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I'm interested in comparing these two regions. On the one hand, there are some obvious differences; Hispanic vs. African-American culture, dry vs. humid weather, old vs. new cities, etc. However, there are some perceived similarities as well, such as a slower lifestyle, friendlier people, more sprawling cities, etc.
How do you think these regions stack up in:
Pace of life
Friendliness
Cultural offerings/entertainment
Scenery
Weather
...and anything else you'd like to comment on would be fine, as well.
I'd particularly find a comparison of cities like Tucson, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Santa Fe (etc.) to Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham (etc.) to be interesting.
In which region would you prefer to live overall? Why?
Love the southwest but weather reasons, the south. Plus located near beaches. People from the southwest aren't as friendly either :/
not to mention there pretty of soul food restaurants in san antone donk let the large spanish population throw you off the blacks are southern
Pretty useless argument. Any city with a sizeable black population has soul food places. Not to mention that San Antonio doesnt have a large black population.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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I suppose the Southwest is the most loosely defined region in the US as many have different definitions as to how far the boundaries actually extend.
Arizona and New Mexico are quintessential Southwest at the heart of the region geographically and culturally and are really the only two states that are completely enveloped within the whole region as its commonly defined. The high desert terrain often associated with the Desert Southwest includes Southeastern California, Southern Nevada, Southern Utah, Southwestern Colorado, and West Texas in which the regions of these states included have palpable cultural aspects commonly associated with the Southwest. Because these lines are split within states states the Southwest’s boundaries overlap, transition, and extend into the Rockies, Great Plains, and West Coast. The South on the other hand is much easier to pinpoint what states are included as one would only need open a history book to see, as mostly the region is clearly denifed within the states themselves and less division within them (stars and bars).
Anyhow to add to the confusion, geographically San Diego is the most Southwestern city in the US, though culturally its not really a Southwestern city. The boundaries to the east are somewhere between I-35 and El Paso in Texas where the plains transition into desert. I will say though that San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth all have a South meets Southwest feel and could be associated with either region.
Wikipedia includes Denver and Salt Lake City in the Southwest (Southwestern United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) , but I'd associate those cities with the Rocky Mountain West and don't think they are included in my opinion. But that's what the Southwestern boundaries boil down to is opinion, depends on who you ask. At the end of the day Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and El Paso are the epitome of Southwestern cities and it’s the cities themselves that are easier to identify as Arizona and New Mexico are the only states entirely within the Southwest.
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 02-25-2012 at 01:37 PM..
Pretty useless argument. Any city with a sizeable black population has soul food places. Not to mention that San Antonio doesnt have a large black population.
how do you figure san antonio is the south blended with mexican culture mixed look it up and its to green to be the be the southwest if you actualy lived in san antone you will see the southern hospitality blended with mexican culture
how do you figure san antonio is the south blended with mexican culture mixed look it up and its to green to be the be the southwest if you actualy lived in san antone you will see the southern hospitality blended with mexican culture
I never even said SA has little Southern culture. It does historically although that has been diluted massively in the past twenty years. I pointed out that your logic is flawed when it comes to SA having soul food places to prove that its Southern.
Fort Worth is the south. DFW is the south. DFW is not like San Antonio. The Southwest starts after DFW.
The Southwest as in the original application of "western South" starts somewhere west of DFW. Along the old "forts trail."
There are two "Southwests.". The Southwest of the South continues out to somewhere along the Texas/NewMexico border. The Southwest of the West takes over along or west of the line....
Essentially, Texas is Southern. New Mexico is Western. Save for the trans-pecos part of Texas, the shared designation (i.e. "Southwest") -- in terms of culture and history, -- have very little in common with one another...
Location: Jefferson City 4 days a week, St. Louis 3 days a week
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasReb
The Southwest as in the original application of "western South" starts somewhere west of DFW. Along the old "forts trail."
There are two "Southwests.". The Southwest of the South continues out to somewhere along the Texas/NewMexico border. The Southwest of the West takes over along or west of the line....
Essentially, Texas is Southern. New Mexico is Western. Save for the trans-pecos part of Texas, the shared designation (i.e. "Southwest") -- in terms of culture and history, -- have very little in common with one another...
Very well put. Yet another rep point for you my friend
how do you figure san antonio is the south blended with mexican culture mixed look it up and its to green to be the be the southwest if you actualy lived in san antone you will see the southern hospitality blended with mexican culture
San Antonio isn't southern at all. It's Southwestern, it has no attributes of a Southern City.
Does anyone actually have input on SOUTH VS SOUTHWEST?
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