What Virginia city is Most Southern? (Norfolk, Richmond: credit, buy, median income)

[xGrendelx]

I agree with Richmond as the most southern. I think any city with a giant statue of General Lee, so large one has to drive around it, is pretty southern.

[01va571]

1st) Danville
2nd) Richmond
3rd) Roanoke

[#22]

well, let's see. Robert E. Lee is buried with most his family in Lexington, there are numerous statues there of him, a college there is named after him, and VMI cadets famously fought in the Civil War ...

[ToughLuv]

Originally Posted by Kbank007

I feel like Newport News is more Mid-Atlantic than Southern honestly. From the way people speak, to the culture, to the styles of the buildings/homes in newer sections of the city from midtown to Denbigh area. The older section such as downtown/eastend does have a small town feel to it. I have noticed the older residents tend to still have the tidewater accent more so than other areas, but the younger generation tends to have a strong NYC/Northern influence from gang affiliations to speech. I have friends from Richmond and Newport News who are drastically different. Richmond is much more southern in my opinion. I still believe smaller areas in southside/south central va such as Lynchburg, Danville, South Boston, and Roanoke are the most southern areas of the state.

Yea true Newport News reminds me of a city that could be in Maryland, maybe like Prince Georges.

[cpterp]

I would say Richmond. You can't get anymore Southern than celebrating Confederate Generals and putting by putting up huge statues of them and hosting the "museum" of the Confederacy. The least "Southern" city is Arlington, which doesn't really fit in with the rest of VA. The South starts at Fredericksburg.

[Dixiebound]

I have been vacationing in the Roanoke area for the past five years and intend to move there in the next couple.
From reading many threads over the years I still can't figure out what's the difference between Southern and Appalachian (Mountain southern) ?

[KeyserSoze]

Originally Posted by cpterp

I would say Richmond. You can't get anymore Southern than celebrating Confederate Generals and putting by putting up huge statues of them and hosting the "museum" of the Confederacy. The least "Southern" city is Arlington, which doesn't really fit in with the rest of VA. The South starts at Fredericksburg.

How does Arlington not fit in with the rest of Virginia? It's in the Commonwealth, is it not? Have you ever been past Arlington? And Fredericksburg actually looks a lot like a closer-in DC suburb that you would find in Montgomery or PG County somewhere, actually.

Originally Posted by Dixiebound

I have been vacationing in the Roanoke area for the past five years and intend to move there in the next couple.
From reading many threads over the years I still can't figure out what's the difference between Southern and Appalachian (Mountain southern) ?

There are different kinds of Southern. Coastal, Piedmont, Mountain. Different accents and different history. Just all under the Southern banner.

[Dixiebound]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

There are different kinds of Southern. Coastal, Piedmont, Mountain. Different accents and different history. Just all under the Southern banner.

I hear what you're saying on the history, but how does it translate into group personality, if you will. For instance, are southern mountain people generally more closed to outsiders; are southern piedmont people more open, friendly, etc.- so on and so forth ? Thanks.

[KeyserSoze]

In terms of geography, I don't think it matters much. I think it depends on how rural the place is. The more rural, it may be a little harder to break into the social scene. You said you're considering moving to Roanoke area. I don't think you'd have much problems, since there are people from all over living there. But it's best to post your question to the people of the Roanoke area forum. Hope that helps.

[cpterp]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

How does Arlington not fit in with the rest of Virginia? It's in the Commonwealth, is it not? Have you ever been past Arlington? And Fredericksburg actually looks a lot like a closer-in DC suburb that you would find in Montgomery or PG County somewhere, actually.



There are different kinds of Southern. Coastal, Piedmont, Mountain. Different accents and different history. Just all under the Southern banner.

Are you serious? Arlington County (and Alexandria and Fairfax county to an extent) socially, culturally, and poltically is different than the rest of Virginia. Try to find another Ballston or Rossyln in VA. Do you honestly believe Northern Virginia is just like the rest of Virginia? Fredericksburg, and other parts of PWC are excpetions. If you can find me one town remotely similar to F'burg in MoCo or PG I'll pay you.

Regarding the Southern accents:

File:Southern American English.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
File:Yall US Map.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American Dialects : Dialect map of American English
South Regional Map