Delaware and the Mason-Dixon Line (Wilmington, New Castle: hotel, taxes, live)

[doctorjef]

The northern arc boundary was originally dictated by Charles II's younger brother, at that time Duke of York and later the ill-fated James II (overthrown in the Glorious Revolution and replaced by co-regnants William III and Mary II). Mason and Dixon did survey another "vertical" boundary between Maryland and Delaware. There had historically been difficulty getting the northern arc to line up properly with the north to south line defining the MD-DE border and I think Mason and Dixon reconciled that, but with a slight "jog" or irregularity in the border. There's plenty on the web about this topic, but I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment.

[Richmonder27]

I believe Deleware is a true border state. I consider it Mid-Atlantic with both Northern and Southern elements.

Virginia, however, is a TRULY Southern state. Yes, even NOVA. Virginia was part of the 11 states of the Confederacy, so its a done deal.

Maryland is like Deleware, only leaning even more towards Southern. Deleware has that part where it goes towards Philadelphia, and that area is not at all Southern of course

Dover on down is relatively Southern.

[doctorjef]

If you read through this thread from the beginning, you'll see that this discussion has pretty much already been had.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

If you read through this thread from the beginning, you'll see that this discussion has pretty much already been had.

I see no reason why the discussion cannot continue. I enjoy reading the various opinions that everyone brings to this thread, and to the forum in general. I hope that others will continue to share their thoughts on this topic.

[subwayfan]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

I'm from the north...so let me say

1) DE is a northern state if you speak of New Castle County and Kent County. They are both allies of Philly...which is a northern city.

2) MD is a southern state...it is NOT like NC but it is NOT like NJ...it really is more mid atlantic with a southern tilt...but do not insult the north and call MD, VA, or DC northern...they aren't.

3) The problem with MD transplants is sprawl..but otherwise the NY transplants bring a welcome change from those nasty Baltimore accents.

Agree with that, though I'd lump the northeasternmost Cecil County MD with DE. That county really only in MD because it connects Harford County with the Eastern Shore.

Cecil county isn't even in Baltimore's metropolitan area (or extended metro area...where York Co. PA is), only its TV market is same, because of the state commonality. FM market, commuting patterns and retail: people in Cecil cross into DE. Elkton is serviced by Delaware's transit not MTA/MARC either. The funny thing about Elkton is it is minutes away from U.Delaware in Newark, but its out-of-state, so Elkton residents have a choice of UMBC and UM-College Park as in state schools.

It's when one crosses the Susquehanna River, from Harford County into Cecil County, with the unavoidable $5 toll on I95 - you're entering the North

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by subwayfan

Agree with that, though I'd lump the northeasternmost Cecil County MD with DE. That county really only in MD because it connects Harford County with the Eastern Shore.

Cecil county isn't even in Baltimore's metropolitan area (or extended metro area...where York Co. PA is), only its TV market is same, because of the state commonality. FM market, commuting patterns and retail: people in Cecil cross into DE. Elkton is serviced by Delaware's transit not MTA/MARC either. The funny thing about Elkton is it is minutes away from U.Delaware in Newark, but its out-of-state, so Elkton residents have a choice of UMBC and UM-College Park as in state schools.

It's when one crosses the Susquehanna River, from Harford County into Cecil County, with the unavoidable $5 toll on I95 - you're entering the North

It's funny you should say that about part of Maryland should be included with Delaware but in my experience, the state lines are pretty firm as far as the residents are concerned. We used to live in Garnet Valley, PA and our backyard was the actual state line between PA and Delaware. Literally, we stepped into Delaware from our yard and because of that we had hardly any interaction with our Delaware neighbors. Those kids went to Delaware schools and the families got the Wilmington News Journal and we got the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Growing up in lower Delaware, Maryland was always a very short ride away but it didn't seem to really blend into Delaware - it was, no question, a different state. This was probably more important to me as a young adult when the drinking age was 20 in Delaware and 18 in Maryland!

I think the accent in lower Delaware is more of a rural one then a real Southern one. My relatives are mostly from South Jersey and they didn't sound that different from us.

[subwayfan]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

It's funny you should say that about part of Maryland should be included with Delaware but in my experience, the state lines are pretty firm as far as the residents are concerned. We used to live in Garnet Valley, PA and our backyard was the actual state line between PA and Delaware. Literally, we stepped into Delaware from our yard and because of that we had hardly any interaction with our Delaware neighbors. Those kids went to Delaware schools and the families got the Wilmington News Journal and we got the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Growing up in lower Delaware, Maryland was always a very short ride away but it didn't seem to really blend into Delaware - it was, no question, a different state. This was probably more important to me as a young adult when the drinking age was 20 in Delaware and 18 in Maryland!

I think the accent in lower Delaware is more of a rural one then a real Southern one. My relatives are mostly from South Jersey and they didn't sound that different from us.

Lower Delaware I'm not too familiar with, but Cecil County MD has adjacency with Northern DE.

Unlike SE PA or Northern DE, Cecil is different because its so underserved by its own state, i.e. interests in Baltimore, Frederick or Washington metro Maryland (as seen by the lack of connecting transit, the hefty toll one pays when crossing into southbound into the rest of the state via US-40 or I-95.) Because of MD's sales tax (even on clothing), retailers opt to be on the DE side, so Cecil County residents rely alot on traveling to DE. And, Wilmington, DE is the nearest city which I'm sure there is a number of MD residents working in DE.

There is always a difference when you cross states since ppl in a different state have different needs People in Cecil County are affected on what's going on in Annapolis.

Within the Philadelphia market, if one lives in Camden County, and moves to Burlington or Gloucester counties (or maybe even Mercer like Hamilton or Lawrenceville) its a small change, mostly dependant on the township.
Greater change moving from Camden County to Central NJ, Philadelphia or its western suburbs, Northern DE, or the Shore.
Even greater change moving to North Jersey (where one is on the NYC pace).
And moving elsewhere is a obviously even a bigger change, since its totally out of state, out of Philadelphia metro area.

Has there been ever a movement to get something on the lines of something truly local and unifying Delaware? Like a Delaware TV station? I know there is just a Pax/ion station and WHYY but they act as Philly stations.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by subwayfan

Has there been ever a movement to get something on the lines of something truly local and unifying Delaware? Like a Delaware TV station? I know there is just a Pax/ion station and WHYY but they act as Philly stations.

But what other state has a statewide TV station? I can't think of any in the four states we've lived in. There's always a sort of friendly rivalry between the different parts of every state, but in the end the kids are learning the state history and learning to appreciate (hopefully) their state. When we lived in SW Virginia, there was a feeling that the people in NOVA were a little too fast paced and "busy". When we lived in upstate NY, there was a feeling that NYC got all the attention and sucked all the tax money for their needs. Sort of the same thing with Philadelphia and the rest of the state.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

When we lived in upstate NY, there was a feeling that NYC got all the attention and sucked all the tax money for their needs. Sort of the same thing with Philadelphia and the rest of the state.

As a long time resident of a New York City suburb, you're absolutely right! We're thirty miles north of the city and for all people know about us, we might as well be Canada!

Next year, when I sent into Kent County, I'll be very happy - even without a dedicated TV station.

[subwayfan]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

But what other state has a statewide TV station? I can't think of any in the four states we've lived in. There's always a sort of friendly rivalry between the different parts of every state, but in the end the kids are learning the state history and learning to appreciate (hopefully) their state. When we lived in SW Virginia, there was a feeling that the people in NOVA were a little too fast paced and "busy". When we lived in upstate NY, there was a feeling that NYC got all the attention and sucked all the tax money for their needs. Sort of the same thing with Philadelphia and the rest of the state.

WMUR 9 (ABC), Manchester for New Hampshire

Providence stations cover Rhode Island.

Hartford/New Haven stations cover most of CT, except for Fairfield Co. though they have cable coverage in Fairfield.

Honolulu for Hawaii.

I thought Delaware with its small size could be classified like these states. I mean isn't every location within 60 miles of Dover?

I thought PA was different (than NY or MA-whereby Boston sucks out everything), and that Harrisburg/PA treats Philly as just one city in the state, and Pittsburgh, Allentown and other markets have importance.

The closest thing Delaware has is WHYY with its paltry 5:30pm newscast.