Dallas: Southeast or Southwest? (Fort Worth, Atlanta: vs., rated, population)

[JustAnother]

What do you consider it to be? The climate's too dry to be "Southeastern", although there are lakes. The culture is probably closer to being Southeastern.

[stlouisan]

Since Southeast is the only reasonable choice to me, and Dallas is a definitively southern city, with much stronger ties to Atlanta than to Albuquerque, or Phoenix, i'd vote southeast. Overall, I'd say the same thing for the state of Texas. New Mexico is actually more influenced by the south than Texas is influenced by the Southwest. the south doesn't peter out until you reach about central New Mexico.

[kidphilly]

South Central

[HtownLove]

Can't see how SOUTH CENTRAL is not an option.
Texas is South Central, along with Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Dallas is more closely related to these than any other. It is not Southeastern or Southwestern. It is a mix of the two in South central.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Dallas - Southeast
Fort Worth - Southwest

with a bit of variation in both. There, that was easy.

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

Can't see how SOUTH CENTRAL is not an option.
Texas is South Central, along with Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Dallas is more closely related to these than any other. It is not Southeastern or Southwestern. It is a mix of the two in South central.

I would disagree. The South Central United States is definitively linked to the Southeast through history, culture, demographics, etc. Its ties to the Southwest are quite weak by comparison except in the extreme western parts. I would say the same thing for the North Central United States (Midwest) when comparing to the Northeast vs. Northwest. It has much more ties in culture and demographics to the Northeast. The predominant explanation here is that the central United States is really an extension of the Eastern United States...the west is a completely separate entity from either of these to a much greater degree.

[Zembonez]

I disagree. Texas is largely made up of German / Czech imports and Mexicans. there are towns here that speak as much German as English... and certainly places that speak Spanish... It's a very different mix than the Southeastern states. Most Texans did not immigrate from the East.

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

I disagree. Texas is largely made up of German / Czech imports and Mexicans. there are towns here that speak as much German as English... and certainly places that speak Spanish... It's a very different mix than the Southeastern states. Most Texans did not immigrate from the East.

Ever heard of the German Coast of the Mississippi? There are other southern states that have a history of German immigration. And yes, Texas was settled by eastern Americans. There are a few towns here and there where German culture is strongly present, but I don't think that even most white Texans relate to this. German Texas is mostly concentrated in only the central part of the state anyway.

Being that it borders Mexico, it's common sense that this particular state does have ties with the nation, but that doesn't obliterate Texas' ties with the southeast, which, in my opinion, are really predominant.

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by stlouisan

I would disagree. The South Central United States is definitively linked to the Southeast through history, culture, demographics, etc. Its ties to the Southwest are quite weak by comparison except in the extreme western parts. I would say the same thing for the North Central United States (Midwest) when comparing to the Northeast vs. Northwest. It has much more ties in culture and demographics to the Northeast. The predominant explanation here is that the central United States is really an extension of the Eastern United States...the west is a completely separate entity from either of these to a much greater degree.

Excellent post.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

I disagree. Texas is largely made up of German / Czech imports and Mexicans. there are towns here that speak as much German as English... and certainly places that speak Spanish... It's a very different mix than the Southeastern states. Most Texans did not immigrate from the East.

No, it isn't. And yes they did.

The German/Czech influence is just about to the same degree that French Cajun was in south Louisiana. The Mexican influence, originally, largely stemmed from that Texas was once a Mexican possession, and thus, many place names contain the same. But even prior to the Texas Revolution, and definitely after it, it was anglos and blacks from the southeastern states which came in and shaped Texas as an essentially Southern state. And as it is, the Europeans, mostly assimilated into the larger Southern culture over time.

After the Texas Revolution, many Mexicans left the state. And the population shift today is -- unlike in the truly SW states (NM and AZ) -- is of fairly recent origin.

Also, can you cite some sources which back up this ludicrous contension that most early Texans did not migrate from the east? As it is, in 1850, only 16% of the population of Texas was of either European and Mexican origin. Only 3% were from the northeast. The overwhelming majority were from the southeastern states, at around 75% (Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, furnished the most new settlers). And this figure does not count the percentage of blacks (which in 1860, was roughly a third of the population).