Are you proud to say that you are from Illinois? (Chicago: agricultural, suburban)

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

You boys hiding something?

If you're attempting to downplay your image as a simpleton and a troll, you must surely realize that homophobic insults are not going to aid you in that endeavor. It's a pretty common go-to strategy of people in both of those categories.

[Heyooooo]

The only similarity between the two is that and that only.

Upstate NY still has a regional identity of its own and culture to it regardless, and sizeable population in comparison to NYC.

On the other hand, all Illinois has is Chicago.

One thing that plays a part and hasnt been mentioned however, is that New York is one name, but its both the city and state. If that werent the case, notable differences between the two would be much more palpable. So to the rest of the country, New York is seen as city not state, which is why so many people get confused about it when someone is from NY but not city.

There is a notable Downstate/Upstate divide and "rivalry" between the two. The power divide is much more apparent in comparison with Chicago/Illinois. As some people have been saying in this thread, not many identify with Illinois as a state. However, in New York, there are many that do.

In my experiences being born and raised in NY and having spent much time downstate and upstate, what it means to be "from New York" is different to an Upstater and Downstater.

People view NYC/Upstate in extremes. Because NYC is seen at large as "the prototypical mega city", most attribute Upstate NY to being the exact opposite and just endless farmland. Much of what Illinois is other than Chicago, however, thats not the case.

Take out NYC and Upstate NY still becomes a state with a sizeable population and culture of its own. (Whether its pro sports, food, living, history, etc.)

[Chicago South Sider]

There's really nothing else to the state of Illinois other than Chicago.

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

Yep. Illinois makes no sense as a state. Chicago is the "capital" of a region that includes southern Wisconsin, the northern tier of Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southwest Michigan. A few decades ago, a geography professor re-drew U.S. state lines along geographically and demographically sensible principles. Here's the result: The Thirty-Eight States. It's provocative.

That's a fascinating map. I agree that the redrawn state lines are much more appropriate for Chicagoland...

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by Chicago South Sider

There's really nothing else to the state of Illinois other than Chicago.

I'm sure most people from Chicago that hadn't ever bothered to venture south of I-80 would agree with you.

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

I'm sure most people from Chicago that hadn't ever bothered to venture south of I-80 would agree with you.

I think most people that have would agree with me.

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

Take out NYC and Upstate NY still becomes a state with a sizeable population and culture of its own. (Whether its pro sports, food, living, history, etc.)

There are still 4.2 million people that live in IL outside of Chicagoland. Having been born and raised in central Illinois, the culture there is certainly distinct from that of Chicagoland. Most of those people identify with Illinois. To say that there is nothing in IL outside of Chicagoland is to ignore a pretty sizable population...

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

There are still 4.2 million people that live in IL outside of Chicagoland. Having been born and raised in central Illinois, the culture there is certainly distinct from that of Chicagoland. Most of those people identify with Illinois. To say that there is nothing in IL outside of Chicagoland is to ignore a pretty sizable population...

Chicago's CSA is roughly 9.6 million. There are probably about 3 million people living outside Chicagoland.

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by Chicago South Sider

Chicago's CSA is roughly 9.6 million. There are probably about 3 million people living outside Chicagoland.

I was just going to post this.


Their rebuttal will undoubtedly be that it includes WI and IN and thus cannot be included, however, it still holds true within IL. Id be willing to bet that more than 80% of IL population lives in/near/within 75 miles of the Chicagoland area, which is the point I think we are both stressing here.

South of I80 probably has ~2 million people of the 12.9, tops.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

I was just going to post this.


Their rebuttal will undoubtedly be that it includes WI and IN and thus cannot be included, however, it still holds true within IL. Id be willing to bet that more than 80% of IL population lives in/near/within 75 miles of the Chicagoland area, which is the point I think we are both stressing here.

South of I80 probably has ~2 million people of the 12.9, tops.

Chicago CSA includes the areas in Cook County south of I-80 as well as Will County, Lake County, IN and even Kankakee County. Chicago CSA is massive and goes way past Calumet City, lol