Which States Do You Think Make Up ‘The South?’

When you think of "The South," which states come to mind? Are there any states you don't think make the grade (looking at you, Florida)? Grab some sweet tea and let's talk it out, y'all!

I found this article on Thrillist this morning (Which States Are in the South? I Asked 20 Coworkers to Find Out!) It was a fairly entertaining read; most people tend to think of "The South" as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. I remember checking out an edition of Southern Living at my momma's house and noting the famed publisher included Maryland among all y'all.

Not so sure I agree. I decided to make a map of my own.

My map includes Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Please note that Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi are shaded a different color, thus denoting their inclusion in the 'Deep' or 'Dirty' South.

I'm going to keep it 100 and tell you that Kentucky was like thisclose to NOT making the cut at all. I lived in Kentucky for about ten years, and it's awesome; however, y'all need to know that on MANY occasions I have visited restaurants in Louisville and Lexington and been told that they do NOT serve sweet tea. What kind of Yankee garbage is that? Do y'all honestly expect me to sip on a cup of hot Lipton while I eat my fried chicken? Y'all need Jesus, Kentucky. If it weren't for Bourbon, y'all would not have made my list.

You're probably wondering why Florida isn't shaded yellow. That's because Florida, though holding the honor of having the southernmost part of the United States within its borders, is not a "Southern" state. Florida is Florida. The beaches are nice. The theme parks are dope. I just think of Florida as a vacation destination; maybe I'm wrong, but... nah. Like 95% of the craziest stuff that happens in America goes down in the Sunshine State. Two words: Florida Man. Florida is like your cousin Steve. Y'all will always be related, and you love him and all, but he's just not getting invited to another family cookout since he downed a six pack of Natty, duct-taped Roman Candles to himself, and ran screaming down the street in his tighty whities at your last soiree.

I didn't include Texas. Texas is its own place, man. They've got their own style of BBQ and just an awesome way of life in general. I'm not messing with Texas by any means; I just hear "Texas" and think cowboys, big steaks, Matthew McCounaughey (thank you for that, Texas), and going to see an awesome band play at Stubb's in Austin. I know A&M is in College Station, and they're in the SEC now, but... no.

I didn't include Arkansas, but that's only because I don't think about Arkansas (save football season).

I didn't include Missouri. They're also home to a member of the SEC, but Missouri is a Midwestern state. I refuse to entertain any other argument.

I can't think of any concrete and objective criteria that would either definitively include or exclude a state as being "Southern," but whatever it is, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia have it. That's why they're referred to as "The Deep South." I didn't include Tennessee among the faithful because I hate Tennessee. (And Nashville is suuuper bougie.)

I remember travelling to Oxford, Mississippi about ten years ago with my Honors English class; the course focused on the life and works of Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner, and we'd come to Oxford to visit Faulkner's beloved Rowan Oak.

While in Oxford, we went to the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss. I remember having a conversation with one professor who hailed from Georgia about the identity of classically Southern states, and she laughingly agreed with me that Kentucky wasn't 100% SOUTHERN. A few classmates got angry and wanted to know why we felt that way.

We laughed some more and said, "We just do."

What do y'all think? Which states do you consider to be "Southern," and which would you exclude from your list? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.