Truly southern Texas town (Houston, Dallas: live, design, horse)

[mrfoe]

Originally Posted by explorer2014

What you have described doesn't sound particularly southern to me. I don't think of cowboy boots, hats and ranches as being southern. I think what you are looking for is western or perhaps south western.

I'd try the Texas Hill Country, or west Texas.

Well some parts of central Texas are more southern than others. A good example would be Brady compared to hearne.

[mrfoe]

Originally Posted by biscuitmom

Your description is kind of contradictory. You seem to be confusing southern with southwestern. Texas has both but for the most part cowboy boots, honky-tonk, and church seldom correlate. They occasionally bump together in Hill Country but there church takes a definite backseat. Not to mention there's nothing southern about Hill Country.

The only part of Texas that is "southern" is East Texas and towns like Longview, Tyler, and Nacogdoches come to mind. They're churchy and southern, marginally if at all honky-tonk, and not remotely cowboy boots when compared to other parts of Texas. They are relatively close to Dallas, and in addition to being churchy have the farms and friendly folks you're looking for. So I'd suggest you start with them.

There are some southern areas of central texas. Such as Florence, hearne etc. Its not east Texas southern but you can really feel it. I feel at home in some parts of central Texas.

[soletaire]

Yeah...u really cant say central texas isnt southern at all..towns like Hearne, Marlin, Bryan/College Station, Taylor, Waco etc, are pretty southern..however iagree that places like San Antonio, Austin, or killeen arent that southern

[mrfoe]

Originally Posted by soletaire

Yeah...u really cant say central texas isnt southern at all..towns like Hearne, Marlin, Bryan/College Station, Taylor, Waco etc, are pretty southern..however iagree that places like San Antonio, Austin, or killeen arent that southern

Killeen had a southern feel to me about the same as Waco.

[soletaire]

Originally Posted by mrfoe

Killeen had a southern feel to me about the same as Waco.

That could be...i just considered killeen's military (from nation wide) population to make killeen less southern than somewhere like waco or college station's relatively local (mostly from around other parts of Texas, LA, OK etc) collegiate population

[explorer2014]

Originally Posted by mrfoe

Well some parts of central Texas are more southern than others. A good example would be Brady compared to hearne.

No disagreement from me. Waco is very Southern. But it's not cowboy boots/cowboy hat and ranching. You just don't see people in cowboy boots in Waco.

Go to Abilene and west and you'll find cowboy stuff in abundance.

[ellamia26]

Wow! Thanks so much everyone! Looks like I have a lot to research.

I think I would prefer to reside in a city with easy access to stores and restaurants but still be within a short drive to authentic country fun. I don't expect to see people in the heart of a big city with boots and chaps and cowboy hats, but being able to experience a part of that once in a while would be great.

I'm not gonna lie, most of what I know (or think I know) about the south comes from movies, so I may be searching for something that doesn't exist. I want the best of both worlds I suppose.

Thanks again!

KA

[TXsurburbanmom]

Your post made me think of Bandera TX. Definitely a western town but not sure of work opportunity there. San Antonio is growing it's Medical Centers and it's within an hour or less from Bandera and on the edge of the Hill Country. Not as many Cowboys as some areas but more than people realize. I live near Bulverde which is still pretty country. My husband drives a truck, I wear boots and listen to country music (preferably NOT "bro" country) and we like to go dancing at Wild West and Midnight Rodeo despite the fact that we live in suburbia. Just a thought if you don't find job opportunity in the other suggested places.

[RMFW]

Originally Posted by ellamia26

Wow! Thanks so much everyone! Looks like I have a lot to research.

I think I would prefer to reside in a city with easy access to stores and restaurants but still be within a short drive to authentic country fun. I don't expect to see people in the heart of a big city with boots and chaps and cowboy hats, but being able to experience a part of that once in a while would be great.

I'm not gonna lie, most of what I know (or think I know) about the south comes from movies, so I may be searching for something that doesn't exist. I want the best of both worlds I suppose.

Thanks again!

KA

Fort Worth.

If, that is, you're looking for cowboy culture. If you're looking for more of a proud redneck culture, head east.

[KathrynAragon]

Or if you're looking more for a fine mixture of southern charm and grace, along with some cowboy hats and boots, head east. Check out the Tyler area - definitely southern, definitely Texan, and definitely NOT "proud redneck."