I've lived in four different states over the past ten years, and found that most people I have met are indeed like that. The difference becomes especially obvious when I hang out with visitors or other immigrants. European women for example are much more comfortable with holding hands or throwing their arms around my waist when walking down the street, and they do it even when we are just friends. Americans are the opposite: they seem to have "touch-phobia".

It's a barrier thing.

Our public life is less touchy, but when I'm dating someone I am very affectionate.

Different parts of the US have different customs. Some folks are very personal space (myself and a lot of my family) and some are very - well - "huggy" (my brother's in-laws errr).