Where do we belong?
Over the weekend, a fan over at the Black Hills Facebook page posted a though-provoking question, “Is the Black Hills area considered part of the Midwest?”
Opinions have been pouring in, and the jury is still out. About half of the fans that replied expressed a definite “yes,” the Black Hills are part of the Midwest. Other fans seemed to think that the hills should be classified as part of “The West,” more along the lines of Colorado and Montana.
Some used the Missouri River as a defining boundary, while still others used cultural differences to state their case. Votes rolled in to call the Black Hills part of the Northern Plains, the Upper Midwest, the Mountain West and more.
There were several folks who argued that since the Black Hills region is part of the Mountain Standard Time zone, that it can’t possibly be classified as part of the Midwest.
While hardly a definite answer, the U.S. Census Bureau considers South Dakota as one of the “West North Central states in the North Central Region.” Now, that’s a mouth-full!
My favorite response to the question was, ” Geographically, it’s where the West meets the Midwest. Culturally, it’s a mix of west and midwest. Climatically, it ranges from southwest desert to the frigid North Pole. Politically, it’s a mixed bag, but scenically, it’s heaven.”
Here in the Black Hills, we like to think that the area is a bit undefinable. A beautiful island of mountains rising up from the midst of the expansive prairie. A location like no other. A fantastic place to visit and an even better place to call home.
Officially, the USGS considers the 100 degree west meridian as the beginning of the west. I concur with that. West and East Dakota have always been considered more reality than North and South Dakota, so that puts the Black Hills right in the WEST.
I consider the Black Hills its own special island in the prairie!
I completely agree! The Black Hills area really is tough to pigeon-hole into one category.
Tom – I’ve always known South Dakota as divided into “East River” and “West River,” but had never really thought about North Dakota in the same way. The more I think about it though, the more it makes sense.