Do parts of rural Washington feel like a "little Dixie"? (Spokane: live in, trailer)

[belmont22]

I always find it surprising how people in Whatcom County seem to have southern influenced accents being it's a stone's throw from Canada. I've heard like a lot of people from the Appalachians moved there, like Loretta Lynn's family because of the logging industry.

Are there towns in Washington that could pass for somewhere in North Carolina?

[waviking24]

Maybe a little. I'm from the south and now live in whatcom county (like out in the county) and there's a definite difference. I'd say it's more country out here than dixie. Maybe towards baker it's a little more mountain folk. None of the towns in Whatcom could pass for North Carolina though IMO.

[west seattle gal]

I'm from NC and often go to Bellingham. In my opinion, the people sound Canadian. I don't hear an appalachian sound at all. However, rural areas in WA are similar to rural areas in NC (or rual U.S. in fact) in many other ways.

[Hemlock140]

I wouldn't go as far as to even consider any part of this state to be at all "dixie" or "Appalachian," but the closest I have seen are all in Western WA, in the cascade foothills like Concrete, Sultan, parts of North Bend, and closer in, Sedro-Woolley, and on the Olympic Pennisula Joyce and Forks.

[Count David]

People in Eastern WA call their cars "rigs", that's southern enough sounding for me.

[509]

Nope, that comes from the Rocky Mountains. It is not that far from eastern Washington to the Rockies. Part of ne Washington is in the Rockies.

From the dictionary

2. Special equipment or gear used for a particular purpose.
3.
a. A truck or tractor.
b. A tractor-trailer.
c. A vehicle with one or more horses harnessed to it.
4. The special apparatus used for drilling oil wells.
5. Western U.S. See saddle.

I always thought rig referred to trucks NOT cars.

The expression "what's your rig" always assumes that YOU like most normal working people drive a TRUCK.

However, Wenatchee has a large population of "old" Arkies. Some of those expressions must have carried over....let me think.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by 509

Nope, that comes from the Rocky Mountains. It is not that far from eastern Washington to the Rockies. Part of ne Washington is in the Rockies.

From the dictionary

2. Special equipment or gear used for a particular purpose.
3.
a. A truck or tractor.
b. A tractor-trailer.
c. A vehicle with one or more horses harnessed to it.
4. The special apparatus used for drilling oil wells.
5. Western U.S. See saddle.

I always thought rig referred to trucks NOT cars.

The expression "what's your rig" always assumes that YOU like most normal working people drive a TRUCK.

However, Wenatchee has a large population of "old" Arkies. Some of those expressions must have carried over....let me think.

No, I know it's of local origination, but it sounds "country" to me.

I've heard Honda Civics referred to as rigs. Awhile back, on the Spokane forum I posted links to craigslist ads for "rigs" that were regular sedans/etc.

[Jiff]

Many of the people that settled the upper Skagit Valley for logging in the early 20th century were from North Carolina. The Lyman-Hamilton little league team was called the Tarheels, might still be. The settlers have passed away but their children picked up the accent and are still around.

[corvidae]

I think I saw a rebel flag in a rural part of the Olympic Peninsula. Being in Forks reminded me a lot of the South. People spend a lot of time hunting and fishing. Felt actually more isolated than most parts of the South, though.

Skagit and Whatcom counties have a rural feeling and sometimes the mountains superficially resemble the Appalachians. I think towns like Mt. Vernon and Burlington have a similar feel to NC to me. Seem like sleepy rurual towns. The Skagit valley kind of reminds me of parts of the Smokies.

[Lamplight]

I'm from Tennessee and I can see some similarities. One very noticeable difference is that when I go for a bike ride in the county here, I don't experience constant harassment just for being on a bicycle. In TN I eventually stopped going for long bike rides because it wasn't worth the risk of being assaulted.