Do you consider VA a southern state or an east coast state? (Roanoke: live, restaurant)

[sleeptodream138]

I live in southeast Virginia and I would consider VA both east coast and south. Hampton Roads feels very beach and resort until you get out of it and realize you're in the sticks. And NOVA is really progressive, I think, to the rest of the state. So, in my opinion, it's a mixed bag.

I would agree with the person who said it's east coast because of geography and southern because of its history. It's kind of an eclectic state.

[roanoker 4]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I remember visiting NoVA as a kid in the 60s and how Southern it seemed. You could get grits for breakfast anywhere. Living here the past 20 years it hasn't felt that way at all. Not sure you'll find much in the way of grits around here now.

I remember visiting Washington DC in the 60's, early 70's and Kentucky Fried Chicken was the top place to eat. In the last 20 years NoVa and DC have definately become more cosmopolitian with more a world class flair, Not southern at all, in my opinion. In 20 years the only remnant of "southerness" will be seen at Cracker Barrell chain restaurants.

[passo82]

Manassas is still somewhat southern. At least it was as of about 5 years ago. I grew up in FAirfax County and folks from Manassas or Loudon Co. were often considered redneck hillbillies. Of course the whole area has grown so much that alot of these old stereotypes probably don't apply any longer.

[CAVA1990]

Loudoun? not really anymore. Mannassas and the rest of PW County? probably still yes.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

Virginia is a purple state. With the increasing population of the Washington DC suburbs of Northern VA the state has become more progressive and diverse than other "southern" states. Generally the southern part of the state is more "southern" in its rural roots and more conservative with tons of Baptist churches. I still can't figure out how our new Governor McDonnell(the confederate history month dude) got elected. This state is unpredictable but VA is not ONE state such as a real southern state such as Alabama, Georgia. etc.

Virginia is a Southern state except in Northern Virginia, which is East Coast due to all the transplants. Most native Virginians have a lot of southern pride in their culture and heritage. Governor McDonnell got elected by the majority of Virginians who don't live in the DC area which many people accurately point out isn't really the real Virginia at all but sorta like a colony of New Jersey and New York. Just like the DC burbs in Maryland are not typical of Maryland if you ask someone from Baltimore or the Eastern Shore. The majority of liberals in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and practically most places outside of the urban Northeast and California are transplants or they are illegal immigrants. It makes sense what McDonnell did as Virginia was a Confederate state and Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, General Lee and Jackson were both from Virginia. Try going to Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville, and convince yourself its not southern. In fact I think Lynchburg and Danville felt more southern to me than Greensboro, Raleigh, Dallas or Houston which are filled with newcomers who do not adapt to the native cultures.

[solytaire]

Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70

Virginia is a Southern state except in Northern Virginia, which is East Coast due to all the transplants. Most native Virginians have a lot of southern pride in their culture and heritage. Governor McDonnell got elected by the majority of Virginians who don't live in the DC area which many people accurately point out isn't really the real Virginia at all but sorta like a colony of New Jersey and New York. Just like the DC burbs in Maryland are not typical of Maryland if you ask someone from Baltimore or the Eastern Shore. The majority of liberals in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and practically most places outside of the urban Northeast and California are transplants or they are illegal immigrants. It makes sense what McDonnell did as Virginia was a Confederate state and Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, General Lee and Jackson were both from Virginia. Try going to Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville, and convince yourself its not southern. In fact I think Lynchburg and Danville felt more southern to me than Greensboro, Raleigh, Dallas or Houston which are filled with newcomers who do not adapt to the native cultures.

This is true...Lynchburg, Dansville, Martinsville, and to a slightly lesser extent (due to its large student population) Charlottesville all feel very southern. And places like Amherst, still look and behave very much so like the old south. Richmond, Norfolk, VAB etc do look southern to an extent but dont actually feel southern at all. I consider Raleigh Durham to be a very southern city with east coast transplants and residents who kind of try to act more east coast than they are.

[PrinceTheo]

Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70

Virginia is a Southern state except in Northern Virginia, which is East Coast due to all the transplants. Most native Virginians have a lot of southern pride in their culture and heritage. Governor McDonnell got elected by the majority of Virginians who don't live in the DC area which many people accurately point out isn't really the real Virginia at all but sorta like a colony of New Jersey and New York. Just like the DC burbs in Maryland are not typical of Maryland if you ask someone from Baltimore or the Eastern Shore. The majority of liberals in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and practically most places outside of the urban Northeast and California are transplants or they are illegal immigrants. It makes sense what McDonnell did as Virginia was a Confederate state and Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, General Lee and Jackson were both from Virginia. Try going to Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville, and convince yourself its not southern. In fact I think Lynchburg and Danville felt more southern to me than Greensboro, Raleigh, Dallas or Houston w. Mhich are filled with newcomers who do not adapt to the native cultures.

McDonnell got elected by the majority of the state including Northern Virginia. He won Fairfax county.

[SDS94]

Depends on where you live obviously you wouldn't consider Northern Va southern nor would inner Richmond be considered southern. I live in Hampton Roads and quite frankly I'm tired of being compared to northern Va. besides from the military we are very much southern. We had a cross burning in Hampton not too long ago for Christ sakes. And geographically we are southeastern below Richmond and in the really southern regions you can't even tell where Va ends and where NC begins without some sort of notification.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by SDS94

Depends on where you live obviously you wouldn't consider Northern Va southern nor would inner Richmond be considered southern. I live in Hampton Roads and quite frankly I'm tired of being compared to northern Va. besides from the military we are very much southern. We had a cross burning in Hampton not too long ago for Christ sakes. And geographically we are southeastern below Richmond and in the really southern regions you can't even tell where Va ends and where NC begins without some sort of notification.

Now there's something to be proud of. Things like that make me feel it's unfortunate Sherman didn't do a more thorough job.

[Aspe4]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

Hmm... so the "East Coast" doesn't include the Carolinas and Georgia? (This has always bugged me - a lot of people use "East Coast" to mean "Northeast.")

BTW, I hate NoVA and I live here. I pore over maps of ROVA and sigh with jealousy... all that space, all those cute historic towns... Oh well, I'd better get back to making an attempt to "bloom where I'm planted."

Just noticed that you said "Geographically, there's nothing "Southern" about you guys." So - touching the Atlantic precludes Southern-ness? Again, what about the Carolinas and Georgia? Bad City Data, no geography gold star for you.

Honestly, I need to start spending less time on C-D.. I'm tired of reading threads that go something like,

"Drrr."

"Drrr? No, drr, drrrr drrrr!"

"Drr drrrr?"

"Drr Drrr DUM drr dum."

*sigh*

+1 LOL. That's so funny.

Anyhoo, I consider Virginia to be a Southern state but I was born and raised in Southern Virginia but I lived in the DC area for ten years. The culture and the accents are what make Virginia a Southern state. Most people traditionally associate the South with rural agrarian economies so it's hard to view any urban area as Southern, especially a city like Atlanta that's in the Deep South. So you see Virginia's "Southerness" more in its rural areas and small towns. A friend of mine says that you're in the South if the restaurants serve ice tea.