What does "townie" mean? (Boston, Newton: middle-class, house, neighborhoods)

[sfkane]

I've seen the term "townie" used a few times in this forum- and I just want to make sure I grasp the meaning. Generally it seems to mean that they're unfriendly to outsiders?? Can anyone elaborate? And tell me where the "townie" towns are? Thanks!

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by sfkane

I've seen the term "townie" used a few times in this forum- and I just want to make sure I grasp the meaning. Generally it seems to mean that they're unfriendly to outsiders?? Can anyone elaborate? And tell me where the "townie" towns are? Thanks!

Townies are people who won't leave their childhood town under any circumstances. They are not necessarily unfriendly to outsiders but the viewpoints of the two groups often clash. Northern Middlesex County has a fair number of townie towns including Dracut, Tyngsborough, Billerica and Tewksbury.

[David223]

Originally Posted by sfkane

And tell me where the "townie" towns are? Thanks!

Charlestown is definitely a "townie town".
I would think South Boston also.

[bostonguy1960]

I'm sure there are some who grow up in and never leave Wellesley, Needham, Hingham, Marblehead, etc., but since these are desirable towns, one would never label these people townies, right?

Townies apply more to blue collar areas, I think. Didn't grow up here, but I think it applies to lower socioeconomic areas...

Would someone who grew up in a grittier part of desirable Brookline or Newton be a townie as long as they remain, but still inherit a basic house but work blue collar and never get a degree? Long run-on sentence, yes...

[goyguy]

"Townie" is used in Boston slang to connote someone from Charlestown - emphasis on "from." Townies put a spin on the word when describing newcomers; they call 'em "toonies." At least this was the case for a while. Now with so many original townies relocated to the suburbs, behind the wave of urban pioneers and yuppies, it may not be used much if at all now. ("Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - cahn't go to the Foodmasta no moah. Now it's a Whole Foods fah the toonies.")

I agree that "townie" describes people from locations which are mainly middle-class or lower on the economic ladder. (It's hardly exclusive to Massachusetts or New England. When I went to college in a downtrodden small city in Indiana the citizens there were labeled the same way.) Strange how that is. "Local" tends to be used as a noun when you're talking about folks living in more affluent neighborhoods or towns, instead.

[495neighbor]

It started being used in college towns, town vs. gown, with a person from the college town also attending the college distinguished as a commuter. I never heard the term until I watched the movie "Breaking Away." More recently it implies a middle or lower class person who may have some education or not with strong loyalties to the place they grew up in and their long time friends. They desire to preserve the town as they have always known it. Against the opinion of some on this forum, to me a townie need not have lived in the town all their lives. Someone could go away to college or military service and still be a townie if they come back to resettle in the same town they were born in.

Townies are in suburbs, not just urban and rural areas. There are townies in Acton, Natick and yes, Concord. Although they have almost become extinct in Concord in the last ten years. The 99 in West Concord was a big townie hangout, not too long ago.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by sfkane

I've seen the term "townie" used a few times in this forum- and I just want to make sure I grasp the meaning. Generally it seems to mean that they're unfriendly to outsiders?? Can anyone elaborate? And tell me where the "townie" towns are? Thanks!

In real life, I've only heard the word used to refer to longtime residents of Charlestown.

[johngolf]

To me townies mean the local populace born, brought up, and still live in the same town. In Boston slang it did refer to the Charlestown locals but it is not limited to that alone.

The students at Phillips Academy Andover called the local Andover kids townies. The local Andover kids called them PAers as in Pain in the Assers.

[in_newengland]

To me it means the people who were born and brought up in the town and don't have much experience with the outside world. Their friends are kids they went to school with or are their relatives. They are set in their ways even while they are still young. They are usually not educated beyond high school. They know--or are related to-- everyone in town except newcomers and before the newcomers came along they ran the entire town. They are big fish in a small pond. This is the case in the more rural and small town areas.

In general I think it's local people who are looked down upon by newcomers who may be more priviliged and advantaged.

[tovarisch]

It's still an active distinction in many college towns.