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Kentucky is an odd place, culturally speaking. I've lived and worked all over Kentucky (and the deep south--mostly Georgia) and I see it as being four different states culturally / geographically.
1) The triangle of Louisville, Covington, and Lexington is the bluegrass region. It's relatively upscale (compared to most of Kentucky), urban, and bent toward an odd mix of agriculture and commerce. I would not call it, culturally, southern.
2) Out east, say from Estill county to the border, is Appalachia. Mountain folk, their attitudes built by their rugged surroundings. Appalachian culture is completely distinct from southern culture. There was no antebellum period in, say, Pike County's history.
3) West Ky (where I currently live) feels like an offshoot of southern Indiana. The topography is totally different from the rest of the country (Corn, soybeans, and flat fields as far as the eye can see). Even the accents are a kind of nasal Southern Illinois accent.
4) The Cumberland Gap region (south central Kentucky) is part of southern culture. The lakes and rivers, the food, the speech, the general feel of the culture are all southern.
There you have it. Kentucky, one of the most culturally diverse states in the union.
Very good analysis, except that as a western KY native (Union County) now living in Evansville, I can assure you that most of us would strongly disagree with the characterization that we are like southern IN. The topography of the river counties near Evansville (Union, Henderson, and Daviess) do have a midwestern look but culturally are quite different than Evansville. Growing up and even to this day, there has always been a strong IN/KY rivalry in my part of the world. There's a HUGE difference when you cross the Ohio River. Western Ky BBQ is just another example,Kentucky is an odd place, culturally speaking. I've lived and worked all over Kentucky (and the deep south--mostly Georgia) and I see it as being four different states culturally / geographically.
1) The triangle of Louisville, Covington, and Lexington is the bluegrass region. It's relatively upscale (compared to most of Kentucky), urban, and bent toward an odd mix of agriculture and commerce. I would not call it, culturally, southern.
2) Out east, say from Estill county to the border, is Appalachia. Mountain folk, their attitudes built by their rugged surroundings. Appalachian culture is completely distinct from southern culture. There was no antebellum period in, say, Pike County's history.
3) West Ky (where I currently live) feels like an offshoot of southern Indiana. The topography is totally different from the rest of the country (Corn, soybeans, and flat fields as far as the eye can see). Even the accents are a kind of nasal Southern Illinois accent.
4) The Cumberland Gap region (south central Kentucky) is part of southern culture. The lakes and rivers, the food, the speech, the general feel of the culture are all southern.
There you have it. Kentucky, one of the most culturally diverse states in the union.
divert the Ohio river to flow the path of what is the Gene Snyder Freeway and then maybe all of KY would be southern... be a good start.
But KY is definitely a predominantly Southern state and for myself damn proud of it.
Very good analysis, except that as a western KY native (Union County) now living in Evansville, I can assure you that most of us would strongly disagree with the characterization that we are like southern IN. The topography of the river counties near Evansville (Union, Henderson, and Daviess) do have a midwestern look but culturally are quite different than Evansville. Growing up and even to this day, there has always been a strong IN/KY rivalry in my part of the world. There's a HUGE difference when you cross the Ohio River. Western Ky BBQ is just another example,
The southern part of west Ky (Hopkinsville, Mayfield etc) definitely have a southern feel to them. You'll definitely hear some authentic southern accents in those areas.
I Like Lex and it's not Southern culturally at all. Transplants. Liberal, openly G(r)ay Mayor. UK.What's the big deal with being Southern? Who GAF?!
Very good analysis, except that as a western KY native (Union County) now living in Evansville, I can assure you that most of us would strongly disagree with the characterization that we are like southern IN. The topography of the river counties near Evansville (Union, Henderson, and Daviess) do have a midwestern look but culturally are quite different than Evansville. Growing up and even to this day, there has always been a strong IN/KY rivalry in my part of the world. There's a HUGE difference when you cross the Ohio River. Western Ky BBQ is just another example,
The southern part of west Ky (Hopkinsville, Mayfield etc) definitely have a southern feel to them. You'll definitely hear some authentic southern accents in those areas.
Kentucky is an odd place, culturally speaking. I've lived and worked all over Kentucky (and the deep south--mostly Georgia) and I see it as being four different states culturally / geographically.
1) The triangle of Louisville, Covington, and Lexington is the bluegrass region. It's relatively upscale (compared to most of Kentucky), urban, and bent toward an odd mix of agriculture and commerce. I would not call it, culturally, southern.
2) Out east, say from Estill county to the border, is Appalachia. Mountain folk, their attitudes built by their rugged surroundings. Appalachian culture is completely distinct from southern culture. There was no antebellum period in, say, Pike County's history.
3) West Ky (where I currently live) feels like an offshoot of southern Indiana. The topography is totally different from the rest of the country (Corn, soybeans, and flat fields as far as the eye can see). Even the accents are a kind of nasal Southern Illinois accent.
4) The Cumberland Gap region (south central Kentucky) is part of southern culture. The lakes and rivers, the food, the speech, the general feel of the culture are all southern.
There you have it. Kentucky, one of the most culturally diverse states in the union.
Average KY girl smokes a pack a day, is 20 pounds overweight, has a couple kids, and drinks too much Mt Dew (or Ale 8 depending on location). A lot of states have more attractive women.
There are no lines. It's gradual. The further North you go the more it feels like you're in the Midwest. North of Dry Ridge it feels like you're in Ohio. The further South you go the more Southern it feels. In general the whole state of Kentucky has considerably less Southern culture than a state like Tennessee. Honestly, Kentucky is like Florida in that it is a melting pot of cultures.....just not quite as striking.
Average KY girl smokes a pack a day, is 20 pounds overweight, has a couple kids, and drinks too much Mt Dew (or Ale 8 depending on location). A lot of states have more attractive women.
Average KY girl smokes a pack a day, is 20 pounds overweight, has a couple kids, and drinks too much Mt Dew (or Ale 8 depending on location). A lot of states have more attractive women.
Obviously you do because you've gone to great lengths to distance yourself from being considered Southern.What's the big deal with being Southern? Who GAF?!
Which is why I don't see why it's s big deal to BE Southern. It's no better than being from the north.Obviously you do because you've gone to great lengths to distance yourself from being considered Southern.
Best post IMO.Good post.
Go back to when Kentucky was settled and populated. It wasn't the Cumberland Gap that got folks here, it was the Ohio River and flatboats. Maysville, Covington, Newport, Owensboro, and of course Louisville. Kentucky's population is mostly Lexington and north of that town,by far. Folks came out of New England and Pennsylvania on their way west, and decided to settle here.
So, where does the south become north and the north become south? Winchester east isn't north. More like West Virginia south. Bowling Green is south. Nashville has a big influence on that part of the state. West of 75 and south of Frankfort is small town America south.
I don't think of Kentucky, my state, in terms of north and south. We are Kentucky. It's a mix of a whole lot. We are regionally affected by the bigger cities in surrounding states. There is the agricultural culture of farming, particularly where the land levels out.
Leave you with this. I have been to all 50 states, lived in many of them, and there ain't no prettier country and women than the bluegrass state.
Murica, bitches.Western is clannish aholes. Central has all the fat girls who wear Drew Carey glasses and homosexuals. Eastern is God's country populated by the most beautiful and kind people on the planet.
Just my personal experience.
Just on the Dixie/mt WashingtonKentucky is a southern state, even if it is one of the most northern ones. Anywhere south of Louisville or Lexington and you're going to experience much more southern culture than anything else. Hell, even parts of Louisville are really southern as far as culture goes. Same probably goes for Lex.