[kevxu]

Originally Posted by ShanField

Although I sometimes work in Michigan, I don't have much experience in the rest of mid-America. I was talking to a colleague of mine the other day, who made some kind of statement about Arkansas being a part of the Southwest (Like Texas). This confused me, because when I think of Arkansas, I think of the Midwest/Great Plains area (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma). This may have been discussed before, but isn't Arkansas considered to be in the Midwest as far as geography, accents, culture, ect? Not Southern like Tennessee or North Carolina, but a little redneck, like Nebraska.

Unless they've moved it, it's in the South.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Katiana

That's how I found this and that's what I think too, though I like this post by mnita:

kat, as I have said in other posts, AR is very southern, but the NW section is a mixture of retired people from all over the country, primarily Il, Wi, Mi, MN, Iowa and Nebraska, plus the influence of major companies, primarily Wal Mart who have move people from all over the country to Benton county. Just last year about 75 were moved from NY to here: thus we are very different from the rest of the state. A perfect example: the 2 counties in NWA, Washington and Benton are heavily Republican. The rest of the state, although they vote Republican more all the time they are registered Democrat.Of course I am generalizing; there are other regions of the state that have a high % of Republican, but not to the extent of Benton co. The Republicans here are not the Bible Belt types you get in Mississippi or other parts of the state, they are not Rednecks, they are fiscally conservative. Add to that, because of the senior influence from the northern states, you get a certain hominess feeling. I don't know exactly how to explain it without stepping on toes or insulting people, but you reallyhave to live here to totally understand. Maybe this will help: of all the social group we are involved with, I can only think of three people with truely deep southern accents: 1 was born and raised in Dallas, one in LA and one in Little Rock. Our granddaughter graduated from the university of AR, of all her sorority sisters that she is still in contact with, not one is from AR. They are from TX, CA, Mo, Ok and Il.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by nmnita

kat, as I have said in other posts, AR is very southern, but the NW section is a mixture of retired people from all over the country, primarily Il, Wi, Mi, MN, Iowa and Nebraska, plus the influence of major companies, primarily Wal Mart who have move people from all over the country to Benton county. Just last year about 75 were moved from NY to here: thus we are very different from the rest of the state. A perfect example: the 2 counties in NWA, Washington and Benton are heavily Republican. The rest of the state, although they vote Republican more all the time they are registered Democrat.Of course I am generalizing; there are other regions of the state that have a high % of Republican, but not to the extent of Benton co. The Republicans here are not the Bible Belt types you get in Mississippi or other parts of the state, they are not Rednecks, they are fiscally conservative. Add to that, because of the senior influence from the northern states, you get a certain hominess feeling. I don't know exactly how to explain it without stepping on toes or insulting people, but you reallyhave to live here to totally understand. Maybe this will help: of all the social group we are involved with, I can only think of three people with truely deep southern accents: 1 was born and raised in Dallas, one in LA and one in Little Rock. Our granddaughter graduated from the university of AR, of all her sorority sisters that she is still in contact with, not one is from AR. They are from TX, CA, Mo, Ok and Il.

It sounds neat, acutally. I would like to visit your state some day. I love Joan Hess' books, some set in a fictional college town in AR, and some set in a fictional small town there.

[GunnerTHB]

Jonesboro is in Northern Arkansas and there is absolutely nothing midwestern about it. Blytheville is on the northern border of Arkansas and there is nothing midwestern about it either.......

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Katiana

It sounds neat, acutally. I would like to visit your state some day. I love Joan Hess' books, some set in a fictional college town in AR, and some set in a fictional small town there.

Even if we have some differences, you are always welcome, you can stay with us and see the wonders of NWA. One of the true gems is Crystal Bridges, one of the top Art Museums in the country and we are about 25 minutes from it: we have Confederate battle fields, the wonderful little touristy town of Eureka Springs, green open fields (well green most years) a true mixture of rural and uban and it is very diverse culturally, believe it or not. The largest Marshall Island settlement in the world, outside of the island is right here in our back yard.

See ya someday, just call ahead of time., we will have the sweet tea or the wine ready for you. .

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by GunnerTHB

Jonesboro is in Northern Arkansas and there is absolutely nothing midwestern about it. Blytheville is on the northern border of Arkansas and there is nothing midwestern about it either.......

Where in the world are you getting the idea Johsnbora is NW AR? Have you lived or visited it and have you lived or spent any time in Benton or Washington Counties? Jonesboro is almost 5 hours from Fayetteville, which is the most southern tip of NoWest AR. How can you compare Jonesboro to NWA? I am a little surprised you live in MO and you think Jonesboro is NWA, that is what we are talking about, not all of AR. Blythville is 6 hours away: both cities are on the tN border as well, which would make them much more southern culturally than an area on the Mo,Ok, Kansas border.Comparing Jonesboro to Bentonville would be like comparing Needles Ca with Lake Tahoe, Ca; they both border NV.

[markymarq81]

Arkansas is definitely the south. I grew up in New York and lived in Arkansas for 5 yrs, now live in North Carolina. I run into a lot of people from states like South Carolina and Georgia that argue that Ark. is the midwest. The Midwest would be Missouri. I always considered it a pointless state more than anything else.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Even if we have some differences, you are always welcome, you can stay with us and see the wonders of NWA. One of the true gems is Crystal Bridges, one of the top Art Museums in the country and we are about 25 minutes from it: we have Confederate battle fields, the wonderful little touristy town of Eureka Springs, green open fields (well green most years) a true mixture of rural and uban and it is very diverse culturally, believe it or not. The largest Marshall Island settlement in the world, outside of the island is right here in our back yard.

See ya someday, just call ahead of time., we will have the sweet tea or the wine ready for you. .

Wine sounds good right now! Thanks!

[LILRAZORHOG]

Originally Posted by markymarq81

I run into a lot of people from states like South Carolina and Georgia that argue that Ark. is the midwest.

Many people failed geography and history class.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by markymarq81

Arkansas is definitely the south. I grew up in New York and lived in Arkansas for 5 yrs, now live in North Carolina. I run into a lot of people from states like South Carolina and Georgia that argue that Ark. is the midwest. The Midwest would be Missouri. I always considered it a pointless state more than anything else.

Are you saying AR is a pointless state? What makes you say that or are you referring to MO, it also is no more a pointless state than any other state..Every state has pros and cons and every state has something for some people. Where in AR did you live? Where in NO Carolina do you live, do you consider NO Carolina useless as well and what does any of this have to do with whether AR is the southern most tip of the midwest or the northern most tip of the south?