What Midwestern city (exc. Chicago) is the most All-American city? (movies, live in)

[Darry7]

It is commonly argued that Chicago is the All-American city. It's architecture is classical Americana and it being a melting pot of immigrants adds to this.

I am curious as to what other Midwestern cities people see as All-American. In my personal opinion the Midwest is quintessential Americana... I say this not to offend -- I live in Oregon if that makes any difference, and most of my family are from Hawaii, so I am not disrespecting non-MW states, I just believe the MW is the most American region.

In your opinion what city is the most American?

[Darry7]

IMO Milwaukee.

[LordHomunculus]

I've heard Kansas City to be an "All-American" city.

[Dawn.Davenport]

What exactly to you mean by all-American?

If we're defining all-American as being American sports, American music, and the effect the city has had on the rest of the world, I'd say Detroit.

If we're defining all-American as being most like a Normon Rockwell a painting, I'd say Galena, Illinois

If we're defining all American as being the most like how America is represented in movies that were set in the 50s, I'd say Peoria, Illinois.

If we're defining all-American as least amount of immigrants, I'd say Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

If we're defining all-American as least like anything in Canada, I'd say East Saint Louis, Illinois.

If we're defining all-American as American food, I'd say Des Moines, Iowa.

If we're defining all-American as having the most RV's, I'd say Elkhart, Indiana.

[Bslette]

They're all American. All cities in America are American, and the thing about America is that it is very diverse in a lot of ways. None of the cities are more American that the others.

[Tom Lennox 70]

"I grew up in Kansas. That's as American as it gets" - Superman in "Man of Steel"


Kansas City probably would be the largest "all-American city" in the Midwest though the real America would probably be in a small town in the heartland or the South. Though the other choices on this poll might work too with the exception of Detroit. A caveat is that if Obama and the liberal Democrats get their way, the answer will be Detroit as they will turn the rest of America into Detroit. I'm surprised Omaha, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa are not here as they all have an all-American reputation.

Branson, Missouri and Topeka, Kansas are smaller cities that can be on this list.

I think that Texas and the South, especially the Upper South like Tennessee and Virginia also are very all-American though the Deep South is also very unique and different. Fort Worth and Amarillo are very all-American places close to where the Midwest begins I guess.

[greenbay33]

I voted for KC as the All-American city. To me it just seems like typical middle of the road america, but in a good way, not in a tacky or boring way. The architecture is pretty good for a city it's size. It's history is very interesting as well and I think in a way is the story of America from the civil war onwards in the sense that it in some ways it's kind of a rust belt city but in some ways it is more of a western city.

I'd also say Omaha is another city that is All-American. It's very business oriented, a city built on railroads, transportation and the military (SAC was a pretty big deal). Also very middle of the road politically. Where it loses to Kansas City though is that it doesn't have as big of an influence, and was always a small city where as KC always strived to be a big city even though it isn't. For a long time Omaha dreamed small, KC dreamed big.

[danielj72]

limiting my comments to the Midwest, I would say candidates would be Green bay Wisconsin, Grand Rapids Michigan, Fort Wayne Indiana, Des Moines, Peroia, or Minneapolis. Naming one city that is the most "all American" is just not possible.
One also must consider the fact that the most "all American" city could just as easily be in the south or Rocky mountain west. Both coasts are more eccentric and less likely to really be average America.

[thefallensrvnge]

I'm a native, and I could see an argument for Kansas City which I find to be a compliment. Surprisingly, Kansas City has a lot in common with Chicago. It's a rail hub and the crossroads for a lot of traffic moving around the country. A lot of early stone Art deco skyscrapers. Stock yard cities and masters of the argo-industrial complex; in fact, I think CME just acquired the KCBT for control of its supply of wheat. Both are know for their American style cuisine: hot dogs and bbq. KC and CHI cities were strongholds for the mob which brought a strong history of jazz (the American sound) and anti-prohibition activities. Not to mention Kansas City was the focal point for the expansion into the West much as Chicago brought culture to the old Northwest with industry and avant-garde arts.

That said Chicago is far more international and diverse culturally and economically; as a result, it thinks much bigger. But with Chicago's sheer size, much of its surrounding cities took certain cues from its success. All American? Maybe. Probably more representative of the Midwestern region which is, for a variety of arbitrary reasons, seen as the "real America".

[cbusflyer]

I don't know, Columbus is the "heart" of Ohio which after all, is the "Heart of it all" ... That's what my license plate use to say