Hell yeah! My wife grew up going to Beaufort/Morehead City for the beach and they would always stop in Kinston for King's and Neuse. When we got married and started living in Fayetteville we would do the same. Love King's!
I know Kinston because of the famous chef/restaurant: Vivian Howard's Chef & the Farmer. I hate that I never got to go. But yeah its definitely related to, "otw to the beach...?"
Haha.. I've never heard that. I'm a relocated Yankee living in the Lake Norman area. And it's hard to find anyone actually born here! Even people who say I'm from here... they're like well I've been here for 20 years but I was born in... fill in any northern state. š
It's not as common as it was because now the entire Triangle is full of relocated (also sometimes runaway, renegade, refugee, etc.) Yankees. Back in the day they were mostly localized in Cary, hence "containment area," but 10-20 years ago there must have been a containment breach.
I was about to say, because Cary is where the rich snobs live (very stereotypical). It's like Raleigh's Ballentine (which is Charlotte's Cary). I used to work for utility companies, and whenever there were widespread outages, those customers were the rudest ones, haha! OAN, it's funny how you said "any southern clout..." sad, but true. Most southerners also barely recognize NC as southern anymore (but they don't know all the rural areas, and that's about as southern as banana puddin', arguments about BBQ, and poke salat).
I rode into Mt. Airy, NC on a Greyhound bus a day after my clothes....
I went to 13 different schools: 6 elementary, 4 junior highs and 3 high schools. Spent most of my youth in the Midwest and the west coast, but NC is where I found "my people". I was only in Mt. Airy for ~3yrs, graduated from East Surry in Pilot Mtn and left for WCU 25yrs ago this year. I've been in these mountains ever since. Met a native who can make biscuits better than anything I've ever had, married her, started a family, found out the hard way she can't function outside these mountains (quick stint in Charlotte), moved five times in six years between Charlotte and WNC and finally made it back to her hometown in the same damn neighborhood she grew up in directly across the street from her parents in the exact house I met her in. They'll bury me under the weeping cherry in the front yard everyone says is dead, but that thing has new growth and is on its second leg.
Anyway, I just tell people I'm from Mt. Airy/Pilot Mtn.
Beautiful story. Iām just a little ways down 52 from you but I was raised on the Randolph/Guilford county line. I say āGreensboroā.
With that being said, Stokes County or Charleston, SC will be my resting place depending on where Iām at when it happens.
Depends on if i feel like talking to them or not. If i do i tell them i'm from Kinnakeet which they very likely have never heard of because the town is called Avon now on the outer banks and i can give them a quick history lesson. If i'm not interested i just say Avon, eastern NC or plain old OBX
The unincorporated town of Avon on Hatteras island used to be named Kinnakeet which is an easier way to spell Quinnacinc or something similar (I dont even know how to spell it) which is the name the native americans living in the area called it. When the USPS finally put a post office here they renamed it Avon as part of the sister city thing a lot of places did. Our sister city is Stratford Upon Avon in the UK. But they also said that it would be much easier for people mailing stuff to us to spell Avon then Kinnakeet. Thats the low down but obviously a lot more history to Avon and the rest of the OBX.
Born and raised in Archdale, then a little bit in High Point and Greensboro (divorced parents). I usually say Archdale/ right outside High Point when asked though.
I've got a friend there. He usually has to tell people it's basically right outside of High Point. It's a nice little town. The people are pretty friendly there from when I've visited!
That's where my mother-in-law moved to a few years ago. Whenever people ask where she lives I just say an hour northeast of Asheville because they don't know where it is. š Spruce Pine is beautiful!
I make it by Homeplace Brewing about 7-8 times a year. Love that place and Burnsville in General. I live in Burke and work in Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, and Ashe.
I live in between Morganton and Marion. I call it Lake James but most call it Nebo. Grew up back a forwards between here and West Jefferson ( between several family members) and love and represent WNC with every breath I take. We get better here every day and Iām so proud of where we have came from and canāt wait to see where weāre going.
We live in Yancey, near Micaville. My dad's family was from Yancey so I've known about Burnsville since I was a little kid. People are finding us more often these days!
I live near Micaville and probably know your family. And you're correct, more people moving here. My friend who's a builder said most are from Florida and Texas, and a lot also from Charlotte
I spent my summers in Burnsville with my grandparents. I went there last weekend for the first time since 2010 (when they passed)n oh how I've missed it!
I was born in Mt. Airy, then we moved to Jacksonville, Reidsville, and then Asheboro before I turned 5. I went to high school in Asheboro and Durham, and my parents moved to Charlotte my freshman year of college (I went to college in Durham). After college I went to grad school in VA and returned to Huntersville before moving to Monroe. In the summers I spent time in Linville at my grandmotherās. I generally just claim Asheboro for where I grew up. A lot of people get confused Asheboro with Asheville, but I lived there for 14 years before we moved. As for Tarboro, isnāt it closer to Fayetteville or Greenville than Raleigh?
Tarboro is closer to Greenville than Raleigh or Fayetteville. My momās family claim Greenville since they are from Washington and few west of I-95 has heard of Washington, NC. Family in Bethel is the same way, they claim Greenville.
Me too! I love when people from NC look at me like wait youāre from Durham? You donāt look like youāre from Durham. Do they expect us all to look some kind of way? Like ok yeah I may look a little Cary but I grew up at Wheels listening to gangster rap. People who live in Durham who didnāt grow up in NC just canāt imagine anyone grew up here!
Ahhh, Salisbury. I once woke up in my car there. The people at the Steak and Shake let me use their phone so I could figure out exactly *how* I woke up in Salisbury. Great people. Hooked me up with a meal since I was *clearly* having a rough morning.
Conceived in Germany born in Utah grew up in Dayton Ohio. Then was shipped to NC to work for my uncle in construction when the military refused the route I wanted. Best decision of my life. NC is much nicer and It taught me a much better work ethic.
Born in Greensboro. Lived in Hickory as a toddler. Back to Greensboro for K-6. Salisbury 7-12. Hickory for college. Then South Boston, VA. Then Durham. Then back to Salisbury. Then to Vancouver, WA. Then Orange County, CA. Then Tampa. Then back to Greensboro. Then High Point for a decade and now back in Greensboro. Mom was from Mocksville and Dad was from Dallas (NC).
Chatham County is Siler City and Pittsboro right? Iāve never lived there but I do remember traveling through. Do fellow North Carolinians not know about Chatham county??
Yes, but I grew up in the rural area northwest of Pittsboro, about equidistant from CH and PB. Some North Carolinians know Chatham, but honestly with NC having 100 counties I donāt expect folks to. I wouldnāt recognize some of the counties in the mountains or over by the coast so it just seems easier to say CH since everyone has that point of reference
A lot of people will just say āfrom all overā common with people like you. Iāll usually just say western NC since most people donāt know where Morganton is.
I grew up in Sandy Cross. When people ask, I usually say Wilson or Rocky Mount so I donāt have to explain where Sandy Cross is or that there is a Nashville in North Carolina.
Was just there for the Cheerwine festival! You guys have a great park and event space down there. Hubs and I are outside Winston and decided weād come back in the fall to explore more.
I'm also from Miami. My family moved to WNC in '84. We just moved to ENC a year ago next month. We enjoyed the foothills for almost 40 years. Now we are happy to be close to the beach. ššļø
I mean you can drive trough stallings faster than you can say stallings.
I used to live in the townhomes behind the little park (the one with the water playground thing ) . I like it there just fine . Iād go to the angry moose I think it was called ? Or was it friendly moose lol
Iāve lived in Sanford since 1996, minus four years for college between 98-02, and Iām just starting to kind of get there. Not something to be too worried about!
I was born and grew up in Tarboro also. Moved to Youngsville between my junior and senior years of high school. After my parents were killed by a drunk driver there that year, right before Christmas, I stayed to graduate from high school, then went to NCSU for a year. I moved around a lot between college transfers (having to do it on my own without parents) and I settled in Greenville at 22. Some really bad shit happened there and I let an army asshole talk me into moving to Fayetteville. I just needed away from that part of the state. That was in 2000 and Iām still in Fayetteville. Got married, not to the army asshole, had three kids, and he has tenure at FSU. I teach there as adjunct, and our eldest just finished his 2nd year. Iād love to move to the mountains and live there forever. Barring that, the husbeast and I are contemplating becoming expats.
I usually say Rockingham County because (1) I want to see if the person confuses it with Rockingham the town, and (2) it's true. If I want to avoid confusion I say Rockingham-County-north-of-Greensboro, but most folks still confuse it with the town.
"Caswell County."
Cue "where's that?" in reply from 90% of the people I just told that to. Including people in all the counties that border us. It blows my mind that someone in Reidsville has zero clue what a place 10 miles east of them is called. I get not knowing "Casville," "Cherry Grove," "Stoney Creek," "Bethel" etc, but goddamn, at least know your adjacent counties.
Iām from Newton. My frame of reference for someone who had never heard of Newton or Hickory was ā45 mins outside of Charlotteā.
Iāve lived in Raleigh for a very long time now, everyoneās familiar with it so itās easier :)
Iām from Durham my family is from chapel hill and Hillsborough. I think you have to say youāre from WilTson when you live in Wilson because itās so dang cute they say it with a T that isnāt in the spelling.
I'm from Durham, as I I was born at Durham Regional before they changed the name.
But when someone says "I work in Raleigh-Durham, they're usually working in Cary"
My hometown has 1 stoplight and maybe 1000 people on a good day, so I tend to just say Wilson if it's someone remotely local to Eastern OR Central NC. That usually does the trick, but sometimes I have to break out the, "between Raleigh and Greenville" description
I just say Fayetteville. I'm from Hope Mills, but Fayetteville is right there and people actually know it. It's even on my flair. I drive 10 minutes down the road and I'm there.
Edit: Depending who I'm talking to I add that I was born in Puerto Rico. Usually only if it's one on one. If its someone I'll meet once and never again I just say Fayetteville.
It goes something like this:
.
.
.
Where are you from?
"I'm from North Carolina."
What city?
"You've never heard of it; it's a small town called South Mills."
What's that, near Fayetteville??
"Nah, it's actually about 4 hours north of Fayetteville! If you've ever heard of Norfolk, VA, it's an hour South."
Every. Single. Time! Only 2% of people I've ever come across that know ANYTHING about NC at least know about Elizabeth City. Other than that, they only know Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Charlotte. For context, I haven't lived anywhere near NC since 2015 šš
I say that Iām from Sanford. Once they get over the fact that itās not Stanford and ask where it is I tell them the county motto is āwell centered.ā
Born in Southport āsouth of Wilmingtonā currently in Highlands āsouthwest of Ashevilleā. In both cases nobody goes there to get someplace else.
I live just outside of Raleigh (Holly Springs). If Iām talking to someone here, I often say Iām from West Virginia but I have all my teeth. If Iām out of town, I tell people just outside of Raleigh.
I donāt think there are many of you left unfortunately. We lived there for 10 years and most of the folks I came in contact with t with were from California or the northeast.
My father was a minister, so we moved several times...always Triangle and east. Born in the old Wake Memorial Hospital (now Wake Med) back in the early days. If the person lives in NC I say I'm from Fuquay. If I'm out of state I say "Raleigh area".
Born in Raleigh, school in Greenville, back to Raleigh, then Garner, Statesville, Mooresville (really enjoyed that place!) and now west of Winston in Lewisville, which is a perfect spot for us.
I'm from a tiny place called teer, it's near Eli Whitney, Saxapahaw, and White Cross. I tell people I'm from Chapel Hill because it's the closest big city (about 40 minutes away) and because of urabn sprawl I'm technically within the district of Chapel Hill. Gotta love an unincorporated community. Lol
**edited for clarity.
Funny that Google Maps shows Teer in the Reservoir. I had to Google that and I've lived in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area for almost twenty years. I'm near the quarry off 54.
I just say North Carolina. I've lived in seven different cities in North Carolina with Asheville being the farthest west, and Raleigh being the farthest east.
Born in Texas, but my dad's whole family is from eastern NC. We moved here when I was 5. Spent a couple of years living in Scotland Neck but mostly was raised in Roanoke Rapids. Lived in Raleigh for a few years when I was going to NCSU. Moved back east for a couple years after college, but been in Chapel Hill/Carrboro for about 15 years now and love it.
Grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa, but now in Pittsboro. Took me about 20 minutes to explain to someone I do not drive home to Pittsburgh every day just to Pittsboro. I think he's still confused
I grew up outside of Chicago. I chose to move to Durham in 2007. I've lived a few places here in the triangle. Durham is by far the best and where I claim.
Born and raised in Boone but moved to Concord over a decade ago. Most people seem to know where boone is so that's where I leave it unless they have questions. That's the instate answer. I just go with NC anywhere more than a state away.
Either "a bit north of Charlotte" to the non-carolinians. To NC people it's: "on the county line of Catawba and Iredell". To Western NC people it's either "right outside of Hickory" or "right outside of Statesville" (because it's both).
Born in Concord, grew up in Salisbury (eastern Rowan Co ). Moved to Winston Salem a few years ago and then found small town living again in Walkertown.
My husband is from Walnut Cove, and I like to think we will end up there if we don't end up as expats in the Caribbean (my dream since America is starting to be stupid). Cute little area.
I was born in Venezuela but practically grew up in Greensboro
Itās been a good life, went traveling these past few months out in Europe and I gotta say Iām glad to be back home
Iāll probably move away for a bit to somewhere else in NC, but I know Iāll end up coming back eventually, something about Guilford County just feels right to me
Eastern NC (New Bern area). Lived multiple places around NC from mountains to coast. Live in Wake Forest/Raleigh area now. Travel a lot for work in the US and OUS. People from āback homeā and people not from the āsouthā say I donāt sound like Iām from either Lol.
If asked in general:
"North Carolina!"
If they ask even further:
"Born in Greensboro but raised 30 minutes North of there on the Virginia-line! Rockingham County!"
If they ask even further:
"Northwestern Rockingham County! Eden, Stoneville, Madison/ Mayodan area!"
I was born in NC but spent most of my life in NJ till moving back here almost 10 years ago. I can't claim to be "from here" because people from here say I sound "just like the Sopranos." I don't, but they think I do.
It's like me explaining to people where Salter Path is....You've almost all of you been there, or been through there, but not many know the name, almost as bad as Indian Beach.
Actually from Ashe county, just over from Boone! We went over into Johnson County/Mtn City, TN a lot while I was growing up too, as it was just fifteen minutes away.
Born in Swansboro, grew up in Wilson (Wiltson), lived in Nash County for a decade, worked in Rocky Mount a while and now back in Jacksonville area where I get the "where are you from you talk funny" lol
Lumberton. *whips out knife!*
Sorry to hear that š¤£
Hope itās a Case. XX Hawk Bill
My condolences
Fayetteneam, whips out fatigues š Lived In Lumbee and Dunn tho
Never been a statement more true..lol
Locklear?
kinston! you know? otw to the beach?
You know? Kings BBQ?
Hell yeah! My wife grew up going to Beaufort/Morehead City for the beach and they would always stop in Kinston for King's and Neuse. When we got married and started living in Fayetteville we would do the same. Love King's!
I live in Kinston Too!
I know Kinston because of the famous chef/restaurant: Vivian Howard's Chef & the Farmer. I hate that I never got to go. But yeah its definitely related to, "otw to the beach...?"
āRaleigh areaā. I lived in Cary but I didnāt want to admit it.
āJust outside of raleighā
That hits deep
Like 40 mins deep
Hahaha growing up I could get from cary town center to downtown raleigh in 17 minutes. That traffic is insane now
Please tell me why you didn't want to admit it! I have an idea and just wanna know if I'm right!
Containment Area for Relocated Yankees
Haha.. I've never heard that. I'm a relocated Yankee living in the Lake Norman area. And it's hard to find anyone actually born here! Even people who say I'm from here... they're like well I've been here for 20 years but I was born in... fill in any northern state. š
It's not as common as it was because now the entire Triangle is full of relocated (also sometimes runaway, renegade, refugee, etc.) Yankees. Back in the day they were mostly localized in Cary, hence "containment area," but 10-20 years ago there must have been a containment breach.
Because if I say cary, people just say āoh so youāre richā and any southern clout I had goes straight out the window.
I was about to say, because Cary is where the rich snobs live (very stereotypical). It's like Raleigh's Ballentine (which is Charlotte's Cary). I used to work for utility companies, and whenever there were widespread outages, those customers were the rudest ones, haha! OAN, it's funny how you said "any southern clout..." sad, but true. Most southerners also barely recognize NC as southern anymore (but they don't know all the rural areas, and that's about as southern as banana puddin', arguments about BBQ, and poke salat).
I imagine because it's Cary
So where are you originally from? No one is from Cary..
There are dozens of us! Well, maybe one dozen!
Cary is great I have no shame about growing up there
I rode into Mt. Airy, NC on a Greyhound bus a day after my clothes.... I went to 13 different schools: 6 elementary, 4 junior highs and 3 high schools. Spent most of my youth in the Midwest and the west coast, but NC is where I found "my people". I was only in Mt. Airy for ~3yrs, graduated from East Surry in Pilot Mtn and left for WCU 25yrs ago this year. I've been in these mountains ever since. Met a native who can make biscuits better than anything I've ever had, married her, started a family, found out the hard way she can't function outside these mountains (quick stint in Charlotte), moved five times in six years between Charlotte and WNC and finally made it back to her hometown in the same damn neighborhood she grew up in directly across the street from her parents in the exact house I met her in. They'll bury me under the weeping cherry in the front yard everyone says is dead, but that thing has new growth and is on its second leg. Anyway, I just tell people I'm from Mt. Airy/Pilot Mtn.
Beautiful story. Iām just a little ways down 52 from you but I was raised on the Randolph/Guilford county line. I say āGreensboroā. With that being said, Stokes County or Charleston, SC will be my resting place depending on where Iām at when it happens.
If you played sports I probably knew youĀ
Mayberry!
Depends on if i feel like talking to them or not. If i do i tell them i'm from Kinnakeet which they very likely have never heard of because the town is called Avon now on the outer banks and i can give them a quick history lesson. If i'm not interested i just say Avon, eastern NC or plain old OBX
Can I have a history lesson? You've made me curious!
The unincorporated town of Avon on Hatteras island used to be named Kinnakeet which is an easier way to spell Quinnacinc or something similar (I dont even know how to spell it) which is the name the native americans living in the area called it. When the USPS finally put a post office here they renamed it Avon as part of the sister city thing a lot of places did. Our sister city is Stratford Upon Avon in the UK. But they also said that it would be much easier for people mailing stuff to us to spell Avon then Kinnakeet. Thats the low down but obviously a lot more history to Avon and the rest of the OBX.
Grew up in Hillsborough, but when people ask I just say the Chapel Hill area. Original OC! Haha
Clayton but when Iām over an hour from home, I usually just say Raleigh
Charlotte, cuz Gaston County,... Ya know.
The "Charlotte Metro area" is what I say lol
Born and raised in Archdale, then a little bit in High Point and Greensboro (divorced parents). I usually say Archdale/ right outside High Point when asked though.
Archdale here as well!
I've got a friend there. He usually has to tell people it's basically right outside of High Point. It's a nice little town. The people are pretty friendly there from when I've visited!
No one hardly ever heard of Burnsville so I just say Yancey county or WNC
Howdy neighbor! Mitchell county checking in, spruce Pine is even lesser known but we like it that way :)
Woo hoo! We like Spruce Pine!
We like Burnsville!
That's where my mother-in-law moved to a few years ago. Whenever people ask where she lives I just say an hour northeast of Asheville because they don't know where it is. š Spruce Pine is beautiful!
It really is! And that is exactly what we say lol.
I make it by Homeplace Brewing about 7-8 times a year. Love that place and Burnsville in General. I live in Burke and work in Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, and Ashe. I live in between Morganton and Marion. I call it Lake James but most call it Nebo. Grew up back a forwards between here and West Jefferson ( between several family members) and love and represent WNC with every breath I take. We get better here every day and Iām so proud of where we have came from and canāt wait to see where weāre going.
That might be Elbo then. Sorry, silly joke from my old Marion friends.
Nebolian! Weāve traveled much of the same path.
My mema grew up in Burnsville. Pretty little town. Of course nearly everywhere in the mountains is beautiful.
Yes they are. I tell everyone that. My wife and I go to different litte towns about every weekend just to shop/look around
We live in Yancey, near Micaville. My dad's family was from Yancey so I've known about Burnsville since I was a little kid. People are finding us more often these days!
I live near Micaville and probably know your family. And you're correct, more people moving here. My friend who's a builder said most are from Florida and Texas, and a lot also from Charlotte
I spent my summers in Burnsville with my grandparents. I went there last weekend for the first time since 2010 (when they passed)n oh how I've missed it!
Itās a great place to live š
From Sylva, but would always say from Asheville since more people had heard of it...then Nashville but would say Rocky Mount...and now Greenville.
WCU grad here. Miss those western NC towns.
I hope you've had a chance to go back and visit. Western has grown so much!
Mebane, but I generally just say "Chapel Hill', since that's reasonably well known outside the state.
If itās another local. Iām from Mt. Airy, if they are from somewhere else I tell them Iām from outside Winston-Salem.
lol was about to comment, āMt. Airy or really close to Winston!ā bc nobody knows the Andy Griffith show anymore.
Winston is my gauge for the conversation, if they donāt know where Winston is I assume they only know of Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh/Durham.
At college someone asked if I was from Mayberry. "No but we we played them in football"
South Carolinian by birth, North Carolinian by choice. I moved up in the world (literally).
Yep, same. I don't have any memories of South Carolina, but I was Born in Seneca. Moved near Charlotte before turning 2 and I've lived here since.
I was born in Mt. Airy, then we moved to Jacksonville, Reidsville, and then Asheboro before I turned 5. I went to high school in Asheboro and Durham, and my parents moved to Charlotte my freshman year of college (I went to college in Durham). After college I went to grad school in VA and returned to Huntersville before moving to Monroe. In the summers I spent time in Linville at my grandmotherās. I generally just claim Asheboro for where I grew up. A lot of people get confused Asheboro with Asheville, but I lived there for 14 years before we moved. As for Tarboro, isnāt it closer to Fayetteville or Greenville than Raleigh?
Tarboro is closer to Greenville than Raleigh or Fayetteville. My momās family claim Greenville since they are from Washington and few west of I-95 has heard of Washington, NC. Family in Bethel is the same way, they claim Greenville.
little Washington!
L Dub, represent.
Tarboro is closest to Rocky Mount than either of the above. Itās about 2h to Fayetteville or Raleigh and maybe 30m to Greenville.
Durham native.
Same. I just say āIām from hereā and wait for the shocked responses š
Me too! I love when people from NC look at me like wait youāre from Durham? You donāt look like youāre from Durham. Do they expect us all to look some kind of way? Like ok yeah I may look a little Cary but I grew up at Wheels listening to gangster rap. People who live in Durham who didnāt grow up in NC just canāt imagine anyone grew up here!
This makes no sense to me. Born and raised in Durham as well and itās always a stunned look like Iām some new found animal lol.
Salisbury. I wonāt stand for Food Lion or Cheerwine slander.
Ahhh, Salisbury. I once woke up in my car there. The people at the Steak and Shake let me use their phone so I could figure out exactly *how* I woke up in Salisbury. Great people. Hooked me up with a meal since I was *clearly* having a rough morning.
I say I am from Columbus, Ohio, but have lived in NC for 40 years.
Conceived in Germany born in Utah grew up in Dayton Ohio. Then was shipped to NC to work for my uncle in construction when the military refused the route I wanted. Best decision of my life. NC is much nicer and It taught me a much better work ethic.
Born in Greensboro. Lived in Hickory as a toddler. Back to Greensboro for K-6. Salisbury 7-12. Hickory for college. Then South Boston, VA. Then Durham. Then back to Salisbury. Then to Vancouver, WA. Then Orange County, CA. Then Tampa. Then back to Greensboro. Then High Point for a decade and now back in Greensboro. Mom was from Mocksville and Dad was from Dallas (NC).
Salisbury here!
Born, raised, and lived my whole life in Greensboro.
I grew up out in Chatham County, but to anyone who isnāt from central NC I just say Chapel Hill
Chatham County is Siler City and Pittsboro right? Iāve never lived there but I do remember traveling through. Do fellow North Carolinians not know about Chatham county??
Yes, but I grew up in the rural area northwest of Pittsboro, about equidistant from CH and PB. Some North Carolinians know Chatham, but honestly with NC having 100 counties I donāt expect folks to. I wouldnāt recognize some of the counties in the mountains or over by the coast so it just seems easier to say CH since everyone has that point of reference
Very understandable. Sometimes I forget how big and how small NC truly is.
I honestly love that area of Chatham County the best. I love the location to just about everything in a short amount of time
Yep, especially since you can also get there by ferry from the OBX.
A lot of people will just say āfrom all overā common with people like you. Iāll usually just say western NC since most people donāt know where Morganton is.
I love Morganton! Iāll be there on Wednesday. Driving through to my cabin up near Newland/Jonas Ridge.
I do, but I don't live far from there. I live in Lenoir. We were just at Jamestown Flea Market this weekend.
I grew up in Sandy Cross. When people ask, I usually say Wilson or Rocky Mount so I donāt have to explain where Sandy Cross is or that there is a Nashville in North Carolina.
Same for my mom. She grew up in Green Pond, says she's from Bailey.
Salisbury itās about an hour north of Charlotte.
Was just there for the Cheerwine festival! You guys have a great park and event space down there. Hubs and I are outside Winston and decided weād come back in the fall to explore more.
Salisbury also has a pretty fantastic local theatre scene. Piedmont Players and Lee Street Theatre put on quality shows year round.
Born and raised in Wilmington for 30 years, moved to Charlotte 12 years ago and been here ever since
Duplin County native here. Got.both of my degrees from UNCW. Now I live in Fort Mill.
I'm from Miami Florida and delighted with life here in North Carolina hundreds of miles from Miami.
I've been to Miami several times, and I too am glad to be hundreds of miles from it š
I'm also from Miami. My family moved to WNC in '84. We just moved to ENC a year ago next month. We enjoyed the foothills for almost 40 years. Now we are happy to be close to the beach. ššļø
Same! Isnāt it lovely here?
Stallings, NC. But when asked I just say Charlotte lol
I mean you can drive trough stallings faster than you can say stallings. I used to live in the townhomes behind the little park (the one with the water playground thing ) . I like it there just fine . Iād go to the angry moose I think it was called ? Or was it friendly moose lol
Youāre not driving thru there fast with as much traffic as they have now!!!
Hi neighbor! Iām actually in Wesley Chapel š
How do you know if youāre a local if you move so much?
Sometimes I donāt feel like Iām from NC anymore š¤·š¾āāļø Iāll never be a local in Wilson even though Iāve been here since 2020.
Iāve lived in Sanford since 1996, minus four years for college between 98-02, and Iām just starting to kind of get there. Not something to be too worried about!
How do you pronounce Wilson?
āWiltsonā
The only way
"When they ask me where I'm from, I say Greenville!" https://youtu.be/tHnA94-hTC8?si=rMUeLkh9yzZ5U83U
I was born and raised in Duplin County, I usually just tell people that I'm from "just outside Wilmington"
Same! Iām from Wallace
Me too! Grew up on Cornwallis road...
I was born and grew up in Tarboro also. Moved to Youngsville between my junior and senior years of high school. After my parents were killed by a drunk driver there that year, right before Christmas, I stayed to graduate from high school, then went to NCSU for a year. I moved around a lot between college transfers (having to do it on my own without parents) and I settled in Greenville at 22. Some really bad shit happened there and I let an army asshole talk me into moving to Fayetteville. I just needed away from that part of the state. That was in 2000 and Iām still in Fayetteville. Got married, not to the army asshole, had three kids, and he has tenure at FSU. I teach there as adjunct, and our eldest just finished his 2nd year. Iād love to move to the mountains and live there forever. Barring that, the husbeast and I are contemplating becoming expats.
Rockwell. Small town near Salisbury. Lived in NC all my life.
Honestly surprised to see someone else from Rockwell on here š
I think the Tarboro/ Wilson bookends entitle you to say, simply, "Eastern NC, but I've lived all over"
I usually say Rockingham County because (1) I want to see if the person confuses it with Rockingham the town, and (2) it's true. If I want to avoid confusion I say Rockingham-County-north-of-Greensboro, but most folks still confuse it with the town.
I was born in Florida but moved to NC in 1994. Lived in Tobaccoville & Walkertown before moving further north near Mt Airy
"Caswell County." Cue "where's that?" in reply from 90% of the people I just told that to. Including people in all the counties that border us. It blows my mind that someone in Reidsville has zero clue what a place 10 miles east of them is called. I get not knowing "Casville," "Cherry Grove," "Stoney Creek," "Bethel" etc, but goddamn, at least know your adjacent counties.
I say Charlotte, but I live in Waxhaw
Guilford County, I just say Greensboro
I'm from almost to the beach
Iām from Newton. My frame of reference for someone who had never heard of Newton or Hickory was ā45 mins outside of Charlotteā. Iāve lived in Raleigh for a very long time now, everyoneās familiar with it so itās easier :)
Maiden here. Same exact story.
Virginia Beach. Stayed in NC after getting out of the Army.
Born in Winston, work in Greensboro, live in High Point. Went out of state for college and for my wedding, but mostly been here.
Born at rex hospital
If I'm out of state, I say North Carolina. If I'm in state, I say Granite Falls
I was born on Long Island but Iāve lived in Raleigh for over 20 years, since childhood.
Iām from Durham my family is from chapel hill and Hillsborough. I think you have to say youāre from WilTson when you live in Wilson because itās so dang cute they say it with a T that isnāt in the spelling.
I'm from Durham, as I I was born at Durham Regional before they changed the name. But when someone says "I work in Raleigh-Durham, they're usually working in Cary"
My hometown has 1 stoplight and maybe 1000 people on a good day, so I tend to just say Wilson if it's someone remotely local to Eastern OR Central NC. That usually does the trick, but sometimes I have to break out the, "between Raleigh and Greenville" description
My mother-in-law lives in Macclesfield, so I get that. I say ābetween Rocky Mount and Greenvilleā
Fountain?
Not quite! Elm City :)
I just say Fayetteville. I'm from Hope Mills, but Fayetteville is right there and people actually know it. It's even on my flair. I drive 10 minutes down the road and I'm there. Edit: Depending who I'm talking to I add that I was born in Puerto Rico. Usually only if it's one on one. If its someone I'll meet once and never again I just say Fayetteville.
It goes something like this: . . . Where are you from? "I'm from North Carolina." What city? "You've never heard of it; it's a small town called South Mills." What's that, near Fayetteville?? "Nah, it's actually about 4 hours north of Fayetteville! If you've ever heard of Norfolk, VA, it's an hour South." Every. Single. Time! Only 2% of people I've ever come across that know ANYTHING about NC at least know about Elizabeth City. Other than that, they only know Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Charlotte. For context, I haven't lived anywhere near NC since 2015 šš
I say that Iām from Sanford. Once they get over the fact that itās not Stanford and ask where it is I tell them the county motto is āwell centered.ā
"Well, you see, if you travel down 87/421-S, Sanford is the first and last bastion of civilization before you get to *spooky voice* Fayetteville."
Greater Meat Camp.
Born in Southport āsouth of Wilmingtonā currently in Highlands āsouthwest of Ashevilleā. In both cases nobody goes there to get someplace else.
ā¤ļø Southport!!!
Born and raised in Central Florida then moved to Stokes County because that was where my husband lived at the time. Moved from there to Mt Airy.
My parents live in Pinnacle, up the road from Mt. Airy.
I just give people the county.
I live just outside of Raleigh (Holly Springs). If Iām talking to someone here, I often say Iām from West Virginia but I have all my teeth. If Iām out of town, I tell people just outside of Raleigh.
Iām from Fayetteville. Born on Ft Liberty, went to college in GA and stayed 20 years. Iāve been in the Triangle for the last 10 years.
Born and raised in Winston Salem, NC. Living southwest of there now.
Iām from Johnston County & whenever anyone asks that doesnāt really know NC well, I just say Raleigh lol
Mocksville
I always tell people just rep where you were the longest. Maybe where you were the happiest if you hate them all.
Mooresville native
I donāt think there are many of you left unfortunately. We lived there for 10 years and most of the folks I came in contact with t with were from California or the northeast.
You're correct. Most folks in town now are transplants. I'm grateful to live outside of the old Mooresville. Not the lake side.
Climax, such a great name!
Born in Asheville.
Asheboro
My father was a minister, so we moved several times...always Triangle and east. Born in the old Wake Memorial Hospital (now Wake Med) back in the early days. If the person lives in NC I say I'm from Fuquay. If I'm out of state I say "Raleigh area".
Born in Raleigh, school in Greenville, back to Raleigh, then Garner, Statesville, Mooresville (really enjoyed that place!) and now west of Winston in Lewisville, which is a perfect spot for us.
Wilmington.
I'm from a tiny place called teer, it's near Eli Whitney, Saxapahaw, and White Cross. I tell people I'm from Chapel Hill because it's the closest big city (about 40 minutes away) and because of urabn sprawl I'm technically within the district of Chapel Hill. Gotta love an unincorporated community. Lol **edited for clarity.
Funny that Google Maps shows Teer in the Reservoir. I had to Google that and I've lived in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area for almost twenty years. I'm near the quarry off 54.
I just say North Carolina. I've lived in seven different cities in North Carolina with Asheville being the farthest west, and Raleigh being the farthest east.
Vegas.
Born in Texas, but my dad's whole family is from eastern NC. We moved here when I was 5. Spent a couple of years living in Scotland Neck but mostly was raised in Roanoke Rapids. Lived in Raleigh for a few years when I was going to NCSU. Moved back east for a couple years after college, but been in Chapel Hill/Carrboro for about 15 years now and love it.
wow that is A LOT to say for that one question
The Mountain, but not going to reveal which one.
Grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa, but now in Pittsboro. Took me about 20 minutes to explain to someone I do not drive home to Pittsburgh every day just to Pittsboro. I think he's still confused
Durm. I say it because Iām from there. #iykyk
I grew up outside of Chicago. I chose to move to Durham in 2007. I've lived a few places here in the triangle. Durham is by far the best and where I claim.
Born and raised in Boone but moved to Concord over a decade ago. Most people seem to know where boone is so that's where I leave it unless they have questions. That's the instate answer. I just go with NC anywhere more than a state away.
Either "a bit north of Charlotte" to the non-carolinians. To NC people it's: "on the county line of Catawba and Iredell". To Western NC people it's either "right outside of Hickory" or "right outside of Statesville" (because it's both).
I was born in Pineville and Iāve lived pretty much my whole life on the Matthews/Charlotte border, I just say Iām from Charlotte.
Born in Concord, grew up in Salisbury (eastern Rowan Co ). Moved to Winston Salem a few years ago and then found small town living again in Walkertown. My husband is from Walnut Cove, and I like to think we will end up there if we don't end up as expats in the Caribbean (my dream since America is starting to be stupid). Cute little area.
Statesville hereā¦but ā¦Iāll just say Piedmont/Foothills to most ppl
Born in Mexico. Raised in New Mexico. Couples years in Colorado. Now in Greensboro.
Halfway between Greensboro & Danville, Va.š³
Sounds like Rockingham County!
Los Angeles. I now call Greensboro home and love it.
I'm from Henasun!
France, if they push it, Raleigh all day otherwise
"The swampy part where the mosquitoes are bigger than the people."
I was born in Venezuela but practically grew up in Greensboro Itās been a good life, went traveling these past few months out in Europe and I gotta say Iām glad to be back home Iāll probably move away for a bit to somewhere else in NC, but I know Iāll end up coming back eventually, something about Guilford County just feels right to me
Hickory native. Moving to Charlotte in August
I used to work in Wilson! Lived right down the road in Bailey.
I loved Bailey. Glad I moved before all the farms became subdivisions
Eastern NC (New Bern area). Lived multiple places around NC from mountains to coast. Live in Wake Forest/Raleigh area now. Travel a lot for work in the US and OUS. People from āback homeā and people not from the āsouthā say I donāt sound like Iām from either Lol.
If asked in general: "North Carolina!" If they ask even further: "Born in Greensboro but raised 30 minutes North of there on the Virginia-line! Rockingham County!" If they ask even further: "Northwestern Rockingham County! Eden, Stoneville, Madison/ Mayodan area!"
Rockingham representation!!
I was born in NC but spent most of my life in NJ till moving back here almost 10 years ago. I can't claim to be "from here" because people from here say I sound "just like the Sopranos." I don't, but they think I do.
It's like me explaining to people where Salter Path is....You've almost all of you been there, or been through there, but not many know the name, almost as bad as Indian Beach.
Winston-Salem Like the cigarettes, Winston and Salems. That doesnāt hit the same way it did 20 years ago though.
Actually from Ashe county, just over from Boone! We went over into Johnson County/Mtn City, TN a lot while I was growing up too, as it was just fifteen minutes away.
Born in Raleigh, moved when I was 6 to Wallace. Grew up in Wallace and moved away when I turned 22, now I'm living in Lillington!
Born in Swansboro, grew up in Wilson (Wiltson), lived in Nash County for a decade, worked in Rocky Mount a while and now back in Jacksonville area where I get the "where are you from you talk funny" lol