What state do you think Maryland has the most in common with? (Baltimore: plantation, wealthy)

[nickluva]

I personally think Mass or maybe even New Jersey. What do you guys personally think?

[lscalder]

I think CT.

[westsideboy]

Virginia. The long common border is obvious. Here are some other reasons.

1. Both states share the bay.
2. Both states share the D.C. metro area
3. Both states were settled by a combination of tidewater plantation owners and slaves and backcountry settling Germans and Scot-Irish.
4. Both states have a small outlet to the ocean that is a popular tourist destination.
5. Both states have urban, suburban, flat land rural and Appalachian rural areas.
6. Both states have vigorous econonies driven by the Federal Gov't.
7. Both states have internal political conflict between the liberal Washingtonians and the conservative natives (only difference is VA has more natives as it is a bigger state geographically and thus the D.C. sprawl doesn't yet form the majority.)

[nickluva]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

7. Both states have internal political conflict between the liberal Washingtonians and the conservative natives (only difference is VA has more natives as it is a bigger state geographically and thus the D.C. sprawl doesn't yet form the majority.)

Maryland has historically been a liberal state and there really isn't much of a conflict when Democrats outnumber Republicans here 2 to 1. D.C. sprawl doesn't make up the majority in MD either it plays a pretty big role but you forgot about Baltimore and it's surroundings. But your on point with Virginia(more liberal in NOVA and more conservative everywhere else)

[westsideboy]

Maryland has always been Democratic but that does not always mean liberal. MD's demographics have largely changed in unison with the party as a whole. From conservative southern democrats to blue collar union democrats to the wealthy liberal bleeding hearts of today.

If you go to the rural parts of MD you will hear the political conflict. The numbers are stacked against us, but we fight the good fight. There is a huge divide in this state that people that don't leave the 'burbs never see and a lot of anomosity towards Annapolis in large swathes of the state.

[nickluva]

Yeah but the rural folks don't have the numbers to even be heard in this state. Maryland doesn't have a huge rural population like Virginia or North Carolina(states that usually go red because of the folks out in the country) So the rural folks may fight a good fight but they are destined to lose out 9.9 times out of 10.

[emsgoof]

State of disrepair,
Or, State of confusion...

[Merlander]

Maryland has to be divided into regions for comparison.

The western counties of Garrett, Allegany and Washington are probably the only conservative areas, and are most like rural WVa.

The eastern shore counties are more like Delaware.

Charles and St Mary's counties are like tidewater Va.

The group of central counties, just north of DC and west of Baltimore, are fast becoming part of the Balt-Wash metroplex.

North-central MD is similar to south-central PA.

[jonjj]

western Maryland: Pennsylvania or West Virginia
eastern Maryland: Philadelphia, Delaware, Jersey

[1973 Forced Busing]

I think it's the state of insanity!