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Location: Jefferson City 4 days a week, St. Louis 3 days a week
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I think Missouri is the obvious answer here. I can say from experience that's the case simply because Missouri is the only state to have its southern quarter truly fit the definition of south in every sense of the word. It's still a Midwest state, but undoubtedly its southern influences are the strongest. Not to mention its status as a border state during the Civil War. But Indiana or Kansas is certainly number 2.
I think Missouri is the obvious answer here. I can say from experience that's the case simply because Missouri is the only state to have its southern quarter truly fit the definition of south in every sense of the word. It's still a Midwest state, but undoubtedly its southern influences are the strongest. Not to mention its status as a border state during the Civil War. But Indiana or Kansas is certainly number 2.
Missouri, and it's not debatable. The southern quarter of Missouri already is the south--the transition zone begins about halfway up the state, and by the time you get to Cape Girardeau, you've entered Dixie. Everything from about St. Louis north could be considered the Midwest. The sliver of Illinois below Cape Girardeau could also be considered the south, IMO (Cairo).
I can't speak for Kansas, because it seems more Great Plains to me (being from Michigan).
Meanwhile, I would say that Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are all no more or less Midwestern amongst each other. They all have practically the same migration histories. The northern sections have New York/New England influence, middle sections Pennsylvania influence, and lower sections Kentucky influence.
Missouri by miles and miles. No other midwestern state has such a sizable part that still identifies with the south as Missouri does. The Bootheel and the rest of the state south of U.S. 60 isn't midwestern at all and it is completely southern. There are also isolated pockets of southern culture north of U.S. 60 as well. Missouri has a very unique set of immigration patterns that began taking shape long before the United States owned the Louisiana Purchase. Many of the Southern settlers came somewhere around 1820 or so. The German immigrants showed up in force in the 1840's.
Missouri, and it's not debatable. The southern quarter of Missouri already is the south--the transition zone begins about halfway up the state, and by the time you get to Cape Girardeau, you've entered Dixie. Everything from about St. Louis north could be considered the Midwest. The sliver of Illinois below Cape Girardeau could also be considered the south, IMO (Cairo).
I can't speak for Kansas, because it seems more Great Plains to me (being from Michigan).
Meanwhile, I would say that Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are all no more or less Midwestern amongst each other. They all have practically the same migration histories. The northern sections have New York/New England influence, middle sections Pennsylvania influence, and lower sections Kentucky influence.
SE Ohio culturally has more in common with WV and the eastern mtn. regions of southern states like VA and NC. The App. Mtn. culture exists all through out towns like Lancaster, Marietta, Portsmouth, Athens, Zanesville (especially Zanesville), etc..... Ohio is bizarre in that respect because as you mentioned Northern Ohio is HEAVILY influenced by New England settlers especially those from Connecticut. German ancestry dominates the western part of Ohio which is common amongst Midwestern culture in general.
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