Southern accents in Virginia (Norfolk, Chesapeake: areas, cities, counties)

[JayJayCB]

Heading north through Virginia, what is the last area where southern accents are prominent? Be as specific as you want, name any counties or towns.

[CurseOfWilmore]

Can't really tell you how far North the Southern Accent goes, but I would classify Buchanan, Tazewell, Dickenson, Wise, and Russell counties in the far Western part of the state as a Appalachian-Hillbilly dialect.

[Charlesaf3]

Petersburg heading north, which is almost North Carolina. You do get Appalachian accents in the west. Virginia never really had much of a southern accent, there was a uniquely virginia accent, but its dying out.

[Serenity2019]

I grew up there , and you can find a distinct unique southern accent on the Southside of Tidewater, particularly Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Va. Beach. People from the Eastern Shore have a distinct southern accent too. I don't know all the cities and towns heading north, but i bet all around Richmond you get the slight southern accent, and then when you go up to Fairfax area it's like another state. No southern nothing.

[JayJayCB]

Originally Posted by Charlesaf3

Petersburg heading north, which is almost North Carolina. You do get Appalachian accents in the west. Virginia never really had much of a southern accent, there was a uniquely virginia accent, but its dying out.

So you mean Petersburg and the areas to the south are more similar to North Carolina? If that's the case, I'll agree that towns such as Petersburg, Franklin, Emporia, South Hill, Farmville, South Boston, Danville, and Martinsville feel a bit more like towns you'd find in North Carolina. Also, this area is known as the "Tobacco Belt."

[citydweller]

I would agree with your above statement. I have been to Petersburg, Franklin and Emporia and it feels pretty southern to me.

[JayJayCB]

Originally Posted by citydweller

I would agree with your above statement. I have been to Petersburg, Franklin and Emporia and it feels pretty southern to me.

It seems like there is quite a difference between the towns north of Richmond and the towns to the south. NOVA is in a different league by itself, but towns like Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Culpeper seem quite different from towns like Petersburg, Danville, and Emporia.

[LNKNE-ADJ]

Without question the most stereotypically southern accent is probably in Southwestern Virginia and that doesn't include Roanoke. When you think SWVA think Wytheville and west. The accents you hear in this area are remarkably thick. Granted they are technically "Appalchian Southern" accents as opposed to a more debutant southern accent heard deeper in the south...they are still unquestionably thick and unquestionably southern. I still recall the first time I travelled to a small coal town in extreme southwest Virginia called Grundy. Literally the thickest accents I've ever heard. And I travel ALL over the south for my job....I couldn't understand these people, lol.

[JayJayCB]

Originally Posted by LNKNE-ADJ

Without question the most stereotypically southern accent is probably in Southwestern Virginia and that doesn't include Roanoke. When you think SWVA think Wytheville and west. The accents you hear in this area are remarkably thick. Granted they are technically "Appalchian Southern" accents as opposed to a more debutant southern accent heard deeper in the south...they are still unquestionably thick and unquestionably southern. I still recall the first time I travelled to a small coal town in extreme southwest Virginia called Grundy. Literally the thickest accents I've ever heard. And I travel ALL over the south for my job....I couldn't understand these people, lol.

I bet those accents are probably similar to many accents you'll hear in western North Carolina, east Tennessee, east Kentucky, and southern West Virginia, also. I imagine these accents are not too dissimilar, and I believe north Georgia accents are pretty similar to western NC accents.

[JayJayCB]

I'm still curious to find the last area going north through Virginia where southern accents are prominent, maybe Fredericksburg? Or, maybe you find a specific Virginia accent throughout the whole state.