You don't consider WV to be southern?
No. But it wasn't my consideration, it was the adults around me.
BUT
I assume much of the rest of the country considers all the Appalachian states as "southern," at least south of PA.
But the coastal plain southerners consider the mountain folk a different sort.
WV is rural, probably have an accent, and are mostly poor. That screams "southern."
BUT
Are they especially hospitable? Do they have wrap-around porches? Do they drink sweet tea, have fish frys, or gauge their self-worth by their BBQ?
I don't believe so.
There is a 'southern divide,' and it's about elevation. When you are no longer sweating your balls off every day of summer, with 90% humidity, you're in Appalachia, not 'the south.'
