Is the Midwest as Diverse as the Northeastern United States?

I live in Baltimore, a bustling city on the East Coast, but have visited numerous locations in the Midwest throughout my life. At the age of 66, I believe that both the Midwest and the Northeast are similar in terms of diversity, with true diversity manifesting only in the larger cities.

It is all too easy to perceive the Midwest as monotonous and bland. However, the region is home to fascinating and diverse cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Cleveland. These cities share a level of dynamism similar to New York or Philadelphia, lending counterintuitive texture to the concept of Midwestern homogeneity.

However, what many individuals from outside the Northeast might not realize is that small towns and rural areas in the Northeast essentially mirror their Midwestern counterparts. This observation holds especially true for the interior regions of the Northeast. Coastal areas are similarly comparable to their Midwestern equivalents.

Exceptions and Similarities

There are always outliers. The Midwest's regions bordering the South can seem quite Southern, with places like southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois embodying this identity. Similarly, there are areas in the Northeast that closely resemble the diverse landscapes of the South. However, this closeness diminishes once one ventures more than a hundred miles away from the southeastern border, leaving the northern regions to share a uniform identity from Maine to Minnesota.

My personal experience of growing up in Ohio and living in Indiana, Chicago, and Milwaukee highlights the region's manifest diversity. Ohio, with its Appalachian foothills, rich natural resources, and great trail systems, offers the perfect outdoor adventure. The state's industrial hubs and natural landmarks, such as the central and western Ohio plains and the great Ohio River, with its serene appeal, provide a wholesome backdrop.

Indiana, with its famous race tracks and the photogenic southern region, boasts magnificent sand dunes along Lake Michigan. Chicago, which is a city beloved for its can-do attitude and endless cultural opportunities, offers a vibrant urban experience with its great restaurants, shopping, and lively nightlife. The city's proximity to the shoreline of Lake Michigan provides an array of water-based experiences for visitors and residents alike.

Milwaukee, a charming city with German roots, offers a strong family-oriented vibe, robust German restaurants, and an industrial might that is unmistakable. It is a city where every sport imaginable can be enjoyed. Baltimore, where I currently reside, is much like the Mississippi region I grew up in, except with a much denser population and traffic, and limited public transportation options. While housing and entertainment are on the pricier side, the city still manages to thrive, offering a unique blend of urban living and cultural richness.

The diversity in both the Midwest and the Northeast is indeed remarkable, and while the urban centers showcase the most variation, the rural and small-town areas maintain a shared essence that can surprise many. Whether you're exploring the rolling hills of Ohio, the dunes of Indiana, the skyscrapers of Chicago, or the charms of Milwaukee, the sense of diversity and vibrancy is palpable.

Conclusion

From my personal experiences, I have come to understand that the Midwest and the Northeast share a rich tapestry of diversity, with smaller towns and rural areas often holding their own against more celebrated metropolises. There are always exceptions, but the core essence of both regions can be wonderfully intertwined, providing a harmonious blend of urban excitement and rural tranquility.