10 Differences That Perfectly Encapsulate The Differences In Upstate Vs. Downstate Illinoisians

There’s always been something of a rivalry between downstate Illinois and Chicago. It gets serious when politicians are talking about things like distributing tax dollars for school funding and public construction projects. Mostly, though, it’s a funny battle of dueling stereotypes. It’s in the spirit of the latter that we bring you the Top 10 different perspectives of Chicagoans and downstate Illinoisans. Once more, for emphasis: It’s a funny battle of dueling stereotypes. Enjoy!

10.

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Chicago: You complain because rush hour is 12 hours long.

Downstate: You complain because rush hour is 12 minutes long.

Thank god for the speed limit increase!?

9.

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Downstate: You know the difference between a soybean field and cornfield.

Chicago: You fear cornfields because you read “Children of the Corn.”

8.

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Downstate: You helped your neighbor move furniture.

Chicago: You threw your neighbor’s furniture into the street to get a parking place.

Oh thank Chicago for the wonderful LAZ parking deal!

7.

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Downstate: You believe Illinois ends at the Ohio River.

Chicago: You believe Illinois ends at Interstate 80.

6.

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Chicago: You buy Carhartt clothes at the Carhartt boutique in Wicker Park to be ironic.

Downstate: You buy Carhartt clothes at the farm supply store to stay warm.

Perception vs. Reality in a "two-state" Illinois?

5.

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Chicago: Your idea of green transportation is a fixed-gear bike.

Downstate: Your idea of green transportation is a multi-gear John Deere tractor.

Chicago potholes anyone??

4.

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Downstate: You have a beard and straw hat because you’re Amish.

Chicago: You have a beard and porkpie hat because you’re a hipster.

3.

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Chicago: You believe the proper pronunciation of “opossum” is “possum.”

Downstate: You believe the proper pronunciation of “possum” is “dinner.”

2.

Downstate: You favor concealed carry of firearms because you’re afraid of your town becoming like Chicago.

Chicago: You oppose concealed carry of firearms because you’re afraid of armed downstaters.

Stricter Illinois gun laws or not?

1.

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Downstate: You want Chicago to secede.

Chicago: You thought Chicago seceded in 1925.