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It said only 68% of Texans consider themselves Southern. Is it just me, or does anybody else think that's a pretty low percentage for a state that some think is an undeniably Southern state?
I see what you're saying here but the first question has TX at 84% and VA at 82%. So the vast majority of the people in both states think their state is a southern state. So that definitely puts VA and TX in the south. This set of statistics shows VA at 82%. A while back I saw a statistic that put VA at 87% for this question. So it looks like Texans and Virginians realize their state is in the south.
Of couse it does. That is the point. If "the South" can be defined by where most residents say their community is IN the South, and most consider themselves Southerners, then the South (and I agree) is the 11 Confederate States plus Kentucky, Oklahoma, and, on the borderline, West Virginia. I am proud of that.
Anyway, the sub-point is to note the "gap" between the percentages who say/acknowlege they live in the South...and who consider themselves Southerners. It is even evident in the Deep South states. And the reason is, to a large degree, the number of northern transplants.
On a personal level, I consider my community to be the the South and I consider myself to be a Southerner. On the other hand, I know another fellow who lives right next door (is from Nebraska) and while acknowleges his community to be in the South, he does not consider himself a Southerner.
I agree. Liberal doesn't mean Northern. NoVa may be liberal, but it still looks somewhat Southern to me. As far as accents go, it's not very Southern. But geographically, and with all the pine trees and what not, it still looked Southern when I drove through, as compared to Austin in which CACTUS grows wild in the Austin area.
I have never understood how pine trees made you southern. There are pine trees all over north america, not just generalized to one region. I also was unaware that Texas was a southern state, I always thought it was a mid-west/plains state. I don't care if they fought in the civil war or not, this is the 21st century, it's ancient history. And geographically, VA is dead center of the eastern seaboard, so I consider it mid-atlantic.
I have never understood how pine trees made you southern. There are pine trees all over north america, not just generalized to one region. I also was unaware that Texas was a southern state, I always thought it was a mid-west/plains state. I don't care if they fought in the civil war or not, this is the 21st century, it's ancient history. And geographically, VA is dead center of the eastern seaboard, so I consider it mid-atlantic.
Because pine trees are the ONE thing that Southern states can ALL unanimously say they have within there state, that binds the south together. That's how the South is characterized. Most Texans know that driving east towards east TX and you start seeing pine trees, that you KNOW you're in the cultural/geographical South. That's basically common knowledge to Texans. But Texas is historically Southern. It's just parts of the state that aren't (or don't seem) modern times Southern(IE South Texas, West Texas, PARTS of north Texas, the panhandle, PARTS of CenTex).
It said only 68% of Texans consider themselves Southern. Is it just me, or does anybody else think that's a pretty low percentage for a state that some think is an undeniably Southern state?
When you take into account the number of northern migrants to our state? No. We are no worse off than Florida or Virginia, in terms of THAT gap! LOL
I have never understood how pine trees made you southern. There are pine trees all over north america, not just generalized to one region. I also was unaware that Texas was a southern state, I always thought it was a mid-west/plains state. I don't care if they fought in the civil war or not, this is the 21st century, it's ancient history. And geographically, VA is dead center of the eastern seaboard, so I consider it mid-atlantic.
Of course! *snaps fingers* Yep, you are right, Nebat. If most of us Texans would just take the time to think, we would realize we are a "Midwestern" state. Thanks for the correction on our regional affiliation...
Because pine trees are the ONE thing that Southern states can ALL unanimously say they have within there state, that binds the south together. That's how the South is characterized. Most Texans know that driving east towards east TX and you start seeing pine trees, that you KNOW you're in the cultural/geographical South. That's basically common knowledge to Texans. But Texas is historically Southern. It's just parts of the state that aren't (or don't seem) modern times Southern(IE South Texas, West Texas, PARTS of north Texas, the panhandle, PARTS of CenTex).
I see your point, Polo, but not quite true. The "Southern pine belt" doesn't really extend -- area wise -- up into Arkansas, Tennnesse and western North Carolina ether.
When you take into account the number of northern migrants to our state? No. We are no worse off than Florida or Virginia, in terms of THAT gap! LOL
Don't get me wrong, it's NOWHERE NEAR as bad as Florida. No Southern state is. But I don't think it's the Northern transplants that skew the numbers, because NC has WAAAY more northern transplants then TX does, and NC's Southerner percentage is higher. GRANTED I think it's the HIGH number of West coast transplants in TX that might've skewed the numbers.
I see your point, Polo, but not quite true. The "Southern pine belt" doesn't really extend -- area wise -- up into Arkansas, Tennnesse and western North Carolina ether.
Of course they have pines, so do parts of Oklahoma. But if one defines the South by pines (or makes it a true consideration), then parts of the Upper South wouldn't fit either. The pine forests of East Texas are as large as the whole state of Kentucky.
But oh, well, I better hit the sack! I always enjoy discussing with you Polo. We disagree...but not by TOO many degrees! LOL
Last edited by TexasReb; 10-03-2009 at 02:58 AM..
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