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I've heard that the South has been experiencing a "yankee invasion" which I guess is a movement of Americans from northern states into the South, so my question is what is the most authentic southern state for southern culture in USA
I would probably say that would be Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi. To a slightly lesser extent, Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky as well (Parts of Atlanta don't feel too "Southern" to me and I don't know if TN could be considered a "Deep South" state like the first three), but rural Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia all seem extremely Southern.
South Carolina is pretty close, but is starting to get a bit tainted by Northerners flocking to areas such as Myrtle Beach and even Charleston. Virginia and Florida were once extremely Southern, but Virginia (northern Virginia) has been tainted by Washington D.C.'s influence and Florida has been tainted by....many things (Northerners flocking in droves, tourists overrunning the Orlando area, Hispanic influence in Miami, etc.) North Carolina certainly is a Southern state with its love of barbecue and huge tobacco industry, but Northerners are most likely starting to dilute that area as well.
Don't believe anyone who says Texas. Texas is not a Southern state, so it is disqualified (Nothing against Texas).
I don't know enough about the demographics of Arkansas, and Oklahoma, while I consider it a Southern state, it seems to have more of a Midwestern feel. Arkansas probably feels more Southern than Oklahoma.
I always thought Texas was southern? I left out Oklahoma, Missouri and West Virginia because some don't consider them southern. I think Maryland used to be southern, but is now northern?
I would probably say that would be Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi. To a slightly lesser extent, Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky as well (Parts of Atlanta don't feel too "Southern" to me and I don't know if TN could be considered a "Deep South" state like the first three), but rural Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia all seem extremely Southern.
South Carolina is pretty close, but is starting to get a bit tainted by Northerners flocking to areas such as Myrtle Beach and even Charleston. Virginia and Florida were once extremely Southern, but Virginia (northern Virginia) has been tainted by Washington D.C.'s influence and Florida has been tainted by....many things (Northerners flocking in droves, tourists overrunning the Orlando area, Hispanic influence in Miami, etc.) North Carolina certainly is a Southern state with its love of barbecue and huge tobacco industry, but Northerners are most likely starting to dilute that area as well.
Don't believe anyone who says Texas. Texas is not a Southern state, so it is disqualified (Nothing against Texas).
I don't know enough about the demographics of Arkansas, and Oklahoma, while I consider it a Southern state, it seems to have more of a Midwestern feel. Arkansas probably feels more Southern than Oklahoma.
Oh lord, I wonder sometimes how many of these polls/threads are going to go on! LOL
Anyway, Texas is a Southern state. What are your reasons/credentials to disqualify it? Or? To disbelieve those who feel otherwise. I honestly anxiously await!
BTW - I voted Mississippi. That it happens to be my primary "ancestral home-state" doesn't influence.
Oh lord, I wonder sometimes how many of these polls/threads are going to go on! LOL
Anyway, Texas is a Southern state. What are your reasons/credentials to disqualify it? Or? To disbelieve those who feel otherwise. I honestly anxiously await!
BTW - I voted Mississippi. That it happens to be my primary "ancestral home-state" doesn't influence.
I have nothing against Texas (Actually I'd take TX any day over CA and NY, and believe it's one of the least appreciated states), but culturally and historically, one can not say that Texas is similar to Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. It is not too similar to Arizona or New Mexico either though, which makes Texas something of a unique case. In my opinion, Texas takes most of its traditions from Southwestern culture (Love of Mexican cuisine, its "Western" cowboy culture, etc.) and serves as the transition zone between the Deep South and the Southwest.
People associate Texas more with the last stand at the Alamo and Mexican cuisine more than they do with the Confederacy and Southern food. Texas is considered the "Wild West", not the Old South. I like Texas, but if it were to be considered Southern, what's to stop Missouri and West Virginia from being considered Southern?
I always thought Texas was southern? I left out Oklahoma, Missouri and West Virginia because some don't consider them southern. I think Maryland used to be southern, but is now northern?
Sorry, if my knowledge is wrong.
I believe when using terms like "Southern" and "Northern", it is a mix of culture and geography, rather than just total geography.
Oklahoma is a Southern state, but I can see why some feel it has Midwestern influences.
Missouri is a Midwestern state, though definately has a more Southern feel than many of the other Midwestern states (But I've heard people claim that parts of southern Ohio feel like the South).
West Virginia is an interesting case as one can easily just follow historical precedent and lump it in with Virginia, but Florida seems more Southern to me than West Virginia, and WV's culture seems to have a strong Midwestern feel that leads me to associate it with states such as Indiana. I don't believe there would be that much of a culture shock for people moving from Pittsburgh, PA, to urban WV.
Let's not even start up the Maryland and Delaware debate again. The Mason-Dixon line is outdated and not relevant to the political and cultural realities of the 21st century. If you told folks in Alabama that you were a Southerner, and then went on to say you were from Maryland or Delaware, they would probably either be confused or laugh in your face.
People associate Texas more with the last stand at the Alamo and Mexican cuisine more than they do with the Confederacy and Southern food. Texas is considered the "Wild West", not the Old South. I like Texas, but if it were to be considered Southern, what's to stop Missouri and West Virginia from being considered Southern?
You can't put the whole of Texas into any one category. The last stand at the Alamo and Mexican cuisine are associated specifically with San Antonio and not the entire state of Texas (the former more than the latter). I say that Texas straddles three regions: the South, the Plains, and the Southwest. Overall though, it's generally considered a Southern state, just with its own flavor and unique history.
You can't put the whole of Texas into any one category. The last stand at the Alamo and Mexican cuisine are associated specifically with San Antonio and not the entire state of Texas (the former more than the latter). I say that Texas straddles three regions: the South, the Plains, and the Southwest. Overall though, it's generally considered a Southern state, just with its own flavor and unique history.
Only geographically.....
Texas is referred to by the media as either Southern, Southwestern, or Western. Culturally and Historically; it's more than just southern as well. Anyways, answers are going to differ about TX being southern depending on where one grew up at. Speak to someone in Austin; they'll say no. Someone in East Texas; they'll say yes.
I tell people I'm from the south though because my city had a more prominent southern influence than western.
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