What is Middle America? (middle-class, income, living in)

[czb2004]

Anyone know exactly what states people are talking about when they refer to "Middle America"? Is it just another way of saying the Midwest or is it the Great Plains? Or is it everywhere but the large cities on the East Coast and West Coast? Just curious because I am from Ohio and have heard it referred to as "Middle America," but it is geographically no where near the middle of the country. I would not include the Great Lakes states in this definition because there are many large and diverse urban centers in this part of the country.

[Clyde81]

*The West Indies.
*Mexico.
*The nations of Central America.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_America_(Americas)

[TylerJAX]

Everything in between the Northeast, the West Coast, and South Florida

[Thomas R.]

I think it could mean more than one thing.

It can mean "Middle-class Americans not on the coasts" or "The parts of the Central Time Zone that aren't coastal." Maybe more than those two as well.

[Manolón]

Middle America is just your average Joe living away from cosmopolitan areas such as East Coast, West Coast and Southern Florida.

[GraniteStater]

I generally think of Middle America as rural areas and out of the mainstream. These areas typically feature a less diverse economy, less in-migration, more fiscal conservatism, and a general resistance to change. Larger cities in Middle America generally feature a much more globalised economy, having adopted a neoliberal economic strategy. These places are more economically diverse, more racially diverse, more culturally diverse, less neurotic, higher income, and more accepting of change.

[marleymaple]

When I refer to middle America I generally mean away from the Southwest, metro East Coast and South Florida. For instance, to me someone living in Wyoming could be considered middle America even though it's not actually the middle geographically speaking. Same could go for someone SC and NC even though they are located on the coast. I would still consider Louisville to be Middle America even though it is a city. I've also met a few people that refer to middle America when literally talking about the Midwest/plains.

[Stars&StripesForever]

Middle America

North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas
Oklahoma
Texas
Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana
Wisconsin
Illinois
Western U.P. of Michigan

Indiana (maybe)
Mississippi (maybe)

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Indiana (yes)
Mississippi (hell no)
Arkansas (no)
Louisiana (no)

[Stars&StripesForever]

Originally Posted by Min-Chi-Cbus

Indiana (yes)
Mississippi (hell no)
Arkansas (no)
Louisiana (no)

Divide the nation in thirds:

Arkansas fits middle America
Indiana is somewhat out, that's why I gave it a maybe, as it's in the eastern-third.
Louisiana is in the central third, and much of Mississippi is too, hence a "maybe".