What are the first states to come to mind when you "East Coast" (colleges, live)

[Spreadofknowledge]

Geographically: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, & Florida.

Culturally: The New England states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massahcusetts, Rhode Island, & Connecticut). The Mid Atlantic states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, & Virginia). And Florida. But Mainly the Mid Atlantic region.

[Justin Scott]

All of the coastal states from Maine to Virginia.

[That_One_Guy]

In terms of East Coast in general, the first thing I think of is NY probably because I'm from there.

But when talking about East coast beaches, the first place my mind goes to is Florida.

[TTG2020]

Any state that touches the Atlantic Ocean.

[Unsightlypickle]

From a Californian's immediate mental association: Always very northeastern aka New England. New Jersey is probably the most southern I immediately think of for east coast. So,

New Jersey (sorta)
New York (but not really)
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Maine
and even Vermont (even though it doesn't even have a coastline, oh well)

I definitely have a mental association with the east coast and thick deciduous forests, rocky beaches, lighthouses, lobster, you know the typical stereotypes.

[Peasy973]

DC to Boston

[SunGrins]

New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Not so much New England which is Maine to Connecticut in my mind...the coast is more complicated there with bays, sounds, and islands. Then there's Delaware and Chesapeake bays to the south by Delaware and Maryland and Virginia. North Carolina fully confronts the sea with the Outer Banks and the protected Pamlico Sound. To the south it is marshes and islands in South Carolina and into Georgia and then there is Florida...sort of a place unto itself.

[Ghengis]

mostly Michigan, a little bit of Indiana

[The_General]

I'm from New England so when I think of the East Coast I think of the Northeast because if I was talking about North Carolina or South Carolina I'd call it the South even though the Carolina's are just as much on the east coast as Massachusetts.

[Mutiny77]

"East Coast" is more of a cultural designation of sorts to me than a strict geographic designation, so I always think of the Northeastern states first and foremost.