Raleigh, NC: Southern culture or Northeastern culture? (Cary, Wake Forest: home, neighborhood)

[allgoodNC]

Hi-

Would you say that the Raleigh area has:

1) a Southern, laid back and friendly culture?
OR
2) a more fast-paced and less personable culture like Northeastern cities?

[saturnfan]

Combination of the two.

[metro.m]

Both. Actually more like mid atlantic and southern.

[lamishra]

culturally I'd also say "mid atlantic". I grew up here and have never thought of it as truly southern, but I don't really think it's in any way "northern" either.

[upchurch]

I vote for both, also.

[Waterboy526]

I'd also say mid-Atlantic/Southern morphed into one, where as Northern VA to PA would be Mid-atlantic/Northern.

I just can't say Northern, because literally everyone I work with is from the South and they let you know it. Most of them we raised in Southeast Raleigh and out to Rural Johnston county before Johnston really had much at all. Where I live in NW Raleigh though I would say very Mid-Atlantic, but keep in mind there are still tons of Southern accents here, so many natives still actually exist

[Francois]

Definitely NOT Northern, though I guess areas like Cary might be like that. Raleigh has retained a generally Southern framework but has been tempered by all the people from elsewhere.

[VickiR]

I'd say, depending on where you live, Raleigh can be VERY SOUTHERN. However, with all the growth we've had, there is quite a diverse group. Sometimes it just depends on who you ask and who you hang out with! Being from here, I have alot of friends that are native Raleighites but since my parents are from NY, I also have a lot of friends that are from other states. So, it depends on who you ask!

Vicki

[weluvwakeforest]

Originally Posted by allgoodNC

Hi-

Would you say that the Raleigh area has:

1) a Southern, laid back and friendly culture?
OR
2) a more fast-paced and less personable culture like Northeastern cities?

When I'm in North Raleigh and/or Cary , I don't feel like I'm in the south AT ALL. However, I do feel it in Wake Forest - even with the population boom of the last 10 years. Maybe its because we're so close to the slower pace of Granville County an Franklin County, IDK. I love the genuine Wake Forest area accents.. people/families who have lived around here forever..

It isn't fair to say "southern accent " b/c the native people here have a very distinct regional drawl.. I'm not a linguist but it (the accent) is unique... I never really knew a person with a WF accent (having lived in North Raleigh for 18 years prior to coming to WF)... oh.. I take that back.. I guess in college.. but that was too long ago to remember...

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by weluvwakeforest

When I'm in North Raleigh and/or Cary , I don't feel like I'm in the south AT ALL.

You should come visit my N. Raleigh neighborhood then. I just spent the evening on my back patio sharing a few beers with my neighbors. After a few brews one of the neighbors went home and came back with a small mason jar of some "homemade" blackberry brandy. That stuff was potent!

I don't remember drinking blackberry brandy out of mason jars when I was living in NJ!

Think I had too much ... time for bed.