good question "the back 40" states... (big house, farm)

[dreamofmonterey]

so is this just slang for farmer states? I heard it in reference to the midwest- It also seems to be a point of view from coastal/sophisticated cities. What does everyone think?


sunny

[Art1979]

This is the first I've heard of the term. It wouldn't surprise me, however.

[dreamofmonterey]

I think it's something people on either coast use- sort of like "'fly-over"' country- was just curious what anyone else has heard.....

sunny

[southernlady5464]

I've heard the term in reference to farming...as in the back 40 acres...but not in terms of states. Liz

[lammius]

Never heard it.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

I think it's something people on either coast use- sort of like "'fly-over"' country- was just curious what anyone else has heard.....

sunny

New term for Westerners and West Coasters: "over-the-mountains."

[NCN]

I have always thought the "back forty" refers to the part of a farm farthest from the "Big House." We used to use the term at work refering to the part of the parking lot the employees were allowed to use. Never heard it in reference to a state.

[Art1979]

Originally Posted by North Carolina Native

I have always thought the "back forty" refers to the part of a farm farthest from the "Big House." We used to use the term at work refering to the part of the parking lot the employees were allowed to use. Never heard it in reference to a state.

Yeah, we just equated it to the back end of a plot (city or otherwise). I know it's in reference to to the back forty acres of a farmstead, but we're in farm country anyway.

[M TYPE X]

Coastals likely refer to the inland as the Back Forty States, not that there's anything great about California or New Jersey.

[dullnboring]

Mark me down as another who's never heard this term.