Would you consider Tampa "Southern?" (Miami, Clearwater: how much, live in)

[90sman]

Tampa, and Pinellas County, not so much, the suburbs, yes.

Someone told me that the head of the KKK used to live in Wesley Chapel, I don't know if that's true or not. When I visit Tampa, I stay in the Lutz/Wesley Chapel area, and the area definitely has that country southern feel. But I like it though, especially in the cold winter time, at nighttime with the wood burning and the smell of the burning wood.

[NativeFloridan]

This is a great article about a friend of my grandfather's..an old Southern gentleman from the old school from the Tampa Area whose family were pioneers of this region.

D. Guy McMullen, member of pioneer family, always ready with a quip and a smile
By Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, August 12, 2010

CLEARWATER — Without fail, D. Guy McMullen stood when guests entered the living room. He held the door open for women and pulled their chairs back at the table.He didn't believe in bad moods, at least not the kind others could see, and held a verse from Ecclesiastes close to his heart. [i]

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by 90sman

Tampa, and Pinellas County, not so much, the suburbs, yes.

Someone told me that the head of the KKK used to live in Wesley Chapel, I don't know if that's true or not. When I visit Tampa, I stay in the Lutz/Wesley Chapel area, and the area definitely has that country southern feel. But I like it though, especially in the cold winter time, at nighttime with the wood burning and the smell of the burning wood.

The KKK was pretty active in the Palm Harbor area up through at least the 70s. They had some sort of headquarters there. You can find articles on them via the Google newspaper database.

[NativeFloridan]

Originally Posted by Gatornation

If you think Tampa is southern it's likely that you have never been to SC, GA, AL.

Wrong..i've lived in all 3 places....Savannah and Augusta Ga, Colombia SC, and Auburn, Alabama....Tampa is Southern its you that is not

[nickbosy]

Listen guys, this debate is stupid and is a rather simple answer:

Generally speaking: the city of Tampa (proper) is not 'southern' in the way that you are thinking. However, outside of the city in areas such as Lutz, parts of Valrico, Brandon, Plant City, etc, it is much more southern. But if you're in Tampa proper, you will vary rarely come into contact with many things Southern. It exists, but not to the scale that makes ANY debate about it worth having, especially considering this debate has turned into the following:

1. Yes Tampa is southern and I am southern and like that about the city.

2.) No its not, its nowhere near the deep south, okay?

Either way, Neither sides will convince eachother of anything because you guys have already make up your minds of that place. Put it this way, as someone who is bi-racial, and who does not identify with the southern culture, i have never felt out of place in Tampa, so even if you believe Tampa to be southern, no one should ever be afraid to feel to feel that the majority of this city aren't welcoming to others, we are.

[McBain II]

Tampa has always had more of an east coast feel to me. Not even close to "southern".

[NativeFloridan]

Adam H. Putnam, Florida's new Commissioner of Agriculture is from Polk County and listening to Adam talk is a good example of how the Real Florida Accent Sounds and make no mistake its 100 proof Southern! If you don't believe me take a look at the Florida Network on Cable TV sometime when the Legislature is in session and folks like Adam take the podium. Natives who don't allow the influence of interlopers to change their native speech talk just about like Adam does even in Tampa neighborhoods. Adam is a fifth generation cattle rancher and citrus grower from Polk County and an example of how the Southern accent is still alive and strong in the young generations of True Native Floridans.

[NativeFloridan]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

Tampa has always had more of an east coast feel to me. Not even close to "southern".

Its only people like you that are here that make it feel less so....so....

[McBain II]

Originally Posted by NativeFloridan

Its only people like you that are here that make it feel less so....so....

I'm actually midwestern (even though I trace my roots back through Boston and much of the New England area) so I can't really take credit for that, although I wouldn't mind doing so.

Either way, Tampa isn't...and never really has been...a "southern" city. Tampa didn't even really start to see it's boom until a couple decades after the civil war when the rail lines finally started going up across the country, and that brought more Spanish and Northern influence which quickly outpaced any previous Southern influence.

That's pretty much the same trend set all around the country though, and you'd be hard pressed to find a major city that is truly "southern". Even former strongholds like Atlanta and to a lesser extent, New Orleans, have deviated greatly from their southern roots. Nashville is close but even then there is a bright line separating the city from the "true" southern area that surrounds it.

[NativeFloridan]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

I'm actually midwestern (even though I trace my roots back through Boston and much of the New England area) so I can't really take credit for that, although I wouldn't mind doing so.

Either way, Tampa isn't...and never really has been...a "southern" city. Tampa didn't even really start to see it's boom until a couple decades after the civil war when the rail lines finally started going up across the country, and that brought more Spanish and Northern influence which quickly outpaced any previous Southern influence.

That's pretty much the same trend set all around the country though, and you'd be hard pressed to find a major city that is truly "southern". Even former strongholds like Atlanta and to a lesser extent, New Orleans, have deviated greatly from their southern roots. Nashville is close but even then there is a bright line separating the city from the "true" southern area that surrounds it.

Sorry you are wrong. Like so many who move to our city from outside of the South you don't have the slightest idea of Tampa's heritage or Florida's heritage for that matter. You do a great injustice to the people who formed this comunity and state but anyone with a lick of sense will give little credence to what your opinion is and just consider the source. I challenge you to consult a reliable source of historical documentation on the areas history...then you'll know why I ask that you please stop putting false information up on this board.