Is there still something to Stearns County Syndrome (racism, backwoods thinking, etc).... (St. Cloud: transplants)

[beenhereandthere]

While electing Michelle Bachmann doesn't say much for that, well, I wonder who much the town has changed. 29 years ago, when I went to school there, it was among the 10 most whitest metro areas in the USA. While St. Cloud itself, is still 83% white, that's almost 14% point less, than the 1980's.
So, have attitudes changed, among the locals, are there more transplants that bring their open mindedness with them, while the people who were the butt of the "Stearns County Syndrome" jokes are dying out?
I'd never thought I would see the day where St Cloud, has, a higher %tage of black residents than Cedar Rapids.
I know that a good portion of black St Cloud residents, unlike Cedar Rapids, come from Somalia. Also, is the SCSU campus included in these stats?

[golfgal]

Sterns County Syndrome referrers to the inter-family marriages that happened during and shortly after WWII and the resulting increase in children being born with birth defects and mental retardation. There was a study done on this but I don't know if it is available on the internet as it was done before PC's were around.

[beenhereandthere]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Sterns County Syndrome referrers to the inter-family marriages that happened during and shortly after WWII and the resulting increase in children being born with birth defects and mental retardation. There was a study done on this but I don't know if it is available on the internet as it was done before PC's were around.

I know what that technically means, but the inside joke, when it came to borrish behavior, by the locals, was they have "Stearns County Syndrome".

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

I know what that technically means, but the inside joke, when it came to borrish behavior, by the locals, was they have "Stearns County Syndrome".

I can see why that would be considered funny.

[beenhereandthere]

Surprised there's not more answers

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

Surprised there's not more answers

How many St. Cloud posters do you think there are in the C-D forums?

[StcLurker]

There is at least one . Not from here originally, we moved here about 6 years ago

[redwolf fan]

I no longer live in MN, but have lived in Stearns County for 66 years,

About the ---syndrome....?

Part fact ,part fiction.

FACT----- there were a few small towns where nearly everyone was related, many cousins marrying, and a high percentage of it's sidents had birth defects

In the 60's , there was an engagement announcement and a local girl was marrying a guy from the next town, Some people joked that the town was getting a ----- new bull in the herd

Also, there are a few towns in Stearns County that about 4 last names dominate the phone book and church directory. I don't think that has anything to do with the "syndrome" , but more to do with the German heritage of being successful farmers and many off spring stayed in that area to farm ,

( they are not married to their relatives, however )