 
 
Over the years, we have sat around the office having many late night conversations about the lakeshore market and factors that affect the Minnesota & Wisconsin lakeshore market and the topic of perception recently came up (again). I have lived in Minnesota my entire life – with the exception of a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy (one year in California, three years in Virginia). I often wonder how the rest of the country perceives this region of the United States.Â
When the good folks in Seattle, NYC, LA, Miami, etc. think of Minnesota and/or Wisconsin – what comes to mind? The Mall of America? Igloos? Cornfields? Are we just part of country?
When I think of Colorado and Montana I think of mountains. When I think of California or Florida I think of beaches. When I think of Minnesota and Wisconsin – I think of lakes.
When you live in an area for a long period of time, your perception of that area becomes personal. Minnesota & Wisconsin are obviously part of the Midwest, but when I hear the word “Midwest†– the first thing that comes to my mind is: cornfields. Not towering pines or rocky shorelines – or even bustling metropolitan areas – but miles and miles of cornfields, as far as the eye can see. When my brain hears the word Midwest, it automatically pulls up pictures of Kansas, or Iowa, or Nebraska – not Minnesota or Wisconsin.
So back to my story – we were sitting around the office talking and we came up with the idea that Minnesota & Wisconsin should officially secede from the “Midwest†and create our own region…it could be called the “North Woods†or “Lake Region†or “Glacier Region†or something like that…anything to get the thought of cornfields out of everyone’s heads.
Note: If you are reading this blog and you are not from the “North Woods, Lake, or Glacier†region, please click the “comments†link below and tell us what comes to mind when you think of Minnesota and/or Wisconsin…thanks!
Sorry to do this to you, being that I’m living in Arizona, when I think of Minnesota I think of very cold temperatures. I think of cold country.
Todd – thanks for your point of view! You’re right! In the winter months – Minnesota is definately cold country. But in the summer months – it is ideal (around 78 average). Arizona in the winter + Minnesota in the summer = perfection.