[vultures_77]

So my friend & I got into an interesting conversation the other day about hometowns & culture, and I just wanted to hear your guys perspective. First, a little background. I'm 18 & I was born in Rochester, NY. My dad was born & raised in NY and my mom was born in PA & grew up there until about 11 or 12 until her family packed up and moved to FL. I have spent almost 17 of my 18 years in Southwest, FL.

It's weird, because my New York, New Jersey & New England friends tease me about being a "Southerner", and all of my Southern friends say I'm a Yankee because of my Northeast origins, and that Florida isn't really a true Southern state any way. So I don't really feel like I have any roots, and when people ask me where I'm from, I always have to hesitate and think about it first before I respond. So what do you guys think? Am I a Yankee or a Rebel? Do you consider someone's hometown to be where they were born or where they grew up? And is Florida even a real southern state? Do I actually have any real origins or am I just doomed to be a displaced, rootless wanderer?

[ColdAilment]

Originally Posted by vultures_77

So my friend & I got into an interesting conversation the other day about hometowns & culture, and I just wanted to hear your guys perspective. First, a little background. I'm 18 & I was born in Rochester, NY. My dad was born & raised in NY and my mom was born in PA & grew up there until about 11 or 12 until her family packed up and moved to FL. I have spent almost 17 of my 18 years in Southwest, FL.

It's weird, because my New York, New Jersey & New England friends tease me about being a "Southerner", and all of my Southern friends say I'm a Yankee because of my Northeast origins, and that Florida isn't really a true Southern state any way. So I don't really feel like I have any roots, and when people ask me where I'm from, I always have to hesitate and think about it first before I respond. So what do you guys think? Am I a Yankee or a Rebel? Do you consider someone's hometown to be where they were born or where they grew up? And is Florida even a real southern state? Do I actually have any real origins or am I just doomed to be a displaced, rootless wanderer?

Florida did fight for the confederacy, they were part of the confederacy. So for all intents and purposes, Florida is as much a rebel state as any other southern state in that regard.

However, what southern culture is today, what people know as the south, Florida has very little of. Florida is a state overpopulated with "Snow birds" from the north, such as yourself. People from all the northern states who move south to enjoy the warmer climate, the nice beaches, or the growing economy.

Most people from Florida, unless they're from the pandhandle, will not have a southern accent, and have little in line with the rest of southern culture. For these reasons primarily Florida is not considered a true southern state.

Your identity is Floridian. You're neither true southerner or true northerner. Many Floridian's are northern born who have moved south, you are one of millions of transplants from other states.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

Florida did fight for the confederacy, they were part of the confederacy. So for all intents and purposes, Florida is as much a rebel state as any other southern state in that regard.

So did the Arizona territory, but I'd assume that many wouldn't consider it to be a "Southern State."

Florida is geographically "Southern" and there are some remnants of "Old South" that still exist in the middle and northern sections of the state, but because of the population boom and influx of people not just from the north, but from other countries around the globe as well, Florida is not an "Old South" state like Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee. As a matter of fact, 70% of the population of the state of Florida, or 13,522,298 out of 19,317,568 were born outside of the states borders.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by vultures_77

So what do you guys think? Am I a Yankee or a Rebel? Do you consider someone's hometown to be where they were born or where they grew up? And is Florida even a real southern state? Do I actually have any real origins or am I just doomed to be a displaced, rootless wanderer?

I've asked myself those same questions many times before. I know exactly where you're coming from!

My dad and his family is from Ohio, my mother and her family are from Tennessee, my sister and I were born in Florida (My sister in Miami, me in Orlando.) I spent the first 18 years of my life living in Central Florida before eventually moving to Tennessee. IMHO, You're a Southerner because you were born there and nothing changes that. As far as your hometown goes, personally, I don't claim Orlando, I never have. When I relocated to Tennessee, I thought my hometown was Tampa, FL. When I moved away from Nashville, it hurt worse than my relocation from Florida did and I feel that my "hometown" is Nashville, TN. Even though I spent a majority of my life (18 years, I'm currently 30) I feel that my hometown is a place that I feel is "home."

No one can tell you what you are and where your hometown is. That's something you have to decide on your own. However, you were born in the South, even if Florida is no longer culturally "Southern."

[StreetSmarts]

Just depends on which part (as others have stated) of the state you reside in / are from.

[WhatUpFLA]

No, sweetheart, you're not a Southerner.

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by vultures_77

So my friend & I got into an interesting conversation the other day about hometowns & culture, and I just wanted to hear your guys perspective. First, a little background. I'm 18 & I was born in Rochester, NY. My dad was born & raised in NY and my mom was born in PA & grew up there until about 11 or 12 until her family packed up and moved to FL. I have spent almost 17 of my 18 years in Southwest, FL.

It's weird, because my New York, New Jersey & New England friends tease me about being a "Southerner", and all of my Southern friends say I'm a Yankee because of my Northeast origins, and that Florida isn't really a true Southern state any way. So I don't really feel like I have any roots, and when people ask me where I'm from, I always have to hesitate and think about it first before I respond. So what do you guys think? Am I a Yankee or a Rebel? Do you consider someone's hometown to be where they were born or where they grew up? And is Florida even a real southern state? Do I actually have any real origins or am I just doomed to be a displaced, rootless wanderer?

Well geographically you can't get more Southern than Florida! I was born in NY and I live in Ohio now. Florida is a great mix of folks from all around the country who come for it's beautiful climate, natural beauty and many attractions.

The Civil War was a long time ago. I'm not a Yankee or a Rebel.

Just a plain old American who loves the state of Florida enjoys visiting frequently. I always feel welcomed by Floridians.

[OptimusPrime69]

By nothern standards, you're a southerner......

By southern standards you're a yankee....

so depending on who is asking and who ur audience is....Just answer accodingly.
I was born in PA, but lived a majority of my life in FL. .

I dont consider myself southern or nothern. I'm a floridian... I'm an American with a non-regional accent who identifies as just someone who happens to live in FL

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

By nothern standards, you're a southerner......

By southern standards you're a yankee....

so depending on who is asking and who ur audience is....Just answer accodingly.
I was born in PA, but lived a majority of my life in FL. .

I dont consider myself southern or nothern. I'm a floridian... I'm an American with a non-regional accent who identifies as just someone who happens to live in FL

I am similar. I'm am an American with a non-regional accent. As far as the whole Yankee - Rebel thing - I've never thought of southerners as "Rebels" or as northerners - myself included as "Yankees".
That sad war is over.

I guess people can think of themselves as Easterners, Westerners, Mid-Westerners, Southerners, New Englanders or Westerners. Having lived in a few regions, I don't.

In some ways Florida has a lot in common with California - California is about a Western a state as you can get. But when I think of a "Western state", Cali is not the first state that comes to mind.

Instead, when thinking of a "Western" state places associated with cowboys and the old west come to mind - Arizona, Wyoming and Nevada.

Like Cali, Florida is in a way in a league of it's own. Both are unmistakeably in their regions, but because of their beauty, desirable climates, many attractions, tourists, palm trees, and a laid back life style. Consequently, both the Golden State and the Sunshine State attract their fair share of transplants that contribute to and add to their culture.

Personally, my preference is the Sunshine State, and we are looking into purchasing a second home their with in the next two years.

I have quite a few relatives and friends who live there, and they all just refer to themselves as "Floridians", sort of in a class of their own. And they seem very happy with that appellation!

[CountryFisher]

I consider native Floridians (otherwise known as Floridans) to be southerns, but not the first generation of Flordians or the transplants.

None of the urban areas of South Florida (Miami, Broward and most of Palm Beach) are southern but some of the rural areas are. Central Florida- most urban areas aren't southern but some are (Lakeland & Plant City are a couple examples of southern places). However, I consider all rural areas of Central Florida to be southern. I've even met people in eastern rural Manatee County with southern accents. All of northern Florida (anywhere along I-4) and up as well as the Panhandle are all southern.