Would You Consider Western NY To Be Midwestern, Northeastern, Both Or Neither? (New York: stores, suburbs)

[FL_Watch]

Yes, I know that Western New York is technically in the Northeastern region. But I would personally wager to say that WNY (in general) is culturally closer to Wisconsin or Michigan than anywhere Downstate.

Buffalo feels old and gritty like a stereotypical "Northeastern" city, but I attribute that more to its Rust Belt status than anything else. There really isn't much of an "East Coast" culture in Buffalo's suburbs, and in areas like Jamestown and Olean, there is virtually nothing there that resembles "Downstate" to me. The Italian-American population is slightly above average by US standards, but nowhere near the same extent as Connecticut or New Jersey.

In WNY, the ethnic make-up is mostly German, Polish, Scottish and Irish with Italian-Americans lagging much farther behind (aside from Buffalo and its immediate suburbs).

Buffalo also seemed to have a bit of sprawl in *some* (not all) of its suburbs, with your typical big-box stores lining the corridor. Not to mention many of its suburbs, like North Tonawanda and Lockport, having a blue-collar feel.

What do y'all think? Midwest, Northeast, both or neither? I'd say both. Geographically Northeastern, culturally a blend between the two.

[btownboss4]

Southern Canada, Tim Hortons is there.

[FL_Watch]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

Southern Canada, Tim Hortons is there.

Yeah, actually, I did pick up significant influence from Ontario. Especially in Niagara Falls and Buffalo's northern suburbs. One can say that it's where the Northeast, Upper Midwest and Canada converge and they would be right on the money IMO.

[Maintainschaos]

Northeastern but mostly Great Lakes.

[Empidonax]

I definitely associate WNY more with the Great Lakes (Industrial) Midwest, though there is a Northeast undercurrent there, as well. Buffalo is, after all, a part of the "fish fry belt" that stretches westward toward Milwaukee and other Catholic/Lutheran-heritage industrial areas.

[TheProf]

Buffalo and Cleveland have oft been compared as sister cities because the look (architecturally) and feel similar culturally/ethnically … and they both get tons of snow.

I think it's why both cities are considered Eastern/Midwestern hybrids. To call them "Great Lakes" cities misses the point, because Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee are Great Lakes cities, too, but have a different flavor. For as long as I can remember, Clevelanders have debated whether their city should be classified as Eastern or Midwestern.

[Tusco]

If Upstate and Downstate New York were separate states then we could have a perfect Great Lakes region.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

Northeastern but mostly Great Lakes.

This...It is still Northeastern, also has similarities to Great Lakes cities in the Midwest and in Ontario.

Also, I’d call places like North Tonawanda and Lockport satellite cities instead of suburbs.

[cornsnicker3]

It is simultaneously part of the Great Lakes Region and the Northeast.

[Maroon197]

Buffalo is extremely flat, situated on a Great Lake, has a heavy polish influence, uses terms like “pop”, has fish frys, is very blue collar, has a significant drinking culture, has a distinctly midwestern accent, has low COL, and Is extremely insular. It’s arguably the most stereotypically midwestern city outside of Milwaukee. I can’t think of any northeastern traits aside from the accident of it being located at the extreme edge of the geographically large state of New York.