Is the eastern shore of Maryland part of the southern U.S. culturally? (Baltimore: how much, phone)

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by seanlax

I'm inclined to disagree, but only because I don't think Hampton Roads or Delaware is 'southern' either.

I'd lump the coastal metropolitan areas from basically Wilmington NC north to about Vineland, NJ and at least 30 miles east of I-95 as a sort of mid-Atlantic region in itself. 'Tidewater', you might say.

From New Hanover County, NC, up to Morehead City NC, including Eastern NC (New Bern/Williamston/Washington/E.City/OBX), Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore VA, Eastern Shore MD, Kent and Sussex Counties DE and southern south Jersey (which can be more redneck and/or southern than any of the aforementioned areas). I've never been to Richmond County, VA or Westmoreland County, VA, but I would assume they are quite similar.

These areas and the people who inhabit them have far more in common with each other than traditionally northern or southern regions, or even the rest of their state.

So no, I don't consider the eastern shore of Maryland to be southern, but I also don't consider far eastern NC or be either.

So you think Wilmington has more in common with Vineland or Cape May than Myrtle Beach or Charleston?

I can see the Outer Banks being considered Tidewater, but I think Wilmington is a bit too far south for that designation.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by ialmostforgot

Somebody has a few extra C-D accounts . How else could "no" outnumber "yes" by four votes?

Because all that many people know about the Eastern Shore is Ocean City. The drive down the peninsula is the vacationer's equivalent of "flyover country".

[seanlax]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

So you think Wilmington has more in common with Vineland or Cape May than Myrtle Beach or Charleston?

I can see the Outer Banks being considered Tidewater, but I think Wilmington is a bit too far south for that designation.

Perhaps Wilmington could go either way, I'll give you that. That place has changed quite a bit on the past 15 years, and yes I'd certainly say its the southernmost mid-Atlantic/Tidewater city more than the northernmost southern city.

[seanlax]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

An interesting thought. Not sure I agree completely. The region you describe does exist, but it is hard for me not to see it as a subset of Southern culture. What would you call it "The Back Bay Region?"

FWIW, Kurath found the areas you describe (more or less) to be a dialect region.

That's a fun map thanks for sharing! Back Bay sounds fine to me, but reminds me of Boston haha.

I wouldn't say its a subset of southern culture, more of a culture in its own right.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by seanlax

Perhaps Wilmington could go either way, I'll give you that. That place has changed quite a bit on the past 15 years, and yes I'd certainly say its the southernmost mid-Atlantic/Tidewater city more than the northernmost southern city.

What makes Wilmington mid-Atlantic/Tidewater in your view? And why wouldn't that include Myrtle Beach, which is actually growing into Wilmington? Metro Myrtle Beach actually snagged an NC county away from metro Wilmington according to the 2010 Census numbers.

[marlinfshr]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Because all that many people know about the Eastern Shore is Ocean . The drive down the peninsula is the vacationer's equivalent of "flyover country".

This is true, but many of us see the other side of OC, which for the majority of the year is a local oriented eastern shore town, nothing like the DE beaches.

Once you get to Dewey and above, it feels more like South jersey. Bethany, Indian River area is more like eastern NC and OC is more like VA beach. I'm sure many, especially the Secrets and Fagers crowd, may disagree but that is how I see it.

[seanlax]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

What makes Wilmington mid-Atlantic/Tidewater in your view? And why wouldn't that include Myrtle Beach, which is actually growing into Wilmington? Metro Myrtle Beach actually snagged an NC county away from metro Wilmington according to the 2010 Census numbers.

Wilmington is continuing to evolve into a more passively conservative area, similar to that of Hampton Roads and Maryland's Eastern Shore, and has a far, far more industrialized and professionalized economic base than that of Myrtle Beach. They also tend to be at strange odds of sorts with the rest of "North Carolina" and all it entails, just like the other aforementioned areas.

I'm actually surprised you find them so similar, although if you opinion is mostly based on proximity, I totally understand.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by seanlax

Wilmington is continuing to evolve into a more passively conservative area, similar to that of Hampton Roads and Maryland's Eastern Shore, and has a far, far more industrialized and professionalized economic base than that of Myrtle Beach. They also tend to be at strange odds of sorts with the rest of "North Carolina" and all it entails, just like the other aforementioned areas.

I'm actually surprised you find them so similar, although if you opinion is mostly based on proximity, I totally understand.

I'm not saying that Wilmington and Myrtle Beach are very similar; as you pointed out, their economic bases are pretty different. But culturally, they aren't very different overall and both are attractive tons of transplants, mainly retirees. And how exactly is Wilmington "at strange odds of sorts" with the rest of the state, especially since you're saying it is evolving into a more passively conservative area and NC has taken a pretty hard turn to the right in recent years? That statement is more true of Charlotte (as evidenced by HB2), the Triangle, and Asheville than Wilmington.

I don't really see how Wilmington is culturally like the Tidewater region. It is technically part of the Geechee-Gullah Heritage Corridor, although very few vestiges of that culture remain in the area from what I understand.



Roots of N.C. Gullah Geechee culture start on Eagles Island | StarNewsOnline.com

https://gullahgeecheenation.com/2014...ingtons-ashes/

Wilmington is better grouped with the likes of Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Savannah than Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore IMO.

[ialmostforgot]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

What makes Wilmington mid-Atlantic/Tidewater in your view? And why wouldn't that include Myrtle Beach, which is actually growing into Wilmington? Metro Myrtle Beach actually snagged an NC county away from metro Wilmington according to the 2010 Census numbers.

Yeah, I agree that Wilmington is too far south. NJ isn't "tidewater" IMO, either. The dialect is different there and it's too Italian and connected to Philadelphia. Cecil and New Castle counties and perhaps down to Dover would be taken out as well.

[Babe_Ruth]

I was reminded of these threads today, when I came across a public Facebook page- 'Maryland is a Southern State'.
If interested in Maryland's Southern pedigree, or MD's contemporary Southern culture.. look the page up ~