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I've been reading this forum for some time now, and we are planning a visit in about 60 days to see if we like the Wilmington and surrounding area as much as I think we will.
It seems that many (most?) of the housing subdivisions are called "plantations" down there. (Saint James Plantation, for example - but there are many other examples).
Can anyone tell me if there is a difference between my Arizona idea of a housing subdivision and a NC plantation? Maybe the plantations are more liked Arizona planned communities that have several subdivisions within the planned community?
I've been reading this forum for some time now, and we are planning a visit in about 60 days to see if we like the Wilmington and surrounding area as much as I think we will.
It seems that many (most?) of the housing subdivisions are called "plantations" down there. (Saint James Plantation, for example - but there are many other examples).
Can anyone tell me if there is a difference between my Arizona idea of a housing subdivision and a NC plantation? Maybe the plantations are more liked Arizona planned communities that have several subdivisions within the planned community?
Interesting question.
Historically, a Plantation is a large agricultural area growing crops for sale. The term has regional significance. In some Southern areas, a Plantation consists of the manor house (farm owner) and several shanties (farm hands).
To use your example, St. James Plantation was a conifer farm. If you look at some of the vacant (treed) lots, you will see that the trees are all planted in straight lines and are actually quite young.
You will see the difference, between a subdivision and a plantation, when you visit.
If you are interested, read the book "Tales of the Silver Coast" A Secret History of Brunswick County.
Plantations are simply the term they use down here for " Gated Communities ".
Yeah, pretty much this. Plus there's the attempt at tying in a faux-historical element to what was farmland or woods prior to development. One would think real estate developers would use a term not so loaded with the peculiar historical baggage actual plantations have, but considering their target demographic maybe not.
As a southerner that's the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear "Plantation." I'm assuming the developers bank on northerners/etc not knowing the historical significance.
OK.... so being a "Northerner" and part of that target market for the "Plantations".... let me see if I get this right..... apparently all of the developers of the hundreds and hundreds of "communities" down south all got together one day and decided that because the word plantation is associated with slavery ( by some ), it would be a good idea to name these communities plantations...... as I delve further into this theory, I realized that it was the "Southerners" that had the plantations and slaves and were prepared to fight to the death to keep that particular institution and it was the "Northerners" that were fighting against it...... I fail to see how the name "plantation", and the canotation you seem to feel it brings to mind, would attract that Northern demographic target audience..... just trying to get it straight.
Last edited by Stonecreek67; 12-31-2011 at 06:40 AM..
OK.... so being a "Northerner" and part of that target market for the "Plantations".... let me see if I get this right..... apparently all of the developers of the hundreds and hundreds of "communities" down south all got together one day and decided that because the word plantation is associated with slavery ( by some ), it would be a good idea to name these communities plantations...... as I delve further into this theory, I realized that it was the "Southerners" that had the plantations and slaves and were prepared to fight to the death to keep that particular institution and it was the "Northerners" that were fighting against it...... I fail to see how the name "plantation", and the canotation you seem to feel it brings to mind, would attract that Northern demographic target audience..... just trying to get it straight.
it worked on you, didn't it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerseyj
Interesting question.
Historically, a Plantation is a large agricultural area growing crops for sale. The term has regional significance.
i agree, i think it was a marketing tool that conveyed the idea of "luxury rural living." I associate plantations with the white aristocracy.
i admit i have wondered if naming it a "Plantation" in modern days is a way to signify "white people living in a rural area."
however, you could also see it as a "plantation of yankees", since the word plantation also means something akin to a "Colony."
Last edited by Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus; 12-31-2011 at 07:43 AM..
i agree, i think it was a marketing tool that conveyed the idea of "luxury rural living." I associate plantations with the white aristocracy.
^ this
It sounds like a quaint, pretty place if you aren't aware of the regional history. That's why the developers use it to appeal to those from the north. To those who grew up learning the history of plantations, even visiting the plantations that have been converted to historical sites - it has a totally different meaning.
Well..... I never looked at it that way..... now that you mention it, that must be the reason we moved down here, just imagine... the very thought that 200 years ago some of the southern folk may have had slaves on plantations on the very ground we walk upon must have sent tingles up the spines of the hundreds of thousands of yankees that have migrated here in the past 30 years or so.... I must admit that would be a big draw for the folks up north to come and live here.
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