Missouri...Southern or Midwestern? (Kansas City, St. Louis: jobs, crime, university)

[ajf131]

I consider missouri midwestern,and if I had to choose between southern or northern and nothing else, I'd say northern. from the part of Missouri I reside in, I think that's a relatively good fit. From Ozark21's definition, that's also a good fit. As for the whole state, I'd still say Missouri in general still belongs in the Lower Midwest. Not in the Upper South. I just don't see how Missouri should be considered Kentucky's twin. Farthest thing from it.

[ozarksboy]

Missouri is unique, probably because we're smack-dab in the middle of the country. In the early 19th Century, we were part of the West. Later we got a star in the Confederate flag. Now Midwest Life magazine includes us in their coverage area. Nevertheless, I don't think we're classifiable as Western, Midwestern, Southern or anything else. Here in the Ozarks of Phelps County (and surrounding counties, too), our lifestyle includes hunting, fishing, gardening, canning/freezing/drying. We eat lots of fried fish and barbecue. We have gospel singings and bluegrass jam sessions. We go to revivals in the spring and fall and send the kids to vacation Bible school in the summer. We like our fairs and festivals, and we go to stock-car races, tractor pulls and mud runs when we get a chance. My sister-in-law lives in northern Missouri and they do the same things. I think all of that is just because we're rural, not Southern or Midwestern.
If you're interested in Ozarks country living, try this place: http://www.theozarkschronicle.com .

[nmnita]

I think, geographically, from what I remember about geography Mo is a mid western state, but it sounds like the thought process of some leans toward the south. At least that is how I see it. We will be visiting the southern part of the state in the fall or early spring. It is retirement time and we want to be closer to the kids and grandkids in AR, OK and north Texas.

Nita

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I think, geographically, from what I remember about geography Mo is a mid western state, but it sounds like the thought process of some leans toward the south. At least that is how I see it. We will be visiting the southern part of the state in the fall or early spring. It is retirement time and we want to be closer to the kids and grandkids in AR, OK and north Texas.

Nita

Some of it does lean entirely toward the South, but compared to the portions that don't the parts that do make up an insignificant part of the state. The only parts of Missouri that technically meet the definition of Southern in every way are the Mississippi Delta counties of far southeast Missouri (like around Cape Girardeau). Other than that, Southern Missouri is a transition between the Midwest and South. Overall, I'd still include Missouri in the Midwest before i'd ever include in it in the South. If I had to give a vote as to the state, I'd argue for something like 80% Midwestern, 20% Southern. The state as a whole leans more toward the Midwest, and as long as that's the case, it may as well be included in the Midwest.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ajf131

Some of it does lean entirely toward the South, but compared to the portions that don't the parts that do make up an insignificant part of the state. The only parts of Missouri that technically meet the definition of Southern in every way are the Mississippi Delta counties of far southeast Missouri (like around Cape Girardeau). Other than that, Southern Missouri is a transition between the Midwest and South. Overall, I'd still include Missouri in the Midwest before i'd ever include in it in the South. If I had to give a vote as to the state, I'd argue for something like 80% Midwestern, 20% Southern. The state as a whole leans more toward the Midwest, and as long as that's the case, it may as well be included in the Midwest.

With my little knowledge I think I would agree with you. In fact I almost think of the northeast part of OK as being midwestern in tradition even if it is a So state. My neighbor who is my best friend but we often get into heated discussions insisted a few weeks ago that OK was mid west and I insisted, according to what I learned in school it was the first southern state. I guess it is sorta like WV where my husbands family all grew up: WV is not a southern state but they certainly have many southern traditions.

Nita

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by nmnita

With my little knowledge I think I would agree with you. In fact I almost think of the northeast part of OK as being midwestern in tradition even if it is a So state. My neighbor who is my best friend but we often get into heated discussions insisted a few weeks ago that OK was mid west and I insisted, according to what I learned in school it was the first southern state. I guess it is sorta like WV where my husbands family all grew up: WV is not a southern state but they certainly have many southern traditions.

Nita

Oklahoma to me is best described as a transition between the Upper South and southwest. And yes it does have noticeable Midwestern characteristics to it as well, especially in the Panhandle. Northeast OK feels similar to southwest Missouri and Kansas. The northwest corner Arkansas really is not Southern IMO, it's different from the rest of that state. I wouldn't think of Oklahoma as a Southern state per se...the best definition of it is a Southern plains state, which is very complex and mixed in culture. For Texas, most of it seems like a transition between the Deep South and the southwest. El Paso feels like New Mexico, compared to Dallas and Houston which feel a bit more like Southern cities. Oklahoma is a complex state. Tulsa and OKC definitely have Midwestern feels and appearances to them blended in with Southern ones. Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia are too complicated IMO to be classified as anything but Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ajf131

Oklahoma to me is best described as a transition between the Upper South and southwest. And yes it does have noticeable Midwestern characteristics to it as well, especially in the Panhandle. Northeast OK feels similar to southwest Missouri and Kansas. The northwest corner Arkansas really is not Southern IMO, it's different from the rest of that state. I wouldn't think of Oklahoma as a Southern state per se...the best definition of it is a Southern plains state, which is very complex and mixed in culture. For Texas, most of it seems like a transition between the Deep South and the southwest. El Paso feels like New Mexico, compared to Dallas and Houston which feel a bit more like Southern cities. Oklahoma is a complex state. Tulsa and OKC definitely have Midwestern feels and appearances to them blended in with Southern ones. Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia are too complicated IMO to be classified as anything but Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia

We spent 13 years in Dallas. yes, it is considered southern but even Dallas is a little southwestern; for certain El Paso is closer to the traditions and culture of the Southwest than the true south. i guess more states than we realize are boardered between two cultures. Even Va, nothern Va really isn't southern even though according to our geography it is. Being most who live there work in DC it is much closer to the mid Atlantic states in views and traditions. Nita

[RandyD4]

I was born and raised in Poplar Bluff. Yep that's in the bootheel. We don't call it Missoura. We call it missoureeeee. By the way...We all are southern down here. My brother in law lives in Kansas City and it seems like people out west call it missoura. Is Missouri a southern state? Well, it came into the union as a "slave" state. It has a star in the Confederate Battle Flag, and it was torn in two during the war of Northern agression, that's why the state motto is "United we stand, divided we fall." If you want to hear southern accents, go to Sikeston and Charleston and listen to the girls talk.

"I guess we all died a little in that damn war"...Josey Wales

[Plains10]

Originally Posted by ajf131

Oklahoma to me is best described as a transition between the Upper South and southwest. And yes it does have noticeable Midwestern characteristics to it as well, especially in the Panhandle. Northeast OK feels similar to southwest Missouri and Kansas. The northwest corner Arkansas really is not Southern IMO, it's different from the rest of that state. I wouldn't think of Oklahoma as a Southern state per se...the best definition of it is a Southern plains state, which is very complex and mixed in culture. For Texas, most of it seems like a transition between the Deep South and the southwest. El Paso feels like New Mexico, compared to Dallas and Houston which feel a bit more like Southern cities. Oklahoma is a complex state. Tulsa and OKC definitely have Midwestern feels and appearances to them blended in with Southern ones. Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia are too complicated IMO to be classified as anything but Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia

I really do not think that the Oklahoma panhandle has any characteristics in common with the Midwest. It is the furthest west portion in Oklahoma in the high plains region with very short grass prairies. Also, this part of Oklahoma is very close to Texas and New Mexico so the southwest influence is stronger as well. The vegetation is similar to what you would find throughout the high plains with little water, short grass prairie, and strong winds throughout the year. Meat packing plants and other related industries are more common in this part of the plains as well.

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by Plains10

I really do not think that the Oklahoma panhandle has any characteristics in common with the Midwest. It is the furthest west portion in Oklahoma in the high plains region with very short grass prairies. Also, this part of Oklahoma is very close to Texas and New Mexico so the southwest influence is stronger as well. The vegetation is similar to what you would find throughout the high plains with little water, short grass prairie, and strong winds throughout the year. Meat packing plants and other related industries are more common in this part of the plains as well.

Yes, I suppose you are probably right about the Panhandle now that I think about it. The Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles are both different from the rest of the respective states they belong to IMO.