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I think sometimes we need to make a distinction between "physically rural" and "shared rural American culture."
Physically rural areas exist all over the country. For example, I can drive ten minutes in most directions and be in farmland. Does anybody here think that those areas, or the people that live in them, are southern? Of course not (I'm in Michigan.) About the only difference I notice is that they get more snow days in the winter.
However, there is a relatively recent development of what I'll call "shared rural American culture." I think it's propagated by country music and closely associated cultural activities (such as cowboy and/or camo gear, NASCAR, or maybe even towns coming together for high school football games.) Those ideals are heavily influenced by southern culture, even in areas and individuals that are not in the South. Not all rural people or Southerners for that matter subscribe to this culture, and there are many northern suburbanites who do. So I think that's where the whole idea that "rural = southern" comes from.
Well said -- I think that's a very astute observation. It does seem that there is a trend across the country for rural residents to play up their "ruralness" to the point of exagerration, which is expressed in habits and activities stereotypically associated with the South (i.e., listening to country music, NASCAR watching, etc.).
At one time the rural-areas did have more in the way of non-country music. Like when I was a kid in the eighties you had John Cougar Mellencamp, he still had the Cougar in there then, singing about small towns and pink houses and all. And there was other of what's called "Heartland Rock." In fact the kids in my little town mostly didn't care for country music back then. (Although many of them/us were into more urban styles of Rock like the British New Wave or what have you)
For whatever reason that bubble burst a little and country music got big. Some of it also started sounding like Boogie or old Rock&Roll. Granted those things are also of largely Southern origin.
Still I would say that not only is much of rural America not Southern but also you can likely still find rural American places that dislike Southern accents and the like. The Dakotas, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, and Vermont are listed by the census as among the most rural states in the nation. Even the people in those states that watch NASCAR and like country music may not really identify with the South.
At one time the rural-areas did have more in the way of non-country music. Like when I was a kid in the eighties you had John Cougar Mellencamp, he still had the Cougar in there then, singing about small towns and pink houses and all. And there was other of what's called "Heartland Rock." In fact the kids in my little town mostly didn't care for country music back then. (Although many of them/us were into more urban styles of Rock like the British New Wave or what have you)
For whatever reason that bubble burst a little and country music got big. Some of it also started sounding like Boogie or old Rock&Roll. Granted those things are also of largely Southern origin.
Before that there was Southern Rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd sp?) which was hardly "country". I'm sure there were other bands, but that was before my time.
Well said -- I think that's a very astute observation. It does seem that there is a trend across the country for rural residents to play up their "ruralness" to the point of exagerration, which is expressed in habits and activities stereotypically associated with the South (i.e., listening to country music, NASCAR watching, etc.).
Country music is the number one genre, by number of radio stations. It's highly popular regardless of where one lives.
Not only doesn't rural = southern but southern doesn't = redneck.
This happen on these forums a lot too. The city of Alpharetta GA "a suburb of Atlanta" was brought in a thread, and a northeast poster assumed we say "Alpharetter" WTF, in a southern accent people change "er" to "a" not "a" to "er" for instance there's a Decatur but it's common in Atlanta to say "Decatta" again "er" to "a" not "a" to "er". Alpharetta already ends with a "a" so people pronounce it as is.
First thing I saw when I click in to the page, was a big rebel flag, well to most southern that not being southerners that being a redneck.
I think sometimes we need to make a distinction between "physically rural" and "shared rural American culture."
Physically rural areas exist all over the country. For example, I can drive ten minutes in most directions and be in farmland. Does anybody here think that those areas, or the people that live in them, are southern? Of course not (I'm in Michigan.) About the only difference I notice is that they get more snow days in the winter.
However, there is a relatively recent development of what I'll call "shared rural American culture." I think it's propagated by country music and closely associated cultural activities (such as cowboy and/or camo gear, NASCAR, or maybe even towns coming together for high school football games.) Those ideals are heavily influenced by southern culture, even in areas and individuals that are not in the South. Not all rural people or Southerners for that matter subscribe to this culture, and there are many northern suburbanites who do. So I think that's where the whole idea that "rural = southern" comes from.
Great observation (+1). To answer your question I've bolded above, some folks on CD seem to feel the answer would be "yes" based on what I've been reading. New Hampshire has a NASCAR race and Houston has a great opera company. Neither fact changes their regional character, though it does seem hard for some here to grasp that.
Short answer, No. Until the mid 20th century, the population of the South was primarily rural, but no more. The Midwest is sometimes equated with ruralness, too, but it has had longstanding, established urban centers for over 100 years. All other regions of the US have huge areas of rural landscape, but no way are they Southern (except maybe Bakersfield, CA. )
yea all rural areas of every state tend to be about the same, devoutly christian, republican, lacking in diversity, not quite as much higher education, people tend to be a little more close minded ect ect. I live in a rural area and it sucks so I kinda have some close experience with country people. "not that those a bad things, just often true" Definately not judging anyone. Some people love it, but its not for me.
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