New York

People conflate New York the city with New York the state. Most of the state, in Woodard’s analysis of America’s traditional cultural regions, is culturally quite distinct from the City. Historically the state was a center of manufacturing, and it has a good amount of agricultural land that produces many fruits and vegetables. In addition to the New York City metro area, other substantial urban areas include Albany/Schenectady to its north, Buffalo and Rochester to the west with their important lake access, and centrally located Syracuse. Smaller cities are located to the south. As noted elsewhere, I suggest that most migration here would best be within-state. NYC is clearly unsustainable for the future and many residents would do themselves a favor by getting out early, and staying in the state would keep them close to family, friends, and colleagues.

 

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Louisiana

Louisiana as a whole is more French- (and Catholic-)influenced than any other state; for example, the state is administratively divided into parishes rather than counties. As noted, southern Louisiana’s heavily French-influenced Cajun culture is unique in the United States; many residents still speak a Louisiana dialect of French as their first language. Most Cajuns are rural, attached to the land, and not wealthy enough to move readily. Sadly, sea level rise plus land subsidence due to fossil fuel extraction is chewing away at the land rural residents need to live on, and many places are heavily poisoned by the chemical industry. Parts of the largest city, New Orleans, are already below sea level; that will become increasingly difficult to manage. Already, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, poorer neighborhoods were never fully rebuilt. An increasing number of residents will be forced out of their homes in future, and for them, communities farther north in Louisiana will often be the most congenial choice. Out-of-state Anglophones who just like gumbo should perhaps refrain from taking up space in those communities.

 

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