re: history discussion on why SC and Georgia are nicer/classier than Alabama and Mississippi

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My hypothesis is that it has something to do with the way that america was settled

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Pretty much this.

All the earliest settlements were in Virginia then NC and SC. Then Ogelthorpe founded Georgia which was to be a slave free colony (which didn't last). The old money stayed on the coasts and the less fortunate offspring (and newer immigrants) moved west across Cumberland Gap.

My family did this. First ancestor landed in VA in 1650. He had thousands of acres of land around Henrico, VA. Some of his sons went to NC and stayed a couple generations. Then some went to SC and stayed a few generations. Then after Daniel Boone opened Cumberland Gap, my direct ancestors moved west into TN, KY, AL (etc.) I think this was a common migration story among English derived Americans who live in the South. (Louisiana, of course, has lots of Frenchmen and their history I am sure is different. I think they just followed the scent of corn dogs).

TLDR: all the "old money" stayed on the coasts (original settlement areas) and poorer people migrated inland.