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Location: Cleveland bound with MPLS in the rear-view
5,509 posts, read 11,875,397 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by callmemaybe
It would be easier to say which states AREN'T quintessentially American.
I would say, Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Vermont, and southern Florida feel like 'outliers' and don't really exude a very strong vibe of Americana.
I agree with this one, especially since this isn't a state -- an immediate outlier!
I was going to say Ohio because their plate says "the heart of it all," or something like that.
I'm going to say Illinois. Its "test tube" shape has some different things going on. The north is flat and feels Midwestern. The south touches Appalachia and the terrain rolls. In the north, people speak with a Chicaaago accent. In the south, they speak with a twang. In the north, Catholics dominate. In the south, there are more Protestants. It has towns where you'd think the people are inbred and it has Chicago. I am more comfortable saying that Chicago is a more prototypical American big city than I am about New York or Los Angeles. Chicago may be multi-ethnic and have an enormous, busy airport, but it speaks to Americana more than do Los Angeles or New York, which have more of an "eff you, I'll do what I want" streak. Then, Chicago is a railroad hub and also a Great Lakes port. So, in the end, I think Illinois accommodates all aspects of Americana, whereas Los Angeles, New York and even Houston are too distinct in representing their regional quirks, and states, to "qualify" CA, NY and TX, respectively.
Last edited by robertpolyglot; 05-21-2012 at 08:34 PM..
Location: Cleveland bound with MPLS in the rear-view
5,509 posts, read 11,875,397 times
Reputation: 2501
Quote:
Originally Posted by kidphilly
Nope PSU; but have always hated OSU even prior to joining the big ten
nothing against the state tho
Hahaha, fair enough! I was just in State College for a seminar and the town was surprisingly fun for such a small city! I really loved Zeno's beer selection and atmosphere!!
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,047,835 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by robertpolyglot
I was going to say Ohio because their plate says "the heart of it all," or something like that.
I'm going to say Illinois. Its "test tube" shape has some different things going on. The north is flat and feels Midwestern. The south touches Appalachia and the terrain rolls. In the north, people speak with a Chicaaago accent. In the south, they speak with a twang. In the north, Catholics dominate. In the south, there are more Protestants. It has towns where you'd think the people are inbred and it has Chicago. I am more comfortable saying that Chicago is a more prototypical American big city than I am about New York or Los Angeles. Chicago may be multi-ethnic and have an enormous, busy airport, but it speaks to Americana more than do Los Angeles or New York, which have more of an "eff you, I'll do what I want" streak. Then, Chicago is a railroad hub and also a Great Lakes port. So, in the end, I think Illinois accommodates all aspects of Americana, whereas Los Angeles, New York and even Houston are too distinct in representing their regional quirks, and states, to "qualify" CA, NY and TX, respectively.
Yes I always saw Chicago as the most American of the big cities, for sure. Although a large city by world standards with a MSA population of 9.5 million or so, it still has a small-town, Midwestern attitude. People in LA and NY are more worldly, at least Manhattan.
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