Largest city/metro where the southern accent is still dominant (versus, food)

[trinkanchan]

Somebody mentioned in another thread that Richmond, VA is one of the few major metros in the South where the southern accent is still dominant.

Is there a larger metro where the southern accent is still widely spoken by the population? What if we are only talking about city limits?

[FL_Expert]

Nashville?

[arr430]

I'd say Memphis. New Orleans is not strictly southern. but is the most retentive.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by arr430

I'd say Memphis. New Orleans is not strictly southern. but is the most retentive.

Elaborate?

[grampaTom]

Originally Posted by arr430

I'd say Memphis. New Orleans is not strictly southern. but is the most retentive.

What is it then??

[Heel82]

New Orleans is Southern, but it’s such an outlier people tend to overlook it. But the South is not so monolithic culturally even if we do have shared food and experiences.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Heel82

New Orleans is Southern, but it’s such an outlier people tend to overlook it. But the South is not so monolithic culturally even if we do have shared food and experiences.

No one overlooks New Orleans as southern.
South Louisiana doesn't have many shared food and experiences as the rest of the south, either. I always felt like I was in a different region when I went to other southern states like Georgia.

[Heel82]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

No one overlooks New Orleans as southern.
South Louisiana doesn't have many shared food and experiences as the rest of the south, either. I always felt like I was in a different region when I went to other southern states like Georgia.

I guess my point is “Southern” is an umbrella term that covers a broad and diverse region. Food-wise, that means there are variances based on localized specialities. Louisiana country cooking will differ in important ways from Georgia country cooking. Though some staples (chicken, biscuits, field peas, okra, sweet tea) will be familiar.

But yes, New Orleans, as the French cosmopolitan metropolis of an agrarian society, does strike many as being unSouthern. But that’s only if you think the rest of the South is Mayberry. But that’s simplistic obviously.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by arr430

I'd say Memphis. New Orleans is not strictly southern. but is the most retentive.

New Orleans isn’t southern?? Lol.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Heel82

I guess my point is “Southern” is an umbrella term that covers a broad and diverse region. Food-wise, that means there are variances based on localized specialities. Louisiana country cooking will differ in important ways from Georgia country cooking. Though some staples (chicken, biscuits, field peas, okra, sweet tea) will be familiar.

But yes, New Orleans, as the French cosmopolitan metropolis of an agrarian society, does strike many as being unSouthern. But that’s only if you think the rest of the South is Mayberry. But that’s simplistic obviously.

Of course the south is a large and diverse region, which is why I always argue that Miami is southern. Many of those staples aren't just southern though, and I've never heard of field peas. I'd say the difference between eating in south Louisiana versus Little Rock or Charlotte is about as different as here in Denver. The region that is consistently similar to Louisiana would be the Gulf Coast from Houston area to the Florida panhandle.
With that said, the New Orleans accent may be linked to New York but it's still a southern accent.