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Because it snows? That's like saying Houston and LA have similar climates because they're both mostly warm year round. Can't really think of a Midwestern city with dry summers, low precipitation, abundant sunshine and weather patterns heavily influenced by a mountain range. With that said, Denver doesn't have similarities to any climate on the West Coast either. It's the only large city with a Semi-Arid climate classification so I think it's pretty unique in that regard.
Also flatness isn't solely a trait of the Midwest. Most cities in the West are built on a flat plain or desert land. What makes Denver's location on the same type of landscape any different?
I think there are valid reason some may say Denver is more similar to the Midwest but those aren't very good ones
It won't answer this question, but Denver is basically Boise's big brother.
It won't answer this question, but Denver is basically Boise's big brother.
I agree. But I've never heard anyone say Boise, or even Colorado Springs/SLC, was the Midwest despite all sharing similar architecture, climates, landscapes and culture (outdoors).
I'm confused by your comment. Boise and SLC aren't on the Great Plains.
Of course not. But they are built on primarily flat/dry grassland which is what I was getting at. If being built on flat/arid/treeless land makes a place Midwestern, why then doesn't that apply to places with similar terrain?
I've seen no claims like that. The point about Denver includes the points that it's on the Great Plains, shares some Great Plains culture, and has no major topography to the east.
I've seen no claims like that. The point about Denver includes the points that it's on the Great Plains, shares some Great Plains culture, and has no major topography to the east.
You should look a couple of pages back. A poster asked about what Midwestern traits Denver has and a few posters brought up it's flat landscape as a reason why. This has been said a few times throughout this thread so I'm just wondering why people think that's solely a characteristic of Midwestern cities.
I'm not sure it is physical and geographic traits or climate that defines a region. In my mind culture is the driver. That said, the culture of Denver is clearly that of the mountain west, considering it is the region's primary city.
You should look a couple of pages back. A poster asked about what Midwestern traits Denver has and a few posters brought up it's flat landscape as a reason why. This has been said a few times throughout this thread so I'm just wondering why people think that's solely a characteristic of Midwestern cities.
I was responding to this claim, which hasn't been made: "If being built on flat/arid/treeless land makes a place Midwestern..."
My thing is, you're comparing Denver (a large city) to mostly desolate land where few people live. The parts of the Midwest with cities comparable in size do not share the same landscape or climate. Minneapolis and Kansas City, for example, look next to nothing like Denver. Or am I blind? I must be going blind chile...
To be clear my stance isn't that Denver is more similar to the West coast, but it's not as similar to many populated parts of the Midwest as some are suggesting either.
I would say there are a few physical characteristics it shares with Kansas City and Omaha, but not enough to say they are that comparable.
I'm not thinking of Denver being similar to the Western Midwest as minimizing it, I think Denver is the cultural and economic capital of the Western Plains, Western Midwest, and Eastern Rockies. Its the city people from those regions move to and travel to if they want to go to the big city. I've done work trips to Kearney/Grand Island, NE and Rapid City, SD and the people there pretty well look to Denver when they want to go to the big city. Its the big city they speak of.
I also like to think of spheres of influence. Denver's sphere of influence is largely Eastern Rockies and Western Plains.
So comparing Denver to places that aren't that populated isn't a way of putting it down or anything. To me, its just what would happen if those areas became a big city.
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