Houston vs Seattle (Dallas, Friendswood, Farmers Branch: travel, work, sick)

[theermans426]

Also, Montgomery county is and has always been an area of predominantly Southern immigration, and even if not, it has certainly assimilated into that, since you are very keen on the idea of modern trends. Montgomery county is mainly rural, a hotbed for klan activity and if you took a poll on southernness, you'd most likely receive a 90 percent or better response of "yes, of course." I fact, the notion that Montgomery county is some midwestern-based region is nearly laughable as someone who has spent his fair share of time in Conroe and the surrounding area. If that region is not Southern, then Southern does not exist.

[Premont]

Interesting history. Of course you could add that Texas was stolen from Mexico to begin with. Dealing with present day though, Houston is heavily Hispanic. Mexicans are to Houston what Cubans are to Miami. There's power in numbers. Even the suburbs like Katy and Cy-Fair seem to be becoming more integrated. Maybe if I lived in Chinatown or a heavily Spanish speaking area I might feel less connected. The area I live in is pretty mixed. I grew up here so I know the city pretty well.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by theermans426

Baptist is the largest denomination in Texas, outside of hispanic catholics.

Church of Christ is huge in Texas and the rest of the South.

Jak Se Mas? you mean the little czech stops in Texas? trying to stretch that into some huge part of Texas culture? Come on man.

Brazoria county was plantations and slaves, btw.

People in Alabama do know what kolaches are, and in Mississippi tamales are a regional favorite. You know little about Texas and the South as a whole. My guess is that you're a transplant.

Well I did say that was a small example. Evidently your experience trying to find a kolache in AL, much less finding someone who doesn't give you a blank stare, has been 100% better than mine. Except for a brief stint in college, I've been here since before I can remember, and have lived in 4 different Houston areas. And my family is from South, SE & Central TX and up to AR and TN. Of course it IS just easier to just dump all "whites" into the same basket, stamp out their cultures and claim they're all the same.

Yes, Texas is Catholic predominant:

http://content.answers.com/main/cont..._of_the_US.PNG

Hispanics likely make up the majority... I don't have the data to back that up but i won't argue against it. Texans with German lineage are rooted in Catholicism too. (Many have abandoned it, but go to a N. SA church to see for yourself.) My old church also comes to mind. Central American, Filipino, African, and "white" Catholics such as German, French and Spanish. All of that and more with an East Indian priest. If anything, this is a pretty typical display of Houston.

So anyway, I simply copied the maps for you to see. There is more data on this here site as well. It is what it is, and will keep changing with time. Facts about a region's current predominant cultural background and religion, combined with lifelong experience speaks in volumes to me. Whether or not you think it tells you anything is ultimately up to you to decide.

I'm hanging my hat up on this one. This area is a lot of things to a lot of people, and labeling it generically is naive. Then again, talking to someone who says "I agree with X", esp when X has been told by multiple people, multiple times that he/she was simply a bad source of information, can honestly go on all day.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by tstone

Texans with German lineage are rooted in Catholicism too. (Many have abandoned it, but go to a N. SA church to see for yourself.) My old church also comes to mind.

Why is the German history glossed-over in SA? I didn't know about the German-founded churches until I read the plaque at St. Joske's.

[tstone]

Most people think the only areas with Germans are from Fredericksburg and New Braunfels. It's glossed over in just about every place else, possibly because they mixed in with the rest as they migrated east, while the above mentioned towns stayed somewhat homogenous throughout. For example our person X once said the only reason people with German ancestry are in Houston is because "Houston is popular." And that's what people seem to believe.

Now some folks classify them with the other Southern, slave-driving Anglos (as they do the Czech), even though history says these people generally opposed slavery. Back when Houston was 1/3rd German as mentioned. As I said, it's easy to stamp out a culture and slap on a generic label.

Regarding the Czech, you can read about their 1900 migration to Houston. There are a lot of native Czech-German people here.

Anyway, the article I posted awhile back mentions a cited, present-day "German Belt" from Houston to Fredericksburg. If you know what physical characteristics to look for, you can easily see it alive and well all over Houston. Especially in Galveston County.

But as I said, I hung up my hat on this one.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by tstone

Regarding the Czech, you can read about their 1900 migration to Houston. There are a lot of native Czech-German people here.

Wasn't Houston the focal point of a lot of turn of the century (1900) immigration of Europeans. Wasn't there a preponderance of Italian immigrants, most of which trace back to Siciliy? And also, an influx of Greeks and Jewish immigrants?

That map is very cool. Wow. Points out some definite patterns. The heavily Catholic presence in the Northeast through immigration, in the Midwest as the Jesuits made their way through the lakes and the waterways, the Southwest via Junipero Serra & company. And, of course, the Lutherans in the Upper Midwest, courtesy of Scandinavia, the Mormons in their promised land, and the traditionally Baptist stronghold. And, how can we forget, the typically unchurched yet very "spiritual" Pacific Northwest that doesn't identify with anything of the sort. A great map.

[johnherrera305]

Originally Posted by freshbeans

Currently I'm faced with an option to move to either city. I've already visited Seattle a few times and have a general idea of the lifestyle there. However, I'm still not convinced that Houston is right for me. I get the same response from everyone I ask: hot and humid and racist. Any other information about Houston would be greatly appreciated.

I have been to Houston several times and NEVER felt that anyone was racist. Houston is a large and diverse city. You have Whites, Latinos, Blacks, Asians and Europeans. I actually felt that people in Houston live together in good harmony. Houston is a World city and offers all the amenities of a great city. Now if you don't like hot summers, stay away.

I live in Miami and I can tell you that the racisim here is really bad. Cubans don't get along with blacks and the whites don't like anyone. And the Latinos think they are better than the next.

I think Houston is an awesome big city with a laid back lifestyle (except for the rush hour traffic).

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by johnherrera305

I have been to Houston several times and NEVER felt that anyone was racist.

Cubans don't get along with blacks and the whites don't like anyone.

Wow, Cubans are so much like Italians, I swear. My Cuban friends kind of pooh-pooh other races. Italians have a real chip. If you don't believe me, watch the raunchy comedienne Lisa Lampanelli (she talks about how racist her Italian parents are)...I feel like I know her...and the Cubans.

From what I can gather, Houston is more of a world city than any other in Texas. It's the only large city in Texas that's a port...and the fact that it's a port really adds to the equation.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

From what I can gather, Houston is more of a world city than any other in Texas. It's the only large city in Texas that's a port...and the fact that it's a port really adds to the equation.

That sounds like L.A. It would be like Las Vegas or Phoenix if not for the Pacific Ocean.

[GSherman]

I'm a native Texan living in WA State. My husband and I moved to Seattle from Houston back in 2000. Would go back to Texas in a second. Husband got job here. We are tired of the rainy, dark days. There is alot to see/do in Seattle but my heart is in Texas. Great sunny days, friendly people, and you will not be bored.