Should Northern Louisiana become a seperate state? (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: transplants, car insurance)

[leia63]

I've noticed that when travelling to South Louisiana, people will claim that Northern Louisiana is culturally more like Texas than the rest of Louisiana. Yet, when I travel to Texas, they do not associate Northern Louisiana as being apart of their culture either. Cities such as Shreveport and Monroe are seen as boring, country, bible-belt places with absolutely no culture.This seems to be the perception of us given from the rest of the state as well as Texas. I was just wondering if Northern Louisiana should become an entirely separate state altogether. It seems that we do not recieve much respect from either of our neighbors. I would like to hear your opinion on this topic.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by leia63

I've noticed that when travelling to South Louisiana, people will claim that Northern Louisiana is culturally more like Texas than the rest of Louisiana. Yet, when I travel to Texas, they do not associate Northern Louisiana as being apart of their culture either. Cities such as Shreveport and Monroe are seen as boring, country, bible-belt places with absolutely no culture.This seems to be the perception of us given from the rest of the state as well as Texas. I was just wondering if Northern Louisiana should become an entirely separate state altogether. It seems that we do not recieve much respect from either of our neighbors. I would like to hear your opinion on this topic.

It's more correct to say North Looziana (Alexandria and points north) is part of the Deep South like Arkansas and Mississippi. Although Shreveport is more in its mind part of "Ark-La-Tex." As to whether they'd secede, well, they're Loozianians like us "southerners."

[etland]

I wouldn't worry what South Louisianians (or Texans, for that matter) think. There are many South Louisianians who've never visited and/or don't know much about North Louisiana and are more familar with their Gulf Coast neighbors - who doesn't like the beach, after all? And most Texans I've met don't know a great deal about any part of Louisiana, north or south. (Generalizations, I'm sure, but for the most part, my experience, with many exceptions of course.)

North Louisiana is a unique place. What other place could have produced two huge 20th century personalities, Huey P. Long and Jerry Lee Lewis? What a couple of characters! And who gave Elvis his start -- why the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport!

And North Louisiana is not all homogenous, either geographically or culturally. Compare the Delta in Tullulah with the piney hills of Kisatchie National Forest, or Natchitoches (the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana, by the way) with Monroe. Those who have not thoroughly traveled the State really have no idea of the diversity and historical richness exisiting throughout the entire state, including North Louisiana.

Don't worry about other folks' ignorance. You know the truth, right?

[Rmaf623]

Here's a map on wikipedia that I found which divides Louisiana into five regions. I would consider Central Louisiana, which contains Alexandria, and the Florida Parishes, which contain Baton Rouge, to be the convergence zone between South Louisiana culture and the rest of the Deep South. Alexandria has both North Louisiana and South Louisiana characteristics, but in my opinion it is more Deep Southern than Cajun. However, Baton Rouge definitely belongs in South Louisiana.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Rmaf623

Here's a map on wikipedia that I found which divides Louisiana into five regions. I would consider Central Louisiana, which contains Alexandria, and the Florida Parishes, which contain Baton Rouge, to be the convergence zone between South Louisiana culture and the rest of the Deep South. Alexandria has both North Louisiana and South Louisiana characteristics, but in my opinion it is more Deep Southern than Cajun. However, Baton Rouge definitely belongs in South Louisiana.

This is simplifying things, but Central Louisiana and North Louisiana (the Protestant majority parishes) are to me one and the same.

Baton Rouge is a "neither fish nor fowl" kind of city, as it has characteristics of people from all over the state, country, and world.

[hindsight2020]

Being a transplant to Bossier City and having lived in GA and AL for 5 years, my fiancé being a native midwesterner, we agree at the very least NW Louisiana is de facto East Texas, nothing "traditionally" southern about it (other than the demographics), plus the fact there's plenty of military transplants (such as myself) further washes the lines. It's kinda bland compared to South Louisiana, but we like the weather,cost of living and proximity to DFW. I think South LA benefits from having Lafayette, BR and N.O. closer together, while the Ark-La-Tex is rather..empty. So no I don't think Louisiana would fundamentally change its character if you chopped off the I-20 corridor and made it part of TX and AR (and MS in the NE part), although it would probably further encroach LA's standing as the poorest state. We could use the no-income tax from TX up here (though not the property taxes lol) and not being associated with LA for the purposes of car insurance (our policies jumped 80% by providing a LA address), the latter which really doesn't say anything nice about a big chunk of the folks living here.

[darylwi]

Yeah, I think if I was ever given an opportunity to "break away" from Louisiana. I'd take it. It could only help the group that's breaking away.
Trust me, the same cultural differences can be said about north Mississippi and coastal Mississippi, the Florida panhandle and central or south Florida, and southeast Texas and either the Texas panhandle or West Texas. Most states have similar disperaties. Unless you're Rhode Island.

[leia63]

What do you mean by "traditionally" southern?

[On The Go]

I just happened to drop in on the postings this a.m. and ran across this one. I thought I'd write my comment, which is, of course....just my thinking.

I was raised in North LA (Bossier City/Shreveport area) from 2 yrs. old and lived there until I was 44 yrs old. I then moved to New Orleans (WOW! what a culture shock! I so enjoyed the many diverse things available to do and the deep French history which surrounded the place, but just a 'little too much for me' there, as far as living there was concerned). I was there 8 mos., then moved to Atlanta, GA (Oh now you talk about 'culture', they have it!!), where I lived for 7 mos. After that, I returned back to live in the North LA area again for 5 yrs. Now that move back was a hard adjustment, because it was then that I realized that North LA IS country! But that's o.k., what's wrong with 'country'? Then in 1987, we moved to the Bootheel of Missouri (speaking of culture shock!) South Missouri is 'backwoods', but I suppose that is o.k. as well.....just not for me. Then after 1 yr. we moved to St. Louis, MO in 1988, where we lived until 1995....and LOVED every minute of it! There's any and everything in St. Louis that one could ever hope to do. It is steeped in history with the mighty Mississippi River running through it! Every day could be an adventure and many free to inexpensive things to do and see. The plays, the musicals, the Arch, Grants Farms, Anheiser Busch Brewery, the restaurants.....and the people!!! When we retired in 1995, bought a motor home, sold our house, gave our kids everything that we had, hit the road.....where we continue to live ('On The Road' in our motor home), we can have all of the best of worlds. We can be in Bossier City/Shreveport, if we want to be 'country', or be in New Orleans, LA if we want to be 'artsy' or have great food and listen to jazz, or be in St. Louis, MO if we want the wonder of excitement, listen to more jazz, have culture and ambiance all around us. OR...we can (and do) go to Old Mexico and stay for 3-4 mos. each trip. NOW THAT'S A CULTURE SHOCK! With the poverty right beside the wealth. With pole houses and dirt floors sitting beside a beautiful resort. With family being the most important thing in their lives. It doesn't matter there. They are HAPPY and CONTENT! And talking about friendly! They know what it means and we LOVE being there too. It's all in what one makes of their circumstances and situations.

We believe that we have to make our own culture and our own class. Sometimes it's not right around us at the time, BUT.....we must find it if it is that that we crave. Long story short: who cares about whether we have respect from Texas or whether get even have it from South Louisiana people. We find our 'respect' from within......it's not something given to us. We just LOVE IT ALL!

[hindsight2020]

Originally Posted by leia63

What do you mean by "traditionally" southern?

If I were to draw parallels in terms of what people do, what they eat, how they sound (accent),how they view politics (generally speaking), what their hobbies are etc etc I've found almost homogeneous trends across GA, AL and MS (all places except MS where I've lived for more than a couple years) whereas in NW Louisiana these trends are not so straightforward; as I close in on a year living here I can certainly observe the great influence Dallas and East Texas has on the customs and general feel of the area. I haven't lived in South LA but I'm sure they are closer to what I observed GA, AL and MS to be culturally than NW LA. Not saying good or bad, just qualifying my answer per your request.

I don't want to get on a hissy match about what defines "southern", I can just hear the droves of people from TX, north TN, and KY throwing a fit I was just illustrating why I believe Shreveport is East Texas for all intents and purposes.