how far north is no longer "Atlanta metro"?

[ddm2k]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Yeah those are pretty restrictive parameters for metro Atlanta.

I do like how each individual definition could be an accurate answer to a slightly different question.

[DreamerD]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Yeah those are pretty restrictive parameters for metro Atlanta.

Yes, they are and I do realize that most people would agree with you. It's just that some of the places I've lived, people have more pride in the city they live in. Whenever people ask me where I live, I never say Atlanta and tell them which suburb I hail from. I might say it's such and such distance from the city just so they have an idea of where it is but yeah.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by DreamerD

Yes, they are and I do realize that most people would agree with you. It's just that some of the places I've lived, people have more pride in the city they live in. Whenever people ask me where I live, I never say Atlanta and tell them which suburb I hail from. I might say it's such and such distance from the city just so they have an idea of where it is but yeah.

Or you could just say "metro Atlanta" or the "Atlanta area." That's a common thing, regardless of what region you hail from especially if you're kinda far from home. Notable exceptions would be if you're from a suburban region in a neighboring state that's somewhat well known (e.g., northern Virginia) or if your suburb is well-known in itself (e.g., Beverly Hills).

It seems that a lot of people from up North in particular have a hard time comprehending the more regional identity that Southerners in most metropolitan areas have. Even in a historic and well-established city like Charleston, people from North Charleston or Mt. Pleasant will generally say they're from Charleston and Charlestonians won't go ballistic about it like people from NY or Philly will if you say you're from the city but actually live in Yonkers or King of Prussia.

But if you're from up North or lived there for a while, I can understand how your parameters for what's perceived as the metro is more restrictive. Up there, there are places a bit farther out that may technically be in a large metropolitan area, but they were established cities for a long time that just eventually got swallowed up in the metro area but still retain more of a local identity. That's less true for many places in the South as many suburbs and exurbs were just very small places that grew up with or after the central city so their identities are more connected to the central city itself.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by DreamerD

Yes, they are and I do realize that most people would agree with you. It's just that some of the places I've lived, people have more pride in the city they live in. Whenever people ask me where I live, I never say Atlanta and tell them which suburb I hail from. I might say it's such and such distance from the city just so they have an idea of where it is but yeah.

My parameter for this... would this area be anything like this without it's proximity to the core city. When you go OTP, you can't say that any of it had any standing other than small rural towns before they became suburbs. Marietta was the only one of all the surrounding satellite cities that was of any decent size before it became primarily a suburb. Perhaps a core difference in the mindset of denizens of older Northeastern cities vs. newer sunbelt cities.

Same for out here in DFW. I tell someone that asks where I'm from if not familiar with the area that I live in the northern Dallas suburbs. Doesn't identify my as a city dweller to those that put a premium on living in the middle of things but I don't expect someone who doesn't have some connection to the area to know where McKinney is.

[DreamerD]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Or you could just say "metro Atlanta" or the "Atlanta area." That's a common thing, regardless of what region you hail from especially if you're kinda far from home. Notable exceptions would be if you're from a suburban region in a neighboring state that's somewhat well known (e.g., northern Virginia) or if your suburb is well-known in itself (e.g., Beverly Hills).

It seems that a lot of people from up North in particular have a hard time comprehending the more regional identity that Southerners in most metropolitan areas have. Even in a historic and well-established city like Charleston, people from North Charleston or Mt. Pleasant will generally say they're from Charleston and Charlestonians won't go ballistic about it like people from NY or Philly will if you say you're from the city but actually live in Yonkers or King of Prussia.

But if you're from up North or lived there for a while, I can understand how your parameters for what's perceived as the metro is more restrictive. Up there, there are places a bit farther out that may technically be in a large metropolitan area, but they were established cities for a long time that just eventually got swallowed up in the metro area but still retain more of a local identity. That's less true for many places in the South as many suburbs and exurbs were just very small places that grew up with or after the central city so their identities are more connected to the central city itself.

1) I don't see anything wrong with telling people exactly where I live and then explaining all the pros and cons of it. I don't like saying I live in Atlanta when I live nowhere close to it.



2) I don't have a hard time comprehending it. I've lived in Georgia for a very long time and was surprised to hear my classmates in Gwinnett tell people they live in Atlanta. I realized after a while it's something most people do. One reason is because where they live they are embarrassed about (remember many places in Gwinnett were pretty rural before the county started getting built out) and saying they live in Atlanta sounded more cool. Another reason is because so many people live out in the suburbs versus the city, most not from Georgia don't know anything about cities outside of Atlanta and so instead of saying where they live, they say Atlanta just to make the conversation go more smoothly.



3) Not going ballistic here. Free country. If people live in Cumming, GA and want to say they live in Atlanta or Peachtree City and say live in Atlanta, that's their business. It's their choice and I've got mine.

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

My parameter for this... would this area be anything like this without it's proximity to the core city. When you go OTP, you can't say that any of it had any standing other than small rural towns before they became suburbs. Marietta was the only one of all the surrounding satellite cities that was of any decent size before it became primarily a suburb. Perhaps a core difference in the mindset of denizens of older Northeastern cities vs. newer sunbelt cities.

Same for out here in DFW. I tell someone that asks where I'm from if not familiar with the area that I live in the northern Dallas suburbs. Doesn't identify my as a city dweller to those that put a premium on living in the middle of things but I don't expect someone who doesn't have some connection to the area to know where McKinney is.

I think I see what you're saying but for me where I live doesn't feel anything like Atlanta. I live in the boonies and many would say I live in the woods ahhaha because it's far from Atlanta. If I lived in Decatur, Marietta, Dunwoody, Chamblee, etc., I would probably feel like I can say I live in Metro Atlanta but I actually go to Atlanta whenever I want to experience something different. A lot of it has to do with the vibe...

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by DreamerD

1) I don't see anything wrong with telling people exactly where I live and then explaining all the pros and cons of it. I don't like saying I live in Atlanta when I live nowhere close to it.



2) I don't have a hard time comprehending it. I've lived in Georgia for a very long time and was surprised to hear my classmates in Gwinnett tell people they live in Atlanta. I realized after a while it's something most people do. One reason is because where they live they are embarrassed about (remember many places in Gwinnett were pretty rural before the county started getting built out) and saying they live in Atlanta sounded more cool. Another reason is because so many people live out in the suburbs versus the city, most not from Georgia don't know anything about cities outside of Atlanta and so instead of saying where they live, they say Atlanta just to make the conversation go more smoothly.



3) Not going ballistic here. Free country. If people live in Cumming, GA and want to say they live in Atlanta or Peachtree City and say live in Atlanta, that's their business. It's their choice and I've got mine.





I think I see what you're saying but for me where I live doesn't feel anything like Atlanta. I live in the boonies and many would say I live in the woods ahhaha because it's far from Atlanta. If I lived in Decatur, Marietta, Dunwoody, Chamblee, etc., I would probably feel like I can say I live in Metro Atlanta but I actually go to Atlanta whenever I want to experience something different. A lot of it has to do with the vibe...

I was under the impression that you lived in the actual suburbs. If I lived way out in Jasper or Pendergrass or beyond, I wouldn't say I lived in the Atlanta area either.

[DreamerD]

I think one day everywhere will be suburbs and considered ATL or the metro. Haha. Even Canton is being considered Atlanta now that it is no longer rural. Really?! To each her/his own I suppose. Dunwoody/Sandy Springs, especially the latter is thought of as a small Buckhead by some. Decatur has a lively downtown area and the bar scene is happening at night. Brookhaven, and I don't know how many agree, is said to be an exciting place. Where I live is very quiet and family oriented. Totally different vibe from Atlanta. Feels nothing like it at all so not easy to tell people I live in ATL.

[DJDeadParrot]

When I lived out in Franklin County, most people out there used "Atlanta" to refer to the city, and its suburbs. If you were going to, say, Lawrenceville or Duluth or Roswell, to those people, you were going to Atlanta.

[vtecluder617]

I'd say anything north of Canton, Cumming, Cartersville and Buford. Basically anything north of route 20.