A Divided Dixie

This map is a representation of the region Dixie as defined by Garreau, the red line, and two other formal forms of regions. The brightly colored pink region that is represented on the map reflects a formal region of dialect. In this region of the south, people refer to carbonated beverages as "Coke" as opposed to soda or pop, which is prevalent in other regions of North America. The other polygons represented on the map reflect the major denominations of the christian religion in the south. The southern united states is majority christian in faith and the two major denominations are Baptists, green, and Catholic, blue.
I have divided Dixie by these two different maps of formal regions. During this assignment I found it very hard to define what makes a culture unique. I chose to divide the region of Dixie by dialect and religion, because I believe that some of the most defining factors of Dixie are religion and language. Because the majority of the South speaks English, it was hard to reflect that on a map. I found a map of America that divided regions based on the Coke vs. Pop/Soda terminology debate. In the south, people are more likely to call a carbonated beverage "Coke" versus "Pop" or "Soda." One of the biggest theories for the difference in dialect  is that Coke was created in the south, in Atlanta, Georgia, and during the great depression, Coke factories provided much needed jobs to poor southerners. This is just one of the quirks that makes Dixie, Dixie and I represent that in the pink polygon on my map. The other polygons represent the other way I chose to divide Dixie. Religion is very important to the people of Dixie, and the most prominent religion is Christianity. I then divided Dixie into the two most popular denominations of Christianity in the south which are Baptist (green) and Catholic (blue). After I created all of the polygons and overlapped them, I noticed that a grey area started to form in the center of the region of "Dixie". I have carved that new region in the yellow line and named it "The Deep South." This is the area that I feel represents "Dixie" better than Garreau's map. It is smaller and more southerly located. From just using two formal regions, dialect and religion, it is clear to see a more defined Dixie.
http://www.vox.com/2015/2/17/7917165/maps-that-explain-america

In this map, according to Garreau, the red line represents the region of Dixie. The points on the map represent different automotive businesses that have the word "Dixe" in their name. The highest concentration  of "Dixie" automotive businesses are within Garreau's Dixie region.  The yellow points are outside the region, and the red ones are within the "Dixie" region.

According to the reading, the Dixie region is formed by all three methods of regions, formal, vernacular and functional. With the mapping of the Dixie Automotive businesses we are attempting to look at Dixie in a formal region. We found that this isn't always an ideal way to map the region Dixie because several variables distort the data. The highest concentration of Dixie Automotive businesses is within Garreau's idea of  the Dixie region, however, there are some businesses outside of the line. Upon further investigation by using google maps street view, many of the businesses in Florida and North of the "Dixie" region are named "Dixie" because of the hwy or street that the business is on, or the family that owns the business is named "Dixie" . These businesses have nothing to do with the south or the Dixie region, and only lend that name to their business because of their location or family name and not their sense of "Dixie pride".

The Concentrations of Vietnamese immigrants in New Orleans

This is a map of New Orleans that depicts the population of Vietnamese immigrants in the New Orleans area. The two orange pins on the map show the two largest concentrations of Vietnamese immigrants to New Orleans. The highest population of immigrants from Vietnam to New Orleans, 442 people, is in little Vietnam, and the second can be found just 7 miles south of little Vietnam with a population of 127 immigrants. Both areas are highlighted in a light purple to make it easier to distinguish between the rest of the parish.

My map of the Versailles Gardens in New Orleans