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Believe it or not, I like to consider DC its own creature. That was, after all, its purpose. To not be northern or southern, just American. Hence its capital status and unique laws.
This is understandable and I actually do agree with you on this, but for the sake of this thread, from a cultural and infrastructure standpoint, DC has every characteristic of a northeastern city, not a southern city. I am okay with it not being labeled Southern nor Northern, but unfortunately this never seems to happen here on CD, some will always argue that DC is either Southern or Northern, I have never seen anyone state that DC is neither.
Yeah DC, like Maryland, is a hard one for me. It feels largely though not totally northeastern, but it doesn’t enter my head as a Northeastern place.
Location: Appalachian New York, Formerly Louisiana
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Originally Posted by jcp123
Hm interesting. I wasn’t quite aware of that divide.
Yeah, New England and the "western Northeast" are largely separated by culture and class.
Vermont and far eastern NY being an exception as they have melded into one another over time.
New England is generally better kept up. With a more stable economy and less run-down abandonment in its borders. NY, PA and NJ, despite having some very wealthy reputations, contain a lot of rural and urban decay and tend to harbor a greater number of self identified northern rednecks. We also have a greater connection to the Midwest.
Then you have Maine. While officially part of New England and the US it is a bit more like maritime Canada (and in terms of socio-economic condition, it is the New England state that most closely resembles western NY and central PA).
Yeah, New England and the "western Northeast" are largely separated by culture and class.
Vermont and far eastern NY being an exception as they have melded into one another over time.
New England is generally better kept up. With a more stable economy and less run-down abandonment in its borders. NY, PA and NJ, despite having some very wealthy reputations, contain a lot of rural and urban decay and tend to harbor a greater number of self identified northern rednecks. We also have a greater connection to the Midwest.
Then you have Maine. While officially part of New England and the US it is a bit more like maritime Canada (and in terms of socio-economic condition, it is the New England state that most closely resembles western NY and central PA).
Yeah why is rural PA, NY, and nJ so different from rural MA/VT/CT? It seems like once you cross into New England it changes from confederate flags and rednecks to liberals and prunes. I went to school in upstate NY and the place was just so backwards in it's rural communities.
I agree with this, DC and its surrounding metro is in every shape and form a NORTHEASTERN city, there is just no way that this can be debated, if you compare DC to an actual southern city like Charlotte, the differences are DRAMATIC and quite distinct.. Hence everything from DC and northward IS part of the Northeast.
This isn’t true. DC area has substantial similarities to the southeast. Maryland and DC have aspects of the northeast and south.
Yeah why is rural PA, NY, and nJ so different from rural MA/VT/CT? It seems like once you cross into New England it changes from confederate flags and rednecks to liberals and prunes. I went to school in upstate NY and the place was just so backwards in it's rural communities.
This is an excellent question! I been wondering the same thing myself.
I have a couple of theories myself, the biggest one is that the hinderlands of New York and Pennsylvania are much more working rural then most of New England.
New England
Area: 72,000 square miles
Farmland: 3,870,000 acres (2018)
New York
Area: 54,000 square miles
Farmland: 6,900,000 acres
Pennsylvania
Area: 46,000 square miles
Farmland: 7,300,000 acres
So even though New York has only about 75% of New England area, New York still has more than 3,000,000 more acres in agriculture, helping indicate how much of a working rural environment New York has. In the case of Pennsylvania and New England, the difference is stunning, Pennsylvania has close to twice the amount of acreage, despite having a much smaller land area.
Another reason is that New England's reputation of small town charm attract middle class and upper middle class retirees, weekenders and tourists which bring money into the rural regions.
This isn’t true. DC area has substantial similarities to the southeast. Maryland and DC have aspects of the northeast and south.
Some aspects of the Northeast are also aspects of the South. People are looking at it wrong.
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