Lies and Recriminations: Is New York East or West of the Mississippi River?
In the United States discourse, the Mississippi River is a symbol of the landscape and culture of the nation, separating the east from the west. It’s been said that the Mississippi River becomes the west. But many wonder: is New York east or west of the Mississippi River? Arguments have been made both ways and the debate can become heated.
Steeped in history since the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, America’s westward expansion built the public imagination, as manifest destiny took shape. New York, founded by the Dutch in the 1600s, is one of the original thirteen colonies, on the East Coast of the United States. According to geography aficionados, the question of which side of the Mississippi River New York is on is a tricky one.
The source of the debate comes down to the question of which side of the river is the east bank. Most agree that the right side of the Mississippi when facing downstream is considered the east bank, and the left side the west. That puts New York on the east side of the Mississippi. But that means that land west of the river, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, are considered part of the east.
Geography expertsand historians tend to refer to a more precise set of borders. Instead of looking at the river itself, they divide the United States into the East and the West according to political and cultural borders. According to the historian Frederick Jackson Turner, the West was anything that lay beyond the Appalachian Mountains — including New York, which does not lie east of the Mississippi.
However, in the public mind, the sentiment is that New York is not part of the western states. “I’ve always seen the east as being east of the Mississippi River,” says Jerry Lewis, a historian and professor at the University of South Carolina. “It’s a common belief, among people I talk to, that the eastern states are east of the Mississippi and the western states are west of it.”
It’s clear that the debate around whether New York is east or west of the Mississippi River is a contentious one. In the United States, geography is often used to define culture and economy. The debate rages on, and it’s likely that there won’t be a clear answer any time soon.
Economic Impact
The placement of New York City in relation to the Mississippi River has also had a huge economic impact. Being on the ‘eastern side’ in terms of the river’s course has been an advantage, in many ways. It allows New York City to be competitive in terms of its ability to reach the rest of the east coast markets quickly and efficiently, as well as its purchasing of foreign imports.
Moreover, the positioning of New York City in the east has meant more competition in the financial industry, as more firms and businesses have chosen to move their headquarters to the city, in order to be near the Wall Street exchanges and New York Stock Exchange. As such, being believed to be east of the Mississippi has provided a convenient label for the city and its economy.
However, in the modern era, this geographic delineation is beginning to become less important as digital technologies create an increasingly global economy. Being east or west of the Mississippi is less significant than it once was, as firms can now have a global presence and still have an advantage in the market. This is due to digital tools, as well as the Internet, which allow companies to exist and compete with one another from all across the world.
Geopolitical Connotations
The fact that New York City is ‘east’ of the Mississippi River has also carried with it a range of geopolitical connotations. This sense of being east has partially been instilled due to the fact that the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence took place east of the Mississippi. It is seen as the symbolic starting point of the country, and has been compared to the enduring spirit of freedom that exists in the United States.
Moreover, the east has become associated with the rise of industry, primarily due to the Industrial Revolution. The east is where the factories, the ships, and the locomotives first emerged. This has helped to create a sense within the public imagination that east of the Mississippi is where the true American spirit resides.
However, many contend that this particular connection fails to take into account the more modern story of the United States and its ever-growing western territories. The west has come to be seen as a more open and diverse region, due to its connections with ancient Native American cultures, the rise of the service industry, and the large-scale movement of Latino immigrants in search of a better life.
Cultural Implications
The idea of New York being east of the Mississippi River carries implications for culture as well. These are largely based on public journalism, as well as the ways in which these ideas have been depicted in history books and film. As a result, the idea of the East Coast has been shaped by a general Western narrative.
In particular, the East Coast is often associated with the English colonial period and the development of the first American colonies. It is seen as the starting point for progress and its legacy is still felt today. As such, the East Coast has tended to become representative of the traditional values and morals of the era, which are often seen as outdated by contemporary standards.
Furthermore, the East Coast is generally believed to be a place of higher standards than the rest of the country. This has led to a perception of elitism, and a sense that the only ‘real’ Americans are those in the east. This idea has been reinforced by popular media, and this view ultimately serves to reinforce damaging stereotypes.
Political Stances
The position of New York in relation to the Mississippi River has had a significant influence on how state and national politics have become viewed. Most regionally-based political parties tend to identify with the east or west, with the current Democratic Party largely leaning towards the East. This has meant that the east has come to be known as representing a more liberal point of view, while the west is often identified with more conservative values.
Moreover, there are those who argue that this dichotomy is changing. For example, some point to the fact that New York City has recently enacted stricter gun control laws, and has been seen as progressive in its stance on social issues. This indicates that there is more of a convergence on these topics, irrespective of the east/west argument that is often perpetuated.
These ideas have come to shape the way in which we view the nation, and the role that the Mississippi River has had in this debate cannot be understated. New York is east of the Mississippi River, and this notion colors our understanding of the country’s past and its potential future.
