You won’t meet a stranger in these Southern communities.
Southerners are known for their hospitality, so it’s only fitting that our cities and towns are some of the friendliest places on earth. Our mamas raised us to treat guests with the utmost respect, so if you’re from out of town, we’re rolling out the welcome wagon. You’ll never get lost because someone’s always around to point you in the right direction (and give you a lunch recommendation). Smiling, friendly faces are the norm rather than the exception—from the clerk at the drugstore to folks just passing by on the street. And we guarantee you’ll finish out your trip (no matter how brief) with a couple new friends.
While we like to think that all Southern cities are just as welcoming as the next, there are a few that stand out as being extra gracious. We polled the people who know the South best (that’s you–our readers!) to find out which places have made you feel especially warm and fuzzy. Here are the South’s 15 friendliest cities. Oh, and before y’all go and get all up in arms that your favorite place isn’t included, remember that this list only includes places with a population over 40,000. We’ve got your friendly small towns in a separate story.
Kentucky is the second largest city in Kentucky but steals the number one spot as the state’s friendliest place. Kindness is a universal virtue here, and its best emulated by locals and businesses devoted to the cause. DV8 Kitchen, a restaurant that employs a primarily second-chance work force, was listed time and time again by our readers as one of the places they love to support because of both its mission and its delicious food.
Published on May 21, 2024
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