What makes Missouri so staunchly Midwestern? (St. Louis: estate, education, money)

[STLviaMSP]

What defines the state's Midwestern essence to you?

[attrapereves]

MO is a nice mix of Southern and Midwestern.

I usually associate a typical Midwestern state as fairly conservative and religious. However, the MW conservative is different from those down South. Conservative Midwesterners usually have the "don't bother me, I won't bother you" mentality. Nice people. Fairly neutral accent.

[GraniteStater]

I tend to think of people in the Midwest as reserved, stoic, resistant to change, reliant on tradition, a hard working mentality, and willing to spend money on education and basic services.

[GunnerTHB]

Not sure if I would call it "staunchly" Midwestern, but it definitely leans that way. The I-70 corridor has always seemed like the definition of the lower Midwest with regards to culture. Most Missourians act like Midwesterners. They are pretty reserved with a strong work ethic. Many Missourians are of German ancestry, which is common in the midwest. St. Louis is considered to be part of the rust belt, and the Northern Cities Vowel Shift is becoming present there. Also, Missouri's climate kept cotton farming contained to the bootheel.

Another big one is rural areas where the only churches are either Catholic or Lutheran. There are a few places in Missouri like this.

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I tend to think of people in the Midwest as reserved, stoic, resistant to change, reliant on tradition, a hard working mentality, and willing to spend money on education and basic services.

Pretty much agree with this and think you find this in St. Louis and much of Missouri.

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by GunnerTHB

Not sure if I would call it "staunchly" Midwestern, but it definitely leans that way. The I-70 corridor has always seemed like the definition of the lower Midwest with regards to culture. Most Missourians act like Midwesterners. They are pretty reserved with a strong work ethic. Many Missourians are of German ancestry, which is common in the midwest. St. Louis is considered to be part of the rust belt, and the Northern Cities Vowel Shift is becoming present there. Also, Missouri's climate kept cotton farming contained to the bootheel.

Another big one is rural areas where the only churches are either Catholic or Lutheran. There are a few places in Missouri like this.

I agree on the German ancestry and culture, particularly in St. Louis and some of the small towns and rural areas around St. Louis. St. Louis is such a big catholic city, it's hard to think of it as anything but staunchly midwestern.