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Of the three options provided, Western New York is the area most similar to the Midwest region (at large) because, in my opinion, the northern tier of the United States has the most uniformity in cultural influences and undertones (from sea to shining sea). People use the terms "Midwestern" or "Western" to differentiate states such as Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, etc. from the Northeast, but I believe those designations are only useful for differentiating the Southwest and southern Midwest from the actual South, as well as the coastal Northeast. The interior Northeast, which is the "true [Yankee] North" and includes Western New York, has a lot in common with the rest of the northern tier.
I'm only posting this because you posted a map showing the census designated Midwest and saying "this is the Midwest."
I'll pose this question, is East Liverpool, Ohio, definitively Midwest? It's on the dark blue part of that map.
If so, then why isn't Newell, W. Va., also Midwest? It's on the other side of the Ohio river but geographically it is not only north, but also west of East Liverpool.
Or what about Hornersville, Missouri? It's about 30 miles south of Piggot, Ark. (and south of half of the states of Tennessee and North Carolina). But since it shows up in the dark blue, guess it's as Midwest as Detroit. Piggot might as well then be Savannah.
I get it, you have to draw the line somewhere and state lines are the easiest way to divide regions. But that doesn't mean those lines aren't up for a constructive debate. And much of that depends on which part of the Midwest you are talking about.
If it's the industrial Great Lakes portion of the Midwest, then I think Buffalo or Rochester would very much resemble it. You can Voltron Rochester/Buffalo/Cleveland/Detroit/Milwaukee into one city and it would turn into Chicago's twin brother/sister.
If you're talking about the lower Midwest (Cincinnati/Evansville/St. Louis) then you're not going to find much difference between those places and the upper South areas along the Ohio River.
Same with if you're comparing where the Plains Midwest meets the "West" at the Colorado/Wyoming border.
It's not midwestern but I would say it's most similar to northeast Ohio in look/feel/culture.
Cleveland is the city that feels most like Buffalo to me, and it's not even close. Rochester is 60 miles away from Buffalo, but I feel more 'at home' in Cleveland than in Rochester.
Of the three options provided, Western New York is the area most similar to the Midwest region (at large) because, in my opinion, the northern tier of the United States has the most uniformity in cultural influences and undertones (from sea to shining sea). People use the terms "Midwestern" or "Western" to differentiate states such as Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, etc. from the Northeast, but I believe those designations are only useful for differentiating the Southwest and southern Midwest from the actual South, as well as the coastal Northeast. The interior Northeast, which is the "true [Yankee] North" and includes Western New York, has a lot in common with the rest of the northern tier.
There is plenty of overlap culturally between parts of eastern Ohio and western NY and PA. The Great Lakes stretch far to the east and also are part of the Northeast. Lake Ontario for example does not touch a midwestern state at all. Lake Erie touches New York but stretches all the way out to Michigan. The Great Lakes link the Midwest and the Northeast in the same way the Mississippi River links the Midwest and the South.
While parts of Ohio, PA and NY share some things (like their Great Lakes culture) one can still tell very quickly that they have entered the Midwest. The Northwest ordinance laid out Ohio (and the rest of the Midwest) into a grid pattern of counties, townships etc. The roads all run in straight lines, everything is ordered this way. In the northeast states the roads and municipality borders follow rivers, ridges etc. Also very obvious is how quickly the land flattens out as one drives west into Ohio from the Northeast. The litter on the side of the road also visibly decreases. (Sorry PA but this is true) The use of the word pop to describe a sugary beverage is also an obvious sign. All regions blend near their borders but the eastern edge of Ohio is a hard eastern border to the Midwest. Any northeastern traits fade as one travels west through Ohio.
There is plenty of overlap culturally between parts of eastern Ohio and western NY and PA. The Great Lakes stretch far to the east and also are part of the Northeast. Lake Ontario for example does not touch a midwestern state at all. Lake Erie touches New York but stretches all the way out to Michigan. The Great Lakes link the Midwest and the Northeast in the same way the Mississippi River links the Midwest and the South.
While parts of Ohio, PA and NY share some things (like their Great Lakes culture) one can still tell very quickly that they have entered the Midwest. The Northwest ordinance laid out Ohio (and the rest of the Midwest) into a grid pattern of counties, townships etc. The roads all run in straight lines, everything is ordered this way. In the northeast states the roads and municipality borders follow rivers, ridges etc. Also very obvious is how quickly the land flattens out as one drives west into Ohio from the Northeast. The litter on the side of the road also visibly decreases. (Sorry PA but this is true) The use of the word pop to describe a sugary beverage is also an obvious sign. All regions blend near their borders but the eastern edge of Ohio is a hard eastern border to the Midwest. Any northeastern traits fade as one travels west through Ohio.
Bad road infrastructure and antiquated stoplights are all over OH, so that is very similar to PA in that regard, however.
Bad road infrastructure and antiquated stoplights are all over OH, so that is very similar to PA in that regard, however.
The Northeast and Midwest in general have not-so-amazing roadway infrastructure. They both very disproportionately dominate amongst top states with the worst road surface conditions:
While parts of Ohio, PA and NY share some things (like their Great Lakes culture) one can still tell very quickly that they have entered the Midwest. The Northwest ordinance laid out Ohio (and the rest of the Midwest) into a grid pattern of counties, townships etc. The roads all run in straight lines, everything is ordered this way. In the northeast states the roads and municipality borders follow rivers, ridges etc. Also very obvious is how quickly the land flattens out as one drives west into Ohio from the Northeast.
Very good points regarding roadway layout and municipal boundaries.
More broadly, you can tell the differences with regard to topography and its impact on municipal formation from a county map of Ohio versus Pennsylvania:
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