As Americans, we all have preconceived notions about different parts of the country. But sometimes those ideas can be based on outdated stereotypes or incomplete information. So, let’s set the record straight: what are the biggest misconceptions about your state or region? Whether it’s an assumption about the people, the landscape, or the culture, I want to know what you think people get wrong about where you’re from. Share your insights and help others learn a little more about the diverse and complex place we call home.
9 comments
That it exists
Specific to Houston Texas, people from far think of either West Texas style open desert areas, or Montana-style plains, etc. They think of the people as being very rural and conservative. We’re in a swamp like the rest of the gulf coast (your stereotypes of Louisiana probably.) The people are very diverse, probably it’s the most diverse area of the entire U.S. It’s a modern big city, the 4th largest in the U.S., with all the typical big city stuff you’d expect.
Overall, I feel like the best representation of Houston I’ve seen in the media was Anthony Bourdain’s episode where he went around Houston and ate at different places. Specifically, there was a scene where he went to someone’s house and they mixed Vietnamese, Mexican, and American dishes into one family get together. That’s basically along the lines with what my experiences are here.
That Florida has an abnormally high crime rate. The reason ours are so publicized has to do with law enforcement transparency laws.
A lot of people seem to think all of NYC is a crime ridden, rat infested, hellhole. When really it’s a pretty safe place to live and work, and the rats mostly keep to themselves but there are a lot of them.
That we’re like the cast of Jersey Shore. Most of the people in that show are from other states.
Chicago, and by association Illinois, has been demonized by the far right to the point where many people believe it’s nothing but a war zone. In fact the per capita murder rate of Chicago is 28th in the country, still too high but well behind cities such as St. Louis, MO; Petersburg, VA; Pine Bluff, AR; New Orleans, LA; Saginaw, MI; and Detroit, MI. Most of Chicago is, if not free of crime, still relatively safe by big city standards. And of course we have many beautiful suburbs as well. And most of the state is rural farmland.
[https://247wallst.com/city/chicago-il-reported-one-of-the-highest-murder-rates-in-the-us/](https://247wallst.com/city/chicago-il-reported-one-of-the-highest-murder-rates-in-the-us/)
Chicago, and by association Illinois, is also considered a land of endless winters and blizzards. In fact none of the coldest cities in the United States are in Illinois, and southern Illinois is as warm as Kentucky. Furthermore, global warming has shortened winter in Chicago considerably. We just had temperatures in the 80s last week. Granted, that’s abnormal, but warm Aprils are becoming more normal.
Also, complaining about Chicago winters ignores the fact that Chicago is a great place to enjoy summer, one of the best summer cities in the world. It has over 20 miles of lakeshore parks and beaches, sailing, swimming, boating, festivals, sports, concerts, golf, all packed into six months of pleasant weather, plus lots of holiday activities through the two months leading up to Christmas and New Year’s. Then we hibernate for three months, slowly come out of hibernation during April, and do it all over again.
Southerners have a really hard time grasping that not everywhere in the North East is inner city.
Seattle is worse than it seems but besides that the media is overall accurate. Except for the fact we have rampant political extremists being a threat to our state, no one seems to understand that.
That everyone outside of Philadelphia is some type of backwards person when this is a large state with all kinds of people, not just hicks.