Which state has the most "Anytown America" feel? (living, cost of living)

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by JaySwelly

Exactly. Any state with something that distinctively makes it different than the rest of the U.S. should be disqualified. So no offense, but it would have to be a bland state. I'm thinking Kansas, Indiana, Nebraska, or Ohio.

Ah so it's a childish thread where we disrespect the Midwest. I see.
Nothing better to do I guess?

[JaySwelly]

Originally Posted by iNviNciBL3

Ah so it's a childish thread where we disrespect the Midwest. I see.
Nothing better to do I guess?

Lol no. But I can tell you that almost everyone will agree that:

1. It isn't Texas
2. It isn't California
3. It isn't the PNW
4. It isn't the West
5. It isn't the South
6. It isn't Florida
7. It isn't New York
8. It isn't Bos-Wash
9. It isn't New England
10. It isn't Michigan
11. It isn't Minnesota
12. It isn't Illinois
13. It isn't the Dakotas

Which leaves Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. Not because they're completely bland, but because those other states have identifiable qualities that make them stick out.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by JaySwelly

Lol no. But I can tell you that almost everyone will agree that:

1. It isn't Texas
2. It isn't California
3. It isn't the PNW
4. It isn't the West
5. It isn't the South
6. It isn't Florida
7. It isn't New York
8. It isn't Bos-Wash
9. It isn't New England
10. It isn't Michigan
11. It isn't Minnesota
12. It isn't Illinois
13. It isn't the Dakotas

Which leaves Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. Not because they're completely bland, but because those other states have identifiable qualities that make them stick out.

Lol you listed pretty much over half the nation.
And if youd travel more you'd know every state has qualities that male them stand out.
Kind of hilarious someone would find Iowa similar to Ohio.

[JaySwelly]

Originally Posted by iNviNciBL3

Lol you listed pretty much over half the nation.
And if youd travel more you'd know every state has qualities that male them stand out.
Kind of hilarious someone would find Iowa similar to Ohio.

Alright. I've travelled a lot, so don't give me that. And I never said Ohio and Iowa are the same. What I'm trying to say (without saying anyone is boring) is that when I think of "Anytown USA", the first thing that comes my mind is farms. Wheat. Corn. Picnics. Thanksgiving. Smaller towns. Heartland. Center of the U.S. Nice homely people.

So that pretty much describes Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. I threw Ohio in there because to me it just seems like it would fit that vibe too. Indiana can jump in as well.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

My first thought was Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Nice place, lovely locals, good Czech food, but very America.

[UTHORNS96]

Originally Posted by JaySwelly

Alright. I've travelled a lot, so don't give me that. And I never said Ohio and Iowa are the same. What I'm trying to say (without saying anyone is boring) is that when I think of "Anytown USA", the first thing that comes my mind is farms. Wheat. Corn. Picnics. Thanksgiving. Smaller towns. Heartland. Center of the U.S. Nice homely people.

So that pretty much describes Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. I threw Ohio in there because to me it just seems like it would fit that vibe too. Indiana can jump in as well.

Exactly. The reason I chose Ohio is because it is a pretty neutral microcosm of the U.S. imo. It has small towns, suburbs, and medium sized cities, but they don't stick out as much as places in other states. It's a football state, which is America's number one sport, however it still is more neutral in it's culture compared to the rest of America than the other football states in the south are.

I don't call it Anytown America to disrespect it. I actually think it's charming that it's so stereotypically, generically American in a time where there really isn't hardly any "generic America" anymore.

[ishabad]

Conneticut
De end

[jm31828]

A lot of places could in some ways qualify, but there is one town that jumps out at me- a small town in eastern Nebraska named Seward. It has only about 3,000 people, it is about 20 miles west/Northwest of the much bigger Lincoln, Nebraska. My wife and I lived in Lincoln at the time and went to Seward on the 4th of July in 2009 because we'd heard about it being known as America's "4th of July city". And we were surprised- that town defines Americana in every single way- it was the post card of Americana, it could have come right out of any made for TV movie or John Cougar Mellencamp video. Neighborhoods of nice craftsman homes, everyone had pretty big yards that were well manicured, they had their American flags flying, most yards had people sitting outside barbecuing and shooting fireworks (and I don't mean some on every street, but a large majorty on every street) the small downtown area still had a town square with a gazebo just like you'd expect from the old times where they had morning pancake feeds and a small town parade that included tractors.. yes tractors. It's hard to put it into words, but my wife who is originally from China said "This is the stereotypical America that we always think of when we talk about the US!"

And don't get me wrong, I've been to many places on the 4th of July and they all have some of these elements, but none came close to the atmosphere you could feel in Seward- it just looked and felt like the definition of Americana. I have never really felt this way anywhere else.

[travel-a-lot]

texas...has every kind of diversity you can find but also has that "real american" culture too

[cbusflyer]

Ohio.. small towns, large cities, Amish, beaches, hills, caves, four distinct seasons, tornado's, small earth quakes, hurricane left overs, blizzards.
Climate wise California represents the US best, but Ohio has a clash of the East, Midwest and South all on touching it borders to go with it's ever changing weather.