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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dlaw1979 (talk | contribs) at 13:36, 30 March 2007 (→‎American Heritage Dictionary definition). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This is part of a WikiProject.

For optional guidelines on contributing see WikiProject U.S. regions

The state of Virginia is also a Mid-Atlantic state.

A reader in Central Virginia

Virginia Mid-Atlantic

The state of Virginia should be colored red also.

  • Virginia is not classically a Mid-Atlantic state, but it is true that with current economic geography, many residents, particularly in Northern and perhaps to a lesser extent Central Virginia consider it as such. I think we should note this ambiguous position rather than try to define the state as definitely in one region or another. Given its strong Southern history (from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson on), I don't think it would be appropriate to just highlight the whole state red. Perhaps we could color it pink, or maybe just highlight those regions of the state that are often considered Mid-Atlantic.--Pharos 06:27, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)

West Virginia

West Virginia is also a Mid-Atlantic state was defined by the USGS http://geology.er.usgs.gov/states/mid_atl.html and it needs to be made red on the map as well.--71Demon 21:25, 10 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Both right

Both Pharos & 71Demon, are right. Under WikiProject U.S. regions guidlines (paraphrased) "states should not be locked into or out of a region." Both states, should probably be pink. The WikiProject hopes to update the maps, soon. In the meantime please see how you can help by visting the project page. Thanks. -JCarriker 05:35, Jun 11, 2005 (UTC)

Colours and appearance

I have made a proposal to change the colour of the map box, please see the discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject U.S. regions --Qirex 05:36, 31 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Maryland as Mid-Atlantic

This state also has divided "loyalties" in terms of being classified as a Mid-Atlantic State, entirely. Maryland as is Virginia is officially a Southern state. Though they both are very much Northern in culture and economy especially in urban and suburban areas they are very still much Southern in their more rural regions and isolated regions. Geographically speaking these 2 states are at a "midway" point along the U.S. Atlantic coast. and thus should be the reason they are considered Mid-Atlantic. A states political history has nothing to do with is geography. I say either shade them both RED or stripe both but you can not divide the two, with such inner-weaved history, economy and culture. The Mid-Atlantic is definitely: Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Washington, DC*, and West Virginia*.

  • Although WV & DC doesn't border the Atlantic Ocean.

The regions are all defined by cultural affinity, and political and economic history, not simply geographical location. Otherwise Ohio and Michigan could not be considered Midwestern States when they lie in the east of the country. The Mid-Atlantic is definitely: New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania only. --142.161.176.136 13:56, 10 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The problem here is that, in trying to define a Mid-Atlantic region, we’re grafting the Washington, DC area onto the Northeast, with which it has little in common. The demography, physical layout, appearance and historical growth pattern of the DC area more closely resemble those of Atlanta than a Northeastern city. Unlike every other so-called Mid-Atlantic city – but like Atlanta and many other Sunbelt cities – Washington has no history of heavy industry or high levels of turn-of-the-20th-century European immigration. It is growing robustly, not stagnantly, like the cities of the Northeast. Economically and culturally, it really is sui generis; but there is no more kinship with Philadelphia or New York than there is with Atlanta or, for that matter, San Francisco (both of which areas are more like Washington than Philadelphia or New York are). As such, the vast sprawl of metropolitan DC is an uncomfortable fit with the rest of the “Mid-Atlantic.” This is why shoehorning Fredericksburg, Virginia, into the same region as, say, Scranton or Newark does not work well. 69.242.33.42 06:02, 21 March 2006 (UTC)Essex9999[reply]

Virginia is absolutely a Southern State and has always been considered such as are both West Virginia and Maryland. Simply because it is midway down the Atlantic Coast does not make it a Mid Atlantic State. The Mid-Atlantic states have always been considered New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Virginia and West Virginia have little in common with New York, and Maryland only slightly more so as it is more urban thanks to the presence of the Baltimore-Washington metro area. --142.161.176.136 13:56, 10 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

A quick Google search on Mid-Atlantic States shows 19 of the first 20 hits including Maryland in the region. Kmusser 14:27, 8 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Not Correct

Maybe I'm poorly informed, but as a Virginia resident, I have always been under the impression that the Mid-Atlantic region consists primarily of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, and perhaps West Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Pennsylvania-- the center-point of the region being Washington, D.C. Within Virginia, it is always referred to as such. For example, a local TV station or company might say "serving the Mid-Atlantic region for 75 years", etc. This classification is also geographically correct...just look at a map. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York could all be considered a part of the Northeast, and New England (North and East from NYC) is a subset of the region. Something is definitely off with this article.

What is here now is based on the traditional definition that you'll find in any dictionary. Including Virginia and West Virginia is common but certainly not universal, a quick google search found about 1/2 of the first 20 hits on "Mid Atlantic States" included them - so the current portrayal of them as "sometimes" states seems accurate to me. North Carolina was in 2 of those hits, while NJ and PA were in all of them. Kmusser 15:38, 11 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It seems clear that the most rarely included states are New York and New Jersey (almost always viewed as part of the NORTHEAST), and that Virgina and West Virginia are almost always included. Typing "mid-atlantic" into Google, the first page shows:
AAA Mid-Atlantic-- referring to the region as "Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, and parts of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey." (By the way, I live near Richmond, and I am a MEMBER of AAA Mid-Atlantic)
The EPA-- "Region 3: The Mid-Atlantic Region, Serving Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia".
ADAinfo.com-- refers to the "Mid-Atlantic Region (PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, and DC".
The USGS-- refers to the mid-atlantic states as "Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia"
It seems very obvious to me that the proper description of the region is "The region surrounding Washington DC, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and OCCASIONALLY New York, New Jersey and North Carolina". When organizations as diverse as the AAA, the EPA, and the USGS agree, it is hard to understand the formulation in this article. If you aim your search at agencies of the federal government, I think you will find most of them define it in the same way the EPA does.
In short, the article is simply wrong, and for some reason efforts to correct it are being resisted.

As a Marylander from Annapolis, if the phrase "Mid Atlantic State" is uttered, my mind thinks of Maryland and Virginia as the center, with Delaware and West Virginia. I might buy including Pennsylvania and North Carolina in my definition, but not New Jersey or New York. Hmmm.... Maybe it isn't easy to place these pesky "Border States." Perhaps the geographers here should take that into account.

I think the definition of the Mid-Atlantic region depends on what region it borders to the north: New England or the Northeast. Both are commonly used as "top-level" subnational regions of the US, and both are fairly well-defined. The Northeast includes NY and NJ, but New England does not. If the Mid-Atlantic region borders New England, then it includes NY and NJ. Bordering "The South" to the south, the Mid-Atlantic region might include Maryland, and possibly Virginia, depending on how "The South" is defined. In systems that try to divide the nation into regions relatively equal in size, it is common to find a Mid-Atlantic region that doesn't include New York (it being in the Northeast) and does include Virginia. Traditional regions are a bit different. As a top-level region, New England is much more traditional than Northeast. Likewise, Virginia is traditionally considered a state of the South. This leaves the Mid-Atlantic as akin to the Middle Colonies (NY, NJ, PA, DE), plus, arguably, MD. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines the region as those 5 states, and points out one of the factors that unites them historically: high levels of ethnic diversity, relative to New England and the South. I'm not sure how well ethnic diversity could define the Mid-Atlantic states today, but for much of the history of the US, back into colonial times, the complex, multi-layered diversity of the region made a striking contrast to the relative homogeneity of New England and the "biracial" makeup of the early South. New York City is still famous for its ethnic diversity, while Pennsylvania's historic diversity can be seen in places like "Dutch Country". This was, I think, one of the most obvious distinguishing marks of the Mid-Atlantic region, for centuries. As with other regions of the US, there is a difference between traditional "historic" definitions and present-day classifications. Pfly 04:16, 1 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Source for Reference

There is a group called OHMAR-- Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region (http://www.ohmar.org/about.html). It would seem they should know. Their site states: "Initially, OHMAR designated the states of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia as the Mid-Atlantic Region. In 1987 OHMAR expanded its boundaries to include New York in its membership region." I have begun an edit of the main page. Although it is not sufficient, I believe it is far more accurate than what existed before, and the remainder of the article should follow from it, including history (specifically the founding of the US), geography, climate, and perhaps a section on the Chesepeake Bay.

Wikipedia has the answer

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_the_United_States#Standard_Federal_Regions)

Standard Federal Regions

Standard Federal Regions

The ten standard Federal Regions were established by OMB (Office of Management and Budget) Circular A-105, "Standard Federal Regions," in April, 1974, and required for all executive agencies. In recent years, some agencies have tailored their field structures to meet program needs and facilitate interaction with local, state and regional counterparts. The OMB must still approve any departures, however.

  • Region I: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
  • Region II: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
  • Region III: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia : THIS IS THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION.
  • Region IV: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
  • Region V: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
  • Region VI: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma
  • Region VII: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
  • Region VIII: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
  • Region IX: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
  • Region X: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington


It seems clear that this is the generally accepted definition of the region, for a variety of purposes. I do not understand the resistance to what is clear from a multitude of sources.

  • No one disagrees with the inclusion of that definiation, but it is not the only one. Regional boundaries are not set in stone, and they do vary from source to source including within th US goverment, the census bureau's classification of the Middle Atlantic States for example. -JCarriker 08:29, 12 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • I would simply argue that any kind of research into the subject will show that the defnition I've advocated is overwhelmingly the most common, with other definitions being the exception.
There are lots of different definitions for Mid-atlantic, I don't think any organization's definition should trump the dictionary definition. Also the Standard Federal Regions aren't a good example considering the OMB specifically chose not to give their regions names. Kmusser 19:20, 12 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Also is their any reason you removed all the rest of the content, including citations, from the article? Kmusser 19:24, 12 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I think the citations used, and the map, were simply not an accurate representation. I don't know how much more clear I can make it. Dictionary.com is hardly an authoritative source. This is just a case where I KNOW I'm right, and while I haven't done exhaustive research to back it up, what I did in a cursory fashion backed up exactly what I already knew. I would suggest if nothing else, that whoever edits the article in the future does more research than what appears to have been done previously. Again, I have no doubt in my mind that what I have put up there, while admittedly bare bones, is as close to definitive as you will get in terms of the basic facts.
The OMB has in no way defined Region III as the "Mid-Atlantic Region" any more than it has defined Region II as the "Islands Region". Actually, the US Census recognizes the "Middle Atlantic States" as just New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, although of course the normal definition is wider than that. I think the source of your misunderstanding about the traditional definition of "Mid-Atlantic" likely comes from the greater currency of the term in everyday speech in Virginia, especially as parts of Virginia have become more northern-oriented in recent years, and people have adopted a especial identification with this region.--Pharos 12:52, 14 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I'm sorry, but you are wrong. The region described by the previous version of the article is the Northeast, minus New England. As I have already pointed out, numerous businesses, private organizations and government agencies define the Mid-Atliantic region as I have for purposes of their own operations. Once again, I live near Richmond, and after joining AAA at a downtown Richmond office, I became a member of AAA Mid-Atlantic. If you join the AAA in New York, you will not be a member of AAA Mid-Atlantic. That is just one example among many. Virginia has been referred to as both a part of the South and the Mid-Atlantic region within the state for years, and it has nothing to with "rejecting" the South or identifying with the Northeast. If you want to look at the Mid-Atlantic region as having a "focal point", it is Washington D.C., the Potomac River and the Chesepeake Bay. The fact that you have ignored the multitude of sources I cited indicates to me that you have a determination to conflate this region with the NORTHEAST, which is a separate thing. Again, I suggest strongly that more research be done before a further editing of the page is undertaken. I have provided far more sources in a short period of time than whoever originally wrote this page. The Mid-Atlantic region is NOT the portion of the NORTHEAST that is not a part of NEW ENGLAND. It appears that mistaken idea is what has led to the total innaccuracy of the previous version.
I checked 3 different actual paper dictionaries and they all agreed with dictionary.com. You can claim that Webster's and the Census Bureau are wrong all you want, but they aren't, they are just using a different definition than you are. What you are not getting is that there are lots of definitions of "Mid-Atlantic" just like there are for all the U.S. regions. Yes it overlaps with the Northeast, so what, most of the regions overlap. As I said previously I did an extensive Google search and found popular usage split almost 50/50 between the dictionary/Census usage and your defintion, I still think the dictionary should be given precedence. I'm not ignoring your examples, they just aren't the only ones out there. Your definition is discussed, giving EPA and USGS as examples of groups that use it (personally I think they are less obscure than same of your examples) - that paragraph could be expanded, but I don't think this article should devolve into a list of who uses what definition, a couple examples of each should be plenty. Kmusser 13:45, 15 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


Type either "mid-atlantic" or "mid-atlantic states" into Google. In doing so, I did not find more than a handful of references on the first 2-3 pages worth of links that did not include WV and VA. Those that DID mention NY were in the distinct MINORITY. If you are right and the whole rest of the world is wrong, there are a lot of very confused people and organizations out there. I think this article should be marked as unreliable or disputed until legitimate research and documentation has been done. As it stands now, the article is ridiculously innacurate and misleading. The description it gives would be accurate if you were describing the "Northeast", or maybe the "I-95 Corridor" or something along those lines. It is not representative of what the "Mid-Atlantic" region is. I started a new revision with slightly altered wording. Maybe the answer is to work towards some kind of middle ground, and ackowledge the fact that the defnition is not set in stone.
Look the "whole rest of the world" is not wrong, and the U.S. Census is not wrong either. What we have described primarily is the traditional meaning of the term "Mid-Atlantic States". From the time of the "Middle Colonies" until the last couple of decades, Mid-Atlantic has only meant the region between New England and the South. Probably because of the tremendous development of the New York metro area in NY and NJ, the cultural connection between that area and less dense places like Pennsylvania and Delaware has grown less obvious, and the use of the term Mid-Atlantic has declined in everyday usage there. At the same time, the use of the term has extended southward, and sometimes now even has an exclusive southern meaning. The process behind this is actually made clear in your own words: "The region is distinguished primarily by its proximity to, and history in the founding of, the United States Government". Now, historically, DC was not a "big city" at all until the growth of the federal government after WWII, and did not really dominate the region in any way. It is only with the growth of the DC metro area that Virginia etc. has been referred to as "Mid-Atlantic", emphasizing the increasing integration of the area into the Eastern Seaboard economic powerhouse. It is only then that the exclusive Chesapeake Bay definition of the region has emerged. Now what we have to do in this article is explain both basic meanings in context, as well as the iterations etc.--Pharos 07:52, 17 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Since you seem to be selective with your Google results I wrote down mine over at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Kmusser/Sandbox - NY was included in 54 out of 110 hits, that's more than a handful. The definition used by all dictionaries and eductional sites that come up was DE,MD,NJ,NY,PA - that is the traditional definitition. If you come across "Mid-Atlantic" in a historical or academic context that is what people are talking about. The most common definition overall was DC,DE,MD,NJ,NY,PA,VA,WV which would suggest it leads in popular usage. I would support using that defintion in the article as long as both definitions are discussed. If what's really bugging you is the map, we could change that, I would support filling in VA and WV there.Kmusser 16:46, 17 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


It's good that we have some progress. You must acknowledge that NY was only included in half of the results you found, fewer than VA and about the same as WV. I think while it should be ackowledged that the "traditional" definition relates to the Middle Colonies, it is clear that in modern use, the "Mid-Atlantic" has come describe, for most people who use it, the sort of "middle ground" between the Northeast, South and (to a lesser extent) the Industrial Midwest, which includes VA and WV, and de-emphasizes NY. The second paragraph in the "History" section is heading in what I believe to be the right direction, and the first paragraph under the list of states could (and probably should) include Norfolk, VA. I think a lot of the language about "diversity", "industrialism" and "urbanization" should go, as that is better suited to other regional definitions. On the whole, I think it is in the confusion of the "Mid-Atlantic" with what would properly be called the "Northeast", or in some newer constructions, "the I-95 corridor", or the "megalopolis", that the article goes astray.
Without the language about "diversity", "industrialism" and "urbanization" there is nothing to explain why this region is a region, it just becomes an arbitrary grouping of states. The term "Mid-Atlantic" came about to describe an area that shared a similar history, demographics, and economy - without that description this article is pointless. It does overlapped alot with the Northeast - I don't have a problem with that, the terms have different roots, if they've evolved to come to describe a similar area - well, that happens. More googling shows that "northeast" often IS used to mean Mid-Atlantic+New England including here at Wikipedia. Personally I'll turn to the dictionary again for that and it gives me northeast = New England+NY which I think agrees with what you are trying to say AND shows that they overlap. I think Pharos above is correct and that this article should include a history of the term "Mid-Atlantic" and how it's changed. On the subject of Norfolk (or Richmond for that matter) I don't think that should be included because it does not share a similar history, etc. with the other cities mentioned - they are much more Southern in character and share more with Atlanta or Charlestown than Philadelphia, and most people I've met from there would be offended by suggesting that they are anything other than "Southern". Kmusser 15:58, 18 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]


I'm going to have to continue to disagree, as I believe the term, as I stated above, has come to suggest the middle ground between "North" and "South", centered around Washington, D.C. If you are familiar with PA, you know that it is considerably different culturally from other states in the Northeast. Likewise, VA is unique among states in the "South" due to its deep ties to the federal government, going back to the founding. I'll leave it there, with the statement that I still believe the language I noted above is not representative. Hopefully it will eventually be corrected.
Delaware is even less "southern" than Maryland and more borders the atlantic. Looking at a national U.S. map, Delaware seems to lie right at the midway point of the atlantic seaboard, maybe even a little north of center. It had never been a big tobacco producing state like Maryland and Virginia. Delaware north of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal culturally and historically has been more mid-atlantic in appearance, while below the canal contains farms and is more rural and southern and character. Delaware was historically one of the middle colonies, and when the Mason-Dixon line was surveyed, the north-south portion has Penn's coat's of arms on the Delaware side as Delaware was never seen as fully independent until 1776, thus placing delaware on the "upper" side of the line. I have seen instances where Delaware is included in the northeast/mid atlantic on corporate regions while Maryland is included in the south/southeast by the same corporations. Delaware can only fail to be mid-atlatic in that it legally permitted slavery and Jim Crow laws.



Wikipedia does have the answer. It is the pictures all around the same location you found yours that you posted above. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Census_Regions_and_Divisions.PNG#file

71.168.58.42 19:41, 12 March 2007 (UTC)USMarineCorps1989[reply]

One More Reference

An article from the AP:

Mid-Atlantic Region Braces for More Rain[1]

D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia...

This article has improved, but it's still flying in the face of reality in a number of ways. The author(s) have some kind of North/South axe to grind that has no place in the definition in question. POV in the extreme. I'm fixing it again. If you want to keep fighting it, go ahead, but you're degrading the reliability of Wikipedia.

Every textbook I've ever had in my scholastic career, defined the Mid-Atlantic as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. The citation provided in the article (from dictionary.com) and my copy of Webster's New World College Dictionary (4 ed) all concur with my grade school experiences; namely that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland are the Mid-Atlantic States. I'm inclined to believe Noah Webster over Triple-A on this one.
Also, your comments about New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania being part of the Northeast are undoubtedly true, however (applying this same logic) Virginia and West Virginia could and often are considered part of the South.
Finally, you may want to consider signing your posts by adding ~~~~ at the end of your comments. It makes discussion easier. Sixtus LXVI 06:39, 15 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

History VS. Geography

In determining what states are considered "Mid-Atlantic" We must first define Mid-Atlantic. Is it a cultural region? A Geographical region? Is it a Socio-economic region? Or all of the aforementioned? I am inclined to say that is a combination of them all. And judging by this critera alone I must state without any doubt that NY-NJ-PA-DE-MD-DC-VA & WV are all Mid-Atlantic States. Historically this is the region that nurtured a new nation. And as we speak of history; Maryland and Virginia (West Viginia) were only considered "Southern" states begining in the 19th Century. During which the nation was divided and "Northerners" were just in calling any one living in a state south of them "southerners". Which is literally true but as we look back further into history during colonization we discover that there were 4 english colonized regions. 1) New England Colonies 2) Middle Colonies (NY-NJ-PA) 3) Chesapeake Colonies (MD-VA) 4) Southern Colonies (Carolinas & Georgia). It wasn't until the tensions leading up to the civil war and the post-civil war era that we have this North-South divide. It is this divide and these old labels that hinder us from moving forward. Virginia as well as Maryland and WV are large, vast states. In these states one would be hard pressed to find a consensus from region to region. In defining what is Mid-Atlantic (not what is southern or northern) we must look at what is reality if we would like Wikipedia to be a non-bias source for information. And many organizations and individuals in the states of NY, NJ. PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, and even rarely in NC. All one must do is thumb through a phone book and you'll see over 100 listing of companies doing business as Mid-Atlantic Auto Sales, Mid-Atlantic This, Mid-Atlantic That, and so on and so on. Simply turn on a radio or television you'll hear announcers claiming to be #1 in the Mid-Atlantic. Go to a local convention center and notice how many meeting are titled "The Annual Mid-Atlantic Car Show or Body Building Tournament, etc." Do a Google search, the evidence is everywhere. Maybe a few are stuck in the past and refuse to let go of the ideals of old. But in this modern day society if not the majority, atleast a plurality of Virginians and Marylanders and to some extent West Virginians and North Carolinians do consider themselves and their state part of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Which may be Northern or Southern in culture but definitely that grey area in between where they meet and blend. I think that all the states should either be solid red or striped to allow the reader to conclude what states they feel represent the Mid-Atlantic. I personally was born in Norfolk, VA and have rarely identified myself as being southern. I definitely feel that the urban corridor including the cities of New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, and Norfolk are definitely Mid-Atlantic cities.

MD VA

   I clearly belive that Maryland/Virginia are southern states!

Many People object to the idea of Virginia and Maryland being southern. Im from Maryland so I know. I hate it when people that don't know me come in my face with all that "yankee" crap...i aint no yankee...im myself! And I absolutly HATE when people say that VA an MD are rude, inconciterate, uneducated, boring, bad drivers. Im fun, nice, and filled with GREAT hospitality.

Next Subject: Civil war/M&D line. 

   If everyone knows that MD and VA are BELOW the Mason Dixon Line... why do some people feel the need to say that MD and VA are Northern????

It's quite -how can i say- IDIOTIC! Yes, folks, I know that the MDL was not made to divide the north and the south, but It's pretty usefull to divide the two. Doncha think???...About the civil war...VA was apart of the confeds...i can't lie, BUT MD was FORSED to become apart of the union and most of the people wanted to be with the feds.(yuddah im sayin)...So anyways, like i was sayin, VA & MD are natrually South.

Subject 3: MD. 

   Everyone knows that MD is not like the rest of the southern states-no accent(mostly), not many confed. flags, has northern-like cities, bad traffic etc.- but it is still SOUTHERN.

I mean dang, like many other southern states, we take pride in are lil southerness, we sometimes act a lil country, and we still TALK diffrent from the north...esspecially Dc/B-more area. CUT US SOME SLACK!

Final Subject: Overall. 

   Over all, Maryland and Virginia are southern!

They have many southern charms too. Infact, we have great hospitaliy too! Don't worry, be happy. Even if your mad, you HAVE TO admit that maryland and virginia are atleast a TAD BIT southern. YEs, YEs, YEs, we do have many qualities like the north(aka bad traffic...lol), But you must admit(if youve been too maryland and virginia...NOT B-MORE or DC)that it is southern in some areas!

ps. dont post nasty negitive comments about Virginia or Maryland..okedoke allipokey...lolz


ps no 2. IF you ask a man at a gas station in Southern, MD.... you'll know that chu in the south. - Footballchik

ps3.... HOw can we be mid atlantic??? there are only 4 directions. "MId Atlantic" isnt one.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Maryland"

American Heritage Dictionary definition

  • Middle Atlantic States also Mid-Atlantic States A region of the eastern United States including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and usually Delaware and Maryland.[2]

Keep in mind that Wikipedia is not a place for doing original research. Articles should be based on reliable sources, not what you think or what some announcer on your local radio station says. To quote from Wikipedia's official policy, "Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a publisher of original thought. The threshold for inclusion in Wikipedia is whether material is attributable to a reliable published source, not whether it is true. Wikipedia is not the place to publish your opinions, experiences, or arguments....As a rule of thumb, the more people engaged in checking facts, analyzing legal issues, and scrutinizing the writing, the more reliable the publication."[3] --JHP 03:42, 4 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]


If Wikipedia is an Encyclopedia (a reference work of articles on many subjects) shouldn't it reflect and convey the most recent, credible and accurate information available? And not just quote what some dictionary published in 1979 states? Even if the information is obtained from the most recent edition of what ever source, who's to say that they are not simply tranferring information from one edition to the next and reprinting it? Are the editors going out and doing the research, polling the people and finding out where today's consensus lies? Definitions change over time. What was considered one thing at a particular time may not have the same meaning over time. I would say there are plenty of credible sources that say VA and MD are Mid-Atlantic and Southern. Many people of the region identify themselves as residents of the Mid-Atlantic. And that is real. How can you call PA a Mid-Atlantic State and it doesn't even touch the Atlantic?

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Mid-Atlantic_(United_States)&oldid=119031422"