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Does anyone else include Raleigh in their definitions of Eastern NC? I know it's basically on the line dividing the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, but it seems like Raleigh has more ties to areas further east than Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, etc. Also, I feel like the BBQ in the area leans more towards the Eastern style. What do y'all think? It just seems like most Raleigh folks that I've encountered have stronger ties to towns like Henderson, Rocky Mount, or Kinston over Greensboro, Burlington, Salisbury, etc. However, I get that many folks believe Eastern NC is strictly the areas east of I-95.
From what I've noticed, go west of Durham and most people in NC rarely visit the Raleigh area or areas further east. Like if you mention Apex or Clayton to someone living in Winston-Salem, there's a good chance that person won't have a clue. The majority of the Piedmont and Western NC isn't too familiar with Raleigh, while Eastern NC is a different story. People in towns like Goldsboro or Rocky Mount see Raleigh as "the big city" that they'll visit on weekends for whatever reason. In this case, I feel like Raleigh has stronger ties with Eastern NC than the rest of the Piedmont.
I agree with you that people "down east" look to Raleigh as "the big city"...but that doesn't mean that Raleigh is in Eastern NC....it just means that Raleigh is closer to them.
I doubt most of them would be able to place any Raleigh suburbs on a map either...and I bet most people in Randolph County wouldn't know most Charlotte suburbs or Raleigh suburbs....Randolph County definitely isn't eastern NC.
I'd say the fall-line is the biggest divide. Raleigh and especially the western suburbs are solidly Piedmont. A case could be made that Garner/Clayton and Wendell/Zebulon have a bit more of an eastern NC feel to them...but they are east of the fall-line...and that still doesn't make Raleigh "Eastern NC".
The only people who think of Raleigh as "eastern NC" are people from Charlotte and points west.
Also...when I go to The Pit in dt Raleigh I put both sauces on my cue....call me a rebel...or a peacemaker.
Last edited by TarHeelNick; 10-25-2015 at 05:44 PM..
From what I've noticed, go west of Durham and most people in NC rarely visit the Raleigh area or areas further east. Like if you mention Apex or Clayton to someone living in Winston-Salem, there's a good chance that person won't have a clue. The majority of the Piedmont and Western NC isn't too familiar with Raleigh, while Eastern NC is a different story. People in towns like Goldsboro or Rocky Mount see Raleigh as "the big city" that they'll visit on weekends for whatever reason. In this case, I feel like Raleigh has stronger ties with Eastern NC than the rest of the Piedmont.
Well yeah, these cities are an hour or so from Raleigh and don't have anything else nearby in terms of population/nightlife/etc.
And to answer your question, no. I know when I'm in "Eastern NC", and I go to Raleigh frequently and have never once gotten that vibe.
I knew this thread was going eastern or western style. I never ate barbecue west of Bullock's in Durham
There was a time when Raleigh did seem to be just a large town in eastern NC. Many Raleigh natives had roots that ran deep into eastern NC.
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