Quote:
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
ohio might be a wash, but i'd put michigan above illinois for sure.
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Definitely. Michigan has the whole "Pure Michigan" campaign that was very effective and far reaching. Everyone I know from the Detroit area (and the one person I know from Grand Rapids) says they're from Michigan when asked where they're from. Never Detroit, the Detroit area...always just Michigan.
I think this is because Michigan has a pretty nice brand, especially for a midwestern state. It makes people think of lakes and forests, maybe the University of Michigan, which is pretty widely respected and appreciated. It's also no doubt due to the negative brand of Detroit. I know this is probably changing, but much of my extended family that lives in Metro Detroit actually hated the city and would talk about it like it was hell. Other than rooting for the Detroit sports teams, I think they really don't see themselves as part of "Detroit" at all. Or they don't want to see themselves as part of it, I guess.