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Old 09-20-2021, 11:28 AM
 
Location: Greater Indianapolis
1,727 posts, read 2,004,179 times
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In a previous florida thread a poster had mentioned that the tampa bay area feels the most like the midwest culturally. I'd be curious to know what others feel about the different parts of florida. Does the tampa area feel the most like the midwest? Why/why not? Obviously your interpretation of midwestern may vary but I'd be interested in hearing peoples thoughts/opinions. Disclaimer, I was born and raised in the midwest and have lived most of my life somewhere in the midwest (Columbus OH, Chicago, Indy) but my wife and I have considered moving our family to Florida for a while now.
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Old 09-20-2021, 03:08 PM
 
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I agree with the Tampa Bay assertion and in particular the Palm Harbor/Countryside/Safety Harbor area in Northern Pinellas County. Obviously not from a geographical standpoint, rather from the profile of the average resident living there. There are a lot of alumni of Big Ten schools with families (Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State etc flags/bumper stickers everywhere) and a very evident culture of block parties/social gatherings not normally seen in FL. All in all it's very welcoming and a refreshing difference. I personally would focus on Safety Harbor and neighborhoods like North Bay Hills, Bay Woods, Harbor Woods Village and Rainbow Farms. I have a friend who lives in North Bay Hills and love their block parties!
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Old 09-21-2021, 04:56 AM
 
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Yes, Tampa/Sarasota is like the midwest-by-the-sea. It feels very similar to up north and almost everyone you meet is a transplant. One of the best parts of Florida.
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Old 09-21-2021, 06:43 AM
 
Location: Greater Indianapolis
1,727 posts, read 2,004,179 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by allenk893 View Post
Yes, Tampa/Sarasota is like the midwest-by-the-sea. It feels very similar to up north and almost everyone you meet is a transplant. One of the best parts of Florida.
Cool, thanks for the good feedback.

My wife and I have been considering the tampa area, Orlando and Jacksonville area.
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Old 09-21-2021, 03:07 PM
 
Location: Florida
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The Tampa Bay Area does seem a lot friendlier than the east coast.
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Old 09-21-2021, 04:20 PM
 
27,169 posts, read 43,867,759 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by viewsonic1 View Post
How is any of this desirable? To be around of nasally sounding Karen's with their hot dishes and their complaining that they can't find good deep dish pizza or the Cubbies on TV? That's not Florida!

How's this: adapt and acclimate to your new surroundings and embrace the local culture, instead of segregating yourself in little Minneapolis?
Generalize much?

One can play the same game utilizing the many "Floriduh" natives driving around in jacked-up pickup trucks sporting Salt Life and FloGrown stickers.

It's very American to congregate with others you can relate to as have the many immigrant groups who move here and choose to keep alive their cultural heritage (Name a nationality, they all tend to gravitate toward one another to varying degrees).

For a Midwest transplant that can be college allegiances and pro sports team affiliations that go back for generations, as are traditional foods, potluck dinners and sharing of those family recipes with friends/neighbors. NY/NJ natives have been doing that in South Florida for decades.

Don't like it? Fine.

Continue the usual anti-social FL native practice of barely acknowledging your neighbor with all the blinds drawn hiding in the AC and coming/going by car in and out of your garage.

I'll be looking forward to trying Creamy Corn Casserole (delightfully nasally Karen's recipe from her great-grandmother) while her hubby Bob grills up some Burgers and Sausages on the grill drinking a cold one or two with the guys talking about the Bears/Lions/Colts/Bengals/Vikings (and preferably not the Packers) and how of course luckily they won't have to play Brady and the Bucs this year.
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Old 09-21-2021, 08:08 PM
 
Location: Florida
1,094 posts, read 807,204 times
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Southwest Florida seems to be more midwestern, it does help that Tampa runs on i-75 which is one of the main interstates on the midwest. A youtuber I watch says Ocala felt midwestern him. It felt more like the midwest to him than it does Florida.
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Old 09-21-2021, 08:30 PM
 
Location: Florida
2,332 posts, read 2,276,900 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwalker96 View Post
Southwest Florida seems to be more midwestern, it does help that Tampa runs on i-75 which is one of the main interstates on the midwest. A youtuber I watch says Ocala felt midwestern him. It felt more like the midwest to him than it does Florida.
Ocala and points north (excluding Gainesville) is more Southern than Midwestern.
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Old 09-22-2021, 07:44 AM
 
17,533 posts, read 39,109,818 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwalker96 View Post
Southwest Florida seems to be more midwestern, it does help that Tampa runs on i-75 which is one of the main interstates on the midwest. A youtuber I watch says Ocala felt midwestern him. It felt more like the midwest to him than it does Florida.
Only parts of Bradenton still seem somewhat "midwestern" to me. Lived in Sarasota/Bdton for decades and it has really changed. People from all over now, I would not call it midwestern at all.
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Old 09-22-2021, 08:24 AM
 
25 posts, read 14,226 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsychic View Post
Only parts of Bradenton still seem somewhat "midwestern" to me. Lived in Sarasota/Bdton for decades and it has really changed. People from all over now, I would not call it midwestern at all.
yeah, I would definitely say this is true NOW, that MW feel stopped in about 1990 or so - even the new people from around Chicago are totally different - culturally and even ethnically .


The biggest change I've seen and experienced was Pinellas County and particularly St Pete - that place has become a bit weird, Clearwater is less changed.
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