[johnsonk422]

Most Floridians (myself included) believe that Florida is not a part of the South. Our attitudes regarding that region range from indifference at best to embarrassment at the worst. When people from other states (typically not from the South) refer to us as "Southerners", we tend to cringe - not necessarily because we have an anti-Southern bias, but because we know that the "Southern" label doesn't in any way describe our culture, ethnic/religious backgrounds, and ways of living. Sure, northern parts of the state that border on Georgia and Alabama are certainly Southern in culture, but they're a small minority of the state in terms of population.

Since nobody has done a poll like this before on the site, I'd like to see what the general US thinks of Florida. Not in terms of geography, but in terms of culture. Do you think that Florida is a part of the cultural South, or no?

[BubbyBu]

50-50%
West-Central = South

East= East

[coog78]

It is both. Southern Florida is a northeast retirement home.

The Florida Panhandle and Jacksonville are banjo playing South.

Central Florida is its own really, not either of the first two.

And Key West is thankfully, Key West.

[vdy1985]

Northern florida is souther, but SoFla is latin/caribean.

[southernnaturelover]

Since my home is on the AL/FL state line, I can tell you that the Florida panhandle is very much part of the south. One you get south of Ocala it becomes much less so.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by coog78

The Florida Panhandle and Jacksonville are banjo playing South.

I've never heard anyone play banjos around here.

[Granny Sue]

I live in Orlando and have for 25+ years. We always say you have to go north to get to the South.

Anything North of Orlando with the exceptions of east coast cities is the south.

Anything South is the North.

I don't go down there much.

[adam.g.harpool]

People who say that Florida is "Southern" generally don't know anything about the state, and are also the types of people who would probably call Maryland Southern just because it is south of some arbitrary line. In any area you choose - accent, ethnic composition, ancestry, religion, politics, cuisine, etc. etc. - nobody with half a brain could seriously consider Florida in the same category as Georgia. I'm a Floridian, but I am certainly not a Southerner.

Like you said, people who live here know the truth, though most of us frankly could care less about how we're labeled by people in the Northeast or West Coast.

[Crazy Virgo Child]

I think it varies not just by which part of FLA, but also in regards to race as well. North FLA is vey, very southern across the board- white, hispanic, and black. But once you go south it varies depending on race, like typically the further south you go whites and hispanics I think try and distance themselves from being considered southern. But as far as American born blacks go they are southern no matter what part of FLA your in. Blacks in Duval are just as southern as blacks in Dade, nothing but gold teeth and dread locks, and when I think of a southern or country black dude thats what comes to mind.

[Mr. Answers]

I think Florida's problem is that it retains the worst of both Dixie and Yankee culture. So you have the cranky, old, snobby northern sentiments combined with a uniquely Dixie redneck, trailer-park mentality which gives you......Florida.

That might be a little harsh.