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This is a bit different. A section of Pennsylvania is near Delaware Bay, or just is on the Delaware estuary thereby having a coast, and Vermont is near enough to the ocean to be effected by hurricanes. The West Coast states go inland enough that the landlocked states that border them are not influenced by the coast in the same way. And that has a cultural element in that having port cities traditionally brought in more foreign trade and immigration. Nevada, Arizona, or Idaho did not (so far as I know) have something like nineteenth century San Francisco.
It's also different culturally. Arizona and Nevada were largely desert so strong settlement is, I believe, more recent exempting mining towns. Perhaps Nevada works in some ways, but even then I have my doubts.
Nevada and Arizona are heavily populated by CA ex-pats. They have plenty to do with the similarities in culture. There are of course differences between CA and those 2 states, but those differences are akin to the differences between NY and MD or ME. Culturally, those states are still very similar to CA, OR and WA. I believe ME is much more conservative than NY (correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm just using this example for the sake of argument), similar to how AZ is much more so than CA, but all are still part of their respective coasts culturally.
If we are talking geographically, the answer is obvious: CA, WA and OR. If we are talking culturally, the answer is not so obvious. WA and OR are very different culturally than is CA. And Northern CA is very different culturally than Southern CA. Both differ markedly from the Central Valley, the Cascades, and the desert.
Last edited by Ben Around; 09-01-2009 at 10:38 AM..
Reason: sp
Anything west of the Cascade Mountains. Once you go east of this mountain range, the biosphere changes to intermontaine. It's kind of a cop-out answer, but I think it narrows down the geography on a physical level, rather than a political one. Culturally, as well. We put too much stock in land-based, political boundaries in this country. The real answer lies more within physical barriers, such as rivers and mountains.
And Northern CA is very different culturally than Southern CA. .
Not really.
Weather(in some parts, yes)...but the differences aren't that big. Norcaler's are just as materialistic as SoCaler's (not a bad thing) ..its just they show it in different ways. The same "get ahead" culture as well as "laid back" thing is prevalent in both
Damn I wish I hadn't screwed up the poll, it would have been an interesting one.
Again, I think there is enough cultural diversity in the west for Nevada, Arizona, and I suppose Idaho to be included. I mean Idaho probably doesn't have much in common with Los Angeles but its virtually indistinguishable from parts of eastern Oregon and Washington.
Damn I wish I hadn't screwed up the poll, it would have been an interesting one.
Again, I think there is enough cultural diversity in the west for Nevada, Arizona, and I suppose Idaho to be included. I mean Idaho probably doesn't have much in common with Los Angeles but its virtually indistinguishable from parts of eastern Oregon and Washington.
why don't you get a mod to lock this and then remake it properly? I'm interested in this as well b/c even as a west coaster, I kind of wonder if we consider AZ/NV to be our kind xD
I don't know why people are throwing in inland states. Geographically, the term 'West Coast' is pretty cut and dry, meaning any state is along the western coast of the United States. If you want to talk about the 'West Coast' as a culture, that's a different story.
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