Do you consider Ohio "Midwest" or "Back East?" (Cleveland: schools, live in)

[FloridaandOhio]

Ohio has been labeled a "midwestern" state since the 1940's and it has stuck. At one time it was even considered the gateway to the plains.

[ProfessorM]

If I remember way back to my school days I believe I recall that Ohio was always said to be part of the midwest. Never remember it being included with the eastern states. Something about the orginal colonies and some mountain that seperated them from the rest of the country.

[Traveler87]

Different parts of Ohio represent different parts of the nation. That really is an awesome part about it.

NE Ohio takes on a more NE type of feel.

SE Ohio takes on a more Kentucky feel to it.

NW Ohio takes no the Midwest feel.

SW Ohio takes on a very southern feel.

And Central Ohio takes on a Midwest feel too.

[sandwalk]

I was born and raised in northern Ohio and lived no further than 15 miles from Lake Erie my entire life (except now, as I am attending college out of state). I've always heard the term "Midwest" tossed around, in reference to Ohio, but I've never really considered the Ohio region I'm familiar with as Midwest. I have always said to others that I am from the Great Lakes region. Honestly, though, Ohio has its own geographical thing going on (it is too hard to categorize the entire state as a whole).

[formercalifornian]

I was born and raised in the Dayton metro area, and I always heard Ohio referred to as the midwest.

I must take serious issue with whomever referred to the SW portion of the state as feeling "southern." Are you kidding me?

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

Different parts of Ohio represent different parts of the nation. That really is an awesome part about it.

NE Ohio takes on a more NE type of feel.

SE Ohio takes on a more Kentucky feel to it.

NW Ohio takes no the Midwest feel.

SW Ohio takes on a very southern feel.

And Central Ohio takes on a Midwest feel too.

.

I am not an Ohioan but have traveled through it many times, and I feel this post is spot on. Accent wise, I believe linguists mark interstate 74 (? not 100% sure, it's either that or 70) as the northern limit of the Inland Southern accent/dialect.

[formercalifornian]

Originally Posted by Geechie North

I am not an Ohioan but have traveled through it many times, and I feel this post is spot on. Accent wise, I believe linguists mark interstate 74 (? not 100% sure, it's either that or 70) as the northern limit of the Inland Southern accent/dialect.

Since you brought up the topic of Ohio dialects, here's an interesting link with sound files: Dialects of Ohio

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by formercalifornian

Since you brought up the topic of Ohio dialects, here's an interesting link with sound files: Dialects of Ohio

.

Thank you!

I'll be listening to them all. (An interest of mine, and a great way to kill time.)

[formercalifornian]

You're very welcome. It makes a fun game. Play the sound file for someone, skipping the identifying remarks at the beginning, and see if he can guess from where the speaker hails. My husband, who has lived all over this country, is pretty good. Me? Not so much.

[snowstormxu]

Originally Posted by Geechie North

.

I am not an Ohioan but have traveled through it many times, and I feel this post is spot on. Accent wise, I believe linguists mark interstate 74 (? not 100% sure, it's either that or 70) as the northern limit of the Inland Southern accent/dialect.

It must be I-70, because I-74 only runs for about 20 miles in Ohio (down near Cincinnati).