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Something I've often speculated in Midwest geography is what category does the Illinois side of the St. Louis metro, better known as "Metro East", fall under in terms of culture/identity?
Most sources define this region, along with the rest of Southern Illinois (approximately south of Effingham), as being much more culturally aligned with the Upland South than the Midwest due to its more southerly latitude, to which I would concur.
However I strongly feel this does not apply to the Southwest Illinois suburbs of Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, Alton etc. that are largely within the socio-cultural influence of St. Louis, a very Midwestern city.
I'd be curious to get other opinions on this.
Last edited by Doughboy1918; 12-16-2022 at 08:42 AM..
I need to explore the region more, but I've never gotten much of a southern feel in southern Illinois. Even in Carbondale (just one or two counties above Cairo) it felt very Midwestern.
I need to explore the region more, but I've never gotten much of a southern feel in southern Illinois. Even in Carbondale (just one or two counties above Cairo) it felt very Midwestern.
Based on research I’ve done and videos I’ve watched, I’d beg to differ. The local accent of south-central and southeastern Illinois is more southern and the region is largely Evangelical.
Last edited by Doughboy1918; 12-17-2022 at 06:18 AM..
I need to explore the region more, but I've never gotten much of a southern feel in southern Illinois. Even in Carbondale (just one or two counties above Cairo) it felt very Midwestern.
Remote parts of Southern Illinois are pretty interesting. You’ll come across some hardcore southern or Appalachian dialect.
I’ve looked into this before. Certain area in southeast Illinois share accents with bordering Kentucky, while southern/southwestern Illinois shares more with Tennessee. And it’s not just the “twang”. There are a number of shares sayings in those regions.
As far as Saint Louis, it’s definitely a northern or Midwestern town. But again, you don’t need to travel far outside the MSA for it to feel and sound southern.
Remote parts of Southern Illinois are pretty interesting. You’ll come across some hardcore southern or Appalachian dialect.
I’ve looked into this before. Certain area in southeast Illinois share accents with bordering Kentucky, while southern/southwestern Illinois shares more with Tennessee. And it’s not just the “twang”. There are a number of shares sayings in those regions.
As far as Saint Louis, it’s definitely a northern or Midwestern town. But again, you don’t need to travel far outside the MSA for it to feel and sound southern.
The metro east is midwestern but has the usual southern influence from the great migration but also a bit coming from the coal mining district a short distance to the south in Illinois. (Southern Illinois has more of a southern influence south of Carbondale.) There also is a German ancestry influence and a lingering hint of French settlement in place names. I always thought of it as a hard working blue collar area, but mostly midwestern. My relatives from there were German and Irish ancestry without any southern connections.
The metro east is midwestern but has the usual southern influence from the great migration but also a bit coming from the coal mining district a short distance to the south in Illinois. (Southern Illinois has more of a southern influence south of Carbondale.) There also is a German ancestry influence and a lingering hint of French settlement in place names. I always thought of it as a hard working blue collar area, but mostly midwestern. My relatives from there were German and Irish ancestry without any southern connections.
I don’t think the reason why a lot of St. Louis metro suburbs have French-sounding names is because of any direct settlement from France.
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