Michal Kranz
The author, Michal Kranz.
- There are many cultural differences between the Midwest and the East Coast of the United States.
- After living in both regions, I noticed some of the things that make them distinct, like the regional attitudes toward work, family, and fun.
- Here are 10 of the biggest differences I noticed between the Midwest and the East Coast.
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Growing up on the West Coast, I often thought about the geography of the United States in rather simplistic terms.
There was the western half of the country that I was most familiar with, and then east of the Rockies, there was the part of the country that was flatter, greener, more densely populated, and more typically American.
After all, that's where the great American cities, New York, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC were located, and where much of the history of the United States that I had learned about in school had played out. Although the American South was certainly more unique in my eyes, to me, the differences between the East Coast and the Midwest seemed minimal at best.
Since I started college in Chicago though, I have spent the majority of my adult life living, working, and studying on the East Coast and in the Midwest, and I've traveled extensively throughout both regions. And my perception of the two regions has changed drastically.
While neither region has a singular culture that defines all of it, I've realized that there are a host of cultural characteristics that make these two areas incredibly distinct from one another.
Here are 10 of the most striking differences I've noticed between the Midwest and the East Coast, from someone who's lived in both regions.