Texas guy with a weird question for Cali peeps

So I got a weird question that just baffles me. I've heard this from a few native Californians and I'm just trying to understand you guys' reason for this. Now this is just a general serious question. So I was at a hotel in Lake Tahoe this past Dec. and met some guy and his family. He asked where I was from and just to make convo I asked him the same. He said, "We're from Orange County."



First thing I though to myself was, "huh, well Orange County is a big place idiot and that tells me nothing." I mean I don't go around telling people I'm from Harris County (where I'm originally from - Hou, TX) which happens to be an even larger and more populous county than Orange County. So the only thing I could think of maybe it's just a part of their culture??? Or maybe he is saying it because he thinks that I will be impressed because all of the T.V. shows about the area, i.e. Laguna Beach, the Hills, Real house wives. I'm not sure but I was leaning towards the later half because of the way he said it, he was realll proud. This is the third native Californian that has said this exact same thing. So what is the reason behind this? BTW this is in no way meant to be offensive or anything like that, it's just a general question.

 

You just answered your own question. Its because Orange county is such a big area. If he said something like, "im from mission viejo or yorba linda," most people that are not from california would think, well where the fuck is that??

Just like me, if I told you im from chula vista, would you know where that is? Probably not. So, its more practical for me to just say San diego.

 

Im not sure but most people are wierd out here! They also dont say I-8 or I-805 but say THE 8 or THE 805 for their highways. I have caught myslef doing that now as well... I am originally from your neighbor to the north... Oklahoma... LOL

 

Yep, I grew up in La Habra, which is in Orange County. People from Orange County don't even know exactly where La Habra is... so when I went off to Europe, and know that I'm up in school in northern cal, i just say Orange county. Even the Hungarian waiters on vacation knew where orange county was. It's not that we are super proud to be from OC because its famous and there are shows filled there (in fact i think most of the locals including me think those shows that try to portray OC is a joke) its just people know it better than all the little towns in it. Unless we say "i live next to disneyland" usually "Orange County" suffices.
But don't get me wrong.. I'm sure there are some out there that are trying to be pretentious too!

 

So than it's just a California thing. Because like I mentioned Harris County is larger than Orange County, but if I'm out of state I don't say "I'm from Harris County." I say I'm from Houston because Houston is the major city in Harris County. But inside of Harris County are smaller areas i.e. Friendswood, Clear Lake, Pasadena, Pearland. But even if I'm from say Clear Lake, I still say I'm from Houston.

See you will say the practical thing like San Diego, and most people can somewhat associate where that city is on a map. That is what I do when I say Houston. But others just use the county, why did the guy just not say "I'm from Newport Beach, it's just outside of San Diego." Or just flat out say "We're from the San Diego area." Maybe I am over thinking this but it was just baffling as hell as why anyone would voluntarily say this.

Well that explains it then. I'm pretty sure the guy was saying it in this manner. Just kind of made me confused and laughed a little inside because he was trying so hard..

 

Its easier to describe where you are from by region than by city. Not that many people outside California, even people from California, know where some of the city's are so saying I'm from Orange County, versus saying I'm from Westminster is easier to describe and understand.

 

I say O.C. because its better known then my little city. Although Mark Sanchez has helped in putting our little city on the map.you are right to say Houston as most everyone knows where its at, Harris co? wheres that?
p.s. those shows do not portray O.C. in real life and Newport Beach is in O.C. not San Diego.

 

And thats why he probably said orange country, because its more PRACTICAL

And btw, Newport beach is not just outside San diego.

 

Its a regional thing, not a Cali thing. So you give the city your from right? Do you think people from New York City might say the same about you only giving a city? They break it down farther with boroughs, and then even farther with communites inside each borough. IE Greenwich Village is inside Manhattan which is inside NYC. You have decided that saying a city is best for your area to describe to others where you are. I think each geographic area can decide for themselves what is the best way for others to understand.

I guess my point is, why would I tell you that you dont know how to describe your area when you are the one that lives there?

 

ok idk why i came in here(no pun intended) but i say knoxville even tho i’m like 25 min from knoxville. because if i said where i lived you would say” where the fuck is that” i have meet people around here that don’t even know where i live when i tell them.

 

Its a regional thing, not a Cali thing.

 

Shit I do that and I'm from Texas. People don't know where Southlake is, but everyone knows DFW

 

Yeah but the point is you say you're from Dallas -FT.Worth, you don't go around saying I'm from Dallas County, or Tarrant County.

So basically the only people who say they are from a particular county are from Orange County. Everyone outside of Orange County says their from a particular city around the actual area they are really from. Regional thing, got it.

 

Damn, this is so true, but I think it applies to all of California. I grew up saying "THE" before highway/freeway numbers and just recently discovered this was a CA thing. Blew my mind.

I'm from OC, but usually just say California. I think anyone that says "Orange County" definitely fits in that category of just wanting to brag about where they are from.

 

I used to get that shit all the time when I was in the Corps. People would ask where you from, "San Jose", I'd reply. They'd say, "where is that?" well, "it's in the south bay, it's the 10th largest city in the country...(quizzical look on their face),"fuck it, I'm from San Francisco". Oh San Francisco, thanks for only being known for hippies and alternative life styles...

 

DING DING DING we have a winnah herrre!!

 

I stay in Walnut. Anyone know where that is???

 

As a former LA County denizen, I think there's probably also a factor of wanting to let you know they're from SoCal without being stuck with the "LA" label. The city of Los Angeles is rather small, but the greater LA metro area is enormous and includes Orange County. I always figured that OC residents just use it as a way of separating themselves from the rest of LA. Nothing necessarily pretentious about it.

 

I usually tell people Im from LA. Yet Im about 20 minutes away from the city. Then if someone asks for a more precise location then I let em know what city Im actually from.