Why is Missouri so southern? (Kansas City, St. Louis: home, authority, best)

[Nomadicus]

I've seen same types trucks w/ camo, guns, coolers, etc in North MO with deer draped over the hood or laying out over the tail gate. I saw that in MI so I know that's not a southern thing. I just don't get MO as being a lot of anyone thing. The boot heel is maybe some what southern but I spent only long enough to pump gas in them there woods so can't relate. When I stayed in SW mo it seemed a melting pot. I still think of MO as a tad of everything. Yes maybe some southern but believe you me not nearly as southern as my Cracker relatives in N FL and friends in AL and GA. That's just my opinion and it's really not worth much. Maybe say 3¢. I just may have to do a state wide tour and write up my findings to raise the value of my opinion up to a whole nickel.

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

I've seen same types trucks w/ camo, guns, coolers, etc in North MO with deer draped over the hood or laying out over the tail gate. I saw that in MI so I know that's not a southern thing. I just don't get MO as being a lot of anyone thing. The boot heel is maybe some what southern but I spent only long enough to pump gas in them there woods so can't relate. When I stayed in SW mo it seemed a melting pot. I still think of MO as a tad of everything. Yes maybe some southern but believe you me not nearly as southern as my Cracker relatives in N FL and friends in AL and GA. That's just my opinion and it's really not worth much. Maybe say 3¢. I just may have to do a state wide tour and write up my findings to raise the value of my opinion up to a whole nickel.

I agree with your analysis of Southwest Missouri as being a melting pot. It seemed Midwestern and Southern all at the same time. Southeast Missouri at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi River and the bootheel are unquestionably Southern as far as I can tell. They are part of the Mississippi Delta or Mississippi Alluvial Plain, not to mention Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee are VERY close by in that part of the state. Missouri on those latitudesThe Ozarks in my opinion are a melting pot. You see a lot of Midwesterners and Southerners in the region. As a whole state though, with the Northern half of Missouri being unquestionably Midwestern, I would still have to categorize Missouri as an overall Midwestern state. Kentucky is like the opposite of Missouri. It is a Southern state with some Midwestern influences, and much less Southern than its fellow Southern states, and Missouri is a Midwestern state with Southern influences, but is less Midwestern than its fellow Midwestern states. And yes I agree that pickup trucks and guns are not a Southern thing at all. You see plenty of those in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and also in Wisconsin. I also think that while the Southern half of Missouri may be somewhat Southern, it is not nearly as Southern as Kentucky is.

[GraniteStater]

I think a great dividing line between the lower Midwest and the upper Midwest would be Interstate 80. You have some noteable differences between northern and southern IA in terms of cultural, heritage, foods, winter activities, etc. Northern Iowa seems more German/Scandinavian ancestry while Southern IA not nearly as pronounced.

[joebaldknobber]

Iowans are so sophisticated? PLEASE!!!!

[Nomadicus]

Originally Posted by Plains10

I think a great dividing line between the lower Midwest and the upper Midwest would be Interstate 80. You have some noteable differences between northern and southern IA in terms of cultural, heritage, foods, winter activities, etc. Northern Iowa seems more German/Scandanavian ancestry while Southern IA not nearly as pronounced.

Sounds like I need to expand my journey. I love IA too. Those corn fields and black soil get me excited. I remember my MO friends jokingly calling those from IA Iwegians. Maybe you are on to something here Plains. Maybe those interstates had an underlying purpose. Now what lies in MO south of I-70? What a conspiracy thought. Oh who cares. I had friends in N MO of Swiss and German heritage. I'm not sure how many more homelands where represented besides the native indians and typical europeans. All I really remember is the friendly atmosphere of the hard working in the agricultrual belt I lived in. It's hard to believe nearly 30 years have passed since living there and I know some things have changed and I hope for the better. No matter where I've traveled to and visited in MO regardless it was influenced by the south or eastern or from wherever on thing I must say it was a pleasure to be there. Hey I'll play on whichever team as Shadow pointed out. Just let me play. Especially let me play in the dirt.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by joebaldknobber

Iowans are so sophisticated? PLEASE!!!!

Lets just say northern Iowa and southern Iowa have a few differences overall. One might not think so if you've never been to the area. Northern Iowans like ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter while it is far less common in Southern Iowa. Northern Iowa has more in common socially, culturally, foods, and recreation with Minnesota. Southern Iowa is fairly similar to most areas of the lower Midwest in terms of being in the cornbelt, and just has more similarities with Missouri IMHO.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

Sounds like I need to expand my journey. I love IA too. Those corn fields and black soil get me excited. I remember my MO friends jokingly calling those from IA Iwegians. Maybe you are on to something here Plains. Maybe those interstates had an underlying purpose. Now what lies in MO south of I-70? What a conspiracy thought. Oh who cares. I had friends in N MO of Swiss and German heritage. I'm not sure how many more homelands where represented besides the native indians and typical europeans. All I really remember is the friendly atmosphere of the hard working in the agricultrual belt I lived in. It's hard to believe nearly 30 years have passed since living there and I know some things have changed and I hope for the better. No matter where I've traveled to and visited in MO regardless it was influenced by the south or eastern or from wherever on thing I must say it was a pleasure to be there. Hey I'll play on whichever team as Shadow pointed out. Just let me play. Especially let me play in the dirt.

+1
I knew two people from Mason City, IA and they identified more with MN in nearly every regard in terms of:
1) Huge Hockey Fans
2) Liked Norwegian prepared fish
3) Liked to Ice Fish at the local lake.
4) Were Reserved/Friendly
5) Drove to Minneapolis/St.Paul for the big city fix.
6) They had the more pronounced Upper Midwest accent.

[joebaldknobber]

Why so many Iowans living in Bella Vista, Arkansas? All Iowans look the same to me.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by joebaldknobber

Why so many Iowans living in Bella Vista, Arkansas? All Iowans look the same to me.

Iowans probably like to escape the windy cold winters that are common throughout the state. Not much blocks the wind when you have mostly open fields around.

[Northwoods Voyager]

Missouri: Midwestern state with southern influences!!! Love it!!!