Missouri...Southern or Midwestern? (Jackson, Union: farmers, electric, health)

[GetmeoutofAR]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Well, I lived quite close to MO for over 20 years, and have traveled extensively in Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Sure you may have some differences between the four states, but they have more in common than any in the Great Plains realm.

I can see Missouri having things in common with Kentucky...maybe Ohio, Michigan? Wisconsin?...in my opinion those are "northern" states the cultural differences cannot be reconciled

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Well, I lived quite close to MO for over 20 years,

I'm sorry, but thats like saying one lived close to NYC for 20 years, it means nothing.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

I can see Missouri having things in common with Kentucky...maybe Ohio, Michigan? Wisconsin?...in my opinion those are "northern" states the cultural differences cannot be reconciled

Cultural differences do exist... However, I have found rural people to be similar in many areas. The economic activities and recreational pursuits might be different, however.

However, everyone wants to group Missouri in with the "Midwest" states yet you just state that MO has little in common with Midwest core states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, or a Minnesota.

I guess then the argument becomes that Missouri is part of the "lower Midwest," and is entirely different from the Midwest core and Upper Midwest.

This is almost turning into a philosphical argument. LOL

[GetmeoutofAR]

yeah I've just always kinda grouped Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Southern Illinois, Kentucky, Maybe...southern Ohio, into the same group. I can sorta see the Wisconsin argument as far as some things go, but Michigan no way

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

yeah I've just always kinda grouped Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Southern Illinois, Kentucky, Maybe...southern Ohio, into the same group. I can sorta see the Wisconsin argument as far as some things go, but Michigan no way

Most of southern and central WI is in the ag belt along with most of IA and IL. Those states along with OH have similar types of agriculture and similar political views in most of the rural areas.

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Cultural differences do exist... However, I have found rural people to be similar in many areas. The economic activities and recreational pursuits might be different, however.

However, everyone wants to group Missouri in with the "Midwest" states yet you just state that MO has little in common with Midwest core states like Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, or a Minnesota.

I guess then the argument becomes that Missouri is part of the "lower Midwest," and is entirely different from the Midwest core and Upper Midwest.

This is almost turning into a philosphical argument. LOL

I disagree strongly that Missouri has little in common with Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, or Minnesota. How you can say that St. Louis and Kansas City resemble Kentucky more than the Upper Midwest is beyond me...these cities are culturally in every way Midwestern, as Midwestern as the Midwest core. The Southern half of Missouri is culturally mixed...it is both Midwestern and Southern, and becomes definitively Southern south of Springfield and Joplin. Southern Illinois has more in common with the Midwest than it does with Kentucky. The Northern half of Missouri is as Midwestern as the Midwest core. Missouri has very little in common culturally with either Kentucky or Oklahoma. The lower Midwest is most of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and Missouri. Kentucky is definitively Southern.

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

I can see Missouri having things in common with Kentucky...maybe Ohio, Michigan? Wisconsin?...in my opinion those are "northern" states the cultural differences cannot be reconciled

I just don't agree at all with this. Missouri is quite different from Kentucky. Kentucky serves Southern cuisine in most of the state, Missouri's cuisine is mostly Midwestern. Climatewise, most of Missouri resembles the Midwest more than the South...Kentucky is definitively in the humid subtropical climate. THe Southern dialect is present in most of Kentucky...it is present in very little of Missouri. Missouri is a lot like the Upper Midwest in that it is in the farm belt...even in the Ozarks dairy farming is common...this is not something that is seen in Kentucky. Its trees and forests are much more like the Upper Midwest. St. Louis and Kansas City, and the Northern half of Missouri have much more in common with the Upper Midwest in just about every way except for the weather. Missouri actually has a lot less in common with Kentucky than the other three states you mentioned. Most Missourians think and act like Midwesterners maybe not Upper Midwesterners but certainly lower Midwesterners...hardly any I know or have met think like Kentuckians.

[Nomadicus]

I think I am seeing how MO got the tag "Show Me". After nearly 500 posts the defining statement as to just what MO is still up in the air and has not been shown yet as a common opinion. Personally the MO I lived in was different that any other place I have ever traveled to and/or lived in. It will always just be MO to me and I'm completely happy with it. Each to their own as opinions go. Mine is worthless to anyone but myself but it it mine and that is all that counts at the end of the day. I will always fondly remember my days and friends in MO. A great place to be in middle America.

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

Missouri has nothing in common with the top 3 IMHO

Look...I don't know why you think Missouri belongs in the South, but if you think St. Louis and Kansas City are more like Little Rock and Louisville than Chicago or Indianapolis, that's incredibly inaccurate. I have felt everytime like when I visit Kentucky or Arkansas that I am as far removed from Missouri as I can get. The people act completely different, the lifestyle is much different, the food is different, the whole attitude and atmosphere is just altogether different. In Illinois, Indiana, or Ohio I feel like I am much more in Missouri. Missouri has a lot in common with the top three as far as farming, culture, and has a lot in common politically with Ohio...Missouri's big cities have blue tendencies, and the rural areas are conservative, much like the top three. Culturally, Missouri tends to favor the Midwest more than the South as far as cuisine goes...little Southern cuisine can be found except in the far Southern parts of the state...these things include grits, sweet tea, etc...these virtually are non-existent in most of its restaurants. Most of Missouri has a climate that is more like Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Missouri is split as far as religion goes...almost equally Catholic and Southern Baptist. The Southern half of Missouri takes on a more southern feel than the northern half, but the northern half (above Highway 50 mainly) is completely 100% Midwestern. Northwest Arkansas has a lot in common with Southwest Missouri and far Southeast Missouri is more like Kentucky and Northern Arkansas...other than that, there is virtually no resemblance to the South.

[joebaldknobber]

The Confederate Cemetary in Fayetteville, Arkansas is full of Missouri Confederate soldiers. The US only funds cemetaries for Union soldiers.