It's official: Maryland is a NORTHEASTERN state! (Frederick, Queen Anne: live in, county)

[sniffablecow]

Originally Posted by Slate Moonstone

Maryland is a Southern state. It just is. It's below the Mason-Dixon Line, and before the Civil War it was a big slave state.


The only reason it doesn't act like a Southern state politically anymore is suburban flight from DC. MoCo emerged as the destination of choice for transplanted liberals who work in DC but don't want to raise their families in confederate Virginia. And the exodus of blacks from DC into PG, which turned that county majority black, also happened during that time period. Maryland remains a relatively small state, and those shifts - combined with the high black population in Baltimore - effectively overpowered the white conservatives politically.


Just from Wikipedia: MoCo's population went from 83,912 in 1940 to 971,777 in 2010 - increasing by a factor of more than 10. It accounts for 17% of the state's population. MoCo, PG, and Baltimore City alone account for over 40% of the total.


The fact that Maryland now votes consistently for Democrats does not change the fact that it's geographically and historically part of the South. Florida's going blue, too, but are people now going to claim that it's Northern also?

I will reply to each paragraph. I am trying to have a mature debate, so please do not call me an annoying brat or an average city data poster just because I disagree with you. That said, I will begin.

1. The mason dixon was not meant to divide north from south, it was a land disagreement. That is not a good standard to use. I will post a picture that is part of the reason why I dislike the mason dixon line as a standard. About the civil war, even though it was a slave state, it still joined the union having over 65% of the population supporting the union. Things change, and sometimes they are no-longer what they once were. But still, it is called the old line state partly because of it having a diverse population of supporters.

2. Yes, Maryland might have changed, but you have to remember, just because it was full of southern qualities at one point does not mean it will continue to be full of southern culture forever. Things can change over time. I do not believe in evolution, nor will I have a debate about it here, but I believe things can change over time, if effected by other factors of course.

3. I hope you realize politics is not the only argument for MD not being southern. Infact, I rarely bring up politics for my arguments. My arguments revolve around dialects, geography, nature, and culture for the most part. And by those standards, MD has some southern qualities, but it is not dominated by them. I believe a state belongs to a region not by its historical point, but its current point. I base a state being in region based off of the definition of region: *an area or division, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.* Based off of that, I would not say Maryland is currently southern. It has some qualities of the south, but again, would not say it is dominated by it. I feel like it is mid-atlantic in my opinion.

[sniffablecow]

Originally Posted by sniffablecow

Thank you. I understand Maryland has southern culture, but I find the mason dixon line a poor divider, and it was not even meant to divide north and south! Literally, it was a made up rule during the civil war!

I meant has SOME southern culture, I am getting this out just to make sure people do not confuse my message.

[Richard Martin]

Originally Posted by U146

That's a load of crap. Delaware has far more in common with Pennsylvania than Virginia. Fact.

Have you ever actually been there? Been to Marydell?

[U146]

Originally Posted by Richard Martin

Have you ever actually been there? Been to Marydell?

Yes and the majority of those two states have more in common with Pennsylvania than Virginia. Fact.

[ben young]

New Jersey . Pennsylvania New York are the north east New England is ..da da New England..

[U146]

Originally Posted by ben young

New Jersey . Pennsylvania New York are the north east New England is ..da da New England..

Nope...Maryland and Delaware are as well.

[sniffablecow]

I knew this thread was going to go in a north vs south showdown. I guess there is no space for mid-atlantic or middle believers

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by sniffablecow

I knew this thread was going to go in a north vs south showdown. I guess there is no space for mid-atlantic or middle believers

And that's what it truly is...I mean I think it's the perfect term to describe MD. Stuck between North and South with elements of both. Even some of the areas characterized as Northern are really more like general Americana.

[sniffablecow]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

And that's what it truly is...I mean I think it's the perfect term to describe MD. Stuck between North and South with elements of both. Even some of the areas characterized as Northern are really more like general Americana.

The funny thing is, the solid north or south supporters consider their opinions facts, saying that MD is north or south is a solid fact. If it was, there would not be as much people arguing over it as there is. Notice how regular visioned people usually do not argue that the sky is blue. Notice how smart people usually don't say trump is going to be a wonderful president (just kidding , do not take it personal.)

[ialmostforgot]

Originally Posted by U146

Yes and the majority of those two states have more in common with Pennsylvania than Virginia. Fact.

Marydel is a town in Maryland/Delaware. That's what he meant.