IN OTHER NEWS – A new survey identifies which three cities in Georgia best represents the cultural identity of the state.

Release:

• Survey of 3,012 respondents to identify the state’s ‘spirit town’.
• Dublin was voted in #1, followed by Rome, and Macon.
• Infographic showing each state’s most representative town.

If your state had to be summed up by just one town – its accent, its quirks, its food, its humor, the very way it moves – where would you point? Not the capital. Not the biggest city. But the place that locals say feels like us.

That’s exactly what Mondly, a language learning platform, set out to uncover in a survey of 3,012 respondents. They asked: 

‘Which town in your state best represents your cultural identity?’

The results spotlighted what we might call each state’s “spirit town” – the place that speaks your language, cooks your comfort food, and lives by the rhythms that shaped you.

Georgians’ top 3 choices were:

#1 Dublin
Dublin sounds like Georgia in full drawl – slow vowels, front-porch greetings, and gospel on the radio. It’s a town where the St. Patrick’s Festival packs Main Street, fried catfish shows up at every fundraiser, and folks say “yes ma’am” in a way that carries meaning and heart. Church is community, high school football is holy, and nobody forgets who taught them to drive. You’ll find hushpuppies at the diner, and unwritten rules that haven’t changed much in decades. Dublin doesn’t rush – it roots.

#2 Rome
With its three rivers and seven hills, Rome borrows the name but makes it Georgia’s own. There’s a strong sense of civic pride here, a love of tradition, and a knack for turning high school football into a town-wide holiday. Small enough to know your neighbors, big enough to stand on its own.

#3 Macon
Macon hums with music and memory. It gave the world Otis Redding’s soul, Little Richard’s fire, and the Allman Brothers’ Southern rock. That sound still echoes in barbershops, churches, and porches where folks tell stories like hymns. This is a place where Black heritage and Southern soul converge, raw and rooted. You’ll find deep-fried everything, brick streets, and a community that knows its worth. Macon doesn’t chase trends – it honors legacy. If Georgia had a soul station, Macon would be on heavy rotation.

Some choices from other states were:

Bayonne, New Jersey
Blunt, loyal, and always ready to tell you where to get the best sub – Bayonne couldn’t be more Jersey if it tried. It’s rowhouses, corner stores, and neighbors who’ve known your family since kindergarten. Scratch the tough surface and there’s a heart under there. A lot of it.

Brooksville, Florida
It’s a bit of a surprise Floridians didn’t pick a beach city like Miami. Brooksville, up in Hernando County, is Florida in its raw, rugged form – oak trees, Spanish moss, backyard grills, and a lifestyle that doesn’t need gloss to shine. It’s the kind of place where locals measure time in county fairs and high school football seasons.

Bluefield, West Virginia
Set deep in the hills, Bluefield carries the soul of southern West Virginia – coal town resilience and a kind of pride you don’t learn, you inherit. People here don’t leave. Or if they do, they find their way back. And that says everything.

Cookeville, Tennessee
In the heart of Tennessee sits Cookeville – part college town, part craft town, all charm. It’s got just enough twang, a porch swing pace, and plenty of ambition humming behind its cafes and workshops. If Tennessee had a middle name, it might just be Cookeville.

Infographic showing each state’s cultural capital

“These towns aren’t always the flashiest or the most visited, but they’re where culture is lived, not just performed. They reflect how people talk, what they celebrate, and how they show up for each other. That’s what makes them powerful symbols of identity,” says a language specialist at Mondly.