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There's nothing wrong with this per se. I'm just curious about the areas whose suburban residents claim the city proper rather than the specific suburb they actually live in.
Could someone from Renton, Washington claim Seattle? Or would Seattle residents take umbrage with that?
Could someone from Jersey City claim the Big Apple? It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area and it's closer to Manhattan than Staten Island.
How about someone from Silver Spring, Maryland? Or Aurora, IL? Can they claim DC and Chicago, respectively?
For a lot of people, it's not about not having pride in the city or suburb that they were from, but the simple fact that no one knows what part of the country you're even talking about when you travel.
I moved to Chicago 4 years ago, and I still tell people I'm from St. Louis, rather than the St. Louis suburb I'm from that's actually located in Illinois. Most people have never heard of it, and worse yet, several people have also been completely shocked when I told them that St. Louis is sitting on the Missouri/Illinois border.
When I'm back in the St. Louis area visiting friends and family though, it's entirely different. I never say I'm from St. Louis, because it's simply not true, and people there actually know where I'm talking about.
Edit: I just noticed how old the original post is. Yay me for not paying attention.
I don't understand what the problem is with people saying they're from 'x' city but live in 'x' suburb. It just makes things easier amongst people who wouldn't otherwise know your city's suburbs. When people find out I'm not a San Antonio native and ask where I'm originally from, I respond with Chicago even though I lived there for three years and grew up in Brookfield. Now when I'm back in Chicago visiting family and people ask where I'm living now, I say San Antonio even though I live in Alamo Heights. I'm such a liar
I used to say, "I'm from the Philadelphia area," but at some point gave up and started saying, "Philadelphia." I try to justify it because half of my family lives in Philadelphia, so I spent the better parts of my summers in northeast Philly, South Philly, or Center City (where my dad worked). I almost certainly know Philadelphia better than I know Havertown (where I grew up). So, it's a bit disingenuous to say I'm from Philadelphia, but it's partially justified. Plus, I don't want to say the suburbs as if I'm trying to distance myself from the city (i.e. I'm ashamed of it).
Location: Baghdad by the Bay (San Francisco, California)
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The suburbs of Houston encompass quite a lot. There are areas inside the Loop that are as suburban as Katy, Tx. So, naturally, people throughout that sprawl refer to "Houston" as their home. The lines are incredibly blurred and the distinction between urban and suburban, or even rural is often difficult to understand.
so i'll just say i'm from Saint Paul or Minneapolis.
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