Who gets to claim the South? It depends on who you ask.

What makes a place “Southern?” Is it geography, like the Mason-Dixon Line? A mindset? Or something else entirely? The AJC explores the culture, contradictions and identity of the American South, from sweet tea and accents to the booming population and evolving diversity. As the fastest-growing region in the country, the South is both pain and pride, tradition and transformation. So, where does the South really begin, and who gets to decide? Credits. AJC | Getty Images | Library of Congress | JeetsVids | Kelly | Robert Davis Productions | Prelinger Archives | Subway Takes