Do you consider Virginia to be part of "The South"? (Virginia Beach: buy, school)

[novahousehunter]

I think of Virginia as the south.
Not DC though.
I'm from Vermont, which tends to have a liberal definition of south.

[yamota]

Well, if you go by civil war loyalties, then yes Virginia is part of the south. But by that same token, you could also still consider california part of Mexico but I digress

[KeyserSoze]

My point exactly.

Nobody knows what "Southern" is so they go by Civil War status or how rural an area is or how "friendly" people are or what accent they have. Nothing but stereotypes.

[jmking]

Virginia, simply put, is not a northern State. I agree it is a mid-Atlantic State but a member of the south. If you don't agree, visit those in Fredericksburg and points south and argue with them. Heck, you could have a blast in the northern parts with many in Manassas and or Woodbridge or in the northwest with many from Winchester. Have fun!

[Yankeerose00]

Virginia while technically is a southern state, it's more of a grey area IMO. Which makes sense. I mean, I live outside of Richmond and it takes me 3 1/2-4 hours to make it to the NJ state line. While, if I visit family in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, it takes me more like 12-14 hours.

The weather and climate of VA is closer to the climate of NJ than it is most of the south. I know the first year I moved here I checked the weather in my hometown in NJ against VA weather and it was no more than 5 degrees warmer in VA on most days in the winter. It does get hotter and more muggy in the summer in VA and that is when it feels more southern.

It's funny because my northern relatives absolutely consider VA to be the south.
My southern relatives and inlaws are sprinkled around Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennesse and they do NOT consider VA the south. The only part they will agree is the south is the southwestern part of VA by the Tennessee state line. My inlaws were just visiting here from Florida and commenting about everything from the weather, the architechture of the homes, the types of plants, the drivers, the roads and constantly saying "up north" when referring to VA.

It does make sense that as one gets closer to the mason-dixon line, it is going to become less southern. I call VA "southern light". I like living in VA. I could never, ever, ever live in the deep south again.

[American Arrogance]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

Yes. It is below the Mason-Dixon line and was the centerpiece of Lee's Army during the Civil War. The "Army of Northern Virginia".

Originally Posted by jmking

It's a mid Atlantic State, south of the Mason Dixon. A State of Southern persuasion as you travel south in Virginia. And as Pilot stated "Yes. It is below the Mason-Dixon line and was the centerpiece of Lee's Army during the Civil War. The "Army of Northern Virginia".

I agree by technicality but I would never consider myself a southerner....Im much too fast paced for a typical southerner!!!!

[Fairfax Mom]

When I lived up North I thought VA was so Southern but after I moved here I found out it is almost like home.

I think it starts getting Southern around Fredericksburg - people become friendlier, service is slower, accents pop up, people drink Sweet Tea and ask if they can borrow your "ink pen"

[KeyserSoze]

I had a friend from Spotsylvania who'd say otherwise. Fredericksburg is a smaller, historic, Tidewater city. And across the river is full of battlefields, so of course you're gonna get that "Southern" feeling. But the people from Spotsylvania don't seem all that "Southern" to me. Rural in parts, yes. But "Southern", no.

[Alanboy395]

The part of Virginia i grew up in (Hampton/Norfolk) yes i do consider Southern.

Alexandria and the rest of NoVA Southern? No way.

[TrekRockStar]

100 %, NOVA is still clinging to those old native roots that made it a memorable place in the past.

Unfortunately my race never had the fullest opportunity to enjoy it becuase of the state's narrow-mindness but I will not go on a tangent.