[Mini-apple-less]

It's generally believed that large swaths of Florida are not part of the South, due to being dominated by populations without Southern roots and most people not even being born in the state. The majority of the peninsula is dominated by transplants and immigrants, and people from other Southern states are no more likely to move to Florida than people from the Midwest and Northeast are.

Politically Florida seems a lot like the West in the sense that it tends to be liberal in a conservative way meaning there's lots of multiculturalism, sex and drugs and it's all pretty tolerated but the people are big believers in "sink or swim" type capitalism and love guns. There's more of a frontier mentality compared to the comparatively settled in their ways former British colonies to the north of it.

It also seems like Florida and the Western states have more than their share of crazy people compared to other regions, maybe due to having less tight knit communities. After all if you hear about something wacky or violent happening in Florida you expect it to be a punchline. I think in peninsular Florida and out West there isn't much of a local culture due to the settlement being so recent so global pop culture and consumerism fills a lot of that gap.

Another Florida/West similarity is how many people speak similarly to actors on TV or valley girls, or have an accent that sounds very mildly Southern or Midlandish.

[North 42]

No, Florida is still in the south. Even though the southern half is less culturally southern, the northern half is still very southern and connected to the rest of the south.

[Happiness-is-close]

Florida is Florida. It not similar to any other region. It is it's own cultural enclave in our vast country.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by North 42

No, Florida is still in the south. Even though the southern half is less culturally southern, the northern half is still very southern and connected to the rest of the south.

This nails it.

There are several Floridians here that will deny it all day long, but Florida's peninsula is VERY Southern away from the coast, to say nothing of the entire northern third of the State. It's a huge mixed bag, but very Southern still in many, many areas.

[Happiness-is-close]

Florida isn't Southern in the least, yet here comes everyone not from Florida wanting to tell you what Florida is.

Peninsular Florida has been dominated by Northern transplants and international immigrants ever since the end of the 19th century to such a degree that the "Southerness" of the region is gone. And Hail Mary for it.

I wouldn't lump Florida with the west either. When I was in Colorado I found the people there to be similar politically, but they were not as spastic, party-going, or dramatic as Floridians tend to be (in my opinion, they were on the boring side. Denver's bars shut down before 1:30 AM!!).

We are more hospitable than northeasterners, but that is due to most of us having worked in the hospitality industry as some point in our lives. We aren't fake friendly like Southerners are though. While being hospitable, we have a bluntness to us that northerners tend to have.

[Happiness-is-close]

Originally Posted by North 42

No, Florida is still in the south. Even though the southern half is less culturally southern, the northern half is still very southern and connected to the rest of the south.

Alabama or Georiga can have the panhandle. Florida doesn't want it. Of our states 20 million people only about a million live in the panhandle anyhow. The panhandle doesn't represent our state or what our state continues to change into.

[CurlyFries]

You should've had a sixth pool option that's "it's a combination of all of the above".

[marlinfshr]

I think geography needs to be taught a bit better in schools! I've heard it all now as someone is questioning whether FL is like the west. Um, can't get much more southern then FL and it is not hard to find "old south" culture many places in S. FL. Just gotta cross 95 now and then!

The south is a large area and isn't just BBQ, fried chicken, sweet tea, moss covered live oaks, blooming magnolias, plantations and country bars. Even if that was the case, well Florida's got it! South FL as well!

[chopchop0]

Florida doesn't have the silly fiscal liberalism or Nanny state laws like you might find in western states

[floridanative10]

Northern florida where I went to school is still very southern but it become very different further south in florida but it is still a very mixed region, every county and town is different.

I dont see the western comparison with transient cultures, california isnt anywhere as near as transient as florida. California has built its economy on alot of things but tech and silicon valley is a huge part of it, florida should be doing the same thing but it seems like guys like scott and jeb! and most florida governors just want to push rabid growth to pad their numbers, no matter how low paying the jobs all this retiree and tourist economy brings.

Florida could be one of the hipper places in america if we just get some new governors and politicians who want to build tech metros and creative class cities with higher wages, Florida has it all and could be a beacon for tech/stem jobs with the right leadership

the more interesting poll would be is virginia still red or "southern" in politics, I think Va. is the only state that has a chance to not be in the solid south, though it may go either way and will be close , trump will beat hillary in florida and the south

florida is like a ton of different states in one and especially further south , every county is different, every neighborhood is different , south florida has tons of people from every region and alot of different countries

jimmy buffet land would be a great country by itself , I could easily see florida being a cool caribbean type country by itself with the right leadership and less growth , who else grows mangoes and all these interesting citrus and fruits and trees , you can grow anything in florida, , plus what other state has gorgeous white beaches and caribbean aqua waters in america?