Where does the Midwest start and end? (areas, place)
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Thank you. No questions, this IS the Midwest. Not sure why people feel their definition, if different, is better. It is what it is, people, and this is it.
Well the western halves of the Dakotas, Kansas, and Nebraska are more western than midwestern. And MD and Delaware being southern is debatable. The way the census labels these states is debatable and isn't the end all be all.
Well the western halves of the Dakotas, Kansas, and Nebraska are more western than midwestern. And MD and Delaware being southern is debatable. The way the census labels these states is debatable and isn't the end all be all.
The U.S. census map is all about location. Not about feelings or accents or who moved where the latest trends.
And it's debatable either way. Culture and geography don't follow state lines. El Paso TX is not a southern city.
As it's been discussed on this thread, culture is a LOT more subjective as a factor in determining common regions. No two people will describe an area's culture in exactly the same fashion, especially if that area spans across several states.
Location/geography is the only factor that's not subjective and cannot be debated for this topic.
As it's been discussed on this thread, culture is a LOT more subjective as a factor in determining common regions. No two people will describe an area's culture in exactly the same fashion, especially if that area spans across several states.
Location/geography is the only factor that's not subjective and cannot be debated for this topic.
There isn't a definite characteristic that defines a region though. "Midwest" isn't a location. As I said before, the western halves of the plains states are geographically and culturally more similar to the western states than the rest of the midwest. Do you consider El Paso a southern city? And why should culture not be considered? The whole point of this thread is to get different opinions and perspectives based on a variety of factors. Anyone can just look up what the census considers midwest. Southern MO is southern culturally and geographically but because it's in a Midwestern state, it's midwestern?
Fundamentally, it is, though. Subregions of the US were not conceived because of common culture. They were conceived because of common geography.
Discussions of "culture" are much more recent, and as I noted above, not universally agreed upon. You and I cannot disagree about the literal location of Indiana. There's no room for debate about that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaszilla
As I said before, the western halves of the plains states are geographically and culturally more similar to the western states than the rest of the midwest. Do you consider El Paso a southern city? And why should culture not be considered?
We're talking around an open question, though. There's no universally accepted definition of "Midwestern culture" or "Western culture."
I will agree with you, however, that there are some common geographic attributes that separate regions (I made that point upthread about Appalachian topography), which is why a state like Ohio is actually the true Eastern to Midwestern transition state.
Likewise, I'm willing to accept that there's more nuanced regional identity on the western edge of the Midwest, too, due to the geography in the Western portions of Nebraska, Kansas, or the Dakotas.
Fundamentally, it is, though. Subregions of the US were not conceived because of common culture. They were conceived because of common geography.
Discussions of "culture" are much more recent, and as I noted above, not universally agreed upon. You and I cannot disagree about the literal location of Indiana. There's no room for debate about that.
We're talking around an open question, though. There's no universally accepted definition of "Midwestern culture" or "Western culture."
I will agree with you, however, that there are some common geographic attributes that separate regions (I made that point upthread about Appalachian topography), which is why a state like Ohio is actually the true Eastern to Midwestern transition state.
Likewise, I'm willing to accept that there's more nuanced regional identity on the western edge of the Midwest, too, due to the geography in the Western portions of Nebraska, Kansas, or the Dakotas.
What I meant is that "midwest" isn't a directional marker. it's a relatively new region that the government came up with. You can drive north, south, east, and west. You can't drive "midwest". There are many factors that can be debated regarding what regions belong where. It's not as cut and dry as "The census says so so that's it". But yes, you can argue that Ohio is a transitional state. It still is also a northern state as well. It's interesting that the south spans from Delaware to TX but the northeast and Midwest are classed as 2 distinct regions despite most of these states being technically northern. In Minnesota, we just say we're northern.
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