# Southern USA Dopers: Stand and be counted, please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315 "2006-08-04T13:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/161 "2006-08-09T21:34:29Z")
[QUOTE=jake1964] Hehe. According to every Damn Yankee Texan I ever met, the Panhandle is part of West Texas. They think Dallas is North Texas. Never seen a map, I guess. :rolleyes: Anyways, I’m Texan, By Gawd! Just north of Amarillo to be exact. 😉 [/QUOTE] Good to hear. Thanks. I should report that you’ve brought the total for Texas up to 36. (I had found another one in some thread searches since posting the summary.) That makes Texas the leader among Southern states at this point. Come on, Tennesseans! We’re stuck at 34. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/162 "2006-08-09T21:35:38Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] I see I’ve already been somehow registered. 🙂 Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. [/QUOTE] That is cool. I used to grow up in Montgomery (and Prattville). ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/163 "2006-08-09T23:54:18Z")
Since when is Maryland considered to be a southern state? It was not a member of the Confederacy. Having been reared in Baltimore, I never considered myself a southerner. Nor do I now, even after living in Florida for nearly 20 years. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/164 "2006-08-10T00:12:18Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] Since when is Maryland considered to be a southern state? It was not a member of the Confederacy. Having been reared in Baltimore, I never considered myself a southerner. Nor do I now, even after living in Florida for nearly 20 years. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things. [/QUOTE] A legitimate question. In the OP I tried to explain that I was leaving it to individual Dopers as to whether they thought of themselves and/or their state as being Southern. I also mentioned a book (there’s a link to the book back on page 1 or 2) I read some of at the dentist’s office recently where the authors labored over which states to include in their treatment of The South. They showed several variations from The Confederacy states to the broader group they eventually chose. That’s the list I posted. I also mentioned my own views on the states that qualify as The South, but chose not to stress my views. I hereby offer to remove from the summary file any Doper’s name who would rather not be there. After I had gone with the big list, I started looking through threads where the Location field looks legitimate and copying/pasting that data into the summary file to supplement the ones who had posted here. That’s how some of the names made the list. I can easily remove them if it’s an issue for you or anyone else. My main objective has been to get a feel for where The South fits in the overall Doper community. I had a similar thread going for non-USA Dopers that has been going well, so the notion of Southern USA Dopers came from that. See the OP for more details, along with other posts in the thread I have made. Hope this clarifies for you. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/165 "2006-08-10T00:59:34Z")
I do not live in the South. I grew up in Ohio (and spent three years in England). I lived in Austin, Texas and Sarasota, Florida for three years each, but those places are only borderline South. Check out this theory of what the South is (although Garreau decided to call it “Dixie” in his book): > **[The Nine Nations of North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Nations_of_North_America)** > > The Nine Nations of North America is a 1981 book by Joel Garreau, in which the author suggests that North America can be divided into nine nations, which have distinctive economic and cultural features. He also argues that conventional national and state borders are largely artificial and irrelevant, and that his "nations" provide a more accurate way of understanding the true nature of North American society. The work has been called "a classic text on the current regionalization of North America... Except for maybe a little piece of southern Maryland, Maryland is not in the South. Northern Virginia (i.e., anything within about fifty miles of Washington, D.C) is not in the South. The boundaries of the South are not consistent with state boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/166 "2006-08-10T01:07:52Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] The boundaries of the South are not consistent with state boundaries. [/QUOTE] That’s for darn sure. Miami is more like NYC mixed with Cuba, the Texas Rio Grande Valley is more like Mexico, Houston is a phenomenon all of its own, etc … ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/167 "2006-08-10T02:41:54Z")
Does it count that my official state of residence is Mississippi (i.e., I vote there, etc.) although I live in Australia, which is surely bout as southern as you can get without starting back up the planet? Rereading the OP, nevermind…51% of my time, no. It is my “official” US residence, though, and I was born & raised to young adulthood there. I own property, have a bank account, all that. (Its just easier that way, since I need to be able to quicky get home to take care of my Grandaddy if I have to.) Carry on, nothing to see here. (Though I really resent not being classed as Southern, since I am. Bah.) Cheers, G ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/168 "2006-08-10T02:56:04Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] I hereby offer to remove from the summary file any Doper’s name who would rather not be there. [/QUOTE] I prefer not to be listed. I have never posted my state here, and don’t intend to do so. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/169 "2006-08-10T06:04:15Z")
Houston here. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/170 "2006-08-10T06:56:44Z")
Another Florida doper here… been in Florida most of my life, and in Tallahassee for the past decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/171 "2006-08-10T07:09:07Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] I do not live in the South. I grew up in Ohio (and spent three years in England). I lived in Austin, Texas and Sarasota, Florida for three years each, but those places are only borderline South. Check out this theory of what the South is (although Garreau decided to call it “Dixie” in his book): > **[The Nine Nations of North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Nations_of_North_America)** > > The Nine Nations of North America is a 1981 book by Joel Garreau, in which the author suggests that North America can be divided into nine nations, which have distinctive economic and cultural features. He also argues that conventional national and state borders are largely artificial and irrelevant, and that his "nations" provide a more accurate way of understanding the true nature of North American society. The work has been called "a classic text on the current regionalization of North America... Except for maybe a little piece of southern Maryland, Maryland is not in the South. Northern Virginia (i.e., anything within about fifty miles of Washington, D.C) is not in the South. The boundaries of the South are not consistent with state boundaries. [/QUOTE] Quite right. I’ll never forget living in Baltimore, and people cheerfully telling me, “Oh, you’re still in the South!” Um, no. I don’t care how far below the Mason-Dixon line it is, or how Confederate or not it was, or if Poe croaked in the street somewhere, Baltimore is not Dixie. I don’t really get a Southern feeling until I hit the North Carolina state line. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/172 "2006-08-10T08:22:55Z")
Born in Ohio, moved to TN in 1987 at the age of 18, and now trying to escape. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/173 "2006-08-10T10:17:38Z")
[QUOTE=Gleena] Does it count that my official state of residence is Mississippi (i.e., I vote there, etc.) although I live in Australia, which is surely bout as southern as you can get without starting back up the planet? [/QUOTE] If you’d care to step [over here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7664530), **Gleena** , you’ll find a DoperList that will be _delighted_ to count you as a member, namely the **non-US-based Dopers**. That thread was also started by **Zeldar** , but he handed the reins over to me a few days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/174 "2006-08-10T11:16:41Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] I do not live in the South. I grew up in Ohio (and spent three years in England). I lived in Austin, Texas and Sarasota, Florida for three years each, but those places are only borderline South. Check out this theory of what the South is (although Garreau decided to call it “Dixie” in his book): > **[The Nine Nations of North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Nations_of_North_America)** > > The Nine Nations of North America is a 1981 book by Joel Garreau, in which the author suggests that North America can be divided into nine nations, which have distinctive economic and cultural features. He also argues that conventional national and state borders are largely artificial and irrelevant, and that his "nations" provide a more accurate way of understanding the true nature of North American society. The work has been called "a classic text on the current regionalization of North America... Except for maybe a little piece of southern Maryland, Maryland is not in the South. Northern Virginia (i.e., anything within about fifty miles of Washington, D.C) is not in the South. The boundaries of the South are not consistent with state boundaries. [/QUOTE] I have removed your name and data from the summary file. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/175 "2006-08-10T11:17:45Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] I prefer not to be listed. I have never posted my state here, and don’t intend to do so. Thanks. [/QUOTE] As you wish: I’ve removed your entry there. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/176 "2006-08-10T11:18:47Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Born in Ohio, moved to TN in 1987 at the age of 18, and now trying to escape. [/QUOTE] Does this mean you wish not to be counted among the Tennessee folks? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/177 "2006-08-10T11:21:41Z")
[QUOTE=yBeayf] Houston here. [/QUOTE] Gotcha ya. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/178 "2006-08-10T11:27:59Z")
[QUOTE=Monstre] Another Florida doper here… been in Florida most of my life, and in Tallahassee for the past decade or so. [/QUOTE] Added you. Thanks. Already had **monstro** from some thread searching but couldn’t be sure if the Vegetative state was anywhere special. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/179 "2006-08-10T11:31:46Z")
[QUOTE=Antonius Block] If you’d care to step [over here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7664530), **Gleena** , you’ll find a DoperList that will be _delighted_ to count you as a member, namely the **non-US-based Dopers**. That thread was also started by **Zeldar** , but he handed the reins over to me a few days ago. [/QUOTE] Absolutely, **Gleena** , that’s the place to be, I think. **Antonius Block** has done amazing work with that thread and its contents. Too bad you can’t be two places at once, though. Thanks for the comments. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315/180 "2006-08-10T11:35:00Z")
South Texas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-usa-dopers-stand-and-be-counted-please/367315.md?page=10)