Overland Park is one of America's Best Places to Grow Up (Kansas City: apartment, condos)

[BostonToKC]

Amidst all these comparisons, I have to say that all regions of the US are becoming more similar to each other as time goes on, in terms of the people. This is especially true with the under-30 crowd. While there is more eye contact (in general) in a metro like KC than the northeast, I also see plenty of rude behavior here. The differences are not as great as many think...

In the KC area, Overland Park in particular comes across as rather snooty and pretentious - I think it could compete quite well with Westchester County, NY or the equivalent...

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by BostonToKC

Amidst all these comparisons, I have to say that all regions of the US are becoming more similar to each other as time goes on, in terms of the people. This is especially true with the under-30 crowd. While there is more eye contact (in general) in a metro like KC than the northeast, I also see plenty of rude behavior here. The differences are not as great as many think...

In the KC area, Overland Park in particular comes across as rather snooty and pretentious - I think it could compete quite well with Westchester County, NY or the equivalent...

I thought you were making a good point until the end there. If we are more alike than different, why single one area out?

Certain areas of the KC metro come across as rather trashy and redneck. I think they could compete quite well with the deep rural South.

But let me name them and watch the sparks fly!

Why is it okay to bash an area and generalize it's residents as pretentious and snooty - but it's not okay to point out the other end of the spectrum?

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by BostonToKC

The differences are not as great as many think...

And the differences are greater than some people think...

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

Certain areas of the KC metro come across as rather trashy and redneck. I think they could compete quite well with the deep rural South.

But let me name them and watch the sparks fly!

Why is it okay to bash an area and generalize it's residents as pretentious and snooty - but it's not okay to point out the other end of the spectrum?

Okay, I'll name them.
1/4 of the population of Independence.
The vast majority of Sugar Creek.
Large portions of Raytown and Blue Springs.
Larger portions of southern Clay County. There's plenty in Liberty and Smithville, too.
Pockets of Platte County, and northern Overland Park.
Larger-than-you'd think portions of Shawnee and Merriam.
1/5 of the population of Olathe. As I get to know JoCo better, I'm sure I'll be able to add more.
Probably at least a simple majority of the population in Cass County.
Most of Oak Grove and Grain Valley, even if some of them are recovering rednecks, and don't get me started on Odessa.
Also, the majority of the caucasian population in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.

If I left anyone out, I'm terribly sorry.

Yes these areas may have what you'd call a southern influence. The south is only one state away, if that. Even more so, I'd say they have a strong influence from the surrounding countryside on all sides, which may or may not resemble the south.

But generalizing gets in the way here, too. I spent the better part of 30 years in the south. Believe it or not, there's hundreds of cities and thousands of neighborhoods down there that might as well have used southern Johnson County as their template.
Yes, there's also plenty of those stereotypical places down there, but I've seen places just like them in Kansas... Minnesota, New Mexico.......... Maine........ just to name a few... but there's just not as many usually, the further north you go, or so it seems.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by OPguy

So? Why is having an association with someone who just happens to be living next to you necessarily "a good thing".

God help us.

It's not like you have to be best friends or anything, just civil and look out for.......
ah, what's the point.

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Okay, I'll name them.
1/4 of the population of Independence.
The vast majority of Sugar Creek.
Large portions of Raytown and Blue Springs.
Larger portions of southern Clay County. There's plenty in Liberty and Smithville, too.
Pockets of Platte County, and northern Overland Park.
Larger-than-you'd think portions of Shawnee and Merriam.
1/5 of the population of Olathe. As I get to know JoCo better, I'm sure I'll be able to add more.
Probably at least a simple majority of the population in Cass County.
Most of Oak Grove and Grain Valley, even if some of them are recovering rednecks, and don't get me started on Odessa.
Also, the majority of the caucasian population in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.

If I left anyone out, I'm terribly sorry.

Yes these areas may have what you'd call a southern influence. The south is only one state away, if that. Even more so, I'd say they have a strong influence from the surrounding countryside on all sides, which may or may not resemble the south.

But generalizing gets in the way here, too. I spent the better part of 30 years in the south. Believe it or not, there's hundreds of cities and thousands of neighborhoods down there that might as well have used southern Johnson County as their template.
Yes, there's also plenty of those stereotypical places down there, but I've seen places just like them in Kansas... Minnesota, New Mexico.......... Maine........ just to name a few... but there's just not as many usually, the further north you go, or so it seems.

Hey...I appreciate you naming those areas! I'll do my best to steer clear of those spots when buying a home out that way! Thanks for the tip!

Just to clarify a bit more...where exactly should we stay away from in Platte County?

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

Hey...I appreciate you naming those areas! I'll do my best to steer clear of those spots when buying a home out that way! Thanks for the tip!

Just to clarify a bit more...where exactly should we stay away from in Platte County?

uhhhh....
not sure what I walked into there.
I live in Independence, and there could be a lot worse neighbors than the occasional redneck.
If you don't like the whole "hick" thing, I'd highly advise staying away from KC in general. There's at least a little bit of that everywhere around here. If you find a neighborhood that is completely free of that, just drive two blocks.

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by northbound74

uhhhh....
not sure what I walked into there.
I live in Independence, and there could be a lot worse neighbors than the occasional redneck.
If you don't like the whole "hick" thing, I'd highly advise staying away from KC in general. There's at least a little bit of that everywhere around here. If you find a neighborhood that is completely free of that, just drive two blocks.

Really? Kansas City proper is filled with rednecks?

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

Really? Kansas City proper is filled with rednecks?

More than you'd think. There are some places you can generally avoid it for the most part. Just don't expect to go far.
Of course, there's varying degrees of "redneck".

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by northbound74

More than you'd think. There are some places you can generally avoid it for the most part. Just don't expect to go far.
Of course, there's varying degrees of "redneck".

Hey, I've been living in Tennessee for the last 20 years, so it's not like I can't tolerate a redneck or two! LOL! I don't know...I guess I just expected that a large city like KC would have less redneck folks and more people with progressive attitudes. Am I wrong?