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If you live in a Midwestern state, do you feel an strong affinity or identity with other states in the same region? If you live in Kansas or Illinois, for example, do you feel any regional "kinship" with Ohio or South Dakota? How about adjacent states?
In other regions (South, New England, West) it seems like the residents carry some sort of a regional identity -- at least it seems so if you read enough of these threads. (I'm absolutely not asking if you think your state is mislabeled as Midwestern. That's a different thread.)
What about you Midwesterners? Do you feel part of a greater regional identity?
So...what state are you from and do you strongly identify as a Midwesterner?
I live in Iowa, and feel that Nebraska and Kansas are pretty similar states to us. On a micro level, I live on the west edge of the Driftless Area and feel that this is are is basically a western wing of Wisconsin. Iowa as a whole feels pretty different from Wisconsin, but the northeast corner is different.
I also strongly identify as Midwestern. In my mind, Iowa is the quintessential Midwest state.
We're in Wisconsin, currently. Actually, this is my favorite Midwest state, and I love the traditions, here. I do believe that western Wisconsin is very similar to Minnesota, the northern part of the state could be compared to northern Minnesota and Michigan, and that the southeastern part of the state, is like a continuation of the northern Chicago suburbs. Madison stands alone, and is quintessentially Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's entire eastern border is Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior is to the north. Next to Michigan, Wisconsin has the most miles of Great Lakes bordering the state. Due to the lakes in northern Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes, Wisconsin doesn't have a lot in common with NE, KS, IA, MO, IN, ND, SD, and most of IL. Out of those states, there is a similarity to the northeastern part of Iowa.
I love the Midwest, and feel the same as mr roboto. Honestly, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the USA.
I feel allegiant to the northern Midwest forest region which is inclusive of northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and the UP. Anecdote: Whenever I did field travel, I always got along with the pipeliners hailing from those regions the most.
With regard to the state, I don't associate with the Twin Cities. Makes for a decent weekend trip every now and then, but I keep to my area.
I don't know if I would call it affinity as such, but I would say when it comes to visibility, awareness, where we are likely to go, Wisconsin would exceed the rest of the state of Illinois.
Minnesota - not really. Wisconsin is a similar state and there’s a bit of a cheeky rivalry. ND/SD, IA are pretty different than MN.
I do proudly consider my self Midwestern and get pretty defensive when people disparage the region.
I actually think most of North Dakota is very similar to Minnesota. Fewer trees but culturally it is quite similar. I do agree that Iowa and South Dakota are different though. I am with you in my agreement that I hate when people disparage the region. Especially since most have never been there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SunGrins
If you live in a Midwestern state, do you feel an strong affinity or identity with other states in the same region? If you live in Kansas or Illinois, for example, do you feel any regional "kinship" with Ohio or South Dakota? How about adjacent states?
In other regions (South, New England, West) it seems like the residents carry some sort of a regional identity -- at least it seems so if you read enough of these threads. (I'm absolutely not asking if you think your state is mislabeled as Midwestern. That's a different thread.)
What about you Midwesterners? Do you feel part of a greater regional identity?
So...what state are you from and do you strongly identify as a Midwesterner?
I recently moved to the Midwest after a 24 year absence. I lived in Iowa as a little kid and then lived in Montana and Wyoming until I was in my 30s. After moving to North Dakota I started to identify as a Midwesterner since I really never fit in with the people of Montana and Wyoming. I think there is a definite regional identity (and I even started a thread on here describing it). I'm not sure how similar I am to someone from say Ohio or Missouri, but I'm sure I have quite a bit in common.
I don't know if I would call it affinity as such, but I would say when it comes to visibility, awareness, where we are likely to go, Wisconsin would exceed the rest of the state of Illinois.
Agreed....most that I knew went to Wisconsin for fun, rather than south to other parts of Illinois.
Agreed....most that I knew went to Wisconsin for fun, rather than south to other parts of Illinois.
Probably has more to do with proximity than anything else. I’d wager if Chicago were located in S. Illinois, people would be going to the Ozarks all the time and very few to Wisconsin.
Probably has more to do with proximity than anything else. I’d wager if Chicago were located in S. Illinois, people would be going to the Ozarks all the time and very few to Wisconsin.
Some, probably. But plenty go pretty far north in Wisconsin, to Door County and Vilas County....pretty much every other car on the highway on a Friday evening, has an IL plate. Many have summer homes in northern Wisconsin. Lots and lots of water to vacation by.
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