west virginians? what the heck are you? (Parkersburg, Wheeling: living, food)

[scottyr]

as a resident of this state, what do you consider yourself? southers? midwestern? appalachian? northeastern?

what is the culture in WV like? what makes it similar to the south, the east, the midwest, etc? or is it in a hybrid category of its own?

[Georgia]

We consider ourselves West By God Virginian's
The Northerners consider us inbread hicks
The Southerners call us "traitor's" consider they still have not realized it's 2007.

Were Mountaineers, and we all know in West Virginia it's all relative

[tsimmu]

Appalachian is my thought.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by tsimmu

Appalachian is my thought.

Yep in the Southern Part.

I guess you can put it this way.
Appalachees in the South
Blue Ridge Stump Jumpers in the NE
Tuckahoe Boys in the Central East
and the other guys

[recycled]

Originally Posted by tsimmu

Appalachian is my thought.

If the PC police were watching, they would tell you no-no, it's Appalachian-Americans.

[GottaHerdOn]

Well, I based from my experience from my travels all over the state. I've came to the conclusion that people in southern WV fits more with the Appalachian type. For the people in the Wheeling are, they share many similarities with Pittsburgh (perhaps because its only like 55 miles from Pittsburgh and they probably consider themselves northerners. People that live around Parkersburg or along the Ohio River in mid WV wit the fairly flat hills they share many characteristics of mid-westerners. People in the eastern panhandle again have characteristics of the ever growing DC area. Where I come from Elkins (North Central WV) It seems like we, along with Buckhannon, Weston, Clarksburg, and Fairmont, all seem to be a mix between Northern, Southern, and Mid-Western cultures all rolled into one.

[snorpus]

Way back when, when I was studying for the Golden Horseshoe exam, I remember a description of West Virginia:

• The Eastern part is only 50 miles from Washington DC
• The Southern part is farther south than Richmond VA
• The Western part is farther west than Columbus OH
• The Northern part is farther north than New York City

And maybe that's why the central core, being the farthest removed some any of those "outside influences" is also the purest part of West Virginia.

Snorpus

[wvrose]

I consider myself a "down to earth and friendly Appalachion. More on the southern side.] Usually where-ever I am,, I am called a "southern hillbilly". "Have to watch out for those southern gals".. I have been told. I love the mountains, but love the lakes and rivers as well. I am a Nature lover and love the culture of our State. Really love talking with and visiting with the people of WV. For the most part we are VERY hospitable and well mannered. But we can be riled up if imposed upon, like most folks.
At the present I am not living at home,,but hope to be soon.
Missing home, and my Appalachion Mountains are always calling me....Pat

[GottaHerdOn]

Snorpus where do you consider the core though?

[millersangel]

Down here on the NW VA border, we are definitely southern in speech, food and culture but different than traditonal southern states because of the Appalachian influence which has it's own idiom and traditions.

I would say the people here are tough and self sufficient. There are places you can go that seems as though you have gone back a half a century in time.

Life is slow paced and it's the kind of place where you can't be in a hurry. The check out clerk in the supermarket might have a fifteen minute conversation with the person in front of you.