Is Kansas the Midwest? (landscape, American, farming)

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by MimzyMusic

Kansas seems to have Southern, Western and Midwestern elements - but being in the exact center of the US, shouldn't it be the Midwest?

"Smack dab" middle is about as midwest as it gets.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Central Illinois 1

"Smack dab" middle is about as midwest as it gets.

The latitude of much of Kansas is similar to areas of Virginia. Kansas is a south-central Plains state.

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

The latitude of much of Kansas is similar to areas of Virginia. Kansas is a south-central Plains state.

True. But it is also on the same latitude as much of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and, for that matter, Colorado. I do understand what you are saying though.

[MassVt]

...is in north-central Kansas, so most of Kansas would correspond more towards Virginia/DC than Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc. The state of Nebraska would be more in line with Ohio, etc.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by MassVt

...is in north-central Kansas, so most of Kansas would correspond more towards Virginia/DC than Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc. The state of Nebraska would be more in line with Ohio, etc.

Yes.
A sharp divide occurs between the Upper Midwest and the Lower Midwest. The latitude line running from Lincoln, NE over to Iowa City, IA is generally the transition zone between the Upper Midwest and the Lower Midwest. North of I-80 in Iowa is basically the Upper Midwest in terms of prevailing cultural similarities.

[Central Illinois 1]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Yes.
A sharp divide occurs between the Upper Midwest and the Lower Midwest. The latitude line running from Lincoln, NE over to Iowa City, IA is generally the transition zone between the Upper Midwest and the Lower Midwest. North of I-80 in Iowa is basically the Upper Midwest in terms of prevailing cultural similarities.

Quite true. Areas north of Chicago are very different than areas to the south of Chicago in many ways (e.g., climate, terrain, predominate dialects, etc.). I'm sure you could extend that line on over through Northern Ohio and Northern Indiana too, which seem quite different to me than southern areas of those states.

[seastorm]

we consider ourselves midwesterners

[thriftylefty]

The Midwest has got to be the largest land area in the Continental US . I have read where Casper Wy and Cleveland OH are both Midwest. And What about the St. Louis arch being the gateway to the West? they should of put it in Denver.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by thriftylefty

The Midwest has got to be the largest land area in the Continental US . I have read where Casper Wy and Cleveland OH are both Midwest. And What about the St. Louis arch being the gateway to the West? they should of put it in Denver.

I would consider Casper, WY to be western- not midwestern in the least. Cleveland is solidly Midwest. Denver is a western city as well- not midwest.

[thriftylefty]

I was once in up state New York and had a woman tell me "I've never been in the south" refering to Kansas. She was clearly not saying I haven't been south , but in the south. It all relative as they say.