Does the Mason-Dixon line run through Illinois? (transplants, live in)

[Maintainschaos]

I wonder about the distinction between rural and Southern accents; that is, do people confuse a rural accent as a Southern accent? You can surely hear people that have a "drawl" from areas of the country considered quintessentially Northern. Just because they sound Southern doesn't mean that they don't just have a rural accent...(Meaning, just because a person in S. IL sounds "Southern" doesn't mean that they don't merely have more of a rural accent...)

[northstar22]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

I wonder about the distinction between rural and Southern accents; that is, do people confuse a rural accent as a Southern accent? You can surely hear people that have a "drawl" from areas of the country considered quintessentially Northern. Just because they sound Southern doesn't mean that they don't just have a rural accent...(Meaning, just because a person in S. IL sounds "Southern" doesn't mean that they don't merely have more of a rural accent...)

Rural Minnesotans certainly don't have anything close to a Southern drawl! Same thing for rural Michiganders and Wisconsinites. Everywhere in those states is "Northern."

The "rural accent" that you're speaking of is the "South Midland" dialect that you will find south of I-80 and north of I-70 in the Lower Midwest: Kansas, northern Missouri, southern Iowa, southern Nebraska, most of Illinois (except Chicagoland and So. Illinois), northern and central Indiana (excluding NW Indiana and South Bend), and northern/central Ohio (except Toledo and Cleveland). It's sort of a hybrid of Southern and Midwestern. Once you get below I-70 you start hearing a true Southern accent in states like Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

[Colts]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

I wonder about the distinction between rural and Southern accents; that is, do people confuse a rural accent as a Southern accent? You can surely hear people that have a "drawl" from areas of the country considered quintessentially Northern. Just because they sound Southern doesn't mean that they don't just have a rural accent...(Meaning, just because a person in S. IL sounds "Southern" doesn't mean that they don't merely have more of a rural accent...)

People routinely do confuse rural ("country") speech with Southern speech. One's location affects how they perceive accents as well (PBS had a whole series on this); someone from the far north might think everyone else sounds Southern while someone from the far south might think that everyone else sounds Northern.

As far as Southern versus Northern, the only people who I trust to define rigid boundaries between distinct areas are the expert geographers and sociolinguists who study these things for a living.

That's all I'm going to say, because this has been beaten to death. Love is my message!

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by flyingwriter

I-70 is the real Mason-Dixon line. Anything below that, and you are in the South.

Totally disagreed

[Colts]

Originally Posted by Billiam

Totally disagreed

Actually, I will say just one last thing.

The city of Richmond is almost exactly halfway between the northernmost latitude and the southernmost latitude. Anything above or below that could be construed to be northern and southern, respectively.

[Dr. Foosball]

I wish people would forget about the Mason-Dixon Line. It has seemed to morph into some mythical line across the country rather than a short line surveyed by two British gentlemen long long ago.

I think the 36° 30' line does a more accurate job of representing the border.

[JimmyJohnWilson]

Originally Posted by Dr. Foosball

I wish people would forget about the Mason-Dixon Line. It has seemed to morph into some mythical line across the country rather than a short line surveyed by two British gentlemen long long ago.

I think the 36° 30' line does a more accurate job of representing the border.

not sure how youd figure that, just another line posted up randomly. there is no cultural shift around that line in most of the states it runs through (and bisects)

[northstar22]

I should have said I-70 east of Colorado.

[LINative]

Originally Posted by oldtimebanjo

I get some people that tell me it runs through Illinois and others that say it's at the border of illinois, missouri, indiana, etc...

I grew up in Southern Illinois and under the impression I was South of the Mason-Dixon.

Any clarification would be appreciated. Also, I realize this was probably discussed in a different thread but I've searched and cannot seem to find one that specifically talks about Southern Illinois.

Thanks.

The Mason-Dixon Line has sort of become symbolic for the whole Northern-Southern boundary. But the orginial Mason-Dixon Line was the end product of a 100 year effort to define Maryland's boundaries and to keep her from spreading further North. Its actually the boundary between Maryland with Pennsylvania & Delaware.

In your area I would say the Northern-Southern line would probably best be put at the Ohio River.

[DANNYY]

I don't really know the actual boundaries for the Mason Dixon line but I think this map will have a good representation of real Northern and Southern territories from back in the day;



This gives a better idea about where the line was generally meant to be.