I think it's also an American rural vs urban south thing.

In general, everyone in urban southern areas is "busier" and more brusque than their rural neighbors. However, southern politeness still demands a token hospitality even to strangers, so you get a weird twilight of warmly-greeted, but coldly-helped.

More rural, and people have (or take) more time. Someone will have no complaint talking about local trivia with you for an hour or more.