Poll: Why do some southerners try to pretend TX is the South? (Houston: how much, home)

[solytaire]

If I simply had to rely on my experiences from Dallas or Houston, or Austin, I would conclude that Texas is undeniably NOT Southern, nor in the South. But whenever I return to the small towns and rural areas, I am now more convinced than ever before that those parts of Texas are very Southern, and its hard for me not to classify them as the Deep South. But I do refrain from that.

The rural areas of Texas that Ive visited, (mostly confined to the eastern portion of the state) arent just "country" imo. They are distinctly southern feeling. But I could see how some would say that areas of Texas arent Southern. Texas has so many big cities distributed throughout the state, and those big cities' sphere of influence can radiate to as far away as a city that may be 45 minutes away. With the amount of major cities, and the amount of transplants that are drawn to live in them, and in the radius directly around them, it is no suprise that Texas is feeling far less "traditionally" southern.

[desert sun]

Here it goes from an outsiders perspective(New Mexico)

I grew up in a small town in Eastern NM about 15 minutes from the TX border, Eastern NM has more in common with West TX than it does with NM. The culture,landscape,speech,politics,religion,and lifestyle is pretty much the same, oh yeah and all the cows(and the smell) and the farm trucks. If we need something we cant get in our town then Amarillo or Lubbock is our home away from home.

West TX is the TX that I know, I never thought of them as Southerners but just as Texans, they have so much pride in their state and I think most are just proud to be a Texan.

El Paso is for sure the Southwest and when I go down to El Paso I dont feel like Im in the TX that Im familiar with, I still feel like im in New Mexico when Im in El Paso. When I think of the true Southwest I think of anything west of El Paso/Albuquerque areas.

I do think that TX is Southern but at the same time the state is so big that its hard for everyone to feel the same way. I dont think that Laredo,El Paso,Midland,Amarillo,Lubbock or San Antonio is southern although some do have some of the characteristics but I do feel that Houston,Gavelston,Waco,Marshall and all of East TX is Southern though. Like someone mentioned Western South is a good way to put it.

As a whole I would just say that Texas is Texas. Texas could be its own country if it wanted to.

[WillysB]

Poll: Why do some southerners try to pretend TX is the South?

Maybe they've actually looked at a map of the U.S.?

[Scott Summers]

Originally Posted by Angel713

*shakes head and walks out of room.....


....to pick up a glass of milk*

I said no offense, you know? I was proving a point, you do know that right? The content below is what should make you shake your head and walk out of the room unless you agree with it:

Why do some Southerners erroneously claim TX is part of the South?
Because they know their region lacks prestige and want to include TX to bring it up
Jealousy of Texas' greater prestige makes Southerners vindictive and want to drag down TX with them
Ignorance
All of the above

If you agree that the South is lesser than Texas than give some reasons that are valid (don't slip). I really wasn't aware of this but I want to know how and why my folks from VA to FL (Arkansas to Alabama, TN and KY) are jealous of you guys? How are we vindictive? Of course I'm amused by this poll and thread but I just want to know.

[txguy2009]

Originally Posted by Scott Summers

I said no offense, you know? I was proving a point, you do know that right? The content below is what should make you shake your head and walk out of the room unless you agree with it:

Why do some Southerners erroneously claim TX is part of the South?
Because they know their region lacks prestige and want to include TX to bring it up
Jealousy of Texas' greater prestige makes Southerners vindictive and want to drag down TX with them
Ignorance
All of the above

If you agree that the South is lesser than Texas than give some reasons that are valid (don't slip). I really wasn't aware of this but I want to know how and why my folks from VA to FL (Arkansas to Alabama, TN and KY) are jealous of you guys? How are we vindictive? Of course I'm amused by this poll and thread but I just want to know.

FL isn't the south either, at least the good parts of FL.

why are the other places jealous? Look at my post on "In This Thread I will show you why Texas is not part of the south" - I painstakingly looked at the scientific data. On every possible measure (health, religion, wealth, economy, etc.) TX is far an away in a league of its own compared to southern states.

[Mark-Tyler is Special]

Below is the address explaining Tyler, in East Texas, as having the largest Confederate Prisoner of War Camp west of the Mississippi. Also, an Army Ordinance facility as well a confederate training. I think that might qualify Texas as being Southern. Also I don't find it offensive being Southern as well as a proud Texan.

Tyler & Smith Co. History

[bostoner]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

true deep south. hmmm texas is pretty down south.
just checked the map. fought for the confederates.
that does not work? florida looks bout south as you can get
but they dont do the grits thing just 20 ft snakes and alligators.
does that count?

Yes, Florida does!

Florida, The Sunshine State: Grits and Grunts

Wild Florida Shrimp : Florida Shrimp and Grits

[Scott Summers]

Originally Posted by txguy2009

FL isn't the south either, at least the good parts of FL.

why are the other places jealous? Look at my post on "In This Thread I will show you why Texas is not part of the south" - I painstakingly looked at the scientific data. On every possible measure (health, religion, wealth, economy, etc.) TX is far an away in a league of its own compared to southern states.

This is where I'm coming from, my point of view. My mom is from Orlando, FL and I have been there countless times (and other parts of FL) I see a lot of Southern traits in Orlando. I also have family who moved from Ohio to Louisville and L'ville has a pretty good economy, the people are healthy, and there's different religions there. Of course I grew up in Atlanta and I'm aware of the negative Southern stereotypes but my city doesn't fit the mold of poor city, bad economy, bad health, etc. New Orleans has great culture but they are going through rough times but still. I don't see TX cities as old South but rather the New South because they're doing so well. Still how's Nashville, Louisville, New Orleans, Memphis, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Atlanta, etc jealous of TX cities? I really don't worry about South GA but North GA isn't envious of TX.

[txguy2009]

Originally Posted by Scott Summers

This is where I'm coming from, my point of view. My mom is from Orlando, FL and I have been there countless times (and other parts of FL) I see a lot of Southern traits in Orlando. I also have family who moved from Ohio to Louisville and L'ville has a pretty good economy, the people are healthy, and there's different religions there. Of course I grew up in Atlanta and I'm aware of the negative Southern stereotypes but my city doesn't fit the mold of poor city, bad economy, bad health, etc. New Orleans has great culture but they are going through rough times but still. I don't see TX cities as old South but rather the New South because they're doing so well. Still how's Nashville, Louisville, New Orleans, Memphis, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Atlanta, etc jealous of TX cities? I really don't worry about South GA but North GA isn't envious of TX.

Atlanta is failing - it has one of the highest vacancy rates and home foreclosure rates, and worse sprawl (like 24 counties!!!! all the way to alabama) of any city. It's economy is petering out - it seems its growth really stagnated since the 90s. Houston has been going for 20 some years, and so has Dallas and Austin. Atlanta also has horrible crime problems. It just cannot compete.

[txguy2009]

Originally Posted by Mark-Tyler is Special

Below is the address explaining Tyler, in East Texas, as having the largest Confederate Prisoner of War Camp west of the Mississippi. Also, an Army Ordinance facility as well a confederate training. I think that might qualify Texas as being Southern. Also I don't find it offensive being Southern as well as a proud Texan.

Tyler & Smith Co. History

Yes - that's a good way to judge a state - by one of the smallest and least significant towns in it, based on something that happened 150 years ago

Not to mention, of course east texas is southern, nobody disputes that. It's the backwoods area.