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I'm stunned that Vermont has any votes, though considering the lack of fundamental knowledge of geography in this country, shouldn't be. With the number of products that come out of Vermont and that are marketed as such, one would expect it to not "fly under the radar"...
Totally agree.
When you consider Vermont only has about 600,000 people - I would say Vermont gets MORE attention then you would think for its size. And everyone seems to love Vermont. This is especially true in winter when people actually bypass perfectly good ski resorts in New York and Massachusetts to get to Vermont.
So I vote for Delaware. Its not that Delaware is ignored, she just gets mentioned a lot less. That's not necessarily a bad thing if you live in Delaware.
Would Delaware and Rhode Island be a better comparison?
Personally, I feel like unless you live (or have lived) in or right next to Delaware, it's not a place you think of much. I don't "forget" it, but I don't think it has the same level of noteriety and identity as Vermont. You can compare population and fortune 500 compaines, but Vermont has more characteristics that people probably recognize as uniquely Vermont. DuPont may be the far bigger company, but I'd argue Ben and Jerry's is more recognizeable. I think Vermont's famed hills and New England charm stand out in people's minds over Delaware's charm and natural beauty (althrough DE has some nice coastline). I think that Vermont is more politically notable (liberalism) than Delaware as well.
Rhode Island and Delaware are the two smallest states and are sandwiched in between a bunch of the more recongizeable states in the country which mean's they're overshadowed in many respects. I'd still say that RI is more notable, but I think it's a better comparison (and VT isn're REALLY a "coastal" state, but that's a nitpick).
DE and RI have about the same population actually and both small by area - RI moreso
DE is interesting in many ways. Is sort of at the junction of a few regions (NE, South, Delmarva etc.)
Not sure RI is more notable, maybe - being closer to DE for me its a little more top of mind I suppose but not sure I would say any state is not recognized - maybe without a ton of formal knowledge
Both RI and DE have a sliver of 95 that runs through them
Of the two, Delaware. Though I grew up in PA, I didn't visit the state until I was an adult. There was no reason to go there. The family went to the NJ shore every year. We'd go to NYC for museums and shows. I went with a friend's family to the Finger Lakes in NY a couple of times. Another friend moved to the Harrisburg area and when I would visit, we'd go to Baltimore or DC.
I nominate Iowa. My husband once worked for a company which was based in Missouri, I know someone who moved to Arkansas, Oklahoma has that song and Dorothy was from Kansas. I saw so many Mutual of Omaha commercials while watching Wild Kingdom that I will never forget Nebraska. Iowa?
Small states have it a little rough. Its easy to brag about a state like California, like "oh it's so diverse in nature and topography and look at all you can do and look at its vastness and beauty!..." Okay, yes, all true, but it's a huge state. For a state like Delaware that is tiny, so tiny it cannot possibly ever have all of that, it's easy to be ignored. It's also easy to be overshadowed by states nearby that are larger with major cities - like PA and MD/DC.
Location: Watching half my country turn into Gilead
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eschaton
Vermont has a national reputation for many reasons:
1. Maple Syrup.
2. Ben & Jerry's.
3. Becoming a really, really left-wing state.
4. Having a lot of hippies (less accurate).
5. Howard Dean was governor.
6. They currently have an independent socialist senator.
7. In the process of implementing single-payer health insurance.
Admittedly, with the exception of maple syrup, none of this stuff would have put the state on the map say in the late 1980s, when it was still a Republican-leaning state with no national brand, and not thought of as being that distinctive from New Hampshire or Maine.
In contrast, I cannot think of a single thing which Delaware is well known for, except for being the location of DuPont and being where (for tax purposes) most U.S. corporations are formally incorporated.
Wow, surprised that Delaware is leading in the polls. Delaware has a national reputation for the following reasons:
1. Vice President Joe Biden
2. DuPont company
3. Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens
4. Chris Christie went to the Univ of Delaware
5. Being a tax-free shopping state/the first state
6. The beaches down in Rehoboth
7. Dover International Speedway/Dover Downs
Location: Watching half my country turn into Gilead
3,530 posts, read 4,172,482 times
Reputation: 2925
Quote:
Originally Posted by lrfox
Would Delaware and Rhode Island be a better comparison?
Personally, I feel like unless you live (or have lived) in or right next to Delaware, it's not a place you think of much. I don't "forget" it, but I don't think it has the same level of noteriety and identity as Vermont. You can compare population and fortune 500 compaines, but Vermont has more characteristics that people probably recognize as uniquely Vermont. DuPont may be the far bigger company, but I'd argue Ben and Jerry's is more recognizeable. I think Vermont's famed hills and New England charm stand out in people's minds over Delaware's charm and natural beauty (althrough DE has some nice coastline). I think that Vermont is more politically notable (liberalism) than Delaware as well.
Rhode Island and Delaware are the two smallest states and are sandwiched in between a bunch of the more recongizeable states in the country which mean's they're overshadowed in many respects. I'd still say that RI is more notable, but I think it's a better comparison (and VT isn're REALLY a "coastal" state, but that's a nitpick).
I initially thought of Rhode Island, but then figured that Providence's status as a mid-major city in the Boston sphere of influence kind of puts it on the map--Vermont and Delaware are really lacking in a large, major city. Plus, Providence has Brown.
Yea, Vermont isn't on the coast, but it's Northeastern. Delaware is Northeastern as well, though there are people on here who will debate that til the cows come home.
And yea, I guess I'm biased, having lived in Delaware and now next door in PA. I just can't remember the last time Vermont was mentioned in a national context.
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