Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I would say there are three - the western parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. Minnesota doesn't seem western, at all.
I think socioculturally Minnesota is pretty similar to the Pacific Northwest though, especially comparing the natives of both regions. In some ways Minneapolis has more in common with Seattle and Portland than it does with cities like Cleveland and Philadelphia.
Nebraska and South Dakota are both very western terrain-wise. Sandhills, badlands, toadstool, black hills, fort robinson area, wildcat hills, buttes, mesas etc. 3/4ths of both states are very western
Kansas and North Dakota are next with Minnesota and Iowa a distant next in line.
I think the MN to OR/WA comparison is more apt when people are talking about Minneapolis/St. Paul to Seattle or Portland. Rural MN, especially Western or Southern MN, shares a lot more in common with the Dakotas, Iowa, or Wisconsin.
Agreed. Culturally, Minnesota is Midwestern through and through--not really anything like the Pac NW, and I never understand the comparison.
My vote is either for South Dakota, or western Nebraska. However, the bulk of Nebraska population is very Midwestern, in my experience.
I wont argue the population. Even though we are far from being rust-belt as manufacturing isnt a a major part of our economy.
Outside of agriculture, Nebraska is very balanced and diversified. Omaha specifically has five fortune 500 companies and 10 fortune 1000. So we are similar to a smaller Minneapolis.
That said 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the state is very western 'terrain-wise'
I wont argue the population. Even though we are far from being rust-belt as manufacturing isnt a a major part of our economy.
Outside of agriculture, Nebraska is very balanced and diversified. Omaha specifically has five fortune 500 companies and 10 fortune 1000. So we are similar to a smaller Minneapolis.
That said 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the state is very western 'terrain-wise'
Sure, you don't have to be rust belt to be Midwestern, e.g. Columbus, Indianapolis, portions of central Illinois, Madison, large chunks of Iowa, etc.
I think the MN to OR/WA comparison is more apt when people are talking about Minneapolis/St. Paul to Seattle or Portland. Rural MN, especially Western or Southern MN, shares a lot more in common with the Dakotas, Iowa, or Wisconsin.
About 60% of the population of MN lives in the Minneapolis MSA. Minneapolis drives Minnesota.
I wont argue the population. Even though we are far from being rust-belt as manufacturing isnt a a major part of our economy.
Outside of agriculture, Nebraska is very balanced and diversified. Omaha specifically has five fortune 500 companies and 10 fortune 1000. So we are similar to a smaller Minneapolis.
That said 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the state is very western 'terrain-wise'
Isn't the divisor between the humid midwest/east and the arid west the 100th meridian, just a little more than halfway (west) across Nebraska? Of course, there's no actual dividing line like that, it's more gradual.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
