Do Marylanders consider themselves "North Eastern"

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

So was California. Are you guys part of the Northeast United States?

During the Civil War, California was governed by Southern Democrats who were sympathetic to the Secession. There were attempts at Secession, to split the State in two, within California going back before California became the 31st. State. Volunteers from California left to fight for the Confederacy, while some stayed in California to aid the Confederacy in other ways within California. Officially, some Californian troops were sent East to aid the Union, but most(?) stayed in California to guard the Pacific and New Mexico Territory.

Originally Posted by NW4me

Illinois was 'North,' too, though geographically we call it Midwestern.

Which begs the question: is Ohio a MidWestern State? Is Kentucky a Southern State? Is Texas a Southern State? And let's be real, is Florida a Southern State?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by BaltimoreBruiser

Definitely mid-atlantic, and probably a unique blend of different regional influences to create our own regional culture. Grew up here and been living here most of my life. I vacation in New England (Maine, NH, MA) -- we're definitely not that. I work and travel frequently in the south (Texas, Alabama, Florida) and also vacation in southern Appalachia (TN/NC), and also definitely not that.

Let's just consider ourselves special =D

A lot of Marylanders are "special" all right.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by RayHammer

Mid-Atlantic, but....

Maryland is more culturally and traditionally tied to the Southern U.S, especially in terms of it's agriculture and seafaring traditions (which are different from agricultural and seafaring practices in the more rocky and cooler lands and coasts from PA on up through Maine).

In terms of government Maryland, as with the rest of the South, is centered around the County as opposed to towns and/or townships in the North. Those different systems influenced newer states as the U.S. expanded westward depending on where most of their settlers and/or most influential settlers came from. For example: Kentucky and Tennessee have very strong counties like their neighbors Virginia and North Carolina, whereas in Ohio or Indiana or Michigan on through Nebraska and Kansas government functions are handled at the town and/or township level.

Architecture tends to be more Southern too, with older buildings in Baltimore City and Annapolis being more like those found in Savannah or Charleston rather than in Boston or New York.

Weather-wise most of Maryland is humid-subtropical in the Koppen classification scheme.

And if none of that puts it into perspective for you, goshdarnit, we say "soda" instead of "pop".


But all that Southerness comes with a caveat. While Maryland's roots may be Southern, it has looked Northward for quite some time. The state is definitely it's own creature when it comes to the North-South debate; a bit of both, a bit of neither, though definitely Mid-Atlantic.

I spent a number of years living in New England and have family in the South (Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia). Maryland architecture is reminiscent of New England/North East if you ask me. Much of Maryland, outside of Washington through to Baltimore, also look New Englandish. The main difference that I can see is that New Englanders, just like Southerners, embrace their heritage in ways that Maryland does not. Why people from Maryland cannot accept that they are not Southerners nor Northerners, embrace that uniqueness, and give everyone the finger is beyond me.

Also in New England it comes down to the County and county politics first and foremost and you are not from a town unless you have at least 3 generations buried in the local cemetery.

Sure, there are some brownstones in Charleston, they are definitely more of North East thing.

Originally Posted by Quick Enough

"Generally the question is asked is Maryland a southern state."

Only by those that don't know history.

MD IS BELOW the Mason Dixon line.

I've said "yawl" my entire life.

Way back in the day, the Maryland Colony was considered a Southern Colony, but only for a short while. As the Colonies expanded, the Maryland Colony become a middle colony. Maryland was also specifically established by British Royalty. So was Pennsylvania. The Mason-Dixon Line was to settle a dispute between two Royal goofballs, not to establish a cultural divide. Maryland was divided during the Revolution and during the Civil War but remained committed to the idea of a united nation.

In my opinion, Maryland has a lot more in common with Pennsylvania and Delaware than it does with any Southern State.