Does Huntsville Feel Southern? (Birmingham, Brewton: live, accent, work)

[huntsvillenative86]

I have lived in Huntsville,AL my entire life. Only (22), but I can say that for most of my life people will ask me "Are you from here?" and I tell them yes. That's when they go into shock because they don't believe it. They tell me that I don't have a southern accent!

I remember when I was a little kid, my class size was maybe 100 at the most. Then in 2005 my class size was almost 200. About 100 of my classmates were transplants from out of state. So my entire life I have been surrounded by people outside of the south.

My parents are true southerners and they don't have a strong country accent either. Sometimes my mom will sound very country, but for the most part she sounds like eveyone else in the town.

It's very weird. I love it!

I don't think Huntsville is very Southern-like. If you were to go to the rural areas of Alabama, you would see quite a diffenece in education, accent, and crime. God, and Football are still big in Huntsville, BBQ, plus any other southern stereotypes. Most people in Montgomery or especially Mobile will tell you that they feel like they are in an entirely different state when they come to Huntsville.

In Huntsville and Madison everyone seems to get along very well. Except for the criminals who always reside in every town, but most of the communities and schools are very good resepectable places.

I wouldn't go to a city school. The only city school system I would go to is Grissiom or Huntsville High. They are the top rated city schools in Huntsville. Randolph and Catholic High are the top private schools. County schools llike Buckhorn are awarded highly in excellance. If you want to live in Madison you will go to Bob Jones.

Bob Jones is a very good school in Madison. A lot of students, but if your child wants to make it big in theater go to Bob Jones. They have the best Drama program in the HSV/Metro area. If you want your child to be a football star, go to a county school like Hazel Green or Buckhorn. You're still minutes away from everything and you live out in the country away from it all. I'm a graduate of Buckhorn. I wish I could have gone to Bob Jones b/c they have progams for everything. They even have a culinary program. In High School! Buckhorn was still a great school! I just wish we had an enormous drama stage like Bob Jones.

I do remember when I was little how much has changed.
Huntsville just keeps growing! :P

[Charles]

Originally Posted by huntsvillenative86

I have lived in Huntsville,AL my entire life. Only (22), but I can say that for most of my life people will ask me "Are you from here?" and I tell them yes.

Nice post.

It is interesting that some Huntsville natives have a thick accent and others barely have one at all. I wonder why that is.

[JimmyJohnWilson]

oh come on... if you are in alabama, then you are in the south.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Charles

Nice post.

It is interesting that some Huntsville natives have a thick accent and others barely have one at all. I wonder why that is.

I really think it depends on where you grow up in Huntsville. Certain areas like South Parkway/Hampton Cove/Jones Valley Madison feel less southern. If you grew up in Gurley, Hazel Green, or even Harvest you may have a very strong Southern accent.

[Southlander]

It depends on where your parents are from, too.

[financelife]

Everyone stop trying to make it sound like Huntsville is not really a southern city as if that's a bad thing. Travel to NJ, and you'll see how many people guess you're from the south. You don't think you have an accent but you do.

[financelife]

Originally Posted by amsa526

I am from SFBayArea. Been here for almost 2 months. No - it does not feel southern - relatively speaking.
When I first came here ---- yes.
Now that I've been traveling outside of the HSV area ... it is becoming less so. We are the least southern-culture-wise in the region - relatively speaking.

Exactly. Once you get used to it, it doesn't feel southern anymore. Because you have acclimated my friend.

Plus, Californians are sorta laid back casual as well (compared to NY).

[financelife]

Originally Posted by caution

If you lived in the South most of your life and then moved to HSV it may not seem as "southern," but if you come here from elsewhere, it fits right in to all the "southern" stereotypes. There's nothing wrong with that though. It's one of the main reasons we wanted to move here. People are nice. Property is inexpensive. Winters aren't so harsh. Summers are long. It's laid back.

I've heard people from Boaz AL visiting Huntsville and thought they were in a big city. Californians are laid back compared to East Coasters, but not as laid back as Southerners. We like the slower pace of life, enjoying our families and friends. Even the seasons change at a slow pace.

Chicago, otoh, is not laid back.

[Huntsville_secede]

Yeah Huntsville has a lot of the stuff that irritates me about the South so its Southern enough for me:-)

[Southlander]

I have been called a "Yankee" by somebody from south Alabama - WAY south, like Brewton, which is almost Florida.
I was SO mad!
But it wasn't the accent. They said it was the general attitude, and the fact that I am from North Alabama north of Birmingham! Whatever that means -