How "southern" is NC these days? (Raleigh, Lexington: college, live)

[trese]

Why argue about tooting horns-YA'LL????

[thefinalsay]

it's like anything else. the rural areas you will find people you would classify as southern. I disagree with the poster about NOVA though. it depends on what you consider NOVA. there are some necks in manassas.

[Waterboy526]

Originally Posted by thefinalsay

it's like anything else. the rural areas you will find people you would classify as southern. I disagree with the poster about NOVA though. it depends on what you consider NOVA. there are some necks in manassas.

LOL that would be true of the 1980's Manassas, but now it's very foreign, mainly Hispanic and Middle Eastern in nature. Sure you'll find some "necks", but there were tons of necks in western PA and northern Michigan when I've been to those places as well.

[montanamom]

I now live in a small town about an hour outside of Charlotte, in what is considered a rural, country area. Because I work with the public, I see the huge change that has taken place even in this town as far as the populace goes over the past decade. The first time I moved here, about 1997, I really stood out with my "yankee accent". Now, it's the native Southern accents that you notice. There are McMansions and "gated" communities springing up around in what used to be farmers fields for those who are retiring here, and those who have money coming in (there are practically NO jobs or industry here anymore). Most of the transplants seem to be coming from New York, the New England states, Florida, and well, Mexico.

[OIT2GOD]

please come to wilson, nc because we need some teachers that care about these young people in wilson!!!!

[citydweller]

NC has plenty of 'southerness' left it in. I am from rural NE NC which is the country but I felt that even Raleigh felt more southern to me despite it's influx of transplants. I believe that would be due to it being further south, no doubt. Not a bad thing, just different. Yep, southerness is alive and well in the rural and southern areas in NC.

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Hey all, I'm considering moving to NC to teach, and have gathered that it's kind of a watered down southern state because of the influx of outsiders. Is this true? The answer has no bearing on my choice, but I'm just curious:

So would you still consider NC culturally southern or not, or in between.

Thanks!

mackinac

What do you mean by "southern"???

COoking? Talking? Clothing? Southern could conjure up various images for different people...

[NYer]

Originally Posted by Raivere

It is still southern. I dont count the new transplants cause they keep to themselves never going out of their confort zone.

Ouch. That is so true, for so many of us.
But not all...
I think that the area has been "suburbanized" by people from all over(including the South).
This suburbanization can be found all over the country. What I mean is a culture where people stick to chain stores and restaurants, socialize only within their neighborhoods with people in the same socio-economic bracket.
I am in Wake Forest, and we have pockets of suburbanization among historic areas, rural areas, poor areas, and wealthy ones too.
If you move here you can cocoon in your subdivision or venture out into the rest of the community. It is up to you.
So you will see plenty of opinions on here about how Southern NC it is, but it really does depend on what part of the state you are discussing, and the attitude of the person answering the question.

[NYer]

Originally Posted by thefinalsay

it's like anything else. the rural areas you will find people you would classify as southern. ...

In the cities, like Raleigh, inside the beltline you will find people I would classify as southern... with those gorgeous homes, classic style, and impeccable manners.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by NYer

In the cities, like Raleigh, inside the beltline you will find people I would classify as southern... with those gorgeous homes, classic style, and impeccable manners.

Exactly. We are still here. We are just often outnumbered these days.

Sadly, I have noticed that a lot of newcomers to NC are totally ignorant about what it means to be a Southerner - and equate "southern" w/ being uneducated, clannish, racist, and close-minded. I am sure there are people all over this country who fit that description . . . so why this totally inaccurate description has been assigned to Southerners is beyond me.