Ask teh Lazyweb, because teh Intarwebz did not know!

[tcepsa]

So it turns out that the Internet does not, in fact, know everything yet (and it uncertain on a couple of other points).

First off, it doesn't know about Jefferson Country in Northern California, which may or may not be a secessionist movement to get Northern California to be its own state. After gipsieee managed to remember that she always confuses "Eureka" (Coastal NorCal) and "Yreka" (Central NorCal), I managed to find a single article from a cycling organization in southern Oregon that referenced an attempt by the northernmost counties of California and the southernmost counties of Oregon to form their own state in the 1930s. Aside from that, nothing.

Secondly, it was very uncertain of the origins of the phrase "West by God Virginia".

If you happen to know about either of these, gipsieee and I would be very curious to learn more ^_^

Comments

[free-of-whip.livejournal.com]

Well, here is what Wikipedia says about West by God Virginia:

A common story told about West Virginia is the folktale about how it got the nickname "West, By God, Virginia". According to the legend, a West Virginia native who was being inducted into the US Army during the First World War (some versions make it as early as the Spanish-American War), was repeatedly asked by his induction officer, "What part of Virginia?" And the soldier, finally getting fed up with the confusion, said "Not Virginia! West Virginia! West, by God, Virginia!". This story, whether true or not, has entered American folklore, and it is not unusual to hear not only West Virginians themselves, but other Americans, refer to the state as "West, By God, Virginia";, or often as "West By-God", or sometimes simply as "By-God". Many West Virginians, when travelling outside the state, or when abroad, enjoy paying homage to the legend by referring to their home state in this manner.

[tcepsa.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I found that one. I also found a colorful description of how, during the Civil War, the western Virginians founded their own (Union-friendly) government claiming to be the government of VA, were recognized by Lincoln, sent representatives to Congress, gave themselves permission to secede, and by God formed their own state!

[free-of-whip.livejournal.com]

As for Jefferson County, there is a story about it at this link. You just have to give it a California Zip Code to see the page; I used 95540.

[tcepsa.livejournal.com]

Hehe, that's awesome! Thanks ^_^

[reedrover]

There is a perennial seccessionist movement in Northern California. It comes up in the news every once in a while...

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-24/news/mn-959_1_california-split

Perhaps the most colorful of the secessionist drives was the Yreka Rebellion of 1941, which sought to unite five northern California counties with a chunk of southern Oregon in a new state called Jefferson. These rebels, mainly angry about deteriorating roads, proclaimed their independence and posted armed guards at their borders. But "Inauguration Day" was Dec. 4, 1941. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor three days later, the rebellion collapsed.

... You can sometimes find it by searching for "Alta California" too.

[tcepsa.livejournal.com]

Hehe, that's... really unfortunate timing!

[wetdryvac.livejournal.com]

*considers*

I've been hearing about the secessionist movement for CA, Quebec, and portions of Maine for years and years. All anecdotal, mostly told by people who live in said states and province. Jefferson County has come up often enough in conversation that I recognize the name - but I don't think anyone's specifically connected that to the secessionist movement for me before.

Aside from that, no useful information - though I really do thing West, by God, Virginia could have some other wonderful things to be by. North by Northwest by the transubstantiated kittens of happiness Virginia, for example. I probably need a lot of help.

[janeoftrades.livejournal.com]

Huh, my initial thought on "West By God Virginia" was that when the territory of Virginia was first settled by the British, they proclaimed that the western border of Virginia was as far as the land extended until it reached sea. They didn't know back then exactly how far that was, but that was what they claimed. Of course, this is entirely influenced by extra-special-idjit prof of history that I am currently attending the class of. *eyeroll*

[ursonhec.livejournal.com]

Спасибо за новость! Как раз думал об этом! (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/) (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)

[grondinujybi.livejournal.com]

Спасибо, очень интересно все. (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/) (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)