Researchers from the Middle West Review, a scholarly journal studying the Midwest, posed a simple question to people across the country鈥檚 mid-section: 鈥楧o you consider yourself a part of the Midwest?鈥� Nearly 80% of Ohioans said, 鈥淵ou betcha!鈥�
The rest had their doubts. That鈥檚 despite the of the Buckeye State as a part of the Midwest Region.
Other middle-of-the-country states were more sure of their place in the region. More than 90% of respondents in Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa proclaimed themselves Midwestern. The report鈥檚 author, Jon Lauck, said that鈥檚 because they stand firmly in the center of the region.
Ohio, on the other hand, is on the far eastern edge.
鈥淲hen you go east, when you get to Steubenville, when you get down to Athens, when you get to that southeast corner of Ohio that butts up against Kentucky, then it's a little more Appalachia,鈥� he said.
Some Cincinnatians and other southwest Ohioans may identify better with their southern neighbor across the river. Lauck said the same can be said for residents right across the border from Pennsylvania, who may see themselves as more northeasterners.
But the Midwestern identity is still by far the most prevailing one in the state. It grows stronger in intensity the more north and west in Ohio you go, said Lauck.
What is the Midwest?
The Midwest identity extends further than Lauck and other researchers thought it would.
Lauck expected the Dakotans, Nebraskans and Kansans to see themselves as Midwestern. But, he didn鈥檛 foresee that more than half the people in Wyoming and Idaho would proclaim themselves a part of the region. To the south, 30% of Kentuckians answered yes.
鈥淭he Midwest is wider or thicker than we thought it was when we started,鈥� Lauck said.
But, it鈥檚 more than just a geographic boundary. It鈥檚 a cultural identity as well. Lauck said Midwesteners can find pride in the stereotype of their polite decency and the expectation of helping out your community.
鈥淭hat's something that is a very precious quality in the world today. And I think we need to preserve it,鈥� he said.
鈥淥pinions鈥� that Midwesterners know to be factual:
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope)
1) day old chili > fresh chili
2) sneakers don鈥檛 exist, every form of enclosed footwear is a tennis shoe
3) pop not soda
4) we don鈥檛 have an accent, YOU have an accent
Jeez, who cares?
Lauck said the study is not about settling the all-too-polite competition over who is a 鈥渢rue鈥� Midwesterner. It鈥檚 more about reminding people their region and hometown places a hand in shaping who they are.
鈥淪ometimes we lose sight of that. We stare into our phones all day, we think everything is connected to the internet, and we think all these places are interchangeable,鈥� Lauck said. 鈥淏ut they're not.鈥�
Even for those who move out of the state, Lauck said their roots will stay with them 鈥� whether that looks like cheering for the Buckeyes or greeting your neighbors each morning with a chipper 鈥淗ow are ya?鈥�
鈥淭his identity does not go away.鈥�
