If the Midwest was split entirely by "Lower Midwest" and "Upper Midwest", which part would Iowa be in? (area, demographics)
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I'd say Lower. Minnesota is Upper Midwest (except maybe the area just south and north of I 90. Culturally Iowa seems so different from Minnesota. It's hard to explain but things like food and accent are prime examples.
The northern third of Iowa is more like rural Minnesota and the Dakotas than it is central and southern Iowa.
Northeastern Iowa is basically an extension of Wisconsin.
North of Highway 20, I'd say Iowa's Upper Midwest and south of that it's Lower Midwest. Des Moines is more like Kansas City than it is like Minneapolis. Rural southern Iowa and northern Missouri are indistinguishable. Western Iowa and Nebraska are very similar, as are eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
The northern third of Iowa is more like rural Minnesota and the Dakotas than it is central and southern Iowa.
Northeastern Iowa is basically an extension of Wisconsin.
North of Highway 20, I'd say Iowa's Upper Midwest and south of that it's Lower Midwest. Des Moines is more like Kansas City than it is like Minneapolis. Rural southern Iowa and northern Missouri are indistinguishable. Western Iowa and Nebraska are very similar, as are eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
I agree with this. Anyone who could say Iowa is unequivocally with the "Upper Midwest", certainly hasn't been to Fort Madison, IA. I think Chicago is a part of "upper", but outside of that, IL is not. The only good way to distinguish areas of the Midwest, is the Midwest and the Great Lakes states. As far as GL states, Indiana shouldn't really be included. IL, outside of Chicago, and IN, are both more aligned with the rest of the Midwest.
The northern third of Iowa is more like rural Minnesota and the Dakotas than it is central and southern Iowa.
Northeastern Iowa is basically an extension of Wisconsin.
North of Highway 20, I'd say Iowa's Upper Midwest and south of that it's Lower Midwest. Des Moines is more like Kansas City than it is like Minneapolis. Rural southern Iowa and northern Missouri are indistinguishable. Western Iowa and Nebraska are very similar, as are eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Certainly much of northern Iowa is like southern Minnesota but to me the rest of Minnesota seems different. I had forgotten about the Driftless Area, and yes, that is pretty distinctive. It's funny you mention western Iowa and eastern Nebraska being so similar. So many people I know in Iowa think all of Nebraska looks like the western third. I think if I were to describe the Upper Midwest I'd say it's North Dakota east of the 100th meridian, all of Minnesota, and Michigan, probably most of Wisconsin (I haven't spent enough time there for an opinion), and the Great Lakes regions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The rest would be lower. Iowa is definitely the quintessential Midwestern state in my opinion. It's the only one that borders only Midwestern states (unless you count Missouri as Southern).
Certainly much of northern Iowa is like southern Minnesota but to me the rest of Minnesota seems different. I had forgotten about the Driftless Area, and yes, that is pretty distinctive. It's funny you mention western Iowa and eastern Nebraska being so similar. So many people I know in Iowa think all of Nebraska looks like the western third. I think if I were to describe the Upper Midwest I'd say it's all of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan, probably most of Wisconsin (I haven't spent enough time there for an opinion), and the Great Lakes regions of Illinois, Indiana, or Ohio. The rest would be lower. Iowa is definitely the quintessential Midwestern state in my opinion. It's the only one that borders only Midwestern states (unless you count Missouri as Southern).
Wisconsin has an entire eastern border of Lake Michigan, and has part of Lake Superior at the north end. Michigan and Wisconsin have the most Great Lakes shoreline, so Wisconsin is definitely a Great Lakes state.
Wisconsin has an entire eastern border of Lake Michigan, and has part of Lake Superior at the north end. Michigan and Wisconsin have the most Great Lakes shoreline, so Wisconsin is definitely a Great Lakes state.
I knew it had a large shoreline, I just meant to say I wasn't sure if all of it was Upper Midwest.
Certainly much of northern Iowa is like southern Minnesota but to me the rest of Minnesota seems different. I had forgotten about the Driftless Area, and yes, that is pretty distinctive. It's funny you mention western Iowa and eastern Nebraska being so similar. So many people I know in Iowa think all of Nebraska looks like the western third. I think if I were to describe the Upper Midwest I'd say it's North Dakota east of the 100th meridian, all of Minnesota, and Michigan, probably most of Wisconsin (I haven't spent enough time there for an opinion), and the Great Lakes regions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The rest would be lower. Iowa is definitely the quintessential Midwestern state in my opinion. It's the only one that borders only Midwestern states (unless you count Missouri as Southern).
Me too and I've always thought that people who had that belief were silly. On I-80, Nebraska doesn't look any different from Iowa until somewhere west of Kearney.
And when I say "rural Minnesota" I kind of misspoke. Northern Iowa is similar to southern Minnesota west of the Driftless Area and up through the Red River Valley - the prairie part of Minnesota. Much of rural Minnesota is more woods and lakes with logging, mining, and tourism being big industries. That part of Minnesota is nothing like Iowa.
Me too and I've always thought that people who had that belief were silly. On I-80, Nebraska doesn't look any different from Iowa until somewhere west of Kearney.
And when I say "rural Minnesota" I kind of misspoke. Northern Iowa is similar to southern Minnesota west of the Driftless Area and up through the Red River Valley - the prairie part of Minnesota. Much of rural Minnesota is more woods and lakes with logging, mining, and tourism being big industries. That part of Minnesota is nothing like Iowa.
The people who say that are obviously people who never leave Iowa. The truth is if you blindfolded someone and dropped them in a cornfield they wouldn't be able to tell one state from another.
I agree with your statement about Minnesota.
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