Is Maryland part of the northeastern or southeastern U.S. culturally? (Baltimore: school, beach)

[Serious Conversation]

It's rich and prestigious, like the northeast, and unlike the South.

[personone]

Originally Posted by KodeBlue

My GF, who's a Georgia native says Maryland is nothing like the south. I personally think that there is a big difference between Maryland and anything from Richmond south.

The same argument can be used to show that Maryland is nothing like the north. If you ask a native from New Hampshire, Vermont, or Rhode Island, they would likely say Maryland is nothing like the north. You would also likely say there is a big difference between Maryland and anything north of the NYC metro area, just as you think there is a big difference between Maryland and anything south of Richmond in the other direction. That argument works both ways.

[North Beach Person]

When my oldest daughter went to college in western PA she was teased for her Southern accent.

[Richard Martin]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

It's rich and prestigious, like the northeast, and unlike the South.

Once you get away from the I-95 corridor, all of that goes away. Go over to the Eastern Shore. It is very much like the North Carolina coastal area. Head out to western Maryland. Rich and prestigious isn't a phrase I'd use to describe that area. Normally priced homes and blue collar rule the land out there.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Richard Martin

Once you get away from the I-95 corridor, all of that goes away. Go over to the Eastern Shore. It is very much like the North Carolina coastal area. Head out to western Maryland. Rich and prestigious isn't a phrase I'd use to describe that area. Normally priced homes and blue collar rule the land out there.

The above is the center of much of the argument. What many people, even many residents, know of the state is just the DC/Baltimore corridor. Many have never been out of it and, if they have, it's been on the way to somewhere else like Ocean City (I'll include Delaware since OC is apparently too déclassé for some) and they really didn't pay attention to what they were driving through.

That's one reason why when rural pioneers move to the Eastern Shore or Southern Maryland many have serious adjustment problems. They only know what living in a rural area means from magazine articles and TV.

[Richard Martin]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

That's one reason why when rural pioneers move to the Eastern Shore or Southern Maryland many have serious adjustment problems. They only know what living in a rural area means from magazine articles and TV.

I forget about Southern Maryland sometimes. It's my understanding that much of Calvert County has already been lost to the Yankees. Is that true?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Richard Martin

I forget about Southern Maryland sometimes. It's my understanding that much of Calvert County has already been lost to the Yankees. Is that true?

Yes and no. Calvert is still mostly rural. Had to pass a Right to Farm law. Growth has really slowed finally and with the new State regulations it will slow even more.

A lot of people have moved here and become frustrated because there are no Whole Foods/stand alone Starbucks/Nigerian restaurants, etc. and have left. Others just adapt and ***** and moan occasionally. There is still a lot of friction with hunting and fishing, though.

The population is still mostly blue collar which a lot of the so called professionals who've moved here have trouble wrapping their heads around. They tend to look just at their neighbors and never venture off RTE 4 to the old roads.

[tcave360]

Both, albeit leaning towards Northeastern. Eye agree with a previous poster that there needs to be a third option.

[John123_456_789]

I lived in DC for many years and a few years in Gaithersburg, MD. I did the bar scene in DC and Baltimore. Just using that for one measurement...Baltimore is much more friendly than DC, somewhat more down to earth, if you will. DC is more plastic, more pretentious, but a fun fun city...I enjoyed living there. DC has so much more to do as far as I am concerned than Baltimore (however, in all fairness, I never spent much time there except restaurants and bars).

[tcave360]

Originally Posted by John123_456_789

I lived in DC for many years and a few years in Gaithersburg, MD. I did the bar scene in DC and Baltimore. Just using that for one measurement...Baltimore is much more friendly than DC, somewhat more down to earth, if you will. DC is more plastic, more pretentious, but a fun fun city...I enjoyed living there. DC has so much more to do as far as I am concerned than Baltimore (however, in all fairness, I never spent much time there except restaurants and bars).

"Plastic" in what way?