Texas; is it part of the South or the Southwest? (Houston: club, farms)

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

You called it, sister.

Having lived in northeast Texas for 25 years, I'd say that this area definitely has a lot of southern influence and historical ties, but I don't consider west or south Texas to feel southern much at all.

Like you say, Texas is Texas. And I love it and am thrilled to have "discovered" it - I plan to live out the rest of my life here, actually. And this is coming from a woman who loves the southern states and loves being a southern woman. I fit easily into Texas and consider myself both a Texan and a southerner - but I am always bemused when I run across someone who wants so desperately for Texas to be a "deep South" state. I mean, why? Isn't being Texas enough? My gosh, Texas culture, history, etc is fascinating and scintillating - why try to be something else?

You and TexasHorseLady seem equally as "desperate" to make your own points.

If people in Texarkana are "trying" to be the Deep South then they have become experts at it.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

You and TexasHorseLady seem equally as "desperate" to make your own points.

If people in Texarkana are "trying" to be the Deep South then they have become experts at it.

Oh you mean that town in the furthest corner possible in northeast Texas - that town that has it's other half - literally - in Arkansas? OK. I'll give you that booming metropolis.

I have relatives in Magnolia, AR (and Texarkana for that matter, though I'm not sure whether they live in Texarkana AR or Texarkana TX to be honest), and there's a reason why what I grew up calling "Southern Bell" (the telephone company) has always been called "Southwestern Bell" in this region. I recall as a child always being struck by that when I would visit them and see the telelphone book in their house.

Arkansas doesn't seem like the Deep South to me either, by the way. Southern, yes.

This is such a ridiculous argument - I'm glad this is free entertainment and that in a bit I'll be graced with company from the Deep South (my daughter was born in Georgia)! Of course, she'll be accompanied by some Texans (three of her four kids were born in Texas) but they are under no illusions about being from the Deep South - nor do they care for that matter. Being Texans is more than enough for them when it comes to state pride. As it should be! Texas is great!

Maybe we can agree on that.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

Having lived in northeast Texas for 25 years, I'd say that this area definitely has a lot of southern influence and historical ties, but I don't consider west or south Texas to feel southern much at all.

The small towns 30-60 miles south of San Antonio certainly do, culturally/religiously in the white areas as well as the areas with thousands of old (if slightly crunchy) live oak trees.

Anyway here is a map using some recent genetic sampling, showing where the "deep south" begins. Take it or leave it.

https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/files/...igration_c.jpg

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

Oh you mean that town in the furthest corner possible in northeast Texas - that town that has it's other half - literally - in Arkansas? OK. I'll give you that booming metropolis.

I have relatives in Magnolia, AR (and Texarkana for that matter, though I'm not sure whether they live in Texarkana AR or Texarkana TX to be honest), and there's a reason why what I grew up calling "Southern Bell" (the telephone company) has always been called "Southwestern Bell" in this region. I recall as a child always being struck by that when I would visit them and see the telelphone book in their house.

Arkansas doesn't seem like the Deep South to me either, by the way. Southern, yes.

This is such a ridiculous argument - I'm glad this is free entertainment and that in a bit I'll be graced with company from the Deep South (my daughter was born in Georgia)! Of course, she'll be accompanied by some Texans (three of her four kids were born in Texas) but they are under no illusions about being from the Deep South - nor do they care for that matter. Being Texans is more than enough for them when it comes to state pride. As it should be! Texas is great!

Maybe we can agree on that.

Exactly. Texas has a broad, fascinating history of its own and doesn't need to try to hang on to any other region's coattails, as some seem bound and determined to do. One would think that they don't appreciate what they really have in a state large and varied enough to be its own region.

[detachable arm]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Exactly. Texas has a broad, fascinating history of its own and doesn't need to try to hang on to any other region's coattails, as some seem bound and determined to do. One would think that they don't appreciate what they really have in a state large and varied enough to be its own region.

There are a couple of young, not well-traveled brothas in here who have an agenda. They are of the same ilk who have turned Texas regional entries in Wikipedia into rubbish in order to push this agenda even further. Those pages have gotten so inaccurate with made up “facts” and bad English that mimic much of what you see here and sometimes the Houston & Dallas boards and especially on the city vs city board where anything inaccurate flies. Things that make you go hmmm....

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

Oh you mean that town in the furthest corner possible in northeast Texas - that town that has it's other half - literally - in Arkansas? OK. I'll give you that booming metropolis.

I have relatives in Magnolia, AR (and Texarkana for that matter, though I'm not sure whether they live in Texarkana AR or Texarkana TX to be honest), and there's a reason why what I grew up calling "Southern Bell" (the telephone company) has always been called "Southwestern Bell" in this region. I recall as a child always being struck by that when I would visit them and see the telelphone book in their house.

Arkansas doesn't seem like the Deep South to me either, by the way. Southern, yes.

I don't completely disagree, actually. In fact, I would only include southern AR (as well as Texarkana) in a definition of the Deep South that includes Memphis and much of the upper Mississippi Delta region. This region prefers to call itself the Mid-South, however, and I would personally extend that description to much of the eastern Arklatex.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

One would think that they don't appreciate what they really have in a state large and varied enough to be its own region.

According to the poll in the other thread, most Texans have no problem recognizing Texas as Texas while also realizing that part of their state might identify strongly with a subregion of our nation.

As far as this native Texan is concerned, the fact that Marshall reminds me more of where I used to live in Atlanta, GA than where I currently live in San Antonio speaks volumes as to how disjointed the subcultures and landscapes of Texas really are. Most of our state is not a real melting pot but more of a patchwork.

[Texyn]

Most people who use the "Texas is Texas" statement don't actually have a valid argument on that basis, but simply are using it as a cop-out.

[turf3]

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[soletaire]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Not hurt about it at all. Having been born, bred, and grown up in East Texas (my family on one side has been there since pre-Republic), I have a pretty good feel for the area. Like I said, as a little girl I dearly wanted Texas to be the Deep South, but I grew up and faced the reality that it just isn't, though East Texas bears some relationship while not being it, and that Texas is SO much more than that. As said above, Texas is, simply, Texas, far too complex to fit into either region entirely, our own personal preferences notwithstanding.

Yeah...yeah, I agree that Texas is Texas, and East Texas is the Deep South.