Why is Surry County referred to as "Sorry" County

[KdGarst]

Some people make fun of Surry County because there's not a whole lot to do here. It's kind of underdeveloped and a lot of people have moved away and become super poor because all the factories left. It's very difficult finding jobs here and is just a really poor area now. He could have just been referring to all of that.

So, does anyone know anywhere around where someone from Surry County could go to meet other people? My bf and I are in our twenties, and there really isn't anything to do in this town. Any ideas for places nearby?

[texascinzia]

My father and his family was from Dobson. He always referred to it as "Sorry" County and he said it was because the red dirt was "sorry" and wouldn't grow anything. They were tobacco farmers and bootleggers. He told me that his family moved to High Point because the land was so "sorry."

[Superocean]

I think the poster is right about the red dirt and calling Surry Co Sorry Co. I grew up in Surry Co and way back in the 1960's I frequently heard it called Sorry Co.
I think partly it was just a local way of saying not much to do there and was not taken too seriously.
Of course now with the wine industry firmly established all over Surry Co and a trend to live in a more small town, less McMansion type area the trend has reversed and I cannot imagine anyone using that term now, even in jest.

[tasmtairy]

I have lived in Surry County for 10 years now and never heard it called Sorry. I love it because it is so small.

[cohaagen]

Ever think that, perhaps, people would just say "Sorry" because it resembles the actual name? Like people saying "Zoo York" or "Greensboring" or "Hotlanta"?
I don't think people up there would pronounce the name as such due to dialect. If that were the case, it seems most people around here would instead say "Sarry", like the way they tend to pronounce "bury" and names that end in "-bury" (Barry the hatchet, Danbarry).

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by tasmtairy

I have lived in Surry County for 10 years now and never heard it called Sorry. I love it because it is so small.

My mother is from Surry County...I love Elkin - I was there recently and ate at Speedy Chef.

[Donna D'yawanna?]

Folks from Stokes county like to look down on Surry (and vice versa). They aren't that different demographically, but less employment opportunities seem to exist in Surry, hence more unemployment, hence the people there being labeled as "sorry". I think that with the levels of illiteracy in both counties, neither are in a position to look down on the other.

Your Realtor may actually be breaking the law by "knocking" a region like that. Lots of Realtors now won't even tell you which schools serve a particular residence and it's because if it is an "ESL" (English as a Second Language) school or a school that has a high percentage of minority students, people can alledge discriminatory "tone of voice" in relaying the info. Likewise, upper middle class, mostly white schools. Some Realtors wouldn't even identify which "school zone number" the neighborhood is being served by. The schools were in fact, the PRIMARY factor in choosing our home, so that made it hard to sort through our options. You can say that the Realtor is bad, but I hire a Realtor based on his or her ability and willingness to help ME find a property that suits MY preferences, regardless of whether others may like them or not.

Property has value based primarily on 3 things: Location, location and location--so you choose based on that. If the county is poor with high amounts of unemployment and illiteracy, I say move on. It would be a "sorry" investment. Perhaps you told your Realtor that you wanted good job opportunities, a good resale value, and good schools....?