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I lived in Vermont and PA. I feel geographically, northern PA is similar to VT, NH and Upstate New York in a lot of ways. The culture and attitudes are very different though.
In general, there isn't really any sense of state pride in any of the six New England states. However, there is a sense of pride to be in New England. Heck, New England is the only sub-region in the nation that has it's own sports team (the Patriots). Depending on the season, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds will have certain items on the menu that are quintessentially New England (i.e. coffee blend, New England clam chowder).
Unlike NY/NJ/PA, New Englanders use a few different words for certain things. The most common one is "grinder" to describe a subway sandwich. Many of us also use the word "carriage" instead of shopping kart, including myself. We use the word "brook" instead of creek. And no one really says "the interstate." We just say "the highway," even if it's an interstate. Allegedly, we also use the word "package store" instead of "liquor store." There are also a few minor differences in accents compared to NY/NJ/PA. For example, we pronounce the word aunt as "ont," not "ant," like most New Yorkers do.
There are MAJOR differences in the way geographic entities are characterized. Usually, a city is a high density, small area. A town is a low density area, in most cases. It's hard to explain. But in places like Florida, for example, certain places are incorporated as cities, even though they look like downright suburbia. But cities in New England always have a significant urban core with a walkable downtown with buildings and shops. Connecticut and Rhode Island don't have county governments. In general, in New England, cities and towns have a lot more control and power, because there is no county governance.
All interstate highways use sequential numbering of exits instead of being numbered by mileage, although there are plans to change this in Connecticut.
As a New Englander myself, I view places like PA and western NY as feeling a bit Midwestern. Just the way people look, act and talk is noticeably different. It's not normal IMO. Southern NJ people even seem mildly southern to us.
New England in general is much more quaint, historical feeling and prettier than NY/NJ/PA, in my opinion, although the Adirondacks, Hudson River valley, Great Lakes and mountains of PA hold their own. NJ has no visible natural beauty unless you go to northwestern NJ. The rest of the state is FLAT like Florida. Rhode Island is also flat, too.
As a New Englander myself, I view places like PA and western NY as feeling a bit Midwestern. Just the way people look, act and talk is noticeably different. It's not normal IMO. Southern NJ people even seem mildly southern to us.
Unfortunately, however, this seems to be based on a lack of sophisticated knowledge regarding more localized accents/cultures in other parts of the country.
I think there is a view among many New Englanders, in my experience, that anything outside of New England has "Southern culture," which is rather odd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321
New England in general is much more quaint, historical feeling and prettier than NY/NJ/PA, in my opinion, although the Adirondacks, Hudson River valley, Great Lakes and mountains of PA hold their own. NJ has no visible natural beauty unless you go to northwestern NJ. The rest of the state is FLAT like Florida. Rhode Island is also flat, too.
I think images strongly drive popular perception, but at the very least, Southern New England (e.g., MA, CT and RI) and the Mid-Atlantic (e.g., NY, NJ, PA, DE and MD) are very similar and comparable in many ways.
I lived in Vermont and PA. I feel geographically, northern PA is similar to VT, NH and Upstate New York in a lot of ways. The culture and attitudes are very different though.
I believe that geologically the Poconos and the Catskills are related to each other. They certainly look the similar to each other to me. However you do see more pine trees as you go further north.
I have always felt at home in Pennsylvania. So I am curious, why do you say that the culture and attitudes of Pennsylvania are very different?
I believe that geologically the Poconos and the Catskills are related to each other. They certainly look the similar to each other to me. However you do see more pine trees as you go further north.
I have always felt at home in Pennsylvania. So I am curious, why do you say that the culture and attitudes of Pennsylvania are very different?
I don't quite get that either. Again, there are definitely some differences (I think there are more liberal/granola types and ex-urbanites [downstaters] in Upstate New York compared to Central Pennsylvania), but, overall, the cultures aren't substantively different.
I don't quite get that either. Again, there are definitely some differences (I think there are more liberal/granola types and ex-urbanites [downstaters] in Upstate New York compared to Central Pennsylvania), but, overall, the cultures aren't substantively different.
Pennsylvania is much more conservative than New York State.
I think there is a view among many New Englanders, in my experience, that anything outside of New England has "Southern culture," which is rather odd.
You're not the only one who's noticed this. Then again, it could just be them putting the cart before the horse in terms of cultural influences. One mistake I've seen many people make (including those in New England) is assuming that Pennsylvania's culture is influenced by far-flung locales, rather than influencing those far-flung locales. Pennsylvania had a very strong colonial culture which exerted its influence on many other areas.
Basically, all the "upper South" is is colonial Southern culture modified by Pennsylvania culture. Pennsylvanians used the Great Wagon Road to settle the Shenandoah Valley, where they were also met by Virginians from the Tidewater. I occasionally refer to the Shenandoah Valley and the I-81 corridor in Virginia as either "Pennsylginia" or "Baja Pennsylvania" because many of the small towns in that area, like Staunton, Harrisonburg and Winchester seemed similar to the small towns around Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. And while Roanoke and Charlottesville are more strongly Southern, there's a bit of Pennsylvania influence in them too.
Pennsylvanians also used the Ohio River and tributaries to settle the mid-South, where they were met by Virginians and Carolinians. It's no coincidence that the general vibe I get in Tennessee is a combination of Pennsylvania and the Carolinas, or that the vibe I get in Nashville is a combination of Pittsburgh and Charlotte, at least once you get past the "Music City" reputation and enter the mundane. Goodlettsville, Hendersonville and Gallatin vaguely reminded me of the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, except with somewhat newer housing in places.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BajanYankee
Pennsylvania is much more conservative than New York State.
A state can be "much more conservative" than New York and still be politically moderate. Pennsylvania is more conservative than New York, New Jersey and Maryland, but more liberal than Ohio and West Virginia.
In general, there isn't really any sense of state pride in any of the six New England states.
I think you're expressing a Connecticut sentiment, not a New England sentiment. If you polled New Hampshirites in particular I suspect the majority would disagree with you there.
[Edit - Mainers and Vermonters would probably also disagree, but they'd be more likely to politely entertain the question]
As for Interstate exit numbers, the New York Thruway is also numbered sequentially rather than by mileage, so it's not a uniquely New England feature.
Last edited by bler144; 12-17-2014 at 05:03 PM..
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