Why do some Floridians believe that Florida is not part of the South?

Question

I have heard that Florida is not part of the South is in the Southern States. Tampons here say it's its own entity.

Answer 1

Geographically it's part of the South, but culturally it isn't. I lived in both north Florida (Jacksonville) and south Florida (Ft Lauderdale). South Florida is definitely NOT southern culturally - first of all it's very difficult to find anyone down there that was actually born in Florida. Also, few people down there have southern accents. North Florida, on the other hand, is much more southern (culturally) than south Florida. It's pretty easy to find native floridians, and easy to find people with accents. Of course there's more to being southern than just a southern accent, but it's hard for me (a native New Englander) to describe.

Answer 2

It is a culture thing(especially in South Florida(i.e. Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Key West)). Most of South Florida isn't culturally southern. For starters, South Florida is very diverse ethnically, racially more so than other states in the South. Florida has the largest Finnish population south of the Mason Dixon line, the largest Cuban, Israeli, Russian(especially in Orlando and Miami), Nicaraguan, Haitian, and Bahamian populations outside of the rest of the USA(and in some cases the largest populations in the whole of the USA, particularly Cubans.), in general, the largest foreign-born population in North America(59%). Second of all, the southern culture has never really been a major influence because of people from the northern USA(often nicknamed "snowbirds") moved to Florida to escape the cold winter climates and for retirement(Florida has a very large elderly population).
The rest of the south does not have such foreign and northern influences like Florida does. Even Atlanta isn't that close(and I should know, I live in the metro Atlanta area). I have met people from Florida and I only knew one with a strong southern accent and another one had a somewhat perceptible southern accent(she is from Jacksonville,FL). Most of people I have met that were from Florida didn't speak in the southern vernacular.

Answer 3

The answer to that has more to do with Florida as a retirement destination and a popular winter retreat more so than anything else. I learned this by personal experience, living in Florida, throughout the entire South and in the Northeast over the years.

A large portion of Florida's population is from the north, snowbirds as they are often called, and come from places like Boston and New York City.

This is what makes the population of Florida different from that of Georgia or Mississippi in the eyes of most southerners, who are often the ones claiming Florida is a non-southern state. It has more to do with culture, tradition and upbringing than location, in other words.

Of course, many native Floridians consider that offensive and think of themselves as truly southern, rightfully so. This explains why anyone not originally from Florida (me), especially those from the north (me), will often get an unfriendly welcome from the natives when moving there (me again).

Answer 4

Well Florida was acquired from Spain after the creation of the 13 original states. Also, due to the climate, it's economic system and land is different from that of traditional southern states like North Caroilina, South Carolina, Georgia, etc.
Nowadays, a large portion of the land is used for retirement homes, winter houses, resorts, etc. It's a much different area than say the Carolinas, Alabama, etc.

Answer 5

"Tampons here say"??? Better check your spelling. Do you mean "Tampans" as in people from Tampa? Anyway ...

There are Floridians who believe that their state's culture is different from the other southern states, therefore they don't identify with the South (capital S) and therefore say they're not part of it.

Answer 6

I'm from Florida and I feel that it's part of the south..Why souldn't it be??It's located further down south then any other state.

Answer 7

Because a huge population of the state is made up of senior citizens that have migrated from northern states after they retired.

Answer 8

it is part of the south...it's in the southern part of the united states,,,therefore it is part of the south.

Answer 9

i really dont know but i totally agree. i went to fla last summer and got made fun of for sayin yall and over yonder

Answer 10

Tampons???? . . . . Is that what you call people in Tampa?