Why don't Chicagoans consider NWI part of the Chicagoland area? (Evansville: 2015, to live)

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by It'sAutomatic

Where is Indiana???



All kidding aside, I acknowledge the fact that NWI is a part of the Chicago metro area according to the Census. However, I feel like it's more its own entity than other regions of Chicagoland because NWI is such a vastly different place compared to the rest of the metro area, in appearance and function, and the towns in NWI are large enough that, without Illinois in the picture, they would be defined as their own metro area. There are some large suburbs like Naperville and Joliet that would also be considered separate metro areas if they were on their own, but they maintain closer links to Chicago in many ways than NWI. Also, NWI can be grouped into part of the south suburbs, which are more familiar but still forgettable because they're not really desirable places to live or visit.

In reference to the original poster's comment: if you consider big box retailers and restaurants as a draw to your region, it might be seen as forgettable to outsiders.

I do agree that the NWI region is vastly different from Chicago. Most cities in the area are very old and have very rich histories and quite a bit of character, indicative of a past largely independent of but not necessarily unrelated to that of Chicago. Not saying it is any better or worse than the Chicago suburbs, simply different.

I can't speak for the south suburbs, but I'm not sure how you are substantiating your claim that NWI is not a "desirable place to live or visit"? All one must do is drive up to the dunes on a summer weekend and look at the license plates-vastly Illinois. Clearly your cohorts would disagree with the desirability of visiting the region. I live in California now but I grew up in Valparaiso. I think about 70% of the people I knew either a.) moved there from Chicago or IL suburb, or b.) their parents did. Another 20% were from other states (or their parents were) and maybe 10% were third or more generation citizens of the city. The point is that people from all over visit and move here. Why? They do in fact consider it a "desirable" place. Valpo, for one has great public schools, beautiful communities, an excellent university, etc. and I hope I can one day move back there. Sure, there may be undesirable parts of the region (aka Gary) but what part of the country doesn't have that to some extent? The point is it defies logic and common sense to make such broad generalizations about such a large geographical area with such a large population base.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by simplydanielle

You are not to quote words I did not write.
In summation I wrote there exists a political issue between the state lines.
I'm on to other topics, thank you.

Your post to me didn't make any sort of sense ... until I went back and discovered that you came back THREE AND A HALF WEEKS later to respond to what I said about your post.

I thought you were commenting on what I just said ... like recently, not 3 1/2 weeks ago. (Which is like 493 years in internet message board time.)

And btw, condescending much?

Jeesh.

Oh ... when you come back in another month to respond, you might have to remind me about this post - because, well, I'll probably be on to other topics.

Thanks.

[magik]

i don't know it sucks when i tell people i last lived in northwest indiana they think i lived in a cornfield wheni was just south of gary, indiana. gary hammond, and east chicago indiana are pretty much all chicago suburbs. they run into chicago. you can drive on route 30 right into ford heights from munster or whatever. it's illiana. on the beach you can see the sears tower across the water from indiana.

[WildWestDude]

much of this topic was covered here:

NW Indiana's image problem

[Drover]

The results of this poll belie the premise of this thread.

[tb4000]

Distance not factoring in, people still view us here in the area as the red-headed stepchild of Chicagoland, a la New Jersey to New York. You go there to buy stuff and do things you can't do in Illinois, but you ain't about to move there...unless you need a massive tax break. So many people have moved from the west and south side to NWI over the past decade, we technically are part of the freakin' city.

[domergurl]

NWI is also considered the ugly stepchild of the entire state ... sad.

[tb4000]

Originally Posted by domergurl

NWI is also considered the ugly stepchild of the entire state ... sad.

Meh, I don't care about that. The rest of the state barring Marion County and some of the northern part is all rural anyway. I'm a city boy.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by tb4000

Meh, I don't care about that. The rest of the state barring Marion County and some of the northern part is all rural anyway. I'm a city boy.

I don't think that nwi cares either.

[movingsomewhere]

Um because NWI is in Indiana, and Chicagoland is in IL.

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

I'm from NWI, and it always seems that when you mention you're from Indiana to someone from the IL side, they make it seem like you're hours away.

I used to compare NWI to the Chicagoland area like Eastern Illinois to St. Louis, or North Jersey to NYC. That doesn't seem to be the case here; why?

NWI has plenty to offer: South Shore Line to Chicago, relatively cheaper housing compared to the rest of the metro area, cheaper gas, and plenty of big box stores and restaurants.

Has anyone else noticed this? Why is NWI "left out?"