1. Everyone Knows The Tomahawk Chop
Source: YouTube user KENFL74
Tallahassee loves their championship-winning Seminoles, and shows it with a very... unique chant. The Seminole tribe actually assisted the school with creating an authentic looking costume for Chief Osceola. It’s pretty catchy, and you’ll find yourself chanting and chopping along with everyone.
2. Tallahasseans Wear Pretty Much Only Garnet and Gold
Florida State basically owns those colors, right? It's hard for locals to imagine their teams in any other color. Surprisingly, long, long ago the Florida State Seminole colors were purple and gold. The colors did not transpire to garnet and gold until 1905. Thankfully.
3. If You're Smart, You Side With The Chop And Not The Chomp
It is possible to live in Tallahassee and root for the Florida Gators, but it isn’t advised.
4. Everyone Gets Used To That Wispy Stuff On The Trees
It might look a little weird at first, but once you get used to Spanish Moss you’ll learn to love it. The flowering plant grows from trees like Southern Live Oak and Bald Cypress. It has a kind of romantic and mysterious feel to it.
5. No One Can Deny Tallahassee Is A College Town
It doesn’t take long to learn that Tallahassee is a college town. Florida State University may take center stage, but it is not the only school of higher learning in the capital city. Tallahassee is home to: Florida A & M, Tallahassee Community College, Flagler College, Lively Technical College, Flagler College and more.
6. Everyone Knows Bobby Bowden Could Be Mayor
Coach Bobby Bowden led Florida State University to two NCAA championships and had only one losing season during 34 years at the University. He’s basically a god.
7. Tallahasseans Live In Prime Bottlenose Dolphin Viewing Country
The Gulf of Mexico is only 22 miles from Tallahassee and is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of dolphins. The Gulf is estimated to have more than 40,000 bottlenose dolphins and is also one of the seashell capitals of the world, with more than 400 shell species.
8. Tallahassee Is The Capital For A Specific Reason, Actually
People probably assume the capital of Florida is Miami, or maybe Orlando. But it’s Tallahassee, and for good reason. It’s halfway between St. Augustine and Pensacola, and broke a tie between the two cities that were competing to become the capital city. And the first capitol building? A log cabin.
9. Everyone In Tallahassee Still Runs Southern
It’s just across the border from Georgia, and the Southern influence is still very visible, even in the architecture. You’ll even notice it in how people talk...
10. Folks In Tallahassee Will Show You What A True Florida Accent Sounds Like
Panhandle folks don’t have the same accents as their Florida neighbors to the south. Tallahassee speech is punctuated by a true Florida southern drawl. It is not watered down, as it is in West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and points south. The regional influence of Tallahassee is southern; Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia.
11. Everyone Knows There Are Only Two Seasons In Tallahassee
Football and summer.
12. The Capitol Building Is Basically A High-Rise
Florida’s capitol building isn’t in the traditional style like those you might find to the east, or even the classic style of the capitol in D.C. But it’s just as imposing. Believe it or not, Florida’s fourth capitol building is 22 stories tall. The new one, that is.
13. People In Tallahassee Learn To Deal With Politicians
As the county seat, Tallahassee endures a lot of political makers and shakers. All eyes are on Tallahassee when the legislature convenes. Otherwise, the Leon County city receives far less attention from the rest of the state. Significantly, Leon County has the highest voter turnout than any other county in the State of Florida.
14. Everyone In Tallahassee Follows The Mastodon On Twitter
The remains of a five - ton mastodon were discovered in Wakulla Springs, just north of Tallahassee. It is fitting that Hermon the mastodon’s skeletal remains were found in one of the oldest and deepest freshwater springs in the world. What’s left of Hermon is on display at the Museum of Florida History. Want to learn more about Tallahassee’s prehistoric friend, read his tweets at twitter.com/HermanMastodon.
15. Tallahassee Holds T-Pain's Heart
There is no “T” in Faheem Rashid Najm. There is in “T” – Pain. The “T” is the rappers’ tribute to Tallahassee.
16. Tallahasseeans Will Tell You The City Isn’t All Flat
Florida doesn’t really have what you would call peaks, but Tallahassee is not as flat as some areas in the Sunshine State. It sits 230 feet above sea level and its highest elevation is 280 feet. The capitol complex, situated on the downtown ridge is one of the highest elevations in the city.
17. Don't Worry, “FAMU” Is Actually Not A Bad Word
FAMU is an acronym for Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Come to think of it, FAMU probably is a bad word to its division rivalry, Bethune Cookman University. The FAMU Rattlers and B-CU Wildcats have been dueling since 1978 in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic.
18. For Tallahasseans, Trash Talking The Hurricanes Is Always Acceptable
Tallahasseans, who follow football, talk trash about any team that plays against the Seminoles. No team is immune, but there is special disdain reserved for the Miami Hurricanes. It is one of the few things that Seminoles and Gators can agree on.
19. Everyone In Tallahassee Waves Like They’re In A Parade Every Day
Tallahassee is a friendly town. People actually speak to one another, and when they don’t speak, they still wave to say hello.
20. Tallahassee Folks Get Used To The Weird Traffic Patterns
Two major colleges, legislative sessions and a peninsula. You do the math. Traffic congestion is a challenge. Also, a yellow light seems to indicate to most drivers that it’s time to fly. So, if your light turns green, don’t go. Pause to check if the intersection is clear.
21. Everyone Can Only Dream Of A White Christmas
Crazy, I know. But, it has been known to snow in Tallahassee. It is not probable that it will snow in Tallahassee on Christmas, but it could and has happened. It snowed on Christmas in 1989. And roughly every 17 years or so, you get a little dusting.
22. But They Live In The Birthplace Of Christmas—Probably
Well, maybe. Christmas began in Bethlehem, but Tallahassee may have been the first North American city to celebrate the Christian holiday. There’s some question as to whether Conquistador Hernando de Soto brought the celebration to Tallahassee. There is no hard proof, but it has been a significant part of the city’s folklore, and has been based on artifacts discovered in 1987 dating dated back to the 16th century.
23. Folks In Tallahassee Keep Things Slow
Tallahassee operates at a slightly slower pace than the rest of Florida. People think of the Florida Keys as “laid back” and go there to get there “Key’s Attitude” on. The Keys have nothing on Tallahassee. Tallahasseans know how to stop and smell the roses.
What’s something you learned living in Tallahassee? Tell us in the comments below!
