Which state is most Midwestern?

[AuH2O]

I'd make a case for Illinois or Indiana over Minnesota, but go far enough south in those states and you can feel like you're in Dixie.

Iowa has some variation between north and south, but not to that degree.

Southern Indiana is like Deliverance. The Southern tip of Illinois at Cairo is like a post apocalyptic movie scene.

The bottom tier of Iowa counties can be pretty redneck. I feel like now a lot of other parts of rural Iowa are wannabe rednecks.

I grew up in the sticks of NW Iowa. Had fishing gear in my car from March to December. Had a shotgun in my trunk a lot of times. And when I worked in southern Iowa out of college I felt like I had culture warped to Appalachia.

 

[Al_4_State]

I would go Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in that order.

There’s nothing “Dixie” about Kansas. I’d argue it’s Midwestern enough to make northern Oklahoma part of the Midwest.

 

[cyclonemagic]

This debate depends on how "Midwestern" is defined. I tend to think of a state that is more rural and agriculture-based with a blue collar work ethic that treads towards more conservative and religious values (as compared to CA or NY). Using that definition, Iowa, Nebraska, or Kansas fits that the best. Other states have some of those features, but those states as a whole are the best. I am probably biased but Iowa wins.

 

[StClone]

We debated this long before this post here.

Here are 5 parameters we used:

- It has to be the whole State (so you have to shoehorn one regional "flavor" into an entire state under a somewhat descriptive though subjective label).

- It has to be IN the Midwest (east of Great Plains) which is western Ohio to eastern Nebraska and North of the Ozarks and South of the *Tension Zone.

- Least amount of metropolis.

- Negative if it has one of, or borders, a/the Great Lake(s).

- Agriculture is a major base of the State's economy.

Ohio-too far East, has metropolis, borders a Great Lake.
Indiana-makes a case but is like Ohio.
Missouri-Its northern half is very Midwestern morphing into a Southern flavor moving into the mountains. Has metropolis.
Illinois-Lake, mega-metro, and the culture is Illinoian, not totally Midwestern.
Michigan-Few reasons other than proximity.
Minnesota-It used to be called the "The Great Northwest" and has one of America's larger metro areas, has too much Pine, lakes, and non-ag to fit the bill. The Southern quarter and a lot of SW is much like Iowa, though.
Iowa- Des Moines is a modest-sized city and that is the only hint of the entire State not falling into all Five factors.

So it's IOWA! Culture varies between the States, but there is a general Midwest mindset which covers a good chunk of the Midwest, and all of Iowa.


*The Tension Zone is a prominent ecotone — a transitional area where the Northern Mixed Forest meets the Southern Broadleaf Forest, creating a sharp change in plant and animal communities.

 

[WIBadger]

This debate depends on how "Midwestern" is defined. I tend to think of a state that is more rural and agriculture-based with a blue collar work ethic that treads towards more conservative and religious values (as compared to CA or NY). Using that definition, Iowa, Nebraska, or Kansas fits that the best. Other states have some of those features, but those states as a whole are the best. I am probably biased but Iowa wins.

I don’t think I’d include politics or religion in there. A lot of midwestern states have/had a progressive streak, and you have a mix of red and blue states in the Midwest.

One thing I’d throw in as a factor is whether they were initially settled by people from the North. Apparently every Midwest state but Indiana (and maybe parts of Missouri) was settled by Northern which is why Indiana can sometimes feel a little culturally different.

I’d probably go with Iowa as my top choice followed by Wisconsin.

Edit: fixed typo

 

[StClone]

Its Minnesota. The end.

Like other people here I was born in Iowa, worked and lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin the rest of my life. I love Minnie, and live ambivalently in Central WI now. This is not a put down of Minnesota. Its about what is really Midwestern and that in my mind is not always a positive.

 

[StClone]

I don’t think I’d include politics or religion in there. A lot of midwestern states have/have a progressive streak, and you have a mix of red and blue states in the Midwest.

One thing I’d throw in as a factor is whether they were initially settled by people from the North. Apparently every Midwest state but Indiana (and maybe parts of Missouri) was settled by Northern which is why Indiana can sometimes feel a little culturally different.

I’d probably go with Iowa as my top choice followed by Wisconsin.

Minnesota has a Norwegian ethnicity and that in my experience is positive. Wisconsin is my home and I have many relatives in IL, IA, and a few in Missouri. People are confusing "Midwest" being of of milk and Honey. Minnesotans, Iowans and to good extent Wisconsinites are all nice people but not perfect. This post is defining being most Midwestern.

 

[CyCrazy]

Nebby, Iowa, Illinois, Misery, and Kansas are midwest states for me.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

All I know is if you are ever in a room with a person each from say Ohio, Kansas, and Minnesota, they love to tell the others they are not part of the Midwest. But no one has ever claimed to me Iowa isn't part of the Midwest.

It really is fascinating how many people from so many states seem to really want to claim to be Midwestern.

 

[jackrabbit]

I would go 100 to 125 miles on either side of I-29 as being the most midwest.

 

[FerShizzle]

My vote is for Indiana. But Iowa is certainly 1B

It can’t be Minnesota, too becuase liberal and too lakey.
It can’t be Wisconsin, because too drunk.
It can’t be Illinois, because big city Chicago.
It can’t be Kansas or Nebraska, because too cringey.
It can’t be the Dakotas, because the dakotas.
It can’t be Missouri or Kentucky, because SEC
Michigan is too stoned and Ohio is full of ********.

 

[BCClone]

I'd make a case for Illinois or Indiana over Minnesota, but go far enough south in those states and you can feel like you're in Dixie.

Iowa has some variation between north and south, but not to that degree.

Us north Iowans say that about south of 80.

 

[Cyched]

Us north Iowans say that about south of 80.

Definitely a difference, but there are parts of southern Illinois/Indiana/Missoura that can put your average southern Iowa redneck to shame.

 

[Cyched]

Southern Indiana is like Deliverance. The Southern tip of Illinois at Cairo is like a post apocalyptic movie scene.

The bottom tier of Iowa counties can be pretty redneck. I feel like now a lot of other parts of rural Iowa are wannabe rednecks.

I grew up in the sticks of NW Iowa. Had fishing gear in my car from March to December. Had a shotgun in my trunk a lot of times. And when I worked in southern Iowa out of college I felt like I had culture warped to Appalachia.

If you're a multi-generational Illinoisan wanting to know where you land on the north/south cultural divide, it's worth figuring out who your ancestors voted for.

1860 United States presidential election in Illinois - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[BCClone]

Tell me you’ve never visited non-Minneapolis Minnesota without telling me.

Agree, the twin cities and the majority of the rest of the state are pretty polar opposite

 

[SolarGarlic]

I would go Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in that order.

There’s nothing “Dixie” about Kansas. I’d argue it’s Midwestern enough to make northern Oklahoma part of the Midwest.

The history of Kansas definitely has some Dixie in it. And if you visit KU, it has some SEC frat culture.

People in Kansas and Oklahoma can be prickly. Nebraska by comparison is much more Midwest nice. Too many abortion and Jesus signs in Kansas for me to feel midwest. I'd rank them

Iowa
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Nebraska

 

[KnappShack]

If you're a multi-generational Illinoisan wanting to know where you land on the north/south cultural divide, it's worth figuring out who your ancestors voted for.

1860 United States presidential election in Illinois - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The southern counties do not have much in line culturally or economically with the Chicago area

Let them go. They are a net negative to the Illinois budget and complain about the hand that feeds them. Sounds familiar

But this all seems to be a competition for the biggest turd in the turd bowl.

 

[AllInForISU]

The history of Kansas definitely has some Dixie in it. And if you visit KU, it has some SEC frat culture.

People in Kansas and Oklahoma can be prickly. Nebraska by comparison is much more Midwest nice. Too many abortion and Jesus signs in Kansas for me to feel midwest. I'd rank them

Iowa
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Nebraska

Illinois having Chicago would bump it below Wisconsin in my book.

 

[intrepid27]

From my experience, Minnesota outside the Cities is Wisconsin with just a little less alcoholism and seasonal depression.

Uh, don't you realize that alcohol is a proven treatment for seasonal depression. Note I said treatment and not cure.

 

[BCClone]

The southern counties do not have much in line culturally or economically with the Chicago area

Let them go. They are a net negative to the Illinois budget and complain about the hand that feeds them. Sounds familiar

But this all seems to be a competition for the biggest turd in the turd bowl.

A lot of it comes down to what someone deems a turd to be. While you are a major SoCal type of guy (if my memory serves me) and hates the Midwest. There are many people that have the complete opposite opinion and would hate to live in SoCal and prefer to be more Midwest.

The map that was a little surprising to me was that MN is predominantly German heritage and not Scandinavian.