LOL).

My random conversation sampling test, as it were, tells me that Charlotte is still a very friendly city. In fact, I ended up exchanging telephone numbers w/ one lady in a parking lot (Hey Grace!!!) She needed an arborist and I gave her a lead. How did I find out she needed an arborist? Just a random conversation, after a storm, w/ my asking her - "Did you all have much damage to the trees at your house?"

As long as there are Southerners in this city . . . there will be moments like that in parking lots and grocery store lines. My hope is, everyone else who moves here, will learn our "Southern ways" and want to be part of that culture and help perpetuate it. I hope that never changes. I worry, b/c recently I got the comment that "it is not very sophisticated to start conversations w/ strangers in parking lots." No, it probably isn't.

But it is Southern.

[damaranicole]

I agree with the "No Southern Accents" thing...moved back recently and it amazes me. I'm surprised when I do hear somebody with an accent. Nobody in my neighborhood is from here - we're the only ones.