Ohio?

[Simpatico78]

I know this is going to seem silly to most but I have a question about Ohio's authenticity as a midwestern state. I've never really understood why it is considered the "Midwest". In some parts it is almost southern in culture and in others it appears to have more in common with western Penn than with the rest of the midwest. Am I the only Chicagoan who thinks of Ohio as being not quite midwest?

[Steely Dan]

i've been to ohio probably 3 dozen times in my life, all over the state from cincy on up to cleveland, and it has always struck me as a midwestern state. cincy may have a southern influence, but i wouldn't call it southern, hell, Cairo, ILL is probably more southern than anyplace in ohio. cleveland gives off a straight-up great lakes vibe, and columbus is there along with indy as one of those "new cities" of the midwest.

throw in all the midwestern looking agricultural land that eats up a very large portion of the state's land area and you have a state that i would consider authentically midwestern.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by Simpatico78

I know this is going to seem silly to most but I have a question about Ohio's authenticity as a midwestern state. I've never really understood why it is considered the "Midwest". In some parts it is almost southern in culture and in others it appears to have more in common with western Penn than with the rest of the midwest. Am I the only Chicagoan who thinks of Ohio as being not quite midwest?

Ohio is southern in the same places that Illinois is southern...along the Ohio River, where settlement was more likely to come from Virginia from the north.

Ohio shares so much with Illinois. Both were part of the Northwest Territory. Both are in areas between the Appalachians and the Mississippi acquired by the new US at the end of the Revolution; areas north of the river (the NW Terr) were to be divided into free states. If southern Ohio resembles so IN and so IL in settlement, the Great Lakes development in both Chicago and Cleveland are also similiar.

Meanwhile Ohio State has been part of the Big Ten for an eternity. Sure Ohio leans a little further east than the rest of the region, but, to me, Ohio is still as midwest as it gets.

[Azn_chi_boi]

Ohio, the parts on the lake does represent Mid-West.

Colombus, makes me think of Innapolis, and SPringfield, becuase these are capital cities of states that borders, and the location is in the middle of the state.

Cincy, to me think of Southern, not only did it votes for bush, feels, southern, yep.. like every other midwest state that borders the ohio river.

[edsg25]

Everyone has his/her own view of what constitutes the Middle West; here is mine (admitedly unique and....in case Jive or others read this...only an opinion):

THE STATES WITH BIG TEN UNIVERSITIES (before Penn State messed things up):

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa

My reasons: the Midwest is a sense of history as well as a location; therefore, I personally eliminate any state (MO, KY) that had slavery. I also see the Midwest is separate from the Great Plains (ND, SD, NE, KS, OK) which I see as much sparser, lacking major cities, and far drier than the Midwest. The majority of the land in the Great Plains states appear to be a transition into the Rockies. Denver on the plains, though in Colorado, has more in common with KC than KC has with midwestern cities.

So that's my Midwest: all (OH, MI, IN, IL, WI) or part (MN) of the old NW Territory + IA.

Not necessarily accurate, but it works for me.

[ColDayMan]

Well, coming from an OHIOAN, Ohio is an interesting state in that it isn't exactly Midwestern (though the Northeast and Central portions are undoubtlably Midwestern) but it started the whole "Midwest" thing. Certainly Cincinnati is a mix of Midwest/South/Northeast while Cleveland is simply a Great Lakes City. Columbus is an old eastern city turned Sunbelt yuppie while Southeast Ohio has no sort of Midwest traits whatsoever (it's completely Appalachian/West Viriginia/Pennsylvanian). Northeast Ohio small towns are New England-based (Hudson, Western Reserve) while Southwest Ohio towns are a bit more "Southern," so to speak (Hillsboro, Greenville, Batavia).

Though Ohio lies in the Midwest and has some Midwestern traits, the state is indeed the "cross-state" of the South, Midwest, and the Northeast. All three elements lie within the state and Ohio is probably the "least" Midwestern state in the Union, simply due to age, history, and location. Sadly, we do "tend to look at" the Northeast compared to our Midwestern bretheren (totally New York/Boston/DC influence) though I wish we'd learn more about the Chicagos and Minneapolises (they seem far more down-to-earth and far less arrogant).

[Rockford]

Ohio, the Heart of it all.

[JivecitySTL]

Originally Posted by edsg25

Everyone has his/her own view of what constitutes the Middle West; here is mine (admitedly unique and....in case Jive or others read this...only an opinion):

THE STATES WITH BIG TEN UNIVERSITIES (before Penn State messed things up):

Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa

My reasons: the Midwest is a sense of history as well as a location; therefore, I personally eliminate any state (MO, KY) that had slavery. I also see the Midwest is separate from the Great Plains (ND, SD, NE, KS, OK) which I see as much sparser, lacking major cities, and far drier than the Midwest. The majority of the land in the Great Plains states appear to be a transition into the Rockies. Denver on the plains, though in Colorado, has more in common with KC than KC has with midwestern cities.

Just curious, what region is Missouri in? btw, while your "truly Midwestern" states did not have legalized slavery, it still existed in "free" states and so did lynchings and segregation. Not to mention the state that had the worst race riots in American history: Illinois. Didn't like them blacks up there in Illinoize.

Originally Posted by edsg25

So that's my Midwest: all (OH, MI, IN, IL, WI) or part (MN) of the old NW Territory + IA.

Not necessarily accurate, but it works for me.

I'm beginning to think you live in a bubble. You have your own definitions and perceptions for everything. That's okay though.

Ohio is pure Midwest. Cleveland takes on a Great Lakes/Rustbelt/industrial feel, Columbus is a hybrid of old Midwest/new Midwest (al la Indianapolis), and Cincinnati is old school eastern but with a southern air about it (it borders Kentucky), and the rural portions of the state are quintessentially mid-America.

[aion26]

Ohio is definately the midwest. I had some girl from ohio try to pull that "well, we're more east coast than you are there in Chicago thing" on me the other day and I about spit out my coffee laughing. My family is from New England, New York, and PA, so I KNOW where the east cost is, and it is certainly not Ohio


Although the southern bits of Ohio (just like IL and IN) feel quite 'southern' to me.

[JivecitySTL]

^They have a point. Cincinnati feels more eastern in nature than Chicago does due to its age and history (not pace or attitude). It structurally has more in common with places like Baltimore and DC than Chicago does. Age does influence the feel of a city.

[aion26]

There was nothing "eastern feeling" about the parts of Cinci I was in.

[JivecitySTL]

If you walked through these neighborhoods...



...you probably wouldn't feel like it was "typical Midwest." That could be Philly, Baltimore, Pittsburgh or even parts of Boston. But I agree, Cincinnati also has some very isolated, southern feeling areas due to its topography.

[ColDayMan]

Originally Posted by aion26

There was nothing "eastern feeling" about the parts of Cinci I was in.

Again, and again, and again. The city IS the Midwest, the South, and the Northeast due to age, history, location, structure, and populace. That simple.

My family is from New England, New York, and PA, so I KNOW where the east cost is, and it is certainly not Ohio

Since when is PA on the East Coast? It's *ahem* New Jersey that is "east" of Pennsylvania. It is in the Northeast but not on the East Coast.

And I wouldn't exactly call Ohio "pure Midwest" by anymeans though the state does have alot of Midwestern traits, it also has a bit more compared to other Midwest states in terms of history, people (aka NW Ohio vs. SE Ohio is completely different than each other; aka Midwest vs. Appalachia), and location. I'm not denying that Ohio is a Midwest state (oh boy, it certainly is) but it's definately not "pure" Midwest either (though I am proud to call the Midwest home).

[qwerty1324]

Chicago is not midwestern at all it is an anomaly in this region of the country. Take it from a former Bostonion.

[JivecitySTL]

I totally disagree. Chicago is very Midwestern. Tall buildings, heavy rail and a vibrant downtown don't automatically anhililate Chicago's Midwestern qualities. It's in the people, in the neighborhoods, in the look and feel.

[qwerty1324]

Midwestern is the bible belt - especially Missouri. The midwest is symbolized by dead downtowns, lack of transit ridership, no pedestrians, no urban retail, conservative on social issues, morbid deserted neighborhoods, and lack of diversity. All things Chicago is not.

[STLgasm]

qwerty, your utter ignorance makes you as "midwestern" as they come. Get out of your bubble.

[qwerty1324]

Did you know that Chicago gives more transit rides than the rest of the midwest combined?

[NWside]

Originally Posted by JivecitySTL

I totally disagree. Chicago is very Midwestern. Tall buildings, heavy rail and a vibrant downtown don't automatically anhililate Chicago's Midwestern qualities. It's in the people, in the neighborhoods, in the look and feel.

I've always wondered about that, maybe white people have Midwestern characteristics, but living in a neighborhood where the residents are primarily Puerto Rican, and Mexican it sure doesn't feel "Midwestern." Chicago having more then 500,000 hispanics in the city alone does in fact change the feeling of the city, and I personally think it sets it apart from every other city in the midwest.

[aion26]

Originally Posted by ColDayMan

Since when is PA on the East Coast? It's *ahem* New Jersey that is "east" of Pennsylvania. It is in the Northeast but not on the East Coast.
.

so what is the difference between the northeast and the east coast in your geographic definitions? Now I'm quite aware of the difference between the east coast and new england mind you, as having family from nyc and boston (and having been to New England and PA on many occaisions) I cannot help but being aware of such, but last time I checked my regional maps of the US, PA was not considered the midwest. Heh, I'd like to see the look on my grannie's face if I told her it was.