The American South is a large region of the United States stretching from Virginia and Kentucky down to Florida and west to Texas. When most people talk about the South, they mean states like Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Arkansas.

Today's South is known for distinctive traditions: warm hospitality, slower-paced conversation, sweet tea, barbecue styles that vary passionately from state to state, blues and country music, college football rivalries, and a storytelling culture. Southern accents vary widely (a Texas drawl sounds different from a Georgia accent), but they're instantly recognizable. Writers like Mark Twain captured Southern life and speech in classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Major Southern cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Houston, and New Orleans blend traditional Southern culture with modern industry and diverse populations. The region that was once primarily rural and agricultural now includes major technology centers, universities, and businesses, while still maintaining many of its cultural traditions.