Classifying the American South (fit in, credit, live)

[jm02]

Originally Posted by nep321

I am from Connecticut. IMO the first phase of the South begins in southern NJ / Pennsylvania. It's just different than New England and New York, culturally.

Sorry, but I don't buy your logic. That makes about as much sense as saying the south begins in Connecticut because tobacco is grown there:


All sizes | Tobacco workers in Connecticut | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/junie_moon_photoshare/2423151755/sizes/z/in/photostream/ - broken link)

Looks culturally different from NJ & PA to me. Just sayin'

[BigCityDreamer]

As you head straight down the east coast, the upper south begins in Worcestor County, Maryland - which includes Ocean City.

Opinions?

[jm02]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

As you head straight down the east coast, the upper south begins in Worcestor County, Maryland - which includes Ocean City.

Opinions?

I personally think you're off by one county. I notice a palpable difference when crossing from Worcester into Accomack County, VA - my start of the upper south. Much more so than when I cross from Sussex County, Delaware into Worcester County.

[gladt]

Originally Posted by nep321

I am from Connecticut. IMO the first phase of the South begins in southern NJ / Pennsylvania. It's just different than New England and New York, culturally. And the accents begin down there. The next phase of the South after that begins around North Carolina. After that, I would say Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana are the heart of the South.

I 100% agree with you in this northern assumption! Growing up in New England, the "South" (to us) always meant anything south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Even Baltimore and Washington, DC were southern to us! The accents were very different, the demographics and the summer weather was all southern. South of NJ was where the South began. The deep south was Virginia.

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

"real" South or the "Dirty South."

Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Northern Florida: This is where the "Dirty" South begins.

Thoughts?

Being from the South and having spent time in portions of the North, I have never heard the South called that. Did you just dream it up?

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by mccarley

Being from the South and having spent time in portions of the North, I have never heard the South called that. Did you just dream it up?

You've never heard of the dirty south?! You use the internet and other media I'm sure so that is shocking.

[hdwell]

I have never heard of the terms "dirty south". Honestly I haven't until I read it on city data. Deep South yes, upper south, etc. But not dirty south. Sounds like another insult to south to me.

[polo89]

The term Dirty South comes from the popularity of Hip-Hop in the South. Any hip-hop coming from the Southern region of the US was referred to as coming straight from the "Dirty South". Atlanta in particular is responsible for popularizing the term.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by polo89

The term Dirty South comes from the popularity of Hip-Hop in the South. Any hip-hop coming from the Southern region of the US was referred to as coming straight from the "Dirty South". Atlanta in particular is responsible for popularizing the term.

Thanks for the clarification. I had never heard of it before.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by hdwell

I have never heard of the terms "dirty south". Honestly I haven't until I read it on city data. Deep South yes, upper south, etc. But not dirty south. Sounds like another insult to south to me.

Ask anyone in SBC and they'll tell you.