Anonymous wrote:Why anyone would be proud to be from New Jersey is beyond me.

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Anonymous wrote:Raised in Texas, I think a lot of it has to do with an early history of bonding through adversity. Echos of “Remember the Alamo” still reverberate. Early settlers also faced challenges faced by pioneers everywhere and had a better chance if they bonded together as a community that would aid each other. Current generations wouldn’t have the foggiest idea how to survive frontier rigors, but we might hope that the fortitude of our ancestors resides somewhere within us, should we ever have to call on it. We’ve also faced regional challenges that leave their mark. On the plains (where I’m from) everyone’s experienced sandstorms where you taste the sand and it gets in your eyes, your nose, etc. We’ve also grown up sheltering from tornadoes. The gulf coast has has problems with hurricanes, including the Galveston hurricane of 1900 which caused huge devastation. There’s a musical (which most Texans probably never heard of) that’s performed every summer in a Texas state park and is a prime example of Texan’s pride in their pioneer spirit.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_(musical)

We have a rich cultural heritage. Six Flags was originally Six Flags Over Texas, named for the six flags that had represented the state throughout its history: Spain, France, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The United States, and (lamentably) the Confederacy. We’re proud that we were an independent nation (struggling, desperately needing the US - again, we don’t focus on that part), and like to perpetuate the (false) idea that Texas reserved the right to secede, knowing the point is moot, because Texans are intensely patriotic and would never actually consider it. The cowboy myth has been romanticized and incorporated into the state’s identity. We have our own traditions (homecoming mums), myths (previously mentioned secession right, Governor Hogg’s daughters Ima (real) and Ura (false), expressions (some may be regional, but certainly distinct from many other parts of the country), cuisine (Tex-Mex, southern country cooking, and Texas beef), and (to a certain extent, although probably less in urban areas) fashion sense.

We also feel we have a lot to be proud of. For a long time, Texas was the biggest state. While we recognize that Alaska is (vastly) bigger, we tend not to think about that much. Texas has a lot of geographical diversity, rich resources, and a vibrant culture. We have large metropolitan centers for those who want a cosmopolitan lifestyle and business opportunities. We also have small farming communities for those who prefer that lifestyle. Texas is bigger than other countries. For example, France is about 4/5 the size of Texas. It’s economy ranks highly globally (although behind California, another fact we recognize but don’t dwell on).

We’re raised with a Texas identity and surrounded by it. We grew up hearing things like “Everything’s bigger in Texas” and “Don’t Mess with Texas”. Every Texas child has probably clapped along to Deep in the Heart of Texas at some point and has certainly heard The Yellow Rose of Texas (although few would probably even recognize the name of the actual state song - Texas, Our Texas). When I was in school, 7th grade history class was a class on Texas state history. I think it was a state requirement, but it may have only been a requirement of my local district, and it was about 4 decades ago, so things may have changed in the interim.

Another Texan here who, sadly, no longer lives in the state. This pretty much nails it, down to the 7th grade Texas history class. I love being a Texan.

And to the PP, I also went to Duke, which is similarly known to have alums who are obnoxiously proud and loyal to their school. Duke was everything I dreamt it would be and more - would do it again in a heartbeat.

I grew up in Virginia and 5th grade history was "Virginia history". I don't think it's that unusual to have a year of state history.

Anonymous wrote:I can't think of too many states that if someone told me, "I am from x state" I would respond with "ooh how cool! tell me more!"
Except maybe Alaska.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Alaska. There is definitely an identity there, where people feel apart from the rest of the US. There's a spirit of kinship when I meet someone else from Alaska, a shared experience that is foreign to most everyone else in this region. (Don't get me wrong, it's not necessarily a better experience than anyone else's - just different!)

That said, I have no desire to move back. Love visiting, and showing my kids around, but this is my home now. So I don't know if "deep pride" is exactly right in my case. More like a deep connection to my place of upbringing, it'll always be a part of me and influence how I approach life.

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Anonymous wrote:I’m from Delaware.

I don’t have Delaware pride, exactly, but I find myself thinking about it a lot because I live outside of the DMV. Inevitably after someone asks where I am from (and why I say “water” and “quarter” like “wootter” and “quootter”), I then have to explain that DE really is a state and describe where it is (nope, it’s not next to Vermont).

And yeah, we’ve pretty much all met Joe Biden. He spoke at my high school graduation, his wife taught at my high school, and I waited on him in a store (30 years ago). He talks a lot.

Hello, fellow Delawarean!

I have lived in VA more than half my life now, and really only lived full time in DE for 4 years during HS (it was my home address when I went to college in NC, though). I still think of it as my home state, though.

Some of it is because there aren’t that many of us, right? It is a bit of a unique thing. Some of it is the Wayne’s World joke ;p

I went to ES and MZ in Maryland and got MD state history at some point. When I got to HS, I did realize that my classmates had gotten DE history before that.

I am married to a former Texan. They have such a bizarre state pride.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in MA. Not a lot of state pride.
Lived 18 yrs in DC/MD. Same.
Moved to CO 3 yrs ago- so much CO love all around and I totally get it now- it’s an awesome place to live from every angle.
Not sure if that helps?

Anonymous wrote:Two different scenarios:

If other people make fun of your state a lot (New Jersey, Kentucky, West Virginia), you're probably going to be talking up your state a lot.

If you are from a state with a lot of assholes in it (New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts), you are likely to be an asshole yourself and therefore talk about yourself and your state a lot.

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Anonymous wrote:People from San Francisco are crazy proud of their city. They get into fights with Los Angelinos all the time.

Just FYI, "Los Angelinos" is not a term.

Los Angelenos. Typo. My deepest apologies.

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Delaware.

I don’t have Delaware pride, exactly, but I find myself thinking about it a lot because I live outside of the DMV. Inevitably after someone asks where I am from (and why I say “water” and “quarter” like “wootter” and “quootter”), I then have to explain that DE really is a state and describe where it is (nope, it’s not next to Vermont).

And yeah, we’ve pretty much all met Joe Biden. He spoke at my high school graduation, his wife taught at my high school, and I waited on him in a store (30 years ago). He talks a lot.

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Anonymous wrote:All the people I know like this are this way, IMO, because of a lack of travel.

My parents are both from WV. They moved to VA in the 80s and had my siblings and I here. 99% of my relatives are still in WV. They're very much like this with the WV pride because they know of no other places, for the most part. Many have been to visit us in VA and they absolutely hate it here and in DC. Other than that, they go to Myrtle Beach in SC for vacation. A motorcycle event in OH. None of them have passports or any desire to ever travel internationally.

I've been to 5 continents and over 30 countries.

Don't. Mess. With. TEXAS.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know. I love California and honestly do feel it’s the greatest state in our country but I don’t care if someone disagrees with my opinion. I can’t imagine doing anything but smile at anyone who trashed California (poor souls). I have no idea what causes people to get so tribal about their state.