Friend I know from Louisiana

[Bluegrass79]

Kentucky is truly a border state. When I worked in Detroit between my junior and senior highschool year I was teased about my Southern accent an Southern ways. When I moved to Huntsville,Al after college some thought I had a Northern accent.

Yeah Ohio people are the same way. Luckily they're not very good fighters. I used to whoop up on them Ohio kids all the time. every time they said something about my accent they got a fist. Between 1st and 6th grade before I left and came back to Kentucky I was suspended six times for fighting. Lol. Every damn time it was my accent.
Don't let it slide ever. Stick em in the mouth.

 

[Littlefeller]

I’m just me from Green Co

 

[nerdcat]

When he sees how nice people of Kentucky are, he will naturally assume South.

Yeah, as long as you’re white.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Ky was not officially in the Confederate States of America Pact. Ky was simply a pass through state. Tennessee and Virginia were the northernmost states in the CSA. KY was a border state.

We were on the original Le Petomane freeway.

 

[Hjack]

Yeah, as long as you’re white.

If the shoe fits......

 

[Ugoff]

I live in that little tip of the state up north someone mentioned previously and it has a distinctly Midwestern flavor, due in large part to the number of Ohioans who have made their way across the river to live here (I brought one over myself). If I drive 45 minutes upriver to my old stamping ground, or even 10 minutes down the AA highway it gets distinctly more Southern.

As far as Civil war vets go I have 3 2nd great grandfathers who enlisted...2 Union: 1 in the 9th KY Cavalry, the other a farrier in the 10th. Plus 1 confederate in the Ky 9th. Also several extended family on both sides including some members of Morgan's raiders and a Union surgeon in the 16th Ky Infantry named Frederick Maximus Taylor who set up shop as a physician in Boyd County after the war. It's quite a mix from both sides, even this far north.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Lexington seems to have a big mix of everything. I was born and raised here, but I’ve always related to the Midwest more than anything.

Anything West of the Allegheny Mtns is ok w me.

 

[UKat51]

I'm well aware. But we are still on the flag due to having a CSA government. It was a ''shadow'' government but was officially recognized by the Confederate congress. One of its governors died at Shiloh. One of his friends who joined the US army found his body on the field and he died on a hospital ship.

You are correct. Missouri and Kentucky had dual government structures. Only 11 states seceded originally Missouri and Kentucky added after the war started. Ky originally had voted for neutrality

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I live in that little tip of the state up north someone mentioned previously and it has a distinctly Midwestern flavor, due in large part to the number of Ohioans who have made their way across the river to live here (I brought one over myself). If I drive 45 minutes upriver to my old stamping ground, or even 10 minutes down the AA highway it gets distinctly more Southern.

As far as Civil war vets go I have 3 2nd great grandfathers who enlisted...2 Union: 1 in the 9th KY Cavalry, the other a farrier in the 10th. Plus 1 confederate in the Ky 9th. Also several extended family on both sides including some members of Morgan's raiders and a Union surgeon in the 16th Ky Infantry named Frederick Maximus Taylor who set up shop as a physician in Boyd County after the war. It's quite a mix from both sides, even this far north.

That’s a great breakdown of your ancestry! Mad respect. 👊🏻

 

[sambowieshin]

Ky is really kind of unique in its geographical, social and cultural makeup.
Those who beat their chests that it's a southern state aren't completely wrong but they aren't completely right either. Depends on where you live.
Louisville and Northern Ky are definitely much more midwestern.
The mountain areas of eastern Kentucky are more "Appalachian" than southern.
Border counties near Tennessee are definitely more southern.
The President of the Confederacy was born in Ky.... But so was the President of the United States.
Kentucky is a fantastic mix of many cultures that make our country and state great. It's a Commonwealth.

 

[Ugoff]

That’s a great breakdown of your ancestry! Mad respect. 👊🏻

Thanks, its been a decade+ obsession!

 

[Rockfly78]

Has he listened to us talk?

 

[Pickle_Rick]

No dandelion wine, sun tea, fried green tomatoes, sausage gravy, or fried catfish you ripped from the river yesterday? For shame. Southern card revoked. 🤣

Lucky man. Damn squirrels pilfered all our tomatoes this year and the tree rats were smart enough to be trap shy.

I was cussin' a blue streak after the tree rats at my tomatoes, then started digging up my potatoes!! Bastards even took a few nips of my okra!

 

[Perrin75]

In all honesty those Southern vs. Northern distinctions aren't as prominent as they once were. It is really more of an urban vs rural distinction now. I can guarantee that a person from Kentucky could travel into the rural parts of Ohio, New York or Pennsylvania, and it would feel just like home.

If I was going to place any specific cultural distinction around Kentucky, I would almost separate it between two regions. Appalachia, which extends from Maine to Arkansas and no matter which state you visit, it still has a very distinct look and feel. The second area would be the River Towns, which covers the main transportations Rivers of the East Coast like the Ohio and the Mississippi. Just like Louisville is very different culturally from Eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati and Memphis are very different from the rest of their states. I believe most people in Ohio don't even claim Cincinnati as part of the state.

 

[Creed Bratton]

I've had people from Alabama call people from TN, NC, and VA ''yankees.'' Deep southerners aren't really the ones to ask about southern states. To them the south is 5 states. AL, MS, LA, SC, GA.


P.S. all my ancestral family is from GA, TN, NC, and VA.

Was Florida just cut off from consideration?

 

[Creed Bratton]

Kentucky is truly a border state. When I worked in Detroit between my junior and senior highschool year I was teased about my Southern accent an Southern ways. When I moved to Huntsville,Al after college some thought I had a Northern accent.

My daughter works in Memphis and gets teased about her southern accent all the time. I'm like WTH they are farther south than where you are from.

 

[katwest]

Kentucky has been southern since 1792. As the first southern state admitted after the independence of America, Kentucky has been southern long before the Louisiana Purchase welcomed eight out of 13 southern states. In addition to its longevity, both the president of the Confederate States and the United States during the civil war came from Kentucky…born 100 miles or so apart. A state’s relationship with the south during the time of the Civil War is really the determining factor of its legitimacy within the region. Kentucky straddled the fence during the War Between The States— wanting to remain one nation but maintain the institution of slavery too. After emancipation, Kentucky took on a more fervently southern identity. It clings to the “Just Cause” propaganda that is still taught in Kentucky Schools. Kentucky erected so many confederate statues it would be a wonder if any Kentuckian has ever seen a Union monument. It’s not uncommon for Kentucky folks to be able to look in their backyards and around their neighborhoods and be in a Civil War battleground or confederate grave yard. Now, what Northerner or Midwesterner can say the same? If you really want to make a southerner mad, call him or her a Yankee.

 

[tvillian42]

Wife is from Lafayette in Christian County and I'm from Tompkinsville in Monroe County. If you watched the SEC network and saw the episode on True South you know what I'm talking about. Ain't no yankee's in this household.

Heck ya Tville

 

[The-Hack]

Border state means Southern states that didnt join the confederacy lol

Border states are Southern States that border the mid-west/North.

 

[The-Hack]

Yeah, as long as you’re white.

Actually, I think Black people are friendlier in the South, too.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

We're a unique state as those from the western part are different than the ones from the northern and eastern parts of the state. Even rooting interest is different in the state for pro sports teams.

I just see us as the most northern southern state.

 

[BleedBlue08]

Hell, just look at how we eat. If it can be fried, we'll eat it, whatever "it" is. I'd say that alone qualifies us as southerners.

Have you been to Chicago? Those folks can eat greasy fried food with the best of them!

I'd consider Kentucky similar to other states that border a bunch of different states with different micro-cultures. The East of Kentucky is very mountain Appalachian culture (which it shares with West Virginia, western Virginia, East Tennessee and western North Carolina (even north Georgia). Central northern Kentucky feels more midwestern due to its proximity to Ohio and Indiana. Central southern Kentucky feels very Southern to me, but not deep South. Its own version of Southern where the people are the nicest and not fake about it. Western Kentucky feels very plains/deep south to me given its proximity to the Mississippi River and bordering Missouri and Tennessee.

There's no one culture to a geographically longer state like KY that touches so many other states. I'd consider it its own melting pot, FWIW.

Context: I am originally from Tennessee, but have lived in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, California and Europe. What I can say is that I find Kentucky people to be very straight forward, caring and kind and not fake.

 

[Ugoff]

Kentucky has been southern since 1792. As the first southern state admitted after the independence of America, Kentucky has been southern long before the Louisiana Purchase welcomed eight out of 13 southern states. In addition to its longevity, both the president of the Confederate States and the United States during the civil war came from Kentucky…born 100 miles or so apart. A state’s relationship with the south during the time of the Civil War is really the determining factor of its legitimacy within the region. Kentucky straddled the fence during the War Between The States— wanting to remain one nation but maintain the institution of slavery too. After emancipation, Kentucky took on a more fervently southern identity. It clings to the “Just Cause” propaganda that is still taught in Kentucky Schools. Kentucky erected so many confederate statues it would be a wonder if any Kentuckian has ever seen a Union monument. It’s not uncommon for Kentucky folks to be able to look in their backyards and around their neighborhoods and be in a Civil War battleground or confederate grave yard. Now, what Northerner or Midwesterner can say the same? If you really want to make a southerner mad, call him or her a Yankee.

Actually there is a large Union monument in front of the Vanceburg courthouse and another in the Maysville cemetery.

 

[Freetaxreturn]

In case you don't know, people from Louisiana think they are the only southerners.

Easy now 🍺

 

[sambowieshin]

Ky sent more troops to the Union army than to the Confederacy but has more Confederate than Union monuments.
I don't think any other "southern" state can make that claim.
Ky is very unique.
We even see it politically today. A deep red Republican state legislature but a Democrat governor.... Mostly because the previous governor was a carpetbagging Yankee. 😂

List of Civil War Monuments of Kentucky

This is a list of the 61 American Civil War monuments in Kentucky that were added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1997, as a result of a Multiple Property Submission (MPS). Although Kentucky produced more Union troops than Confederate troops (75,000 compared to 50,000)...

military-history.fandom.com

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

I've been called a "yankee" from someone from South Carolina before. I just laughed and informed him; I was from Kentucky. Thing is you can find the southern cross flying all throughout Indiana, so apparently a lot of them view themselves as southern. In a sense, it's less about being a southerner or northerner today, than it is about being a rural person or an urban person. I suspect a farmer from Illinois has more in common with a rancher from Texas, than he would from a person from Chicago.

 

[littlecreek]

I'm well aware. But we are still on the flag due to having a CSA government. It was a ''shadow'' government but was officially recognized by the Confederate congress. One of its governors died at Shiloh. One of his friends who joined the US army found his body on the field and he died on a hospital ship.

Bowling Green was the Confederate capital of Kentucky. Our governor was pro Confederate while the state legislature was pro Union. Kentucky was deeply divided. Abe Lincoln’s brothers-in-law we’re Confederate officers. Ironically, my county, Metcalfe, was pro south in the northern part of the county and pro north in the southern part of the county, likely due to agriculture being bigger in the north and western part of the county.

 

[Freetaxreturn]

Bowling Green was the Confederate capital of Kentucky. Our governor was pro Confederate while the state legislature was pro Union. Kentucky was deeply divided. Abe Lincoln’s brothers-in-law we’re Confederate officers. Ironically, my county, Metcalfe, was pro south in the northern part of the county and pro north in the southern part of the county, likely due to agriculture being bigger in the north and western part of the county.

And the President of the Confederacy was from Kentucky so that seals the deal, Kentucky is south and confederate 🍺🍺🍺🍺

 

[westerncat]

I am from Western part of the state and I can tell you I am as southern as as anyone in the deep south. When I joined the Air Force I was sent to Japan with 6 other guys . The first day we was there we was introduced to the squadron. They wanted us to say our name and age so they could guess where in the states we were from. I only got my name out and they all said KY or Tenn. Did not realize I had a Southern accent. The women loved it.

 

[WyleECoyote]

We aren’t any of it. We are more southern than northerners and more northern than southerners. I feel like we’re a mix of Midwest and south

We're hill people. Appalachian.

 

[LincolnBlue]

Lexington seems to have a big mix of everything. I was born and raised here, but I’ve always related to the Midwest more than anything.

Same for me. I'm a native Lexingtonian and I don't feel particularly southern. I knew a few people growing up that strongly identified as southern, but by-and-large it's the same kind of culture you'd find in many moderately sized Midwestern cities.

 

[YardCat]

I lived south of New Orleans in Belle Chasse and all I ever heard was your Southern if you live South of I-10. Crazy people, but Good people.

 

[JonathanW]

When I was in high school in the 80's, there was an interesting article in the Courier Journal titled "Is Kentucky Southern?". It looked at lots of factors. The conclusion, was that KY is both Southern and Mid-Western. That the dividing line splits Kentucky, most of it (sq. miles) being Southern, but the majority (population) being Mid-Western. The industrial river cities (Louisville, Florence, Owensboro) are Mid-Western. I believe Lexington was barely on the Southern side.

I grew up in South-Central KY (south of Bowling Green), definitely a Southern region. Even our TV and radio stations mostly came from Nashville. Where as my (ex)-wife came from North-Eastern KY, which was more Mid-Western even though in Appalachia. For example they say "pop" instead of "coke".

 

[Catapult]

Was born in Georgia but grew up in Paducah. While my brother was working in New York, I went there for summer jobs twice. People there thought I had a southern accent. Told them that meant they didn't know what a true southern accent was. I told them my Georgia relatives thought I had a northern accent. I do consider Kentucky to be part of the south.

 

[littlecreek]

My and my wife’s accent caused people in Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee that we’ve came in contact with on vacation to believe we are Southern.

 

[sosoblue]

Kentucky is the beginning of the South. Different feel as soon as you cross the Ohio river.

I live in Michigan. I know what North feels like and Kentucky ain’t it.

And the beginning of the North. If you travel from Michigan to Florida and once you enter into Kentucky it's more sunnier and it feels like you stepping into a new region or the South. But if you travel North from Florida to Michigan and you enter into Kentucky it feels like you are closer to the North and the feel of Midwest is in the air.

 

[Rockford]

You can get Sweet Tea in restaurants in Kentucky.

That's Southern.

Next question.

 

[RunninRichie]

Was Florida just cut off from consideration?

They only consider the panhandle really.

 

[Cobb4uk]

People North of the Ohio River don't know what Black Eyed Peas are, 90% or more in KY do, there's your difference. If you want to learn more history about the Civil War look up the nearest SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans), that group has bountiful volumes of info. Also they will usually help you with genealogy of your relatives. GoogleGoogle

 

[Kommonwealth]

I say decidedly Southern for most of the state. Take the Civil War out of it. Thats a generic marker but plenty of places in other confederate states did not support the confederacy. Even Alabama and certainly TN has plenty of counties vote against secession.

When I hear that question I figure someone means culturally speaking. So, yes our culture follows traditional southern values, strong church attendance, all the food, sports, and just way of life. Statistically speaking we are considered with other southern states and there is an accent in the typical KY resident (at least out in the state).

Im not from KY, but from SC and have family in NC and have lived in a few other states. KY is Upper South has some have mentioned and its different than those who live in Jackson, MS or Dothan, AL or even my hometown in SC. But it doesnt mean its not southern. Appalachian people are just different than the coastal plains folks.

If Im seprating the state though, I'd say Louisville is a mix of everything but more midwestern than southern, Lexington is more southern than midwestern and is a your modern day southern city, NKY is certainly greater Cincinnati and more midwestern. Eastern KY is Appalachia Southern and really no different than my family in the NC hills. Southern KY steeming from Corbin/Somerset all the way to Benton, Murray, etc. is 100% Southern. Western KY is 100% southern...even Owensboro being a crow hop from Indiana is very similar to my SC hometown....I'll say the entire Central Time Zone is 100% southern.....there is a pretty stark difference in those who live headed towards Western KY and say folks in Maysville or that North Central kY area. In my opinion they are southern but different than the rest, more like a regular country folk.

Not to mention that the further west and south you head in the state you see more of the naturally growing bermudagrass and pine trees than you do in other parts of the state.