Why do we still call the Midwest the Midwest.

[Donbett1974]

The term Midwest comes from the days before the Louisiana Purchase but that was over 200 years ago. So why do we still call the Midwest the Midwest when it's no longer applies.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

Tradition.

 

[xmbts]

Because it's out in the middle-Western portion of the country?

Sometimes names just stick, like New England sticking even after we gained independence.

 

[Jonluw]

For the same reason you guys cling to the imperial measuring system.

 

[Gottesstrafe]

Well, if you consider everything past the 13 colonies "the west", then they're certainly in the middle of it.

 

[Dags90]

"No Coast" hasn't caught on yet.

 

[flagship]

Because it's a boring place that no one cares to rename except the inhabitants who haven't managed to come up with a new name that isn't vulgar?

 

[Lilani]

Don't fix what isn't broken. Really, what would the benefit be of changing the name now? All it would do is cost several millions of dollars to change maps and signs, and unleash a whole mess of confusion.

 

[JDKJ]

The term "Midwest" is falling into disuse. Increasingly, the region is referred to as "the flyover states."

 

[Lilani]

The term "Midwest" is falling into disuse. Increasingly, the region is called "the flyover states."

Really? I live in the heart of the Midwest and I've never even heard that term before.

I doubt flyover will really catch on that much, it's not as immediately indicative of what you're talking about and it has more syllables.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

"No Coast" hasn't caught on yet.

Coast: A hill or slope down which one may slide on a sled.

I'm pretty sure the Midwest is full of these.

 

[vehystrix]

Since the midwest is in the east of the US, i think you guys should rename id... Name states like utah and stuff the midwest instead.

and introduce the metric system while you're at it

 

[Lilani]

Coast: A hill or slope down which one may slide on a sled.

I'm pretty sure the Midwest is full of these.

Yes, let's use the obscure meaning of a word that hardly anyone is aware of or uses to define the area, rather than the word everyone already identifies with it. That will really make it worth the millions of dollars it will collectively cost people to change their signs, maps, and stationary.

 

[Plurralbles]

Because it's a boring place that no one cares to rename except the inhabitants who haven't managed to come up with a new name that isn't vulgar?

I was going to say that you said something offensive to me but then I realized that... well.... fuck ohio, it IS boring.

Still love it though.

 

[flagship]

Because it's a boring place that no one cares to rename except the inhabitants who haven't managed to come up with a new name that isn't vulgar?

I was going to say that you said something offensive to me but then I realized that... well.... fuck ohio, it IS boring.

Still love it though.

Yeah, while at college in Indiana it seemed that the locals were the ones who had the serious problem with the midwest. LOL

 

[JDKJ]

The term "Midwest" is falling into disuse. Increasingly, the region is called "the flyover states."

Really? I live in the heart of the Midwest and I've never even heard that term before.

I doubt flyover will really catch on that much, it's not as immediately indicative of what you're talking about and it has more syllables.

Perhaps that you've never heard the term before is precisely why it's called flyover country.

 

[Plurralbles]

Because it's a boring place that no one cares to rename except the inhabitants who haven't managed to come up with a new name that isn't vulgar?

I was going to say that you said something offensive to me but then I realized that... well.... fuck ohio, it IS boring.

Still love it though.

Yeah, while at college in Indiana it seemed that the locals were the ones who had the serious problem with the midwest. LOL

hoosiers gonna' hate...

 

[flagship]

Because it's a boring place that no one cares to rename except the inhabitants who haven't managed to come up with a new name that isn't vulgar?

I was going to say that you said something offensive to me but then I realized that... well.... fuck ohio, it IS boring.

Still love it though.

Yeah, while at college in Indiana it seemed that the locals were the ones who had the serious problem with the midwest. LOL

hoosiers gonna' hate...

On the plus side it does give everyone a great reason to drink, shooting Everclear straight is an amazing experience. I've yet to find anything else that burns on the way down and the way back up too.

 

[dex-dex]

It is a way to give a place a name a sort of direction.
for example. In Toronto, the most west part of Toronto is called Etobicoke. even though it has not been called that since 1998. people still call it that. Toronto is freaking huge and it helps give people a mental picture of where stuff is if you say it is in Etobicoke. people know that it is western part of Toronto.
I know I am not good at explaining things but I hope it helps.

 

[JDKJ]

It is a way to give a place a name a sort of direction.
for example. In Toronto, the most west part of Toronto is called Etobicoke. even though it has not been called that since 1998. people still call it that. Toronto is freaking huge and it helps give people a mental picture of where stuff is if you say it is in Etobicoke. people know that it is western part of Toronto.
I know I am not good at explaining things but I hope it helps.

Why a group of folk who have a hard time pronouncing simple words would wanna name their town after a difficult-to-pronounce Indian word is beyond me.

"When yer oot an aboot in Tronoh, make sher ya visit Ehtoebeeco, eh."