That's not a surprise, this area was settled by Okies and Arkies back in the 1930s (think The Grapes of Wrath, it was set in the Central Valley). My husband's family all has southern accents even after living here 60 years, and so do many of the older folks at my church. It really feels like home here.
Grapes of Wrath,<<<
Now, you know how I came to California in the 1930’s.
I find that I still do better with southern folks, and my sister was shocked at my choice of words, she was born in San Diego in 1945, so she is almost not related to those of us who came west, from Texas as fruit tramps.
It must be something in the salt air, that makes them so different from us.