Would yall consider the Hampton Roads area of VA more "Mid-Atlantic" or "Southern" (Richmond: cities, about)

[Tidewater50]

Good points VaGuy. I guess it just depends on what part of the state you're from, where your parents are from and what you learned in school. Growing up (and I'm only 22) Virginia was always referred to as a southern state. It was one of the southern colonies, a confederate state and now a south atlantic or southeastern state. That's what was in the text books and what we were taught in school. Also, being closer to the Northeast than south isn't necessarily true either, it depends on where in the state you're talking about. NoVa is definately closer to the Megalopolis than Atlanta, but Southwest Va is closer to other major southern cities and identifies with them. (Lee County is closer to 7 other state capitals than it is to even Richmond). I can see where you're going with the political trend also, but none of the three major democratic politicians in Virginia are from Virginia. Not the governor or the two senators. I know two are from the midwest (Indiana and Minnesota) but can't remember where the other is from. But like you said, we're all entitled to out opinions. So with that said I am a born and bred southerner from Tidewater, Va and always will be.

[vaguy87]

Originally Posted by Tidewater50

Good points VaGuy. I guess it just depends on what part of the state you're from, where your parents are from and what you learned in school. Growing up (and I'm only 22) Virginia was always referred to as a southern state. It was one of the southern colonies, a confederate state and now a south atlantic or southeastern state. That's what was in the text books and what we were taught in school. Also, being closer to the Northeast than south isn't necessarily true either, it depends on where in the state you're talking about. NoVa is definately closer to the Megalopolis than Atlanta, but Southwest Va is closer to other major southern cities and identifies with them. (Lee County is closer to 7 other state capitals than it is to even Richmond). I can see where you're going with the political trend also, but none of the three major democratic politicians in Virginia are from Virginia. Not the governor or the two senators. I know two are from the midwest (Indiana and Minnesota) but can't remember where the other is from. But like you said, we're all entitled to out opinions. So with that said I am a born and bred southerner from Tidewater, Va and always will be.

You're only 22? Wow, I could have sworn you were older. I,myself, am only 21. Anyway, it was cool debating with you and hearing your perspective. Ok man, take care.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by vaguy87

Since you were referring to my posts, I'll take the time to respond back.

Yes, i did the reference the 2008 Election as part of a TREND that Virginia has been following for nearly a DECADE. So of course, just viewing the past election alone is not sufficient enough to justify my argument for being less southern BUT if you would go back and re-read everything i posted, then you would have saw that since the early 2000s, Virginia has elected 2 Democratic governors, Democrats have taken over the Virginia senate, we've elected nationally a Democratic president (yes i know we re-elected Bush in 2004), and 2 Democratic senators. Going along with that, as previously written, if the South is a Republican haven and the Northeast is a Democratic haven and Virginia is trending more Democratic for nearly the past decade, does it still hold Southern political characteristics?

Also, the Democrats in our state government, don't just come from the urban areas, but also the rural areas as well. So they represent coming from various areas across the state.


Next argument, of course politics alone don't represent a state's culture. If we were to analyze the state of Virginia on other areas such as:

Climate: Virginia is divided into 2 climates one being humind subtropical: majority of state of the state east of the Blue Ridge Mtns. (Note: The humid subtropical runs into NJ and NYC, as well) The other being humid continental (west of the Blue Ridge Mtns and charecteristic of majority of the Northern U.S)

Economy: Virginia is well diversed in its economy with contributions from government, manufacutring, military, tourism, and agricultural. (The Southern states dominant economy is based on agricultural NOT Virginia's with only 20% of its workers in that field)

Lifestyle: I will admit major urban areas in Virginia are not as fast-paced as cities such as NYC, Philly, Boston, but at the same time not as slow-paced (exception: Richmond) as places in the South such as Savannah, Charleston, Nashville, Montgomery). Rural Virginia can be compared to a rural area in any area of the country. It's basically the same.

Location: Look at a map, Virginia is very close to the NE, therefore, is influenced a lot more by the NE than the South. We are a lot closer to NYC than Atlanta (as cities with major influences)

Dialect: Most older Virginians have accents, most younger Virginians don't. As older Virginians die out, younger Virginians are becoming majority. Nuff said.

Now I'm not saying Virginia doesn't have its southern influences such as food and history, but it has more in common with the Mid-Atlantic states now: Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia (possibly PA) than FL, GA, SC, and NC.

But everyone is entitled to their own opinion and beliefs. So you do you and I'm gonna do me.

Yes we are closer to the NE.

Virginia is in the Upper part of the South. No matter how much NOVAns in particular want to compete with the NE, we ain't NE, and never will be. Call us Mid-Atlantic yes. Really the NY and PA are such large states they take up much of the NE and Mid-Atlantic areas of the Coast.

Virginia's climate, culture, and accents, etc (yes even NOVA), -still are much more related to the Carolinas than it ever will be NY or NJ.

Nashville is much faster paced than Richmond. I felt like I was going to be run over out there! And also, Richmond is more Southern than most "New South" cities- which includes Nashville, Atlanta, and Charlotte.


So maybe you need to look at that map again.

[vaguy87]

After calming down and thinking straight, I will retract my statement about comparing VA climate to NJ. However, in my original post I was comparing Virginia's culture to other Mid-Atlantic States (MD, DE, WV) NOT NY and NJ. NYC and NJ references were referring to the extent that the humid subtropical climate reaches up to.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by vaguy87

After calming down and thinking straight, I will retract my statement about comparing VA climate to NJ. However, in my original post I was comparing Virginia's culture to other Mid-Atlantic States (MD, DE, WV) NOT NY and NJ. NYC and NJ references were referring to the extent that the humid subtropical climate reaches up to.

I can accept those points. Even North Carolina has been referred to as a Mid-Atlantic state.

But of course, this refers to a strict geographical sense, rather than climate, culture, history, etc.

I cannot accept a cultural similiarity, however, to places such as NJ or PA. I can to Maryland and DE.

NOVA alone is a mish mash of things.


I do know someone told me that because AMTRACK has a train that runs from NewPort News to Boston and its called "NE Direct" we must be a NE state. Seems silly to me, its just one train system. We also have "Norfolk-Southern" , and there are "Southern trains" that start at DC and run to Florida.

BTW, I thought you were in your 40s!

[Matt73]

Hampton Roads is completely mid-Atlantic. I was born and raised in NC (a southen state),but live in Hampton Roads and there is nothing southern about this area. I like it here okay, but it's not the south. I've met a number of people born and raised in this area and none of them have a southern accent. In fact, I don't here southen accents until I cross the NC border and go home to visit family.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by Matt73

Hampton Roads is completely mid-Atlantic. I was born and raised in NC (a southen state),but live in Hampton Roads and there is nothing southern about this area. I like it here okay, but it's not the south. I've met a number of people born and raised in this area and none of them have a southern accent. In fact, I don't here southen accents until I cross the NC border and go home to visit family.

I dont agree at all. Perhaps, Hampton Roads is not as Southern as you are used to, but it is definitely Southern.

And Richmond is very very Southern!

People born and raised there will not sound very Southern because they live next to people from all 50 states!

You have never heard a Virginia accent before?

Here:

Streaming Richmond | Richmond VA User Submitted Local Video Showcasing the Local Attractions, Businesses, Community, Entertainment, Festivals, Music, News, Sports and More in RVA
And BTW- Virginia IS a Southern state . We are not Mid-Atlantic.

If we are - then NC is too!

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by vaguy87

After calming down and thinking straight, I will retract my statement about comparing VA climate to NJ. However, in my original post I was comparing Virginia's culture to other Mid-Atlantic States (MD, DE, WV) NOT NY and NJ. NYC and NJ references were referring to the extent that the humid subtropical climate reaches up to.

But Virginia is a Southern state. Not Mid-Atlantic.

Culturally Virginia is Southern. Thats more reason why it doesnt belong in the Mid-Atlantic category.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by vaguy87

This thread was dead and done and here you go again. Please shut up. I really don't care. Southern, Mid-Atlantic. I don't care.

Um, okay. You obviously cared enough to post on this thread.

[back2dc]

I don't know about you guys, but geographically, Richmond seems far, far to the north of the Hampton Roads area.

It takes me almost as long to get from Arlington to NYC as it does from Arlington to Hampton Roads. And Richmond is much closer to DC than Hampton Roads.

What do the rest of you guys think?