My explanation of the Midwest by map (estate, areas)
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I tend to base regions off of geography, topography, etc. so I'll say it's because Oklahoma does not have the blanket of trees (except for parts of the eastern half) that the rest of the South has. Most of the area of the state that I associate myself with is in the equilibrium between forest and grassland that eastern Kansas, Iowa, etc. have. That's why I say that (most of) Oklahoma is Midwestern.
Based on culture, then most of Oklahoma becomes Southern and only the Panhandle and areas near the Kansas border become Midwestern.
I just define regions geographically. It's why I say that eastern Colorado is the Midwest - there are no mountains. Just farmland. Same goes with eastern Montana. Though I know that there are pockets of rugged land in that area.
Religiously,politically and culturally, I see OK as the South, but I'm willing to see western parts ( panhandle, etc) as Western; calling it Midwestern, well, I don't know..I think of it as an extension of the South, with some Western elements...
Well geographically it's in the Midwest. Culturally, it's a mix of Midwest and Southern, and of course the Bible Belt is the main reason for making it culturally Southern. Politically, I'd probably say Southern too, but it's funny because most Oklahomans are registered as Democrat more than anything.
Well geographically it's in the Midwest. Culturally, it's a mix of Midwest and Southern, and of course the Bible Belt is the main reason for making it culturally Southern. Politically, I'd probably say Southern too, but it's funny because most Oklahomans are registered as Democrat more than anything. Oklahoma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And I know that anyone can edit wikipedia but I also read this in the Tulsa World shortly before Obama was elected as the president.
The thing is, on that one, Archer, is that the reason for so many -- particulary older -- Oklahomans being "registered democrats" is likely highly coorelated to it having been part of what was once the Democratic "Solid South." Many folks still vote democratic in local elections (this is true of most Southern states) because so many of the candidates are democrats, just like their own people had been a generation before and and a generation before that. And even a couple of regressions before that! LOL But these are generally conservative democrats on that local ballot.
Probably the best reason for Oklahoma to be considered -- at least more Southern than not -- is that it is one of 13 states where a definite majority of residents self-identify with the South more than the Midwest. The opposite becomes true when Kansans are surveyed.
Well geographically it's in the Midwest. Culturally, it's a mix of Midwest and Southern, and of course the Bible Belt is the main reason for making it culturally Southern. Politically, I'd probably say Southern too, but it's funny because most Oklahomans are registered as Democrat more than anything.
how is it georgraphically the Midwest? Why would one Midwestern state randomly be South of all the others?
I explained the math to that on page 9. I'd also like to add that since the earth is round, and Texas is so large, it makes it look like Oklahoma is dragged further south but it's just an optical illusion.
Optical illusion? Draw a line from Oklahoma eastward and you'll hit Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina before exiting the continent. That's no illusion: Oklahoma is in the far southern part of the U.S.
Oh great, Kazoo's back. Read page 9 for the geographical part and just maybe you'll understand what I mean as I am talking about the MIDDLE part of the U.S.
Edit: Let me explain these points ONE MORE TIME. To get the correct center of the contiguous (48) states, you have to get the extreme points of the all those 48 states. The easternmost point is West Quoddy Head, ME which is 66.58° W and the westernmost point is the Bodelteh Islands, WA at 124.75° W. Add those two together, divide by 2 and you'll get 95.67° W. The southernmost point is Ballast Key, FL at 24.33° N and the northernmost point is Northwest Angle, MN at 49.25° N. Add those two together and, once again, divide by two and you'll get 36.79° N. The town that has the closest coordinates to that is Delaware, OK, thus, Oklahoma is geographically a Midwest state.
Got it? You can argue that it's "far southern", but GEOGRAPHICALLY, it's not.
Last edited by archer_22; 11-09-2010 at 12:54 AM..
The Geographic center of the Continental US is Smith Center, Kansas.
That's near the Nebraska line.
According to the US Geological Service.
But I know from a few summers during my wayward youth spent with an uncle and cousins who favored the honky-tonks around Lawton and Altus, Ok., that Oklahomans (especially with a few beers in 'em) call Texas, 'Baja Oklahoma.'
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