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Geographic/Cultural Musing - RonO's Ramblings
| Feb. 17th, 2009 03:59 pm Geographic/Cultural Musing While skimming a discussion on the SMOFs list about DeepSouthCon and the possibility of a Worldcon in the South -- which included Miami on the list of potential host cities, I recalled a thought and observation either I made myself (not based on personal experience) or heard someplace:
"As one goes south in Florida from the panhandle, they find the culture rapidly moving back north."
Knowing that the recent history of Florida has a lot of the emigration into the peninsular parts of the state during the last 150 or so years has come largely from the northeastern US -- mostly New York and New England. At first these were rich winter tourists, then a mix of snowbird and permanent retirees, and then people who chose to pursue warmer weather year round, as well as jobs in the Space, entertainment and less savory industries.
Of course, especially in Miami, there was also a lot of migration from Cuba and possibly other islands. This would have also influenced the culture.
Given that, as I said, I have little personal experience (two visits to the Orlando area in each of the two previous years, and probably no more for several years), I could be completely wrong. 3 comments - Leave a comment   | |
Me, I moved to Miami from Up North (immediately Detroit, previously from Rochester, NY) in 1967.
Departed for college in 1972, still lived there summers though 1976.
At first these were rich winter tourists, then a mix of snowbird and permanent retirees, and then people who chose to pursue warmer weather year round, as well as jobs in the Space, entertainment and less savory industries.
Right. By the time I got there, it was not a very Southern city, neglecting a few old-timers.
Of course, especially in Miami, there was also a lot of migration from Cuba and possibly other islands. This would have also influenced the culture.
This is a staggering understatement. Many shelves of books have probably been written on this subject, and more will be.
To compare: Do you think that Mexico influenced the culture of the place you came from?
Actually the correct statement would be that all of the Americans who moved in after it became a US territory in the 1840's had a profound influence on the culture. Almost anyone who has ancestors who lived in New Mexico prior to 1848 had Mexican or Native American ancestors -- and many would have had Spanish ancestors.
But, yes the culture of the Southwestern US has been influenced by the large presence of Mexican Hispanics.
FWIW, however, I've often contended that almost half of the population of Albuquerque came from Chicago sometime in the last few generations, and most of the original settlers of Rio Rancho -- Albuquerque's only purpose built suburb -- came from New York.
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