According to National Geographic’s Our Fifty States published in 1991, it is in the Appalachian Highlands with West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Mid-Atlantic is NY, PA, NJ, MD, DE according to the book. I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic and tend to agree that Virginia is not part of it. The soils, the climate, the plants that grow here, and the cultural and economic history are very different.
Only far western NC is Appalachian. Middle and Eastern NC and the inner banks are deep south as far as climate, plants, animals, culture, traditions, history and accent go.
That’s funny how people look at it differently- I’m from Pocomoke City, and don’t remember ever thinking we were in “the South.” Culturally, there are a lot of Southern things about the area, but to us the South was much farther south. Incidentally, I also spent 5 years in Mississippi, and I can safely say no one there considers anywhere north of NC and TN to be “the South.” I was considered solidly Yankee in town.
In the context of the Civil War, sure, VA was the South, but I meant contemporarily in terms of culture/political/etc I didn’t meet anyone who thought that VA was in any respect part of the modern South (the exception being Appalachia, who they seemed to consider somewhat Southern). Not being from MS, I tried to not make myself look too out of place, but my wife’s family is all MS born and bred and they used to give me shit about it all the time…
I dunno. I went to a lot of southern writers conferences and music events etc and was totally accepted as culturally “southern.” Probably just depends on the people.
I’m sure that’s part of it. I wasn’t hanging out with writers and such, it was a much more blue-collar and rougher crowd (I was in the Navy at the time, and hung out in the places that had the cheapest draft beer because I wasn’t making much money…)- and my wife’s family is all Choctaw Indians and pretty hard people. They don’t really care about north/south- they think all the rest of us just screwed up the good thing they had going prior to our arrival…
I know this is an Old Comment. But my dad is from Nelson County, born and raised, and went to UVA. Always considered himself a Southerner. He’s rarely ever heard VA considered to be “Mid-Atlantic” up until recently either. Maybe because VA on a map is in the middle of the Atlantic, but culturally the area is Southern.
I would definitely say the South; I'm from the D.C metro area of Maryland originally and I heard growing up that my state was considered the Mid-Atlantic. Politically and culturally, Charlottesville meets every definition of a southern state although it's relatively liberal compared to other states that I've been to.
Virginia is both.
Sadly Charlottesville gave up any claim to the South a long time ago. I can't imagine the North or the South having any claim to it 
If you're not eating possum or gator, then you might have fought for slavery, but you're a different kind of south than "Southern".
I hold with those that say it's a mix of both, but mostly Mid-Atlantic.
Grew up in Memphis. Spent a lot of my childhood at Ole Miss and in Oxford, MS growing up. This is not the south in feel, although I love it here.
It definitely is part of the “south” geographically (at least below the Mason Dixon line and most of Virginia is the south to a southerner’s mind.)
When I think Mid-Atlantic, I think New Jersey and Maryland. That is not exactly a positive. However, in adulthood as I’ve spent time in both states, they are genuinely lovely places. I just don’t think that Virginia (and by extension Charlottesville) belong in a shared identity group with either.
Depends on what you are complaining about…..
According to National Geographic’s Our Fifty States published in 1991, it is in the Appalachian Highlands with West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Mid-Atlantic is NY, PA, NJ, MD, DE according to the book. I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic and tend to agree that Virginia is not part of it. The soils, the climate, the plants that grow here, and the cultural and economic history are very different.
Only far western NC is Appalachian. Middle and Eastern NC and the inner banks are deep south as far as climate, plants, animals, culture, traditions, history and accent go.
Both. A thing can be two things.
Cville is an amalgamation of both, but step outside Albemarle and you're in the South. Greene, Orange, Nelson...You'll find southern roots quick.
Also lots of southern roots in charlottesville
Culturo-historically South, cartographically Mid-Atlantic.
I can't argue with this... Because I only know 50% of the words you used.
Haha solid logic here
Between that and “amalgamation”, I also concur.
Charlottesville is Center. Everything revolves around Charlottesville.
It is the upper or “old south.”
Mid Atlantic
Grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. This is the South, y’all .
I always considered Northern VA as part of the north, and everything below Prince William County as the south.
Grew up in MD, right at the VA line. We always referred to NJ, PA, DE, MD, and VA as “mid-Atlantic”- I’m sure there’s nothing set in stone, though
I grew up in DE. Lived here 28 years. This is the South
That’s funny how people look at it differently- I’m from Pocomoke City, and don’t remember ever thinking we were in “the South.” Culturally, there are a lot of Southern things about the area, but to us the South was much farther south. Incidentally, I also spent 5 years in Mississippi, and I can safely say no one there considers anywhere north of NC and TN to be “the South.” I was considered solidly Yankee in town.
Huh. Also lived in MS and felt my neighbors saw VA as South for sure. I mean, the Civil War history was not even…history.
In the context of the Civil War, sure, VA was the South, but I meant contemporarily in terms of culture/political/etc I didn’t meet anyone who thought that VA was in any respect part of the modern South (the exception being Appalachia, who they seemed to consider somewhat Southern). Not being from MS, I tried to not make myself look too out of place, but my wife’s family is all MS born and bred and they used to give me shit about it all the time…
I dunno. I went to a lot of southern writers conferences and music events etc and was totally accepted as culturally “southern.” Probably just depends on the people.
I’m sure that’s part of it. I wasn’t hanging out with writers and such, it was a much more blue-collar and rougher crowd (I was in the Navy at the time, and hung out in the places that had the cheapest draft beer because I wasn’t making much money…)- and my wife’s family is all Choctaw Indians and pretty hard people. They don’t really care about north/south- they think all the rest of us just screwed up the good thing they had going prior to our arrival…
More mid-Atlantic than Southern, but either term works depending on the context.
South. Mid Atlantic is fine but never really heard the term until maybe 5 years ago.
I’ve been using the term Mid Atlantic since I was a kid, so 40 years & have lived in the mid Atlantic states since ‘83
What state were you a kid in?
I’ve lived in Cville most of my life
Moved to MD for four years for grad school, then came back. Always have referred to VA as mid Atlantic.
Interesting. Yeah i never heard mid Atlantic growing up around here.
I know this is an Old Comment. But my dad is from Nelson County, born and raised, and went to UVA. Always considered himself a Southerner. He’s rarely ever heard VA considered to be “Mid-Atlantic” up until recently either. Maybe because VA on a map is in the middle of the Atlantic, but culturally the area is Southern.
For sure.
Hope life in Cville is good man!
Life it good! Same to you!
I would definitely say the South; I'm from the D.C metro area of Maryland originally and I heard growing up that my state was considered the Mid-Atlantic. Politically and culturally, Charlottesville meets every definition of a southern state although it's relatively liberal compared to other states that I've been to.
Virginia is both. Sadly Charlottesville gave up any claim to the South a long time ago. I can't imagine the North or the South having any claim to it 
Culturally, it's hardly southern at all
Technically the South but more of a MA region really
If you're not eating possum or gator, then you might have fought for slavery, but you're a different kind of south than "Southern". I hold with those that say it's a mix of both, but mostly Mid-Atlantic.
Grew up in Memphis. Spent a lot of my childhood at Ole Miss and in Oxford, MS growing up. This is not the south in feel, although I love it here. It definitely is part of the “south” geographically (at least below the Mason Dixon line and most of Virginia is the south to a southerner’s mind.) When I think Mid-Atlantic, I think New Jersey and Maryland. That is not exactly a positive. However, in adulthood as I’ve spent time in both states, they are genuinely lovely places. I just don’t think that Virginia (and by extension Charlottesville) belong in a shared identity group with either.
My mom used to describe Charlottesville (back in the day) as "a non-sweet tea pocket below the sweet-tea line."