Are the Ozarks Southern, Midwestern, both, or their own region altogether? (land, baptists)
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The whole area is a mystery to this New Yorker. There are also mountains in Arkansas called the Boston Mountains. I thought the whole area Ozarks, Boston and Quachita mountains were all part of the Ozark chain? Sort of the way the Great Smokies, Alleghanies, Catskills and Green Mountains are all part of the Applachians.
I say again even though one or two of you disagreed with me, that these mountains are pretty interesting and I am suprised not more national attention is payed to them.
THe Ouachita Mountains are occasionally included, but normally are not. The culture is nowhere near to being the same throughout the entire chain. The Boston Mountains normally are considered part of the Ozarks, but are much more mountainous than the rest of the Ozarks.
I associate the Midwest with German-and-Scandinavian American culture, Little House on the Prairie, and farmer's daughters.
I associate the Ozarks with rebel flags and hillbillies.
I don't recall seeing very many rebel flags in most of the Ozarks. The Ozarks were also bitterly divided territory in the Civil War, it was a battleground for both the Union and the Confederacy. Not to mention, hillbillies can be found in much of Upstate New York and the Appalachian portion of Pennsylvania. In fact, they can be found throughout the entire extent of the Appalachian chain. I will agree that yes, the Ozarks do resemble much of Appalachia, and they have been linked as part of the same chain and the lifestyle and territory are very similar to the Appalachian chain. However, there are very clear differences between Ozark culture and Appalachian culture, even where Southern Appalachia is concerned. The Ozarks to me seem to draw on both Northern and Southern influence, more Southern the further south you go.
THe Ouachita Mountains are occasionally included, but normally are not. The culture is nowhere near to being the same throughout the entire chain. The Boston Mountains normally are considered part of the Ozarks, but are much more mountainous than the rest of the Ozarks.
The Ouachitas might sometimes be included by some people but to do so is extremely incorrect geologically speaking. The two mountain regions were created at different times by different forces. The "mountains" portion of Boston Mountains is a bit misleading. Calling it the Boston Plateau is more appropriate. It is the tallest of the three tiered plateaus that were uplifted from a shallow sea basin to form the entire Ozarks region.
Trust me, rebel flags are all over the Ozarks, especially in Arkansas. In Missouri, there's a few places along 60 hwy you can stop in and buy just about any style of rebel flag you want.
I would say that as opposed to the culture in Iowa or Indiana or Illinois and even Kansas (Midwest) that the Ozarks are decidedly more Southern in nature. The Arkansas side moreso than Missouri, of course. Although with the ongoing infiltration of the northern midwesterners seeking warmer climate, the lines are becoming more and more blurred.
Trust me, rebel flags are all over the Ozarks, especially in Arkansas. In Missouri, there's a few places along 60 hwy you can stop in and buy just about any style of rebel flag you want.
If that's what you call all over, perhaps you need to head to other areas of the south or even the mountains of Maryland!!
Yeah, there are plenty of people in the Ozarks who fly it but I've seen it considerable more prevalent in other locales.
Historically speaking, the entire region leaned anti-confederate with several movements taking place throughout the Arkansas side of the hills that were squashed by the Arkansas militias. They burned and sacked Marshall because of ties to anti-confederate movements.
I would say that as opposed to the culture in Iowa or Indiana or Illinois and even Kansas (Midwest) that the Ozarks are decidedly more Southern in nature. The Arkansas side moreso than Missouri, of course. Although with the ongoing infiltration of the northern midwesterners seeking warmer climate, the lines are becoming more and more blurred.
20yrsinBranson
I think that statement is fairly accurate. I have always felt the Arkansas portion was relatively free of Midwestern influence. But even in Rolla, Farmington, Springfield and Joplin, there was a strong amount of Midwestern influence there, however I will concede there was also strong Southern influence. They may have been more Southern at one time, I don't know, but growing up there my dad, who also resided in Louisiana and West Virginia also, is very familiar with Southern culture, and did not describe experiencing much in Joplin. Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana have noticable Southern influence in their culture despite most of the landscape being consistent with the Midwest. I'm not certain that people come to the Ozarks necessarily for a warmer climate, as much of the region still has winters that are quite cold although not quite as snowy...I think the beauty of the region is what's drawing people from all over. The Ozarks seem to be an oasis for both the South and Midwest...both regions are migrating to the area. In any case, as we all know, it never goes quite from one region to another just like that at least culturally speaking, so the clearly has to be a big transition zone beforehand. I like to think of that Northern/Southern transition zone as being between Highway 50 and Highway 60 starting from Missouri and heading east with the same boundaries all the way to the West Virginia, where the Ohio River turns due north. I think that around there the boundaries get fuzzier but roughly stay the same.
Trust me, rebel flags are all over the Ozarks, especially in Arkansas. In Missouri, there's a few places along 60 hwy you can stop in and buy just about any style of rebel flag you want.
That's still very far south in Missouri. Highway 60 is never more than 60 or so miles from the Missouri/Arkansas border except in the case of the bootheel, which technically should be a part of Arkansas anyway. I've certainly never seen very many Confederate flags around the Missouri Ozarks. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever seen one unless it's been at a memorial for Confederate soldiers who died on Missouri soil, although it's probably not unreasonable to assume there are a number of people sporting them.
^^but 60 is still Missouri, and I have also seen rebel flags in most parts of the state south of I-70. I even see them in the Kansas City area somewhat regularly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormcrow73
If that's what you call all over, perhaps you need to head to other areas of the south or even the mountains of Maryland!!
Yeah, there are plenty of people in the Ozarks who fly it but I've seen it considerable more prevalent in other locales.
Historically speaking, the entire region leaned anti-confederate with several movements taking place throughout the Arkansas side of the hills that were squashed by the Arkansas militias. They burned and sacked Marshall because of ties to anti-confederate movements.
I've also lived in Tennessee and Alabama, in addition to my 20+ years in Arkansas. I have been to most every place in the south except the far-eastern coastal states from Maryland, to South Carolina. AR is no different in the number of rebel flags from what I've seen.
Arkansas is extremely southern.
There may have been some anti-confederate leanings during the Civil War, but there's little doubt to which part of the country Arkansas aligns itself with.
The majority of Arkansas is southern. Its only that little northwest corner where things become a little more midwestern to me. So many west coast transplants y' know. Arkansas has risen and will fall southern. What was one of the more important confederate capitals, and the official confederate capital of Arkansas was washington, a small town in the SW corner of the state. Long live the south
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