Are Arizona and New Mexico part of the South? (fit in, condo)

[intheclouds1]

While we're at it....are Mississippi and Arkansas part of the north?

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by AZLiam

It depends on where "North" is. If in the PNW, I would say maybe "down in Arizona", but not "down south". Many of my family members live in the Chicago area and I have never heard them refer to me as living "down in Arizona", but rather "out in Arizona". Similarly, I've never heard people in AZ refer to WA and Oregon as up North. However, I've heard "up in Washington" or "up in Oregon". When we go to Vegas, it's even "we're heading up to Vegas". I hear a lot of lingo that includes "up to", "out to", and "over to". I think the exceptions are "heading back east" (east coast or NE) or "heading up North" (north central).

I have only referred to "up North" as Northern Arizona such as Sedona, Flagstaff, Payson, etc. Generally if I am referring to another state I say "up in Montana", "out in New York", "down in Florida", "over in New Mexico" etc. with "over" generally being a state that's rather linear to Arizona, for an example Georgia is a state that's rather linear to Arizona so I wouldn't say "down in Georgia" but "over in Georgia". Out refers to states that are more East or West rather than North in orientation to Arizona (NY is way farther East than it is North of us for an example) like "out in Pennsylvania". In contrast a state that is more northern than East/West would get the "up" like Montana, Utah, Oregon, etc. Really the only two states that get "down in" are Florida and Hawaii since they truly are south of Arizona.

I almost always say the state or city's name as well, after that I usually refer to them as "there".

I feel like mine is more complicated but it makes sense in my mind. I normally don't say "down South" since I feel like most of the South is either north of Arizona (states like North Carolina, Virginia, etc.) or on the same latitudes (states like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, etc.). I actually almost never say "down South" if I do I'm probably referring to Tucson more than the actual Southern region.

Originally Posted by intheclouds1

While we're at it....are Mississippi and Arkansas part of the north?

And is California also part of the South?

[pnwguy2]

Only SoCal......but not really.

Which brings up another side topic, when did Southern California stop being called "The Southland", and start to be called "SoCal"? It is like somebody decided to change it overnight, but I know that isn't how it happened.

Back on topic, Arizona and New Mexico can literally be called part of the southern US, but culturally, they are not part of "The South", pure and simple.

[Hschlick84]

Geographically, yes. Culturally, no.

[Westerntraveler]

I never considered Arizona and New Mexico to be southern states.CD encourages bumping old threads.
-WT

[Krisps]

Arizona and New Mexico are quintessential west southern.

[That_One_Guy]

Southwest, but not South.

[Krisps]

San Diego is quintessential west southern coast western.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

This thread can't be serious, at those latitudes, once you are west of DFW or Houston, you aren't really in "The South" anymore, heck Phoenix is basically an extension of SoCal

[funtraveler1]

No what kind of question is this. Once you get west of the Texas triangle/Oklahoma, I'd say you're in the west. Or maybe as soon you hit El paso you in the west.