Are "hick towns" and "hillbilly areas" the same? (low crime, home)

[jp646]

What is your definition of a "hick town"? A "hillbilly town"? Are the the same thing?

[nycricanpapi]

Yeah is the same things. They have the same culture and the same mentality.

[Thomas R.]

To me "hick" would be a small town that is isolated, both culturally and geographically, from any urban area. Its values and outlook have as little to do with urban life as possible in the modern age. Generally speaking agriculture or agribusiness is particularly important to it and there are few to no college students living in the town. Outside of that a "hick town" can vary a fair amount. It can be in Mountains, Plains, or Forestland. It can be mostly White, Black, or American Indian. It is usually Christian, but can be Catholic or Protestant.

To me a "Hillbilly areas" is more specific. The main thing is it should be in area of hills or small mountains as the name implies that. Most of the Plains and Florida are too flat to have genuine "hillbilly areas." Beyond that I'd generally say a "hillbilly area" should be mostly made up of White Protestants. (Preferably Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, and or Presbyterian. It's a bit difficult for me to see a town of Swedish-descended Lutherans as "hillbilly")

[le roi]

Hillbillies live in the hills or mountains.

Hicks live anywhere rural.

I don't know why this is so complicated for people.

[Johnny C]

^yes, but you can still have a "hick town" that is in the mountains.

Hicks are rural people that can live anywhere. "Hillbilly" is just a more specific adjective to decribe hicks that happen to live in the mountains.

[TexasTheKid]

Originally Posted by rubber_factory

Hillbillies live in the hills or mountains.

Hicks live anywhere rural.

I don't know why this is so complicated for people.

You know how a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isn't necessarily a square? And you know how some people can't grasp that concept either? Same principle.

[le roi]

Originally Posted by Johnny C

^yes, but you can still have a "hick town" that is in the mountains.

Hicks are rural people that can live anywhere. "Hillbilly" is just a more specific adjective to decribe hicks that happen to live in the mountains.

Exactly what I just said.

[Visvaldis]

Hick town.
Few people have high school diplomas. Even less with college education. Not many jobs to attract college graduates. Very little to offer on the cultural scene. Most people sit home to watch TV. Not many attractions for visitors. Media is bland and conventional. Mostly country music, noise rock, talk shows, and religious programming. Local football and basketball are extremely important and dominate the news.
Few residents have any interest in the outside world or in any other cultures. People are proud to announce their vacation destinations: either Disneyworld or Las Vegas. Majority of population is conservative and religious. Anything which is out of the ordinary arouses suspicion and mistrust. Low self-esteem; the residents swoon for flattery of their town.

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Hick town.
Few people have high school diplomas. Even less with college education. Not many jobs to attract college graduates. Very little to offer on the cultural scene. Most people sit home to watch TV. Not many attractions for visitors. Media is bland and conventional. Mostly country music, noise rock, talk shows, and religious programming. Local football and basketball are extremely important and dominate the news.
Few residents have any interest in the outside world or in any other cultures. People are proud to announce their vacation destinations: either Disneyworld or Las Vegas. Majority of population is conservative and religious. Anything which is out of the ordinary arouses suspicion and mistrust. Low self-esteem; the residents swoon for flattery of their town.

I know plenty of people who went to college and have good jobs, but act otherwise like you describe. They choose to live that lifestyle because that is what they like. Maybe these are rednecks and need a third classification?

As already mentioned, I think it comes down to hillbillies live in the hills or mountains and hicks live anywhere rural.

[robertjohnson]

Originally Posted by Thomas R.

To me "hick" would be a small town that is isolated, both culturally and geographically, from any urban area. Its values and outlook have as little to do with urban life as possible in the modern age. Generally speaking agriculture or agribusiness is particularly important to it and there are few to no college students living in the town. Outside of that a "hick town" can vary a fair amount. It can be in Mountains, Plains, or Forestland. It can be mostly White, Black, or American Indian. It is usually Christian, but can be Catholic or Protestant.

To me a "Hillbilly areas" is more specific. The main thing is it should be in area of hills or small mountains as the name implies that. Most of the Plains and Florida are too flat to have genuine "hillbilly areas." Beyond that I'd generally say a "hillbilly area" should be mostly made up of White Protestants. (Preferably Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, and or Presbyterian. It's a bit difficult for me to see a town of Swedish-descended Lutherans as "hillbilly")

They sound like wonderful, low crime, slow paced communities.
Unlocked doors, tire swings, bare feet and creeks.
But also lacking in ways.
No panhandlers, sign twirlers or loud rap from passing cars.
Unpretentious.