Is New Mexico a southern state? (Albuquerque, Hatch: tenant, to live, moving)

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaMarvin

I shouldn't have said first. I meant after the US annexed the area from Mexico. After that a great deal of Southerners (and their slaves) moved westward. The movement of Southerners westward was one of the contributing factors to the Civil War, since Northerners wanted to contain slavery to that area. When the CSA was formed they claimed western territory.

They didn't have it long at all as the Battle of Glorieta Pass in 1862 the Union defeated the Confederates and they retreated back to Texas and eventually to the south. This was settled mainly by non southern Anglos after Gen Kearny conquered Santa Fe in 1848 from the Mexicans in the Mexican/American War.

New Mexico is definately not an ''Southern'' state in any sense. Whether it's Music, Food, Home styles etc..as the customs and ways are totally different than the south. I know this personally as my bloodline is Southern (NE Florida/SE Georgia for 200 years ) and yet i've also been a resident here in NM since 1970 as a 1st grader so i'm well versed in both cultures.

[MinnesotaMarvin]

Originally Posted by 6/3

They didn't have it long at all as the Battle of Glorieta Pass in 1862 the Union defeated the Confederates and they retreated back to Texas and eventually to the south. This was settled mainly by non southern Anglos after Gen Kearny conquered Santa Fe in 1848 from the Mexicans in the Mexican/American War.
...

But they did have it/wanted it. Since southern New Mexico was populated by mostly Texans they tried several times to secede and they rebelled against the northern government Santa Fe, as it was loyal to the Union. There were a some Southern loyalists in the New Mexican government, too. In 1861 when congress was debating the Crittenden Compromise that would expand slavery through New Mexico to the Pacific it was New Mexico's delegate to congress that aligned himself with the South and tried to get it passed. But you are right, after the battle the war in the Southwest was pretty much over. It was just limited to small skirmishes. I'm not saying New Mexico is Southern, I'm just saying that it does have some Southern roots.

[spursfan]

Originally Posted by 6/3

Can't add much as everyone pretty much answered that but compared to the south .....there is no comparison. I have lived in NE Florida and have familiy in SE Georgia and trust me New Mexico is not like the deep south. Yes Eastern NM is more conservative but my feel of the conservatives out there are more of the Libertarian (sp) type than the religious types. I think alot of the ranchers and farmers out there like the openess of the land and also freedom from Gov intrusion. That's not to say that there are not some hard core religious groups but as a whole it's low.

Anyway that's my take from living in New Mexico and Florida in my life.

Yeah my father grew up in artesia and I've definitely got the libertarian vibe from alot of people in the southeastern area of the state. I dont know if its the desert landscape or wide open spaces like you said, but people seem to want to be left alone. And i wouldnt consider NM anything but a southwestern state----I see no signs of a southern state.

[Towanda]

Originally Posted by spursfan

i wouldnt consider NM anything but a southwestern state----I see no signs of a southern state.

Exactly. EXACTLY EXACTLY EXACTLY.

I completely agree with your post. I gave you rep points for it.

And I am a Spurs fan, too!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaMarvin

Another thing you guys have to remember, the Southwest has a lot in common with the South. After New Mexico and the other states were annexed by the US a lot of the first American settlers there were Southerners. It's only natural that they feel similar.

The first ones maybe -- but in much of the SW, you hear the Midwest accents much more than the Southern drawls. There are places in the SW where it seems every other person you meet is from somewhere in the Midwest.

I think too --- 100 years ago there weren't many people period in the SW. There might have been a handful of Southerners' descendents but they've been outnumbered in recent decades.

[spursfan]

Originally Posted by Towanda

Exactly. EXACTLY EXACTLY EXACTLY.

I completely agree with your post. I gave you rep points for it.

And I am a Spurs fan, too!

Thanks and awesome! We are all happy Spurs fans tonight since the Lakers just lost after being up 21. LOL

[AlisonL]

I've always thought of New Mexico as a southwestern state. To me, southern state would be Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and so on. What few folks I have talked to from NM have no accent whatsoever. Now, my friend in NC is a different story. LOL
I wish someone would teach geography to airline folks though. I called several to get quotes on flying my cats out with me and one woman insisted its an international flight. Told her we definitely would not be flying with them, as who knows where we might end up!!! Not sure if which she thought was not a state, Maine or New Mexico.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by MimzyMusic

I'm not kidding. You have high baptist populations in the eastern plains counties, it's very conservative, has a lot in common with Texas and Oklahoma.

NO. N-O. Even Texas, other than the far eastern part along the coona** state line, isn't really "southern."

I had to live and work in MS before I realized that Texas and the rest of the Southwest, including New Mexico, were not southern at all. I've also spent quite a bit of time in LA over my lifetime.....there is a southern state if there ever was one as well.

But New Mexico? Don't think so.

[hoppybunn]

Hmmm well when I think Southern states I think population, a ton of white and black people in Southern states yet here in NM whites are almost a minority compared to mexicans/hispanics. Everything about this state is just totally different to what is known as the "traditional" or "deep" South. We're Southwestern baby!

[jsc23]

Originally Posted by hoppybunn

Hmmm well when I think Southern states I think population, a ton of white and black people in Southern states yet here in NM whites are almost a minority compared to mexicans/hispanics. Everything about this state is just totally different to what is known as the "traditional" or "deep" South. We're Southwestern baby!

Exactly right. The South ends near Palestine Texas. A place has to have the following to be southern:
Humidity
Lots of rivers and creeks
Dogwoods or Live Oaks
Hush Puppies (not the shoes)
the cultural interplay of African-Americans and Anglos
and Humidity