Here is a graphic of the most recent presidential election in the south...
And here is a picture of the south 150 million years ago...
Titled, "How presidential elections are impacted by a 100 million year old coastline:, Dr. M discusses why there is that distinctive blue swatch of blue in the deep south.
Now not surprisingly it has everything to do with demographics, as these are counties in these states with large African-American populations. In fact the area has a name, the Black Belt. And while it's name does at this time reasonably refer to the large black population, that was not why it was originally called that.
That second picture above, shows that 100 million years ago that exact area was the coastline of an ancient sea...
During the Cretaceous, 139-65 million years ago, shallow seas covered much of the southern United States. These tropical waters were productive–giving rise to tiny marine plankton with carbonate skeletons which overtime accumulated into massive chalk formations. The chalk, both alkaline and porous, lead to fertile and well-drained soils in a band, mirroring that ancient coastline and stretching across the now much drier South. This arc of rich and dark soils in Alabama has long been known as the Black Belt. But many, including Booker T. Washington, coopted the term to refer to the entire Southern band. Washington wrote in his 1901 autobiography, Up from Slavery, “The term was first used to designate a part of the country which was distinguished by the color of the soil. The part of the country possessing this thick, dark, and naturally rich soil…”
This area was highly conducive to cotton growing. What is fascinating is how closely cotton growing in 1860 matches voting patterns in 2012....
From Geology and Election
And the percentage of slaves, right down to the vertical swath down the middle of Mississippi that stays red...
From Geology and Election
Now I know what you are saying, "Poppycock! The earth is only 6,000 years!" and...
Oh wait, you aren't saying that. Silly me, I forgot...science, after all.