Why do people from the Maryland (DC suburbs) when ask where there from, they say D.C. area instead of Maryland? (Baltimore: to live, centers)

[CBMD]

Don't think there's any one single reason, but several.
Fashionistas (plus aspirational rednecks) in Bethesda, seek to basque in the reflected glow of all that power.
Railroad Robber Barons from Cumberland and other far flung places seek to flex their muscle.
Eastern Shore Chickensh1tters seek to demonstrate their mission critical role in the food chain.

That's probably enough stereotyping for one post.

Me, when I got here 25 years ago from Europe, I just assumed it was embarrassment with geography.
In my US history class I learned that the states below the Mason Dixon line were Confederate slave-holding, tobacco and cotton farming luddites. I now know that's not 100% accurate but many others neither know nor care.

Just harder for non locals to pinpoint DC as above or below the MDL.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by CBMD

Don't think there's any one single reason, but several.
Fashionistas (plus aspirational rednecks) in Bethesda, seek to basque in the reflected glow of all that power.
Railroad Robber Barons from Cumberland and other far flung places seek to flex their muscle.
Eastern Shore Chickensh1tters seek to demonstrate their mission critical role in the food chain.

That's probably enough stereotyping for one post.

Me, when I got here 25 years ago from Europe, I just assumed it was embarrassment with geography.
In my US history class I learned that the states below the Mason Dixon line were Confederate slave-holding, tobacco and cotton farming luddites. I now know that's not 100% accurate but many others neither know nor care.

Just harder for non locals to pinpoint DC as above or below the MDL.

You aren't going to find many people in Cumberland who would say "I am from D.C." or any other major city for that matter. You are more likely to hear locals fail to differentiate between D.C. and Baltimore when referring to those areas. We normally just call it all "downstate" unless there is a need to be more specific.

Of course my personal favorite example of this was an ex-coworker who in reply to where a person was from said, "The Baltimore/Washington/Hagerstown area."

[wycoff]

Probably because the DC area MD suburbs are such a conglomeration that you really have to be familiar with the area to tell them apart. It's easier to say "the DC area" than it to explain Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, Laurel, etc., and it would be somewhat strange to call those places Baltimore. Sometimes people say "Montgomery County" or "PG County" instead of DC.

It's similar to people on the other side of the river saying they're from Northern Virginia or the DC Suburbs instead of specifying Reston, McLean, Herndon, etc.

[newhart]

When traveling, I'm amazed how many people don't even know that Maryland borders DC and just think of it as being somewhere on the east coast. I'm from HoCo and tell people that I'm from the Baltimore area. It's easier.

[CoolZombie]

Why would you not say DC? If I were in LA, why would I say I'm from Silver Spring, the other person would be like "oh, I've never heard of that" then I'd have to say "it's just outside Washington DC". Why would I want to constantly have to add superfluous explanations? Everyone from a suburb of a major well known city says they are from that major city, that's true all over the world.

[bus man]

Originally Posted by newhart

When traveling, I'm amazed how many people don't even know that Maryland borders DC and just think of it as being somewhere on the east coast. I'm from HoCo and tell people that I'm from the Baltimore area. It's easier.

That's what I do too.

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Of course my personal favorite example of this was an ex-coworker who in reply to where a person was from said, "The Baltimore/Washington/Hagerstown area."

a.k.a. "Maryland."

[bus man]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

They are nice towns.........they also aren't in Western Maryland.

What did your friend say? I am also interested to hear if people from Washington and Frederick Counties self-ID with the Western Maryland label.

To me, Western Maryland starts when you crest Sideling Hill on I-68. I consider Hancock to be the "gateway," but not exactly part of it.

I also consider Central Maryland to end just past Frederick. So what does that make Hagerstown? It's not central, but it's not really western either.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by bus man

To me, Western Maryland starts when you crest Sideling Hill on I-68. I consider Hancock to be the "gateway," but not exactly part of it.

I also consider Central Maryland to end just past Frederick. So what does that make Hagerstown? It's not central, but it's not really western either.

I would say Washington, Frederick, Carroll, Harford and the remaining rural/exurban parts of Baltimore County rerpresent a "Mid-Maryland" region. They all border the "Dutchy" part of PA, have very productive farm land, and have always had ease of access through broad valleys and rivers to the large cities, be it to ship wheat, or commute to a high paying job.

These days, all these counties have significant commuter populations, increasing populations and wealth that unite them as the outer part of the greater D.C./Baltimore metro area.

I also accept that Hagerstown is a bit transitional between Western Maryland and downstate MD. The town itself has a history very similar to Cumberland........but at the same time the architecture is dominated by that classic Mid-Atlantic row house style you find in Frederick, Chambersburg, Shepherdstown, and smaller cross road towns like Libertytown, Mt. Pleasant, Littlestown, Boonesboro etc. Towns in Garrett and Allegany county have a much more SW PA look with single family houses and duplexes on small lots dotting hillsides.

If you look at the even bigger picture, Washington County is probably more like the Great Valley of PA, or the Shenandoah Valley of VA, more than any other part of Maryland, save perhaps Frederick County.

[CBMD]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

You aren't going to find many people in Cumberland who would say "I am from D.C." or any other major city for that matter. You are more likely to hear locals fail to differentiate between D.C. and Baltimore when referring to those areas. We normally just call it all "downstate" unless there is a need to be more specific.

Of course my personal favorite example of this was an ex-coworker who in reply to where a person was from said, "The Baltimore/Washington/Hagerstown area."

I'd be careful with that kind of logic. The downstaters might stop referring to you as westerners and start calling you upstaters, then you could be in real trouble.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by CBMD

I'd be careful with that kind of logic. The downstaters might stop referring to you as westerners and start calling you upstaters, then you could be in real trouble.

Funny how there is no "upstate" isn't it?

Then again, I strongly suspect most people who live "downstate" don't know there is a part of Maryland that labels them as such.