Geographers of Twitter Debate Where 'The South' Really Is

Ada Elder

May 4, 2023 2:30 PM EDT

As a Northerner, I've never really had a tight grasp on where the South really is. Perhaps that's because most of the East Coast exists south of New York City. That said, my image of the South, however hazy, consists of lots of "honeys" in lazy drawls, Spanish moss, moonshine, and fried food. When I think of the South, I think of crawdads, gators, muggy weather and guns. I think of honky tonks and ghost stories. I also think of its dark history.

While my perception of the South is pretty amorphous, there's always someone trying to figure out exactly which states or regions make up the designation. These debates are often happening on the Internet, and this past week, they occurred on Twitter.

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via Spargles 🇦🇺
Twitter user @Spargles inspired the debate when they shared a map and asked Americans if it was accurate. They were more than happy to provide their criticism, confirmation, and even their own mock-ups to help @Spargles understand the contested geographic/cultural zone. Do you agree with the map or with any of the replies? Let us know in the comments!
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