why so much east vs west in such a small state

[masssachoicetts]

I really dont see the East vs West rivalry here... Or, as prevelant in other states. I think CT, NY, FL, NJ and IL have a bigger divide.

[tovarisch]

There's no Southton, indeed, but there is a Sutton.

[Bert_from_back_East]

The rivalry between Eastern and Western Massachusetts probably stems from longstanding tensions that exist between different ethnic and religious groups that have coexisted in the state for the past 100-200 years. It seems as if Western Massachusetts has a higher concentrations of English, French, Italian and Polish ancestry than Eastern Massachusetts, which is mostly Irish and Portuguese. Although Massachusetts is not nearly as Protestant as New Hampshire and Vermont, it seems as if Western Massachusetts has a higher concentration of Protestants than the eastern half of the state, the population of which is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Overall, Western Massachusetts, especially Berkshire and Franklin counties, seems a lot more "Yankee" than anywhere I've ever been in Eastern Massachusetts, save Nantucket and the Outer/Lower Cape. Great Barrington, Lenox and Williamstown in particular have an idyllic New England charm that I have not seen replicated in Eastern Massachusetts, and I say this as someone who grew up in Rhode Island. I think the comparatively low population and general remoteness of those towns among others has assisted in the long-term preservation of their charm.