Where does Virginia begin to feel ‘Southern’?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax absolutely was Southern (and had Southern accents) into the 1980s. When my husband went to Fairfax High School in the late 80s, it was still the Rebels and the mascot was "Johnny Reb." He said that there was a group of 4H-type country kids that they called the "hats" because of the way they wore their baseball hats on their heads. There was a specific Southern accent that you can still hear in some of the older residents of Fairfax City. Truro Church and Fairfax UMC for a long time still had some of the bow ties-and-seersucker crowd.

Now? Maybe Fredericksburg?

On the topic of accents, I grew up in the Richmond area and have mostly lost mine. A few years ago, I saw a video of myself from high school and was struck by how strong my accent was and now notice my family’s Southern accents. People used to automatically peg me as Southern, but it’s been at least a 15 years since I was last asked if was Southern. I’ve lived in serveral states and abroad since college, and I think my accent has faded as a result.

As someone who grew up in Richmond, I think the Souther vibe starts around Fredericksburg.

[Anonymous]

Outside the beltway. Same with Maryland, though I realize MD isn't southern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia as we all know like or not is Part of the south and yes Virginia Does feel southern. Where the “real Virginia actually starts is anything south of Fredricksburg, South Of prince William county, What’s funny about Virginia is that almost everything that represents the south comes from Virginia, sweet tea, Southern style BbQ has its origins in Virginia, Famous southern icons were born in Virginia. Let’s not forget the battle flag of the confederacy is actually the battle flag of Northern Virginia origins comes straight out of Fairfax, But yes Virginia is a southern state NoVa may not feel southern But it is just listen to there locals when they talk they don’t have a southern Drawl but a slight southern Accent, and yes Central Virginia still grows a lot of Tobacco , Southeastern Virginia Still grows a lot of cotton, western Virginia is Appalacha, we may not be backwoods. Just cause Virginia is not rual as the deep don’t mean it ain’t southern, even during civil war times Virginia was always more advanced then the rest of the south.

ChatGPT? Needs some work.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in fauquier and was taught in the 90s that “the war” was fought for economics reasons so yeah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax absolutely was Southern (and had Southern accents) into the 1980s. When my husband went to Fairfax High School in the late 80s, it was still the Rebels and the mascot was "Johnny Reb." He said that there was a group of 4H-type country kids that they called the "hats" because of the way they wore their baseball hats on their heads. There was a specific Southern accent that you can still hear in some of the older residents of Fairfax City. Truro Church and Fairfax UMC for a long time still had some of the bow ties-and-seersucker crowd.

Now? Maybe Fredericksburg?

On the topic of accents, I grew up in the Richmond area and have mostly lost mine. A few years ago, I saw a video of myself from high school and was struck by how strong my accent was and now notice my family’s Southern accents. People used to automatically peg me as Southern, but it’s been at least a 15 years since I was last asked if was Southern. I’ve lived in serveral states and abroad since college, and I think my accent has faded as a result.

As someone who grew up in Richmond, I think the Souther vibe starts around Fredericksburg.

I was born and raised in Richmond by native Richmonders. The only person in my extended family with a southern accent is my grandfather who was raised in rural VA, not Richmond, and my sister who moved to SC and desperately wants to be Southern.