How “southern” is Kentucky compared to VA or NC? (Richmond: transplants, home)

[lilysroses]

My parents are both from Morehead, KY but moved to NJ and then to VA (where I was raised). I’ve spent a lot of time visiting KY and it seems like just about everyone in/around Morehead has a strong southern (Appalachian?) accent. However, I’ve browsed a bunch of forums and apparently KY is more of a “neutral” state and VA is considered more “southern.” In terms of accent and progressiveness, I’d assume VA is much less southern. I can count on one hand the amount of southern accents I’ve heard while living here (central Richmond area) for 14 years.
I’m also wondering about NC. I was there for a few months and didn’t encounter ANY southern accents. They all sounded like pretty standard american, just like in VA...this was in Raleigh and Durham.

What is the consensus here?

[nalabama]

I think you’ve pretty much nailed it. I’m familiar with all three states and find Kentucky far and away the most southern of the three states.

[Deerhound]

Kentucky people have more class than Virginia or North Carolina residents. Crack is BIG on Virginia. Kentucky is more level than Va or NC. It's more family friendly than VA and N.C. Virginia does have some better historical and vacation spots but I feel Kentucky as being a better living area.

[marino760]

I purchased my retirement home in Maysville on the KY side of the Ohio River. One might think being next to Ohio, Southern accents would fade away but that's not the case at all. I dare say at least 95% of the people there have Southern accents much to my delight. I truly enjoy the hospitality, slower pace of life and overall culture. It's like a breath of fresh air compared to where I'm from.
When looking for a home, I also considered Carlisle and met with a local realtor who showed me some properties. When I asked her to tell me a little bit about her lovely town, she proudly told me in her strong Southern accent, they are Southerners.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Kentucky is a different kind of Southern than the Deep South. It feels more like Southern Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri than Louisiana, Mississippi, and cotton regions of Georgia and South Carolina.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

Kentucky is a different kind of Southern than the Deep South. It feels more like Southern Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri than Louisiana, Mississippi, and cotton regions of Georgia and South Carolina.

I think it's fair to say Southern Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri feels more like KY then vice versa since those states surround KY to the north and west. Whatever Southerness those states have, they have because they border KY before going into the heart of the Midwest and totally leaving the South.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by marino760

I think it's fair to say Southern Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri feels more like KY then vice versa since those states surround KY to the north and west. Whatever Southerness those states have, they have because they border KY before going into the heart of the Midwest and totally leaving the South.

I agree. the Southern 3rd of Ohio and Indiana are basicly the remnants of the Appalachian Mountains. There are alot of people in the Southern 3rd of Ohio and Indiana with roots from that part of Kentucky and Tennessee. There's also lots of people in the factory towns of East Central Indiana with deep family roots from Tennessee and Kentucky.

[KY_Transplant]

Kentucky is significantly more Southern in cultural terms than Virginia and soon,North Carolina. One of the reasons Kentucky is debated as a Southern state is the fact it did not Secede from the country during the Civil War, but this is an archaic way to look at what is “Southern” in the 21st century. Florida seceded from the Union but Florida is hardly Southern in 2021 as it was hardly Southern in 1865 when it was largely uninhabited.

Kentucky has been impacted less by transplants from other areas of the country and with it being more inland compared to NC and VA, has had less impact from tourism. One will find that KY is Southern in speech, culture, cuisine and slightly warmer than its Midwestern and Eastern neighbors.

The only area of KY that may not be Southern to most is extreme Northern Kentucky, basically the suburbs of Cincinnati which include Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. However, ask a Northern Ohioan if they think Cincinnati is Midwestern and you will get an earful lol.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by KY_Transplant

Kentucky is significantly more Southern in cultural terms than Virginia and soon,North Carolina. One of the reasons Kentucky is debated as a Southern state is the fact it did not Secede from the country during the Civil War, but this is an archaic way to look at what is “Southern” in the 21st century. Florida seceded from the Union but Florida is hardly Southern in 2021 as it was hardly Southern in 1865 when it was largely uninhabited.

Kentucky has been impacted less by transplants from other areas of the country and with it being more inland compared to NC and VA, has had less impact from tourism. One will find that KY is Southern in speech, culture, cuisine and slightly warmer than its Midwestern and Eastern neighbors.

The only area of KY that may not be Southern to most is extreme Northern Kentucky, basically the suburbs of Cincinnati which include Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. However, ask a Northern Ohioan if they think Cincinnati is Midwestern and you will get an earful lol.

Funny thing about those 3 counties in northern most KY just south of Cincinnati is from what I've heard too, if you ask someone from northern Ohio about Cincinnati, many will tell you Cincinnati is more like of an extension of KY and doesn't feel like Ohio at all. If you ask someone from KY, many may tell you those 3 counties are an extension of Ohio into KY.
Another funny thing is that Cincinnati airport which a a pretty big international airport is in KY. I flew into it once and was surprised that when landing, no one ever mentions they are actually landing in KY not in Ohio, like they really don't want you to know lol.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by KY_Transplant

Kentucky is significantly more Southern in cultural terms than Virginia and soon,North Carolina. One of the reasons Kentucky is debated as a Southern state is the fact it did not Secede from the country during the Civil War, but this is an archaic way to look at what is “Southern” in the 21st century. Florida seceded from the Union but Florida is hardly Southern in 2021 as it was hardly Southern in 1865 when it was largely uninhabited.

Kentucky has been impacted less by transplants from other areas of the country and with it being more inland compared to NC and VA, has had less impact from tourism. One will find that KY is Southern in speech, culture, cuisine and slightly warmer than its Midwestern and Eastern neighbors.

The only area of KY that may not be Southern to most is extreme Northern Kentucky, basically the suburbs of Cincinnati which include Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. However, ask a Northern Ohioan if they think Cincinnati is Midwestern and you will get an earful lol.

Agreed.

KY has not had the population booms from the larger cities like Raleigh, NoVA, Tidewater, etc. That has left much more of its original culture intact.

With that said, the vast geographical majority of even Virginia is Southern in culture. The “issue” is that very few people live in those areas compared to northern VA, Richmond, and Tidewater VA.