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I dunno. Windham County feels super, classic-New England to me. The relationship between Bridgeport and Fairfield is very similar to others in New England like Springfield/Longmeadow, Hartford/West Hartford, Lawrence/Andover, etc. While it’s the same in parts of the mid-Atlantic, I think going from very poor to very rich in just a few feet is a pretty New England-y trait.
Relates to that other poster’s “good fences make good neighbors”. Turns out town boundaries make the best fences.
The way they talk. Throughout history, language has always trumped everything else as a definer of cultural linearity. People who speak like their parents are the ones who act most like them.
If you meet 7 of the 11 below, you may, just may be a New Englander.
1. Hatred towards the New York Yankees.
2. Ability to drink Iced Coffee's from Dunkin all day anyday. Even when it's 20 degrees out.
3. Summer trips include going down to the Cape, the Vineyard or Newport.
4. You know the Bernie and Phyl's jingle (Yes, Ive heard this in CT, ME, MA and VT).
5. You are either Irish, Portuguese or Italian.
6. You Ski.
7. You have a preference for Clam Chowder bases (White, Clear, Red).
9. Its probably too cold to swim in the closest beach or lake to you in June.
10. Sarcasm is your sense of humor.
11. You rank pizza places. This is like all over tik tok with New Yorkers making fun of Bostonians for "ranking pizza places" new one. I think it's very funny and very true.
Optional 12th for Bostonians only
12. You think New England is synonymous with Boston no matter how many times you claim to know the difference. No matter how many people tell you, New England is Boston to you and vice versa.
No, but in all honesty... just being from MA, NH, VT, RI, ME, or CT (Bar Fairfield County).
This. I grew up in New England (CT, and then MA). CT is 100% within New England. All of it. I don't know how many times this comes up but I make it a point to shoot it down every time.
That means that a portion of New England is included in the NYC metro area, and roots for the Yankees. And??? Just because FFC is not oriented toward Boston does not mean it is not New England. Also, drive around the leafy areas of FFC county - this is some of the most stereotypical "Rich New England" that you will see. To me it feels distinctly different than Westchester. I cross the county line and immediately know I am in CT.
This. I grew up in New England (CT, and then MA). CT is 100% within New England. All of it. I don't know how many times this comes up but I make it a point to shoot it down every time.
That means that a portion of New England is included in the NYC metro area, and roots for the Yankees. And??? Just because FFC is not oriented toward Boston does not mean it is not New England. Also, drive around the leafy areas of FFC county - this is some of the most stereotypical "Rich New England" that you will see. To me it feels distinctly different than Westchester. I cross the county line and immediately know I am in CT.
I'd be willing to wager 80% of Bostonians and New Englanders not in CT think that little part of Ct that has NY influence isnt new england going off my #12 point, Boston is centric to New England. Not saying they are right.. but that's what most people in New England think. Just relaying the message too.
Also in Upstate NY, a lot of areas will say that they live in New England especially in Saratoga, Plattsburgh, Watertown and Lake Placid. Just because they hate NYC and root for like 2 or 3 Boston teams, they think that they are New England.
So New Englanders will say Fairfield County "isn't New England"
Upstaters will say parts of Upstate are New England
Bostonians will say New England is Boston
I'd be willing to wager 80% of Bostonians and New Englanders not in CT think that little part of Ct that has NY influence isnt new england going off my #12 point, Boston is centric to New England. Not saying they are right.. but that's what most people in New England think. Just relaying the message too.
Also in Upstate NY, a lot of areas will say that they live in New England especially in Saratoga, Plattsburgh, Watertown and Lake Placid. Just because they hate NYC and root for like 2 or 3 Boston teams, they think that they are New England.
So New Englanders will say Fairfield County "isn't New England"
Upstaters will say parts of Upstate are New England
Bostonians will say New England is Boston
Lol.
The people in FFC are some of the snobbiest most stereotypically New England people you will ever meet.
Alot of New England is centered around bosotn. Springfield isnt. Bangor isnt. Burlington isn't. etc. Only Bostonians would say that simply because they dislike (jealous?) NYC that much.
No normal person ins Springfield or RI or VT is going to say CT isn't New England. Not in real life. Sports isn't that important.
People in Upstate NY/Capitol region are close enough to being New England IMO-theres no major difference really.
The people in FFC are some of the snobbiest most stereotypically New England people you will ever meet.
Alot of New England is centered around bosotn. Springfield isnt. Bangor isnt. Burlington isn't. etc. Only Bostonians would say that simply because they dislike (jealous?) NYC that much.
No normal person ins Springfield or RI or VT is going to say CT isn't New England. Not in real life. Sports isn't that important.
People in Upstate NY/Capitol region are close enough to being New England IMO-theres no major difference really.
I hear plenty of jokes in VT and RI and even in ME that Ct is on "probation".
Again, it's just a joke or sarcasm. Same way NYC people consider Staten Island, not Nyc. It technically is but there's an on going joke. I highly doubt people from New England go home and cry Boston isn't Nyc, alot of New Englanders don't even like how crazy Boston is right now.. so I can't see most people get jealous of the size of NYC
I'm taking this whole.post with satire, because there's obvious definitions of New England but it's funny to hear what other people say.
What things would make you consider that person as a person from/hailing from/ belonging to that region. Do you think there's a specific culture of New England? How would you identify it and people belonging to it?
This is all just opinions and for fun- would love to hear different thoughts on the matter!
There used to be a specific English culture during the colonial era. New England was dominated heavily by English and Protestant Christian settlement while Canada was French Catholic and the Mid-Atlantic (former New Netherland) was much more diverse even during the colonial era.
Today of course, New England is extremely diverse, which is more like the Mid-Atlantic in that regard then the old New England.
At least three things survive from those early English days in New England:
- a strong connection to the sea, at least 4 states have long coastlines for their size and the cultural heavily involves the sea in much of New England.
- a strong local government that incorporates most of these states, fairly unique to just New England and the nearby Upper Mid-Atlantic
- the names of counties, cities and towns! All those English place names along with some surviving Algonquin Indian names.
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What makes someone a New Englander?
