Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
Kevin Drum links to the Bay Area Center's rankings of the most liberal and conservative urban areas, considering only cities with populations above 100,000 people. I'm pleased to report that the town in which I grew up and still live, Durham NC, ranks 61st in the country for liberalism, well ahead of, say, Austin and Athens. When you just look at the Southern cities in the top 100, Durham comes in 9th and the list contains a few surprises.
4. Washington, DC
14. Baltimore, MD
19. Birmingham, AL (!)
26. New Orleans, LA
32. Dallas, TX (!)
39. Memphis, TN
46. Jackson, MS (which is also listed as #47 for some reason, and !)
50. Richmond, VA
61. Durham, NC
63. Alexandria, VA
65. Tallahassee, FL
69. Savannah, GA
72. Greensboro, NC
73. Hollywood, FL
80. Norfolk, VA
82. Columbia, SC
86. Ft. Lauderdale, FL
87. Portsmouth, VA
88. Raleigh, NC
89. Pembroke Pines, FL
93. Austin, TX
94. Virginia Beach, VA
98. Athens, GA
100. Hampton, VA
Of the 24 southern cities in the top 100, 9 are in North Carolina or Virginia. In the top 100 most conservative list (which is, of course, dominated by Southern cities), the two states have only:
41. Chesapeake, VA
93. Winston-Salem, NC
99. Newport News, VA
Interesting.
TrackBackJackson, MS's relatively high "liberal" ranking might have to do with the fact that Jackson State University is there. JSU is, if memory serves, historically African American.
Posted by: Lex at August 13, 2005 12:04 PMExplantions from the Lone Star State: Dallas has a sizeable minority population. Austin has filled up with yuppie scum.
Posted by: Charles Watkins at August 14, 2005 01:22 AMAnd remember, cities are generally more liberal. Jackson and Birmingham will not speak for MS and AL, respectively. Conversely, a 'conservative' City should be seen in context.
There are plenty of rural roads around the country - probably quite a few within an hour or two of Jackson or Birmingham - where a John Kerry bumpersticker will invite gunfire.
Posted by: Froz Gobo at August 14, 2005 01:34 PM