Why is Philly not well liked by the rest of PA if at all (Philadelphia: transfer, schools)

[welder]

The only reason most people in Pa. don't like Philly, is because it's located in Philadelphia.

[Wolfman89]

Putting politics aside.

Philly has alot more of the East coast Italian flavored feel. There is a large African American community, The city has a big city feel.

The rest of PA is more mid west German feeling(see:PA Dutch). With the exceptions of some cities it is veeeeery white..even Pittsburgh. There is more of a towny feel and most of the state is German-Irish in heritage and feel.

I definitly know what they're talking about. Philly really doesn't feel like PA. Most Pennsylvanians identify more with hex signs than with the liberty bell.

[kyle19125]

Hence the much closer similarities to New Jersey and the East Coast megalopolis versus the midwest.

I can only think of two other states with as many cultural differences as Pennsylvania (Florida...where southern and northern sides are polar opposites, and California...where it's everything from agricultural to uber-urban).

If New Jersey annexation isn't possible, why not a breakaway state? No love lost on either side

[CHIP72]

If you ask me, the western part of Pennsylvania north/west of the Blue Mountain (first ridge in the Alleghenies) and west of the Susquehanna River can be given to West Virginia.

[rubybelle]

Originally Posted by CHIP72

If you ask me, the western part of Pennsylvania north/west of the Blue Mountain (first ridge in the Alleghenies) and west of the Susquehanna River can be given to West Virginia.

You mean the Pittsburgh area?

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Hence the much closer similarities to New Jersey and the East Coast megalopolis versus the midwest.

Hence the reason I don't like Philadelphia. Exclusivist crap; as if Philadelphia is such high class East Coast, while the rest of the state is the trashy Midwest. Quite frankly Philadelphia can have the coast and their delusions.

[BackToTheCityMouse]

I don't think anyone said the Midwest is trashy? There are some awesome urban centers in the Midwest, and in between I love the scenery (not that I've seen it all, but would like to). If only Pennsylvania west of Philly was more like the Midwest! And less like um, another part of the country.

Anyone who thinks Philly and the surrounding area are Snob Central has never been to Bristol or better yet, smelled Bristol.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by Wolfman89

The rest of PA is more mid west German feeling(see:PA Dutch).

Huh? Pennsylvania Dutch influence is minimal at best in most of western Pennsylvania. The small industrial towns and mining towns in the western part of the state were populated by workers from eastern and southern Europe. Even Italians!

You'd be mighty hard pressed to find a hex sign in the western Pennsylvania I grew up in.

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Huh? Pennsylvania Dutch influence is minimal at best in most of western Pennsylvania. The small industrial towns and mining towns in the western part of the state were populated by workers from eastern and southern Europe. Even Italians!

You'd be mighty hard pressed to find a hex sign in the western Pennsylvania I grew up in.

W. PA has one of the largest Italian populations in the country.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Hence the much closer similarities to New Jersey and the East Coast megalopolis versus the midwest.

I can only think of two other states with as many cultural differences as Pennsylvania (Florida...where southern and northern sides are polar opposites, and California...where it's everything from agricultural to uber-urban).

If New Jersey annexation isn't possible, why not a breakaway state? No love lost on either side

I believe a lot of states have regional rivalries and differences. We lived in the finger lake region of New York. No love lost between western NY and NYC. Same thing between upstate and lower Delaware and Northern Virginia and southern Virginia. And those are just the states that we've lived in! If you've ever driven through the farming areas of South Central New Jersey you would not think it was the same state as Newark and Trenton. I like the contrast between the areas of a state, makes life interesting! I don't especially think one are of PA is better then another but I sure like where I live.